title: Disaster risk reduction and sustainable development for small island developing states.
abstract: In contrast to continental nations, the world's 52 small island developing states (SIDS) are recognized as a collective of countries that experience disproportionate challenges for sustainable development related to their geography, small size, and physical isolation. These same states also face elevated risks for disaster incidence and consequences particularly in the realms of climate change, sea level rise, natural disasters (tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes), and marine hazardous materials spills. Cyclone Winston's direct impact on Fiji in 2016 and Cyclone Pam's landfall over Vanuatu in 2015 provide case examples illustrating the special vulnerabilities of the SIDS.
authors.affiliation: Center for Disaster & Extreme Event Preparedness (DEEP Center), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health , New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Madeline A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University , New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hermosilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Zelde
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Espinel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Fargo, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McLean
keywords: El Niño; climate change; disaster complexity; disaster risk reduction; risk communication; small island developing states; tropical cyclone