Socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental development and speed of post - disaster recovery in the Kendrapara District of Odisha, India

Abstract

Disasters and development are closely intertwined. This is because development changes can increase or decrease vulnerabilities and capacities in the face of disasters, just like disasters can destroy development efforts or create development opportunities. These links become particularly evident in the post-disaster recovery phase, when rehabilitation and reconstruction can shape future development. Recovery, however, is one of the least studied phases of the disaster risk reduction cycle and the question of which attributes lead to quicker or slower recovery remains uncertain.
The Indian state of Odisha is highly prone to tropical cyclones, with the most intense recorded event being the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclonic Storm. Twenty years later, there is still no comprehensive documentation of the losses caused by the cyclone or evaluation of the extent or speed of recovery from the event. This research contributes to enhancing the understanding of how socio-economic, environmental and infrastructural development changes can result in differential post-disaster recovery rates and how different associates of development interact and contribute to speed of recovery in local communities. An innovative mixed methods approach is used (including a systematic review, statistical analysis, remote sensing techniques, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews) to assess socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental pre-disaster conditions and their relation to speed of recovery. This thesis provides: a comprehensive assessment of documented losses caused by the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclonic Storm; an evaluation of differential recovery over space and time; an assessment of developmental ‘hotspots’ (where recovery exceeded expectation) and ‘coldspots’ (where there was delayed recovery) for the Kendrapara District of Odisha.

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ORCID for Jadunandan Dash: orcid.org/0000-0002-5444-2109

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