The ecology of human resilience

Are you dandelion or an orchid? For a very long time psychologists considered our ability to bounce back from adversity as the measure of our own internal gumption. Survivors are tough dandelions, they thrive wherever they are. Orchids, conversely are beautiful but delicate. They too can be hardy and strong but only if conditions are absolutely perfect. Therein lies the dilemma of human resilience? If dandelions can take almost anything but orchids require perfect condition, is that the end of the story? You either have it or you don’t…

 

Learning From Hurricane Sandy

This morning, a neighborhood coalition known as LES Ready! released a report examining the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy and detailing steps that should be taken to make sure the vulnerable communities along the East River are better prepared for the next storm. The report was prepared by the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center (CDP), Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES) and Hester Street Collaborative (HSC), along with other community groups. The findings were unveiled before a packed auditorium of community activists at University Settlement earlier today…

 

We Asked 5 New Chief Resilience Officers: What’s Your Biggest Challenge?

With cities exploring new tactics to increase resilience — from building infrastructure, to financing climate-adaptable projects — who takes ownership of making sure the water board, transit agency and public works department are all connecting on these vital issues? Enter the chief resilience officer. Many cities have noted the need for this leadership role, including New York, Norfolk, San Francisco, Christchurch, Medellin and more. I reached out to five recently appointed CROs (the first CRO, San Francisco’s Patrick Otellini, came into his post only six months ago) to find out more about the parameters of their positions and the challenges they’re encountering so far…

 

Keep Volunteering offers support during natural disasters and the weeks after

When there’s a disaster, there’s always people willing to jump in and help right away. But what about weeks later? Sometimes, people in need fall through the cracks. Helping them was the motivation behind the local organization. Keep Volunteering started out of a desire to make sure people stay engaged and remember that the need exists long after a disaster is over. Painting the walls may seem like a little thing, but it’s a big deal for this local non-profit to have its own building. Keep Volunteering started as a much smaller operation back in 2011…

 

The show must go on: How to prepare a business continuity plan

Your risk of experiencing certain types of natural disasters will vary according to the location of your business and computer networks. But wherever you are, there’s almost certainly some risk. Consider what you know about your location, and make a list of how Mother Nature may interfere. Flooding is a risk if you’re near or below sea level, and close to a body of water such as rivers, lakes, or seashores. Earthquakes are a risk if you’re near a fault line. Snow, tornados, storms and droughts can all impact on your business’ ability to function…