Disaster risk management and community adaptation to natural hazards
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63618/omd/revinvlid/v1/n3/18Keywords:
community adaptation, risk management, natural hazards, resilience, vulnerabilityAbstract
The growing exposure of Ecuadorian communities to natural hazards highlights the need to strengthen risk management through strategies that integrate vulnerability, preparedness, and territorial adaptation. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between disaster risk management and community adaptation to natural hazards in at-risk communities in Ecuador. A mixed-methods approach was applied, with a predominantly quantitative focus, a non-experimental and cross-sectional design, an exploratory scope, and a literature review component; in addition, a structured survey targeting urban and rural households was conducted, supplemented by an analysis of scientific and institutional information. The results showed that adaptive capacity was associated with the availability of resources, knowledge, local organization, social participation, institutional coordination, and access to early warning systems. Interpretation of the findings showed that the community response did not depend exclusively on the intensity of the threats, but rather on the interaction between social, territorial, and institutional conditions. It was concluded that risk management requires incorporating community capacities into preventive planning, strengthening coordination among local actors and institutions, and promoting strategies tailored to the characteristics of each territory.
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