Integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and AI in Hurricane Resilience and Adaptation

With the incidences of increasing hurricanes and cyclone intensity and frequency driven by climate change, Indigenous communities have become vital actors in advancing effective adaptation strategies. This chapter focuses on the synergy between traditional Indigenous knowledges and modern scientific approaches to predict and respond to tropical storms such as hurricanes. Utilizing case studies from literature, we explore how Indigenous communities have successfully harnessed their knowledge, including traditional weather forecasting methods, to enhance community-based disaster preparedness and resilience against hurricanes. We emphasize the intricate process of integrating Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts, highlighting the essential role of building trust, nurturing relationships, and respecting the deep-seated values embedded in Indigenous practices. Additionally, the chapter investigates the challenges these communities face in advocating for their cyclone/hurricane adaptation strategies within formal disaster risk reduction policies. We highlight initiatives that empower Indigenous communities to prepare for hurricanes, including partnerships with governments, NGOs, and international organizations. In doing so, we offer an understanding of the multifaceted adaptation strategies employed by Indigenous communities in the face of a changing climate and highlight their critical role in strengthening regional resilience to hurricanes. Apart from Indigenous Traditional Knowledge we try to amalgamate the research on current scientific practices involving machine learning and artificial intelligence approaches along with traditional practices for reduction in disaster risk related to tropical storms and increased resilience of communities. We also present the Climate Communication Channels (3C) Model, a conceptual framework for effective true knowledge transfer between local communities via scientists, researchers, knowledge processing centers, educators, and learners for curated localized climate resilience and adaptation strategies.