The long-term impact of disasters and looking forward

Disaster recovery has been referred to as the ‘least understood’ part of the disaster cycle. The immediate impacts and responses to disasters have historically gained more attention, leaving recovery to the wayside. Creating space for dialogue remains critical in order for different forms of knowledge, insight and lived experience to speak to each other and cross-fertilise. Disasters are not simple occurrences that can be completely captured through any one perspective. While the ICRP meetings focused in the main on radiation protection, there was a growing recognition of the need to involve cross-community networks, as well as the importance of maintaining open lines of communication and knowledge exchange. Finally, Epstein drew on ethnography to look at another way of categorising risk measurements – in this case relating to mental health risks – in order to inform models of care and support delivered to disaster-affected communities.