Community-based disaster management during the 1997 Red River Flood in Canada

This paper examines the relationship between community preparedness and res ponse to natural disaster and their level and pattern of community developm ent. This is done by investigating preparation and response to the 1997 Red River Flood by three rural communities in Manitoba, Canada. The communitie s were selected because of their different ethnic mix and associated level and pattern of community development. The hypothesis was supported that the level and pattern of community development affect community capacity to re spond To flooding. Communities characterised by higher levels of physical, human and social capital were better prepared and more effective responders to the flood. However, where the pattern of community development was char acterised by high levels of social capital, decision-making processes were complicated.