Post-Earthquake Housing Issues - 1.2 | 5. Sociological and Psychological Aspects | Disaster Preparedness & Planning - Vol 4
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Importance of Housing Location

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0:00
Teacher
Teacher

Today, let's explore why many homes are located on higher ground and the implications of that during an earthquake. Can anyone tell me why this might be a common practice?

Student 1
Student 1

I think it’s because higher places give a better view of the village.

Student 2
Student 2

Maybe it's also about avoiding floods?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Higher locations can signify status too, often where wealthier families reside. After an earthquake, however, these buildings can become dangerous. Why do you think that is?

Student 3
Student 3

Because they might be damaged, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! And many families may not have safe places to go. It's crucial to understand these dynamics. Remember, 'Location can be protection, but it can also be perilous.'

Student 4
Student 4

So, some people end up living in damaged houses?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! That leads us to safety concerns in temporary shelters, which we will discuss next.

Impact of Earthquake on Communities

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Teacher
Teacher

Now, let’s talk about the community impact post-earthquake. What do you think happens to schools and other community buildings?

Student 2
Student 2

They might get damaged too, which means kids can't go to school anymore.

Student 1
Student 1

Yes, I heard schools were closed for nearly a year in some cases.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Education gets disrupted, which has long-term effects. How might this affect children?

Student 3
Student 3

They could fall behind in their studies!

Teacher
Teacher

That's right. Therefore, organizations often step in to create temporary schools. Let’s remember this phrase, 'Education is the bridge to recovery.'

Innovative Housing Solutions

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Teacher
Teacher

Let's shift our focus to innovative housing solutions. What types of materials can help in building temporary shelters?

Student 4
Student 4

I think bamboo is an option because it's easy to build with.

Student 3
Student 3

And there are also new technologies like compressed earth blocks?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! These materials are sustainable and quick to assemble, which is essential in emergencies. Remember the acronym 'B.E.S.T.'—Bamboo, Earth blocks, Sustainability, and Temporary structures. This will help you recall these solutions!

Role of NGOs

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Teacher
Teacher

Next, let's discuss the role of NGOs. Why are they crucial after a disaster?

Student 1
Student 1

They provide resources and help rebuild communities.

Student 2
Student 2

And they also help with education and shelters.

Teacher
Teacher

Precisely! Their collaboration can speed up recovery efforts. Let’s keep in mind, 'Together we rebuild.’

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

The section discusses the sociological and psychological dimensions of housing issues following an earthquake and the challenges faced by affected communities.

Standard

This section examines how post-earthquake housing issues reflect deeper social stratifications and the various responses from communities and NGOs to address the resulting challenges. Key aspects include the safety of temporary shelters, educational impacts, and measures taken to provide basic needs post-disaster.

Detailed

Post-Earthquake Housing Issues

In the aftermath of an earthquake, housing issues are not merely structural; they possess significant sociological and psychological dimensions. Many houses are situated in higher areas, symbolizing the status of homeowners—usually wealthier individuals. When an earthquake strikes, these houses may become uninhabitable, yet some people, usually the less fortunate, seek refuge in these damaged spaces, raising concerns about their safety.

The section highlights how traditional housing arrangements, such as those with shared facilities among families, can become unsafe during aftershocks. Furthermore, educational structures like schools are often damaged, leading to delays in schooling for children, which severely impacts community education. NGOs and community initiatives work to establish temporary schools and alternative livelihoods while exploring the challenges of creating permanent housing solutions amidst land allocation issues and technology transfer for sustainable building practices. Key innovations described include the use of compressed stabilized earth blocks and prefabricated materials for constructing resilient housing. Understanding these housing challenges is crucial for effective disaster response and recovery planning.

Audio Book

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Housing Damage and Migration

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And this whole house has been damaged but then if you look at the sociological and psychological aspects why these houses are located here, on the top of the ridge or the top of a in a slightly higher area, it’s not a mountain area but slightly but if you ever looked from the rich houses villages, you will see the whole entire village. So, this is where the traditional, the landlords or the rich people who used to settle down on the top.

Detailed Explanation

After an earthquake, many houses are damaged. The location of these houses is often influenced by social and psychological factors, such as status and visibility. Wealthier families tend to build their homes on higher ground so they can overlook the village, which reflects their social status. This demonstrates how societal norms affect where people choose to live, especially in rural areas, and how disasters can disproportionately affect these structures.

Examples & Analogies

Think of it like a game of chess. The more powerful pieces, like the queens and rooks, often take commanding positions on the board, just as wealthier individuals may choose the best locations for their homes. After an earthquake, however, these powerful positions can become vulnerable if a strategy fails, just like how these homes are at risk of collapse.

Conversion of Unsafe Houses

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So, people who were not having any house to live there, so when these people have migrated to a different place because they could able to afford somewhere and they could able to live somewhere else. So, that is where this unsafe houses has become a shelter for the corridor between these two families has become a shelter for the homeless people, but the question is, is it really safe to live there?

Detailed Explanation

As people affected by the earthquake move to safer areas due to loss of their homes, the unsafe houses begin to serve as shelters for those who are homeless. This raises concerns about the safety of these unsafe houses because aftershocks can occur, which might make them even more dangerous. The question of safety is critical as it involves not only shelter but the overall well-being of the families living there.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a family that loses their home in a storm and then moves into an old treehouse that’s also somewhat rickety. While it may provide temporary shelter, they worry about its stability with every gust of wind, much as those families living in unsafe houses must fear further disasters.

Social Class and Infrastructure

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But you look at it the wealthy class of the village, they have a detached toilet system and detached washing systems towards the rear side so which means though the independent families are segregated by wall and the common corridors at the end like you have the 3 families living like this but they have a common toilet. So, they gather at the rear space and at the same time they have their personal demarcation of their space.

Detailed Explanation

In the affected village, wealthier families often have separate facilities for sanitation, demonstrating their economic advantage. While these families share some infrastructure, such as toilets, they also maintain personal spaces, reflecting their status within the community. This segregation highlights the social structures that exist even in times of crisis, where the wealthy still have better living conditions compared to poorer families.

Examples & Analogies

Consider a community where some families live in large houses with private bathrooms while others share a single one. During an emergency like a flood, those with private facilities can manage their needs more comfortably than those sharing, illustrating how differences in wealth affect quality of life even during upheaval.

Impact on Education

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And in such kind of situations, obviously one of the important aspect is the schools like as I showed you some community hall infrastructure; even these kind of infrastructure has been affected. So, many of these schools were damaged and many of the community halls, community centers have been damaged. So, this actually says that you know they are afraid to go to school.

Detailed Explanation

The aftermath of an earthquake extends beyond housing issues to affect schools and community centers. Many schools are damaged, which raises fears among families about sending their children back to school. The impacts on education can last for months, impeding the learning and development of children in the community.

Examples & Analogies

Think about a game of soccer that gets interrupted because of heavy rain. If the field becomes muddy and unsafe, players will hesitate to return, even after it stops raining. Similarly, when houses and schools cannot provide a safe environment due to damage, families might keep their children at home, missing valuable educational opportunities.

NGO Support and Temporary Schools

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So, that is where the schools have been stopped for about one year, nearly one year. So, how about education, you know what to do, how we can engage the community and the children because you know that is also needed, what happens to the school education and where do we provide the school facilities and this is where many NGOs have came forward...

Detailed Explanation

When traditional schools are unavailable, NGOs step in to provide education through temporary schools. These organizations create learning environments quickly to ensure that children can continue their education despite the disruptions caused by the earthquake. This demonstrates the importance of community resilience and the role of organizations in aiding recovery.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine if a beloved park closed for renovations, and nearby community members quickly set up a pop-up park with games and activities to keep kids engaged. The temporary arrangement ensures that fun and learning continue, similar to how NGOs set up temporary schools to maintain educational continuity for children in disaster zones.

Construction of Temporary Schools

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This is a school, a temporary school, which has been constructed to provide some education facilities for the people who does not have school...

Detailed Explanation

Temporary schools are constructed using building materials like bamboo, allowing for quick setup and ease of use. These schools aim to provide a safe learning environment for children until permanent solutions can be established. The design often caters to the local climate and community needs, focusing on functionality and accessibility.

Examples & Analogies

Think of building a snow fort that you can put up quickly for play on a snowy day. You use snow because it’s readily available and easy to mold. Similarly, temporary schools use materials like bamboo that are easy to set up in response to urgent educational needs after a disaster.

Next Steps in Housing Solutions

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And this is all about the temporary housing but then when we moved on how in these 2 years, how we have to invest for the permanent housing because the land allocation issues, way to relocate...

Detailed Explanation

As communities begin to recover, the focus shifts from temporary shelters to developing permanent housing solutions. Challenges such as land allocation, securing funding, and ensuring the compatibility of new structures with the existing community infrastructure arise. These complexities underscore the need for careful planning and collaboration among various stakeholders.

Examples & Analogies

It’s like planning a big family reunion. Initially, you may have a quick get-together in a park, but soon you want to find a larger space that suits everyone’s needs and is accessible. Just as you need to navigate logistics for the reunion, communities must also tackle logistical hurdles in finding and building permanent homes after a disaster.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Sociological and Psychological aspects: Understanding the social dynamics affected by housing issues post-disaster.

  • Community Impact: The effect of earthquakes on infrastructure and education systems, leading to prolonged recovery.

  • Innovative Housing Solutions: The necessity for sustainable materials in temporary housing.

  • Role of NGOs: How non-governmental organizations facilitate recovery efforts post-disaster.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.

Examples

  • A village experiencing an earthquake may lose many houses, leaving residents to occupy unsafe damaged structures.

  • After an earthquake, schools may be closed, and temporary classrooms using bamboo could be set up to ensure children continue their education.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • When quakes shake the ground, help must be found, NGOs in the town, rebuilding profound.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once, in a village, an earthquake struck, and many lost their homes. Yet, with bamboo and support, they rebuilt stronger, illustrating resilience.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Use 'CARE' to remember: Community, Aid, Recovery, Education post-earthquake.

🎯 Super Acronyms

B.E.S.T. for housing solutions

  • Bamboo
  • Earth blocks
  • Sustainability
  • Temporary.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Aftershocks

    Definition:

    Smaller earthquakes that occur in the same area after a larger earthquake.

  • Term: Temporary Shelters

    Definition:

    Short-term housing solutions provided after disasters, often made from lightweight materials for easy assembly.

  • Term: NGOs (NonGovernmental Organizations)

    Definition:

    Organizations that operate independently from government, usually aiming to provide social or humanitarian aid.

  • Term: Sociological Aspects

    Definition:

    Factors relating to society and the relationships between individuals within a community.

  • Term: Psychological Aspects

    Definition:

    Factors relating to mental health, emotions, and the psychological impact of events.