Abstract
Several factors influence the abilities of communities to cope with, respond to, and recover from earthquakes. Beyond the uncontrollable geophysical factors (e.g., the magnitude and type of earthquake) are the complex array of historic, social, economic, political, and cultural forces that affect loss reduction, response, and recovery. This paper uses a geographic perspective to situate the communities most affected by the 2002 Molise, Italy, event. This area of Italy is characterized by economic underdevelopment, an aging population, and out-migration. The earthquake effects may exacerbate these preexisting conditions. In order to obtain reliable and accurate insights into the recovery process, better socio-economic data and information must be gathered following seismic events. Such data are essential to understanding the process and dimensions of recovery in Molise and in other locations.
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