Local Knowledge in Resilience and Adaptation to Snowstorm Hazards in Two North Atlantic Islands: Newfoundland and Iceland

Abstract

Drawing on first person observations, this paper explores how severe winter storms impacted the two rural island communities of Newfoundland and Iceland in January of 2020. The authors, as researchers and local community members, examine vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation as processes of community transformation in response to large-scale environmental hazards. Highlighting the significance of local knowledge and place-based worldviews, we argue that community-driven interactions are more effective than top-down approaches for hazard reduction and climate change adaptation. Our observations aim to offer broader insights for regions with similar socio-cultural and environmental contexts, underscoring how localized perspectives can foster positive transformation and strengthen adaptive capacity.