NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Recovery, Change and Development: A Longitudinal Study of the 1976 Guatemalan Earthquake; Final Report Volume 2.
- File
- PB83147470.pdf
- Author(s)
- Bates, F. L.
- Source
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC., September 1982, 398 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 addresses housing and general economic changes as well as cultural differences in recovery. Four settlements representing different types of recovery are examined: Roosevelt, a government settlement; Carolingia, a planned permanent settlement; 4th of February, an unplanned squatters' settlement; and New Chinautla, a planned permanent resettlement of people from a previously existing town. The economic situations of settlers in Roosevelt and the 4th of February worsened after the earthquake, while those of settlers in Carolingia and New Chinautla improved. It is concluded that the organization of victims into reconstruction committees, and eventually into a permanent community organization, was extremely important to the continued control of the settlement by the residents.
- Keywords
- Guatemala; Housing studies; Construction; Disasters; Disaster relief; Disaster recovery; Households; Economic impact; Comparison; Shelters; Local government; Temporary housing; REcovery; Social change; Communities; Earthquakes