PhotoVoice: A Community-Based Participatory Approach in Developing Disaster Reduction Strategies

Introduction: The traditional centralized approach to disaster preparedness fails to take into consideration the unique geographic, historic, cultural, and social needs of communities. It often puts vulnerable communities more at risk by directing them to follow a one-size-fits-all model. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches can increase awareness and customize the disaster reduction strategies to meet a community’s unique needs.

Objective: To partner with a vulnerable community in Hawaii in conducting a hazard-specific vulnerability and capability assessment utilizing PhotoVoice and the core principles of CBPR.

Methods: A community participated in a PhotoVoice project to identify and categorize their vulnerabilities and capabilities, identify gaps, and develop solutions or strategies to reduce their vulnerability to a tsunami.

Results: Forty-two vulnerabilities and 50 capabilities within the community were identified and then categorized through photo presentations and discussion sessions. These were sorted into 17 themes, including communications, accessibility, historic and cultural, emergency notification, food, and water. Based on the vulnerability and capability assessment, 13 gaps were then identified and discussed, yielding 16 feasible strategies to reduce the community’s vulnerability.

Conclusions: PhotoVoice was found to be a successful community-based participatory process to assist a vulnerable community to develop contextually appropriate disaster reduction strategies through visual dialogue, which increased community awareness, engagement, and capacity.