Paula Villagra

Dr. Paula Villagra

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

17Years (2010-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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1 March 2014 in Applied Geography
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PVPaula Villagra
Paula Villagra
Carolina RojasCarolina Rojas
Carolina Rojas
RORyuzo Ohno
Ryuzo Ohno
MXMa Xue
Ma Xue
KGKarina Gómez
Karina Gómez

25 October 2016 in Natural Hazards
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Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
ITIrina Tumini
Irina Tumini
PVPaula Villagra
Paula Villagra
MHMarie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke
Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke

24 June 2019 in Disasters
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Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
MHMarie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke
Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke
PVPaula Villagra
Paula Villagra

18 May 2017 in Natural Hazards
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
PVPaula Villagra
Paula Villagra
MHMarie Geraldine Herrmann
Marie Geraldine Herrmann
CQCarolina Quintana
Carolina Quintana
RSRoger D. Sepúlveda
Roger D. Sepúlveda


PVPaula Villagra
Paula Villagra
CQCarolina Quintana
Carolina Quintana
This study aimed to further our understanding of a characteristic of Community Resilience known as Disaster Governance. Three attributes of Disaster Governance—redundancy, diversity, and overlap—were studied in four coastal towns in southern Chile that are at risk of tsunamis. Overall, we explored how different spatial structures of human settlements influence Disaster Governance. Using the Projective Mapping Technique, the distribution of emergency institutions (N = 32) and uses given to specific sites (e.g., for refuge, sanitary purposes and medical attention) were mapped. Content and GIS analyses (Directional Distribution and Kernel Density Index) were used to explore the dispersion and concentration of institutions and uses in each town. Disaster Governance was found to be highly influenced by decisions taken during regional, urban, and emergency planning. Governance is better in towns of higher order in the communal hierarchical structure. Most of the emergency institutions were found to be located in central and urban areas, which, in turn, assures more redundancy, overlap, and diversity in governance in the event of a tsunami. Lack of flexibility of emergency plans also limits governance in rural and indigenous areas. While the spatial relationships found in this study indicate that urban sectors have better Disaster Governance than rural and indigenous sectors, the influence of resource availability after tsunamis, the role and responsibility of different levels of governments, and the politics of disaster also play an important role in Disaster Governance for determining Community Resilience. These findings shed light on emergency planning and aspects of the Disaster Management cycle.