Disaster Preparedness and the Abeyance of Agency

Christian Responses to Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji

Bibliographic Data

ID7635932
AuthorsJohn Cox (0000-0002-4028-5149, The Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University, corresponding author), Renata Varea (University of the South Pacific), Glenn Finau (0000-0001-5708-8654, The Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University), Jope Tarai (0000-0001-8193-5702, The Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University), Romitesh Kant (0000-0001-9242-2128, The Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University), Jason Titifanue (0000-0002-9086-3912, The Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University), A Neef (0000-0002-5079-3323, University of Auckland)
Year2020
Volume30
Issue1-2
Pages125-140
Publication date2020-04-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropological Forum (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0066-4677 • E-ISSN: 1469-2902
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00664677.2019.1647833
OpenAlexW2965414087
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited35

International practices of disaster preparedness presume human agency, particularly at the household level, as an important pre-emptive response to anticipated natural hazards. Our analysis of Fijian responses to Tropical Cyclone Winston indicates that preparedness is also regarded as important by cyclone survivors but has a moral dimension that can be used to assign blame to underprepared members of the community. However, Fijian villagers’ experiences of terror and awe during Tropical Cyclone Winston also make them aware of the limits of human agency, prompting them to reflect on God’s role in the cyclone and the need for collective repentance and renewed Christian commitment. The effectiveness of disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation efforts can only be enhanced by a better understanding of the values of affected communities, including religious and spiritual values. We seek to contribute to this knowledge by showing how disaster preparedness both converges with and diverges from Fijian Christian practices

Agency (philosophy) · Blame · Cyclone (programming language) · Emergency management · Geography · Meteorology · Natural disaster · Political science · Preparedness · Social science · Sociology · Tropical cyclone · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Disaster Management and Resilience · Engineering · Island Studies and Pacific Affairs · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology