ABSTRACT
Disasters, whether they are linked to quick or slow onset hazards, affect local communities in many ways, generating human, physical, economic, social and emotional impacts. Disasters may displace some populations, damage or destroy houses, affect the means by which people generate income, impact infrastructure and make public services non-operational. Recovery, therefore, implies the rebuilding of infrastructure and re-establishment of telecommunication systems and other public services needed for a society to function (Amaratunga & Haigh, 2011). Recovery is also about revitalizing people’s livelihoods that have been disrupted (Khan et al., 2015), and the local and/or national economy. Disaster-affected people must also recover psychosocially in order to overcome any emotional shock or trauma arising from the event (Diaz, Srinivasa Murthy & Lakshminarayana, 2006). Lastly, recovery is about reducing risk and preventing other disasters from occurring (Christoplos, 2006; Wisner, Gaillard & Kelman, 2012).
