Prioritising well-being and resilience to 'build back better': insights from a Dominican small-scale fishing community

Disasters. 2022 Jul;46 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S51-S77. doi: 10.1111/disa.12541. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Abstract

Climate change is increasing the severity of extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes, presenting a significant challenge to Caribbean coastal communities. In the aftermath of a major disaster, government interventions typically prioritise infrastructure, assets, and the economy through rebuilding roads, reviving economic sectors, and providing financial compensation. This is driven by a focus on macro-level quantitative indicators rather than by local, multidimensional subjective and relational factors, closer to lived experiences and livelihoods. Using frameworks outlining social well-being and agency, this paper explores strategies used by a fisheries-dependent community in Dominica to recover from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and pursue well-being. The findings highlight the importance of multidimensional well-being, particularly relational and subjective dimensions, including existing social networks, and personal relationships critical for recovery after Maria. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates how recovery initiatives that concentrate solely on material well-being, such as employment, can undermine agency in the capacity of a community to recover and build resilience.

Keywords: Caribbean; agency; disaster risk management; environmental hazards; small-scale fisheries; social well-being.

MeSH terms

  • Cyclonic Storms*
  • Disasters*
  • Dominican Republic
  • Fisheries
  • Humans
  • Hunting