We Need More than Disaster Planning -- We Need Communities

Ensuring that America's technologically-reliant but vulnerable cities can survive natural disasters and other disruptions may mean that Americans have to look beyond their traditional value of "self-reliance" -- and possibly redefine what it means to be a

1 minute read

November 10, 2005, 11:00 AM PST

By Michael Dudley

"Hurricane Katrina and other substantial natural disasters of the past year...remind us that the physical world still has the power to crash our computerized, digitized, climate-controlled party. Our technology cannot always save us.

"But our neighbors just might. And, happily, we retain the power to shape and revise our communities...How do the growth patterns of our neighborhoods, towns and cities reinforce economic disparity? Make us more dependent on cheap fossil fuel? Irrevocably change the character of the land we depend upon? How do our individual preferences and conveniences make othersâ€™ lives more difficult, marginalized, poorer? How do the technologies we use increase our communityâ€™s susceptibility to chaos or hardship during times of crisis?"

FULL STORY: What to Take From the Flood

Wednesday, November 9, 2005 in Common Dreams

Community / Economic Development Louisiana

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.