(This article begins at page 14 and ends at page 18)
p. 14: Disaster resistance emphasizes the importance of predisaster mitigation
measures that enhance the performance of structures, infrastructure elements, and institutions in reducing losses from a disaster.
Resilience reflects a concern for improving the capacity of physical
and human systems to respond to and recover from extreme events.
p. 14: For the past seven years, researchers affiliated with the Multidisciplinary
Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), sponsored by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at the
University at Buffalo, have collaborated on studies to conceptualize and measure disaster resilience.
p. 15: MCEER researchers defined disaster resilience as ... the ability
of... units... to mitigate hazards, contain the effects of disasters when they occur, and carry out recovery activities in
ways that minimize... disruption and mitigate the effects of future disasters.
p. 15: Resilience can be measured by the functionality of an infrastructure
system after a disaster and also by the time it takes for a system to return to predisaster levels of performance.
p. 15: In examining the attributes and determinants of resilience, MCEER
investigators developed the R4 framework of resilience:
Robustness—the ability of systems, system elements,
and other units of analysis to withstand disaster forces without significant degradation or loss of performance;
Redundancy—the
extent to which systems, system elements, or other units are substitutable, that is, capable of satisfying functional requirements,
if significant degradation or loss of functionality occurs;
Resourcefulness—the ability to diagnose
and prioritize problems and to initiate solutions by identifying and mobilizing material, monetary, informational, technological,
and human resources; and
Rapidity—the capacity to restore functionality in a timely way, containing
losses and avoiding disruptions.
p. 15: robustness reflects the ability of the entire system - including
the most critical elements - to withstand disaster-induced damage and disruption. Redundancy can be measured by the extent
that alternative routes... can be employed if some elements lose function... Resourcefulness reflects the availability of...
resources to restore functionality... Rapidity is a consequence or outcome of improvements in robustness, redundancy, and
resourcefulness.
p. 17: The literature and the MCEER research consider resilience to
comprise both inherent and adaptive properties (2–3). Inherent resilience refers to an entity’s ability
to function well during noncrisis times. Adaptive resilience refers to an entity’s demonstrated flexibility during and
after disasters— the ability to adapt behavior and exercise creativity in addressing disaster-induced problems.
These two properties of resilience may be correlated; entities with inherent resilience also may be better able to
develop and implement adaptive coping strategies.
p. 17: Resilience Metrics
Understanding the attributes and dimensions
of resilience provides guidance for defining and achieving acceptable levels of loss, disruption, and system performance.
The R4 approach highlights the multiple paths to resilience. Investments can improve all four resilience
components—robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity.
p. 17: The MCEER perspective suggests a range of approaches to enhance resilience,
including mitigation- based strategies, the development of a robust organizational... capacity to respond to disasters, and
improving the coping capabilities... In conjunction with disaster loss estimation techniques and other types of decision support
tools, the MCEER resilience framework can help... stakeholders to explore the outcomes and trade-offs associated with different
resilience-enhancing strategies.
