Applying community engagement to disaster planning: developing the vision and design for the Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience initiative

Abstract

Community resilience (CR) is a priority for preparedness, but few models exist. A steering council used community-partnered participatory research to support workgroups in developing CR action plans and hosted forums for input to design a pilot demonstration of implementing CR versus enhanced individual preparedness toolkits. Qualitative data describe how stakeholders viewed CR, how toolkits were developed, and demonstration design evolution. Stakeholders viewed community engagement as facilitating partnerships to implement CR programs when appropriately supported by policy and CR resources. Community engagement exercises clarified motivations and informed action plans (e.g., including vulnerable populations). Community input identified barriers (e.g., trust in government) and CR-building strategies. A CR toolkit and demonstration comparing its implementation with individual preparedness were codeveloped. Community-partnered participatory research was a useful framework to plan a CR initiative through knowledge exchange.

FIGURE 1—

Framework to build community resilience in Los Angeles County: Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience Initiative, August 2011. ^aMarch 2011 (Kick-Off Conference): “[Community] engagement, getting buy-in… are challenges in increasing community resilience.” ^bJune–August 2011 (Partnerships and Social Preparedness [PSP] Workgroup Discussions): “I would like to see practical applications of community engagement and community resilience.” “We need more proactive inclusion of recovery needs in preparedness planning, especially psychological.” ^cJune 2011 (PSP Workgroup Discussions): “Businesses are an important resource in communities that need to be included in partnerships.” ^dJune 2011 (PSP Workgroup Discussion): “A revised framework can show how the community context informs community engagement and how community disaster resilience reshapes the community.” ^eJuly 2011 (Weekly Council Meeting): “Policy support includes policy engagement and funding for agencies to increase their ability to pursue CR efforts.”

FIGURE 2—

Vision to valley: how the vision phase shaped the implementation plan of the Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience initiative. Note. CR = community resilience; IC = information and communication; LACCDR = Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience; LACDPH = Los Angeles County Department of Public Health; PSP = partnerships and social preparedness; VP = vulnerable populations.