Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe exposed deficiencies in the country’s disaster management system. This study uses a phenomenological case exploration of the experiences of local residents in Rusitu Valley following cyclone-induced floods that affected the area in March 2019. Through capturing narratives of participants who were recruited through chain referrals, the research intends to understand how local actors, utilizing their local-based response systems, managed to fill in the voids that characterize disaster management practice in Zimbabwe. Results show that the participation of local “heroes” and “Samaritans,” by deploying their social networks, norms, relationships, practices, and modest ingenuity, helped to speed up response times and minimize threats to lives and livelihoods. Documentation of the stories of local actors about their disaster experiences also gives a richer picture of the Cyclone Idai disaster. Although the community response system also facilitated the operation of external disaster management agencies, their premature withdrawal tended to weaken the trust and values existing in the area, and created tensions between the disaster-affected people and other villagers. Given the delays in formal responses by the government and other external relief agencies, the practices of local actors, although spontaneous and largely uncoordinated, offer rich insights into the design and development of disaster management regimes.

津巴布韦的飓风艾代暴露了该国灾害管理系统的缺陷。这项研究使用现象学的案例研究方法，研究了2019年3月飓风引发的洪水袭击Rusitu谷地后对该地区的居民的经历。通过捕获通过链转介招募的参与者的叙事，该研究旨在了解当地参与者如何，利用他们在当地的响应系统，设法填补了津巴布韦灾难管理实践的空白。结果表明，本地“英雄”和“撒马利亚人”的参与，通过部署他们的社交网络，规范，关系，做法和适度的才智，有助于加快响应时间并最大程度地减少对生命和生计的威胁。记录当地演员有关其灾难经历的故事，也使人们对飓风“艾代”灾难有更全面的了解。尽管社区响应系统也促进了外部灾难管理机构的运作，但过早撤出往往会削弱该地区现有的信任和价值，并在受灾人民和其他村民之间造成紧张关系。鉴于政府和其他外部救灾机构对正式行动的拖延，地方行动者的行为虽然自发且基本不协调，但它们为灾害管理制度的设计和发展提供了丰富的见识。他们过早地撤离往往会削弱该地区现有的信任和价值，并在受灾人民和其他村民之间造成紧张局势。鉴于政府和其他外部救灾机构对正式行动的拖延，地方行动者的行为虽然自发且基本不协调，但它们为灾害管理制度的设计和发展提供了丰富的见识。他们过早地撤离往往会削弱该地区现有的信任和价值，并在受灾人民和其他村民之间造成紧张局势。鉴于政府和其他外部救灾机构对正式行动的拖延，地方行动者的行为虽然自发且基本不协调，但它们为灾害管理制度的设计和发展提供了丰富的见识。