Erin O'Connell

Associate Professor, Teaching Stream, and Associate Chair, Undergraduate

EV1-331
erin.oconnell@uwaterloo.ca
 

Erin’s research interests have focused on disaster risk reduction, including disaster vulnerability reduction and building sustainable and resilient communities. Much of her research has taken place in Asia, with an emphasis on community-based disaster recovery and housing reconstruction, livelihoods, although this has expanded into southern Africa and the Caribbean. Erin’s teaching has focused more broadly on environmental studies, examining the human interactions with the natural world.

Recent courses taught:

  • ENVS 195: Introduction to Environmental Studies
  • GEOG 306: Human Dimensions of Natural Hazards

Research Interests
My research focuses on disaster risk reduction in both developed and developing country contexts. I am particularly interested in examining post-disaster livelihood recovery and housing reconstruction processes, exploring how recovery programming can reduce vulnerability to future hazards, and increase resilience to face a multitude of stressors. Other areas of research focus include:

  1. Understanding the role of social and cultural capital in disaster risk reduction and recovery processes.
  2. Exploring the ways in which disasters and religion intersect, including an examination of the impact of disasters on an individuals’ faith, their relationship with their community, and their perception of the environment.

Recent Publications:

  • Zarin, T., & O’Connell, E.P. (2026). Inclusive Wildfire Disaster Risk Reduction: Addressing Accessibility Needs in British Columbia. Canadian Geographies, doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.70059. 
  • Bishwokarma, D., Nepal, S.K., Doberstein, B., O’Connell, E., & McCordic, C. (2026). The influence of social capital and tourism on post-disaster recovery: A review of global evidence. Environmental Management, 76(3), doi: 10.1007/s00267-025-02360-6.
  • Dearden, P., Mitchell, B., O’Connell, E., & Lantz, T. (2025). Environmental Change and Challenge: A Canadian Perspective (7th Ed). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
  • O’Connell, E.P. (2024). Sidoarjo Mud Volcano (Indonesia). In The Encyclopedia of Technological Hazards and Disasters in the Social Sciences, edited by D.A. Gill, L.A. Ritchie, and N. Campbell. London: Edward Elgar.
  • O’Connell, E.P. & Doberstein, B. (2022). Settlement Shelter and Reconstruction. In T. McGee & E. Penning-Roswell (Eds), Handbook of Environmental Hazards and Society (pp. 534-549). Routledge. DOI: 10.4324/9780367854584-39.
  • Dearden, P., Mitchell, B., & O’Connell, E. (2020). Environmental Change and Challenge: A Canadian Perspective (6th Ed). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.
  • O’Connell, E.P., Abbott, R.P., & White, R.S. (2019). ‘Generic’ versus ‘Mature’ Measures of Religiosity: Comparing two quantitative measures of religiosity. European Journal of Mental Health, 14(1), 21-40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.14.2019.1.2.  
  • Oulahen, G., Mortsch, L., O’Connell, E., Harford, D., Rutledge, A. (2019). Local practitioners’ use of vulnerability and resilience concepts in pursuing adaptation to flood hazards. Climatic Change, 153(1), 41-58, DOI: 10.1007/s10584-019-02386-w.
  • Oulahen, G., Klein, Y., Mortsch, L., O’Connell, E.P., Harford, D. (2018). Barriers and Drivers of Planning for Climate Change Adaptation across Three Levels of Government in Canada. Planning Theory & Practice, 19(3), 405-421, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2018.1481993.
  • Moghal, Z. & O’Connell, E.P. (2018). Multiple Stressors Impacting a Small Island Tourism Destination-Community: A nested vulnerability assessment of Oistins, Barbados. Tourism Management Perspectives, 26, 78-88, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.03.004
  • O’Connell, E.P., Abbott, R.P., & White, R.S. (2017). Religious Struggles after Typhoon Haiyan: A Case Study from Bantayan Island. Disaster Prevention and Management, 26(3), 330-347, DOI: 10.1108/DPM-02-2017-0041.
  • Stewart, R.E., Betancourt, D., Davies, J., Harford, D., Klein, Y., Lannigan, R., Mortsch, L., O’Connell, E., Tang, K., & Whitfield, P. (2017). A Multi-Perspective Examination of Heat Waves Affecting Metro Vancouver: Now into the Future. Natural Hazards, DOI:10.1007/s11069-017-2793-7.
  • O’Connell, E.P., Abbott, R.P., & White, R.S. (2017). Emotions and Beliefs after Disaster: A Comparative Analysis in Haiti and Indonesia. Disasters. DOI: 10.1111/disa.12227
  • Joakim, E.P., Mortsch, L., Oulahen, G., Harford, D., Klein, Y., Damude, K., & Tang, K. (2016). Using System Dynamics to Model Social Vulnerability and Resilience to Coastal Hazards. International Journal of Emergency Management, 12(4), 366-391.
  • Joakim, E.P. & White, R.S. (2015). Exploring the Impact of Religious Beliefs, Leadership and Networks on Response and Recovery of Disaster-Affected Populations: A Case Study from Indonesia. Journal of Contemporary Religion, 30(2), 193-212.
  • Joakim, E.P. & Wismer, S. (2015). Livelihood Recovery after Disaster. Development in Practice, 25(3), 401-418.
  • Joakim, E.P., Mortsch, L. & Oulahen, G. (2015). Using Vulnerability and Resilience Concepts to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. Environmental Hazards, DOI: 10.1080/17477891.2014.1003777.
  • Joakim, E.P. & Doberstein, B. (2015). Planning for Long-Term Housing Reconstruction Following a Major Disaster: A Case Study of the 2006 Yogyakarta, Indonesia Earthquake. Journal of the American Planning Association, 80(4), 352-353.
  • Joakim, E.P. & Doberstein, B. (2014). Policy Recommendations for Reducing Vulnerability and Increasing Resiliency to Disaster Events in Canada: Perspectives from Practitioners in Waterloo Region, Ontario. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy. 4(4), 274-291.