The Dynamics of Disaster Recovery: Resilience and Entropy in Hurricane Response Systems

The calls for "Lessons learned" are widely heard following any disaster. Yet, the challenge of transforming the bitter experience gained from one devastating event into improved performance in response to the next threat is not easy. In the aftermath of disaster, changes are enacted in public policies and procedures to protect the damaged community from future threats. After action reports review operational performance and identify "Lessons learned." Investments are made in new equipment and training to increase capacity of response organizations; disaster preparedness programs are initiated to inform the public in a concentrated effort to reduce disaster risk.