Cities are resilient by nature. Throughout history urban areas have been struck by a horrific menu of disasters including fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and wars. In the United States alone, within the past 150 years San Francisco and Anchorage have suffered devastating earthquakes; Chicago was nearly destroyed by a disastrous fire; Dayton and Johnstown experienced catastrophic flooding; and Galveston, Charleston, Miami, and New Orleans were ravaged by hurricanes (Galveston twice!). Yet, despite widespread damage and significant loss of life, these cities rebuilt their neighborhoods and economies and resumed their places in the life of the nation. Their recoveries, though inspiring, are not exceptional. Historically, nearly every city that has been felled by disaster has recovered.
But not all cities recover as quickly or as completely as others. San Francisco rebuilt itself and maintained its position as the principal city of the American west. Chicago not only rebuilt itself, but took the opportunity to create a series of lakefront parks that define the city today. In contrast, New Orleans’ recovery remains incomplete and the city may never return to its previous prominence. There are many factors that determine a city’s ability to bounce back from disaster or catastrophe, including the city’s level of economic vitality, the efficiency and effectiveness of its local government, the availability of private or public funding, and the willingness of local leaders to cooperate. Taken together, these factors determine how resilient an urban area is.
The differences in resilience between cities can be significant. The most resilient cities recover more quickly, more completely, and more intelligently than do less-resilient cities. Understanding the factors that make a city resilient can help local officials set the conditions for quicker, more comprehensive recovery from disaster.

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