ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 will inspire readers on how to think about disaster recovery. Five essential concepts (research, social vulnerability, mitigation, resilience, and sustainability) will be explained as central themes that reproduce throughout the text. Social vulnerability, which hinders effective recovery, will be emphasized with examples drawn from recent disasters. An expanded section on resilience will inspire readers to think through how they can use the recovery period as a time frame to reduce vulnerability and enhance abilities to bounce back. Readers will be alerted to the importance of integrating mitigation into recovery efforts. A theory section will include structural theories such as systems and critical theories that spotlight social vulnerabilities. A concluding section will offer practical approaches to disaster recovery that have been informed by evidence-based best practices and theory.
