A systems approach to building resilience to natural disasters at a local level in Pacific Island nations

Proceedings of the 13th ANZSYS Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2nd-5th December, 2007:

This paper uses systems methodology to examine how risks from natural disasters are addressed in Pacific Island Nations, particularly those risks from storm related hazards. It argues that the common top-down approach to dealing with risk in these communities using vulnerability analyses is not effective, and that a bottom-up approach may be preferable. It highlights the need for such communities to take possession of the problem of reducing risk and suggests that the means for reducing risk should be sought not just in modern technologies, but in a systems based blend of modern and traditional methodologies.