The Evaluation of the Social and Economic Resilience Components in the Quake-stricken City of Bam, Kerman Province

Finding a way to empower communities and individuals to resist against natural disasters has increased a necessity of defining and evaluating disaster resilience. Aim of this study is to evaluate the components of social and economic resilience of the earthquake-stricken city of Bam, which was struck by a devastating earthquake in 2003. Based on the goal, research method is applied, and descriptive-analytic method is used to evaluate the components of social and economic resilience of the earthquake-stricken of the city. Due to the heterogeneity of the population and sampling units, multi-stage sampling method was used. The sample size in this study, using the Cochran's formula, was determined to be 330 households. Statistical tests including one-sample t-test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The results show that households dwelled in Bam are at an undesirable condition in area of components of knowledge and skills, and desirable condition in terms of components of Components of awareness, attitude and social capital. Overall, the social resilience dimension has been reported at a desirable level. But, In term of economic resilience and its three components, 1) the amount and severity of damage, 2)the ability to compensate and 3)return to appropriate employment and financial conditions, the situation is relatively unfavorable.