Living with extremes: loss and adjustment in the face of drought and cyclones in the Cook Islands
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Living with extremes: loss and adjustment in the face of drought and cyclones in the Cook Islands
This
case study explores how communities in the Cook Islands are experiencing,
preparing for, responding to and recovering from droughts and cyclones. We
found that the immediate devastation of cyclones and the chronic devastation
of droughts have various impacts, most of which take an emotional toll and
affect abilities to meet household needs. Experiences of disasters over
centuries have led to the development of signifcant local knowledge and
traditional coping strategies which enable anticipation, preparation and
adaptation to extreme weather. Looking ahead, Cook Islanders’ tacit knowledge
and endogenous spiritual and community resources offer agency, hope and
resilience in the face of climate change into the future.
