Community Resilience

Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D.November 1, 2013

Ramapo College of NJ

Aral Sea Disaster 50 years

Creeping Environmental Disaster

(Glantz, 1999)

* Slow invisible onslaught * Low grade* Delayed recognition* Scientific Uncertainty and Disagreement* Thresholds of irreversibility* Long Term and cumulative* Inaction for 50 years

Ian McHarg Design with Nature

Vulnerability of New Jersey shore due to unsustainable planning

Sea and Survival study of Great Hurricane of 1962. Blamed inappropriate development for the damage doneBut then predicted repeat:What can the most unprepared people of New Jersey

expect? We hope for the best, but it would be sanguine to expect anything less than disaster.

50 years later---Hurricane Sandy

The Lesson:

Vulnerabilities cannot be addressed when we respond too late

To create

Resilient CommunitiesWe need

Sustainable Communities