Assessing the Arctic Communities’ Capacity to Address Pandemic: An Example of Alaska
Topics:
Keywords: Pandemic, Index, Resilience, Vulnerability, Alaska, COVID-19
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Authors:
Sweta Tiwari, ARCTICenter-University of Northern Iowa
Andrey Petrov, ARCTICenter-University of Northern Iowa
Nino Mateshvili, University of Northern Iowa
Michele Devlin, US Army War College
Nikoloay Golosov, Pennsylvania State University
Marya Rozanova-Smith, George Washington University
John DeGroote, University of Northern Iowa
Mark Welford, University of Northern Iowa
Tatiana Degai, University of Victoria
Stanislav Ksenofontov, ARCTICenter-UNI
Abstract
Categorizing remote regions with large Indigenous populations, such as those in the Arctic, only using a vulnerability continuum based on standard indicators without considering their resilience results in the underestimation of these communities’ unique socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic capacities to withstand and recover from pandemic exposure. This study, by recognizing vulnerability and resilience as two separate but interrelated dimensions, assesses the Arctic communities' ability to cope with future pandemic risks. An asset-based approach that refocuses research from community deficiencies to its strengths may provide a better alternative for a comprehensive pandemic risk assessment. In particular, using a vulnerability-resilience framework, this study assesses the Alaskan communities' capacity to address future pandemic risks. Vulnerability-resilience framework for Alaska incorporates indices of vulnerability and resilience, named the Alaska Pandemic Vulnerability Index and Alaska Pandemic Resilience Index, which are developed based on percentile ranking of boroughs’ and census areas’ various societal factors. Based on the combined assessment of the vulnerability and resilience indices, this study found that Hoonah-Angoon, Kusilvak, Northwest Arctic, Prince of Wales-Hyder, Southeast Fairbanks, and Wrangell have high vulnerability and low resilience and, thus, are likely prone to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 or a future pandemic. The insight that pandemic risks result from the interaction between vulnerability and resilience could help public officials and local organizations to identify the potential community impact of a pandemic more accurately in Alaska and other Arctic communities, and to allocate resources and/or services accordingly.
Assessing the Arctic Communities’ Capacity to Address Pandemic: An Example of Alaska
Category
Virtual Paper Abstract
