Theorizing construction industry practice within a disaster risk reduction setting: is it a panacea or an illusion?

Figures & data

Figure 1 The disaster risk management and response spiral (adapted from Obrien et al., 2010 and Max Lock Centre, 2009)

Figure 2 Holistic expertise development model

Table 1 Highlights of experiences of the flood-affected businesses (adapted from Wedawatta et al., 2014)

Case No.	Type	Extent of work done in reconstruction of flood-damaged properties	Involvement of CI	Experiences of affected property owners
Case 1	Public house and restaurant	Reinstatement of floors and retrofitting of power sockets and interior works	All reconstruction work done by a small redecoration company	The claims procedure and the reconstruction process initiated by the insurance company
Case 2	Newsagent shop	Mainly interiors	Several building trades worked independently. The property owner was faced with coordinating the project	The process was initiated by the insurance company and the loss adjustor. Then, the whole process of managing the separate tradesmen fell on the property owner
Case 3	Hardware shop	Mainly interiors	Single contractor employed for refurbishment of premises	Difficulties faced in selecting the contractor as several small construction firms started advertising by dropping leaflets in the premises. Contractor was recommended by the drying firm
Case 4	Lighting and electrical shop	Mainly interiors	A lot of professionals from both construction and insurance industry involved in putting the project together	Suddenly required to engage and negotiate with professionals that they had no experience or knowledge of (architects, surveyors and loss adjusters).

Figure 3 Comparison of the level of satisfaction of owner and DAP housing (Galle District, Sri Lanka) – after Ingirige et al., 2008)

Figure 4 Modified expertise development model

O’Brien, G., O’Keefe, P., Gadema, Z. and Swords, J. (2010) Approaching disaster management through social learning. Disaster Prevention and Management, 19(4), 498–508.10.1108/09653561011070402

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