NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Recovery, Change and Development: A Longitudinal Study of the 1976 Guatemalan Earthquake; Final Report Volume 1.
- File
- PB83147462.pdf
- Author(s)
- Bates, F. L.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., September 1982, 368 p.
- Abstract
- Results are presented of a study of the reconstruction process that followed the earthquake in Guatemala on February 4, 1976. The objectives of the study were to examine the hypothesis that major disasters foster rapid social change and to analyze the effects of reconstruction programs on the recovery of households and communities. This volume focuses on food shortages and distribution by experimental and control groups in the cities affected by the earthquake. The impact of emergency food distribution on food prices and production is discussed. In addition, policies, objectives, and mechanisms developed by the Guatemalan government to carry out the reconstruction process are addressed. The governmental sector consisted of three types of units: (1) the regular government ministries and their various sub-organizations; (2) specially formed units established to contend with the emergency and reconstruction process; and (3) disaster oriented coordination units. It is noted that the reconstruction processes brought massive social and economic investments to the rural communities until 1979-1980.
- Keywords
- Emergency plans; Rural areas; Policies; Construction; Disasters; Recovery; Disaster relief; Disaster recovery; Households; Social effect; Food dispensing; Coordination; Community development; Local government; Guatemala; Earthquakes