“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”-Pablo Picasso

Even before disaster recovery, philosophers have contemplated beauty- in both nature and art- evaluating the purpose behind it. 

However, in the modern day, we often consider art a firmly “impractical” field, reserved exclusively for those with enough money, privilege, or time to enjoy it. 

But what if art is more than this?

Maybe art is a necessity, especially when everything else has been lost. 

Give me two minutes, and I’ll tell you why. 

Why Does Aesthetic Appeal Matter In Disaster Recovery?

According to the book Art and Disaster Resilience, small changes in certain components of nonlinear systems can cause stability to disappear, which leads to big changes in the overall system. 

Through artistic mediums, artists can change how these changes are digested by the viewer. In fact, public exhibitions of art can transform how people create new realities out of the destruction they experience through unforeseeable disasters. 

Combining the power of art to transform our reality with the power of engineering to rebuild our built environment, is the key to putting this into practice. 

The question, then, is what that intersection looks like. 

The current vocabulary around “reconstruction” after natural disasters mostly revolves around physical reconstruction. What we are talking about here, though, is the reconstruction of community and mental health alongside physical structures. 

There have been several successful examples of this thus far, such as the Fundred Dollar Bill project, Sandy Storyline, Yappeshi Matsuri, and the Arts In Recovery organization. 

But what makes them successful?

Social capital.

Allow me to explain.

What is social capital?

While post-disaster recovery processes are often considered opportunities for physical reconstruction, they are also opportunities to revitalize the local economy, upgrading quality of life and community ties. 

Social capital– which describes the trust, social norms, and networks which affect social and economic activity- is at the heart of this. 

Why? 

Because trust and connection in a community makes it easier to collaboratively recover and exchange resources for the overall benefit of the community. Not only is this reflected in how fast physical spaces return to normal, but also in the strength of community ties after a disaster. 

However, the risk of extreme natural disasters is increasing, and there are still gaps in our responses. 

The good news?

Innovators like you can use the gaps I am about to list to make communities more adaptable and resilient to natural disasters in the future. 

Gaps In Disaster Response & Recovery

Addressing the interdisciplinary community-based problems that arise after natural disasters requires interdisciplinary community-based solutions. 

These are questions not only for engineers and city planners, but also artists, musicians, and storytellers. 

How do we rebuild, not just physically reconstructing our buildings, but nurturing our collective consciousness as a community? 

#1: Youth-Friendly Spaces For Disaster Recovery 

Typically, research surrounding disaster recovery has focused on supporting adults. However, this misses out on the specific struggles of children and teenagers, and their journey to recovery after natural disasters. 

However, research from 2017 has revealed specific strategies that, if implemented, could improve the support available to youth. Some of these strategies include peer to peer support, and creating stability in home and school environments. In the 2017 study, students voiced a need for not only physical and psychological support, but also the symbolic need (e.g. hope, normalcy, prosperity) that are difficult to reinforce after a disaster. 

How do we fill these gaps? 

This is up to problem-solvers like you to explore, but here are some questions to get you started. 

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• How can we design temporary shelters or communal spaces that offer safety while incorporating art to create a sense of familiarity and comfort for youth?
• What are key cultural elements in art and engineering that resonate with youth in affected regions, and how can we incorporate these into disaster recovery efforts to foster resilience?
• What forms of art (e.g., music, murals, theater) could be integrated into engineering projects to promote emotional healing and a sense of belonging for youth in temporary living spaces?
• How can engineering and design techniques be used to create mobile or modular art spaces that support the continuity of community and cultural expression for displaced youth?
• What roles can youth play in the collaborative design process, allowing them to co-create solutions that reflect their unique needs and perspectives?
• How can we ensure that our collaborative projects remain sustainable and adaptable, providing long-term benefits as youth progress through different stages of recovery?
• What metrics or feedback systems can we design to assess the effectiveness of our projects in fostering both physical safety and psychological recovery for young people?

#2: Using Music To Shape Disaster Response

Music has played a significant role in disaster response, often acting as a tool for community healing, fundraising, and remembrance. 

Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, music gatherings fostered solidarity and resilience, while local folk arts like matsuri festivals (traditional celebrations with dance and song) were revived to restore a sense of normalcy and cultural identity. 

These performances connected residents with their heritage, helping them process the trauma and rebuild their social fabric through shared cultural expression​.

Another example of music in action is after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, when Linkin Park founded “Music for Relief” to leverage music’s influence in raising awareness and funds for disaster-stricken areas. 

This organization has since responded to over 25 global natural disasters, using music-driven campaigns to gather support and plant over a million trees as part of environmental recovery efforts.

After Hurricane Sandy, musicians and artists collaborated to capture survivors’ stories and create interactive installations to commemorate their experiences. 

This initiative, blending music, stories, and art, allowed affected individuals to express their personal challenges while fostering civil conversations around community values and future preparedness. 

It shows that music and storytelling can serve as cathartic, communal spaces for processing disaster experiences​.

So what is left to address?

Here are a few. 

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• What specific musical traditions or sounds are culturally meaningful to the community, and how can we incorporate these elements to foster resilience and a sense of identity?
• What role can music play in community rituals or gatherings during disaster recovery, and how can we facilitate these gatherings to support collective healing?
• How can we collaborate with local musicians and youth to co-create music sessions or programs that are therapeutic and representative of the community’s resilience and experiences?
• In what ways can we integrate music therapy principles into disaster response initiatives to provide psychological support to children and young adults?
• How can music be used as a symbolic tool to commemorate and honor lost lives or damaged heritage, and how might this influence our design and delivery methods?

#3: Developing Preventative & Predictive Measures

Consider this: effective early warning systems can save lives by providing communities with the crucial time needed to evacuate or reinforce structures before a disaster strikes. 

On the other hand, preventative strategies, such as environmental planning and infrastructure development, can significantly reduce the damage a natural disaster does to a community​.

The urgency to prioritize these measures grows as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. 

By combining predictive data with preventative planning, communities can better protect lives, reduce economic losses, and lower post-disaster recovery costs.

Disaster Recovery Questions To Consider:

• What early-warning signs of natural disasters are often missed or underutilized, and how could technology enhance the detection of these signs?
• How can predictive models be improved to factor in the unique environmental and social vulnerabilities of specific regions, ensuring more tailored and effective responses?
• What role can community-driven data collection and local knowledge play in creating more accurate and responsive disaster prediction systems?
• What are the social and economic barriers preventing communities from adopting existing preventative technologies, and how might solutions address these barriers?
• How can solutions be designed to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure, ensuring rapid deployment in at-risk areas?
• How can solutions prioritize the most vulnerable populations, such as those in underserved or remote areas, in both the prediction and prevention of disasters?
• In what ways can solutions promote sustainable practices to address underlying causes of disaster vulnerability, such as deforestation or urban development in flood-prone areas?
• How can data on past natural disasters be utilized to create a global network of best practices, allowing regions to learn from each other and develop faster, more effective preventative solutions?

How to Get Started/Conclusion

Now the question is, how can you get started on applying these concepts and questions to your innovation?

Here are three easy steps you can take in less than 15 minutes to begin problem-solving now:

1. (8 minutes) Pen & Paper:
   1. Write one of the “gap” questions at the top of a piece of paper. 
   2. Identify down 3 facts you know already about the problem (that are relevant to the questions). 
   3. Note down 3 facts you would need to know to understand the problem fully. 
   4. Note down 3 “What if…” questions about this problem.
2. (5 minutes) The First 3 Steps:
   1. Determine the first 3 steps you can take to learn more about the problem and how you can address it given your constraints (e.g. time, money) and skills (i.e. What do you do very well? What do you have a certification or degree in?)
3. (2 minutes) Schedule:
   1. Put the first 3 steps of your plan into your calendar!

Thought To Action

1. (5min. Or Less) Support Mental Health through Art Donations: Consider donating to organizations that bring music, art, and creative therapy to affected areas. Programs like Music for Relief use art as a form of therapy for trauma survivors, helping to rebuild mental resilience in disaster-stricken communities
2. (15min. Or Less) Sign Petitions to Support Policy Changes: Advocacy can play a major role in disaster prevention and response. In just a few minutes, you can sign petitions aimed at improving disaster preparedness, strengthening local infrastructure, or protecting disaster-prone communities from environmental risks. Websites like Change.org or local government platforms are good places to start.
3. (30min. Or Less) Send Encouragement Cards: Write a few words of encouragement in cards or notes to be sent to individuals or families affected by a disaster. Organizations like Letters of Hope often organize these kinds of drives, making it easy to join in from anywhere.
4. (1 Hour Or Less) Create a Care Package: Some organizations accept donations of specific care package items like hygiene kits, blankets, or food. Spend an hour assembling one or two care packages and mail them to an organization coordinating disaster response, such as the Red Cross or local food banks.
5. (More Than 1 Hour) Engage in Virtual Volunteerism: Many recovery organizations seek virtual volunteers to help with tasks like graphic design, social media, or website support. If you’re comfortable with digital tools, you can offer your time to support these projects remotely, helping to amplify their impact without needing to be on-site

Sources

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Borum, R. (2017). Social science approaches to building community resilience in disaster response and recovery. University of Delaware. Retrieved from https://udspace.udel.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/8fcc8535-9d52-4ad4-a674-c33d6475cb95/content

Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Understanding youth disaster recovery: The vital role of people, places, and activities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 22, 249–256. Retrieved from https://hazards.colorado.edu/uploads/publications/11_2017_Cox_Scannell_Heykoop_Tobin_Peek.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). Disaster response and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/disaster-response-and-recovery

Akasaka, H., & Uekusa, S. (2017). Disaster education in Japan and Sweden: Comparative perspective on the school system. Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1094436/FULLTEXT01.pdf

Yokohama National University. (2018). Building resilience through local business partnerships in disaster risk reduction. Journal of Disaster Research, 40(2), 42–56. Retrieved from https://www.cba.ynu.ac.jp/gakkai/kaisi/pdf/40-2-6.pdf

Smith, G. P., & Wenger, D. (2007). Sustainable disaster recovery: Operationalizing an existing agenda. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 25(3), 235-256. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gavin-Smith-10/publication/226836921_Sustainable_Disaster_Recovery_Operationalizing_An_Existing_Agenda/links/5af5ace20f7e9b026bceb0d1/Sustainable-Disaster-Recovery-Operationalizing-An-Existing-Agenda.pdf

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Cox, R. S., Scannell, L., Heykoop, C., Tobin-Gurley, J., & Peek, L. (2017). Community and youth resilience through social science research. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=a1b18cd25b71aa4183cb7125b877b9c2bdf210b6

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Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2024). Art and community resilience: FEMA builds connections between art, culture, and recovery. Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240131/art-community-resilience-fema-builds-connections-between-art-culture-and

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