bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Financial Losses to Alabama's Seafood Industry Due to Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Chang Semoon , Denson Chris , Anson Kevin
Published: January 2023

Hurricane Katrina impacted the coastal areas in the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, U.S.A. on 29 August 2005. This study estimated economic loss to Alabama's seafood industry from Katrina's devastation. For loss estimation, the Alabama seafood industry was divided into four categories: dealers and processors, shrimp fishermen, other fishermen, and charter boat owners and/or operators. Estimated losses were calculated separately for damages to boats and facilities (excluding insurance coverage), beached vessels, lost inventories, wages and invoices unpaid, and lost revenues from past and future lost sales. Loss estimation was based on broad guidelines suggested by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for impact estimation from natural disasters and the U.S. OMB Circular A-94. Losses to Alabama's seafood industry were estimated at $122.25 million with a possible additional loss of $61.1 million due to defaulted loans.
Identifying the Tsunami Dead in Thailand and Sri Lanka: Multi-National Emergent Organizations
Authors: Scanlon Joseph
Published: January 2023

After a mass death incident, the response is initially informal but later becomes controlled by police and the human remains are worked on by police and forensic scientists. Normally, countries do this themselves though they may seek assistance from others. But in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, both Thailand and Sri Lanka turned over the handling of the dead to multinational emergent organizations involving 34 countries. Especially in Thailand, these organizations soon became very structured and not only established guidelines as to how the dead were to be handled but also enforced these guidelines—at one point expelling persons whose conduct was considered unacceptable. The emergent organizations followed the patterns predicted by scholars such as Dynes, Quarantelli, and Forrest. While it is unlikely that similar multinational organizations would emerge for handling mass death situations in other countries, it would seem worth examining why similar cooperative patterns can not develop for humanitarian relief.
College Student Disaster Risk, Fear and Preparedness
Authors: Lovekamp William E. , Tate Michelle L.
Published: January 2023

This research examines college students’ perceived risk of tornados and earthquakes affecting their college residence and community, fear, perceived levels of disaster preparedness and preparedness actions at a Midwestern university. Using questionnaires, we collected a sample of 192 college students from a variety of majors and class ranks. We conclude that these students do know the potential likelihood and risks of tornados and earthquakes, perceive that they are prepared for tornados but not for earthquakes, and do not take many of the appropriate actions to prepare themselves.
Communicating Katrina: A Resilient Media
Authors: Duhe' Sonya Forte
Published: January 2023

This case study on news media operations during disaster examines the impediments experienced by newspapers and television stations in two states that were hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. Through management surveys in Louisiana and Mississippi, this research reveals that, although both states are hurricane prone areas, almost half of the respondents did not have a disaster plan in place. Even more interesting to note, one year following Katrina, many still did not have a plan—although a majority said they were currently working on one. These findings are consistent with existing research on communications and on other businesses that seldom have plans in place for a disaster even when business owners’ risk perceptions are high. This research also suggests that, similar to other research on businesses in disaster, large news media operations may be better prepared than medium to small sized businesses. Furthermore, lessons learned from this research suggest crisis plans for media outlets should address human resource issues (such as aiding families of staff members), technology issues, and the unique needs for information distribution when there are power outages and workplaces destroyed.
Smart Developments in Dangerous Locations: A Reality Check of Existing New Urbanist Developments
Authors: Song Yan , Berke Philip , Stevens Mark
Published: January 2023

Since its inception in the mid-1980s, New Urbanist developments have been rapidly expanding. In this article, we examine the extent to which New Urbanist developments are exposed to flood hazards, demonstrate the hazard mitigation measures taken by New Urbanist developments, and compare New Urbanist and conventional developments in incorporating hazard mitigation measures. We find that New Urbanist developments are vulnerable to floods throughout the U.S. and a substantial number (36%) of New Urbanist developments are exposed to hazards. Furthermore, we show that New Urbanist projects use more mitigation measures overall than conventional developments, but these additional techniques focus on reducing structural vulnerability, which offers less security than site designs that avoid development in floodplains. Finally, we offer our suggestions on how New Urbanism movement can lead the efforts in building communities that are resilient to natural hazards.
Developing a Code of Ethics for Disaster Tourism
Authors: Kelman Ilan , Dodds Rachel
Published: January 2023

This paper provides a first discussion of the advantages and concerns of disaster tourism along with an initial step towards a code of ethics. Based on existing disaster and tourism codes, four guidelines are suggested and critiqued: 1. Priority in disasters should be given to the safety of disaster-affected people and responders, encompassing rescue and body recovery operations. 2. One individual should not put another individual at increased risk without consent. 3. The authorities in a disaster-affected area and their rules and regulations should be obeyed within reason. 4. Any donations or assistance offered to disaster-affected areas should be considered within the local context and should also involve nearby but non-disaster-affected communities. Targets, training, monitoring, enforcement, and evaluation for the code are also discussed along with the need for consultative processes for further developing and implementing the code. Three main areas of disaster tourism research are proposed for further work: disaster recovery, convergence behaviour, and supporting disaster risk reduction rather than post-disaster actions.
Planning for a Temporary-to-Permanent Housing Solution in Post-Katrina Mississippi: The Story of the Mississippi Cottage
Authors: Evans-Cowley Jennifer , Kitchen Joseph
Published: January 2023

Immediately following Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi Governor's Commission for Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal collaborated with the Congress for the New Urbanism to generate rebuilding proposals for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. One of the ideas generated from this partnership was the Katrina Cottage—a small home that could serve as an alternative to the FEMA Trailer. The State of Mississippi participated in the Pilot Alternative Temporary Housing (PATH) program, which was funded by the U.S. Congress. This study examines how local governments and residents responded to the Mississippi Cottage Program. This study finds that while the Mississippi Cottage program did provide citizens with needed housing following Hurricane Katrina, there are significant policy and implementation challenges that should be addressed before future disasters. The paper concludes by offering recommendations on how communities across can prepare to provide temporary housing in their communities.
Family-to-Work Conflict among Texas Law enforcement officers in the Wake of the Hurricane Rita Evacuation
Authors: Zottarelli Lisa K. , Bugg David , Rider Erin
Published: January 2023

Law enforcement has critical responsibilities during evacuations, taking officers away from their families to work to serve the needs of the community. The purpose of this article is to examine family-to-work conflict for law enforcement officers who worked during the evacuation of the Texas Gulf Coast in preparation for Hurricane Rita. Officers from counties along the Texas Gulf Coast were sampled. Results of OLS regression show that unmet family needs during the evacuation resulted in increased family-to-work conflict after Hurricane Rita, while the presence of children in the household resulted in less family-to-work conflict after Hurricane Rita. Law enforcement agencies and disaster managers need to consider work and family issues when training officers to prepare for disaster related events.
Ecosystems and Disaster Resiliency: Contributions to a Holistic Theory of Recovery
Authors: Berke Phillip R. , Glavovic Bruce C.
Published: January 2023

Considerable research has focused on how pre-disaster actions degrade ecosystem resilience that exacerbates risk to human communities. In contrast, little is known about how ecosystem resilience benefits people during disaster recovery, and how pre- and post-disaster recovery planning and decisions affect ecosystem resilience. This article offers a critical review of the contributions of research and gaps in knowledge about ecosystem resiliency, and the role of pre-disaster recovery planning and post-disaster adaptive actions in protecting and restoring ecosystems. Critical dimensions of ecosystem protection in the context of recovery planning and adaptive actions are examined, including: impacts of degradation of ecosystem services; recovery strategies to sustain ecosystem services; and role of recovery planning in use of eco-science. Recommendations for future research are offered that cover the need to develop alternative interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks to improve knowledge to analyze and prescribe effective protection and restoration strategies, and to create decision support tools for scenario building and testing to improve pre-disaster recovery plans.
Synthesis Efforts in Disaster Recovery Research
Authors: Johnson Laurie A. , Hayashi Haruo
Published: January 2023

This paper reports on the progress made in disaster recovery research over the previous decades with an emphasis on the “synthesis” research, which combines different recovery concepts, dimensions, and influences into a new, unified whole. By its very nature, synthesis research has taken a broader view of disaster recovery and has tended to be more multi-disciplinary in its perspective. An examination of the literature related to urban disaster recovery and recovery management mainly from the U.S. and Japan found that, over the past 40 years, synthesis researchers have undertaken both empirical and qualitative studies of disaster cases, attempted to model and measure the process of recovery, and developed a more multi-disciplinary, comprehensive understanding of the disaster recovery process. Advances in remote sensing and computer modeling have been critical to advancing the field. There is an emerging consensus definition of disaster recovery as a complex, nonlinear process that involves physical as well as social, economic, and institutional recovery dimensions. As well, emerging theoretical constructs for urban disaster recovery are rooted in systems theory and aspects of decision theory are applicable in developing management approaches for the recovery process. Looking ahead, there is a time-critical opportunity for the research community to develop some consensus views and to work to refine the understanding of both the process of disaster recovery and its management.
Forecasting Shelter Accessibility and Vehicle Availability for Hurricane Evacuation in Northern New Jersey Using Sample Enumeration
Authors: Deka Devajyoti , Carnegie Jon A.
Published: January 2023

As a part of a statewide effort to update county emergency management plans and to develop regional mass evacuation plans for New Jersey's four planning regions, this study developed and used a methodology to forecast mode-specific and destination-specific evacuees and measure the accessibility of evacuees to shelters and evacuation vehicles at the level of census tracts for a seven-county region. The paper presents a discussion on certain critical issues pertaining to the prediction of evacuation behavior, and provides results from explanatory and forecasting models on evacuation likelihood as well as results from parsimonious forecasting models on mode choice and destination choice of evacuees. It presents county aggregates of total evacuees, mode-specific evacuees, and shelter-bound evacuees obtained by integrating the model results with spatial data from secondary sources. It further shows the level of access to shelters and evacuation vehicles at the level of census tracts by combining evacuee forecasts with data on shelters and evacuation vehicles. Finally, it shows the potential impact of a shelter-in-place advisory on the evacuee forecasts.
Inter-Related Effects due to Droughts for Rural Populations: A Qualitative Field Study for Farmers in Iran
Authors: Yazdanpanah Masoud , Monfared Nozar , Hochrainer-Stigler Stefan
Published: January 2023

This paper provides in-depth information on the multiple realities and time-dependencies during droughts over different sub-groups of an affected society. Dynamics are analyzed based on categorization of impacts into human, social, financial and natural capital effects and using the theory of conservation of resources for the behavioral explanation of selected coping strategies. A qualitative field study based on this approach was conducted in a village in southern Iran. It was found that droughts can cause waves of negative effects on various capital dimensions to farmers, especially the poor. The dimensions are very much interrelated and can multiply negative effects, decreasing resilience to drought to very low levels that can eventually lead to poverty trap-like situations. Furthermore, it was found that government aid interventions unintendedly worsened the situation of the poor. To avoid such situations it is suggested to shift from relief or ex-post interventions to a proactive risk management approach.
The Role of the State in Building Local Capacity and Commitment for Hazard Mitigation Planning
Authors: Smith Gavin , Lyles Ward , Berke Philip
Published: January 2023

State governments play an important, but little understood, role in hazard mitigation through the use of a number of capacity building initiatives intended to assist communities develop hazard mitigation plans and policies. The passage of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 more than 10 years ago provides a baseline from which to assess the degree to which states have developed and applied the tools, funding mechanisms, programs, and policies to help communities achieve this important objective. In this article, several state-level measures are analyzed and discussed relative to the degree to which they facilitate an enhanced local capacity to engage in hazard mitigation activities, including planning. The measures include: state hazard mitigation staffing; state hazard mitigation funding, policies, and programs; state cost-sharing of hazard mitigation programs; and state delivery of hazard mitigation technical assistance. The findings suggest that states maintain a wide variation in state capacity and commitment to support local hazard mitigation activities, including that which is influenced by disaster-based funding. They also tend to emphasize building local governments’ capacities to gain access to project funding rather than focusing on helping them identify and establish a comprehensive, proactive, and sustained risk reduction strategy grounded in land use policy. In addition, state land use policies are not well integrated into state hazard mitigation plans and capacity building initiatives. Finally, state mitigation officials believe that most local governments do not possess the capacity or commitment necessary to develop sound hazard mitigation plans or administer hazard mitigation grants.
Social Time and Disaster
Authors: Neal David M.
Published: January 2023

Time permeates the disaster process. Yet, few scholars have integrated various notions of time in their disaster studies. In this paper, I introduce the ideas of event time, clock and calendar time, social time, and rhythm of life within the context of the pre-impact, impact, and post-impact phases. Simply, day-to-day life in industrialized society is based upon a series of schedules, calendars and routines on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis. Events that we call disasters and catastrophes upset our normal rhythm of life, creating degrees of social disruption from the individual up through the community units of analysis. Social units in impacted areas move from clock and calendar time (doing what is scheduled) to event time (doing what is needed now) when disaster strikes. The process of recovery is reflected in attempts to reestablish these same (or similar) clock and calendar time patterns as before the disaster.
From “No Man's Land” to a “Stronger Community”: Communitas as a Theoretical Framework for Successful Disaster Recovery
Authors: Richardson Brian K. , Siebeneck Laura K. , Shaunfield Sara , Kaszynski Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Disasters are especially threatening to small communities, which often have limited resources, personnel, and infrastructure necessary for the recovery process. Still, some small communities have demonstrated effective recovery from disasters. We wondered whether Turner's notion of communitas might serve as a useful theoretical framework for understanding effective community recovery from disaster. We interviewed 32 residents and five community leaders of a small Texas town that appeared to successfully recover from Hurricane Ike. Thematic analysis revealed the community did engage in practices that mirrored the dimensions of communitas, suggesting it is a useful framework for understanding (successful) disaster recovery. We describe implications of the study's key findings, followed by theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and directions for future research.
How K-12 School District and university officials Anticipated and Responded to 2011 National Weather Service Tornado Warnings
Authors: Hoekstra Stephanie , Nichols Amy C. , Gruntfest Eve
Published: January 2023

This research examines how public K-12 school district and university officials made decisions during National Weather Service (NWS) tornado warnings in the spring of 2011. K-12 public school districts and universities placed under tornado warnings were identified during the Spring 2011 tornado season. Interviews with officials at six public school districts and five public universities were conducted to address two main research questions: 1) What is the public school and university official's timeline of decision making and action implementation before, during, and after tornado warnings? and 2) What are the non-weather factors that influence how decisions are made? This research found that NWS tornado warnings acted as a trigger to activate most emergency plans and notification systems. However, multiple decisions and actions also occurred prior to the issuance of the tornado warning, including communication with other departments on campus, weather monitoring, and situational assessment. Preparations for tornado warnings occurred during the majority of the year when there was no severe weather. Additionally, much of the action taken occurred throughout several phases beginning hours before the severe weather was approaching and ending when the tornado warning had passed. The main non-weather factors that influenced decision making were the time of day or year and the location of people on campus.
Habitat for Humanity's Post-Tsunami Housing Reconstruction Approaches in Sri Lanka
Authors: Chen Ted Yu Shen
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the housing reconstruction approaches of Habitat for Humanity, a Christian international NGO, in Sri Lanka following the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It analyses how Habitat's housing approaches are informed by their religious values, principles of internationally-recognised best practice, and reactions to the broader ‘Buddhist’ and anti-Christian proselytisation politics of Sri Lanka. While much of Habitat's work in housing reconstruction saw it essentially operate as a housing contractor for the government of Sri Lanka and other donors, the projects that lay closer to its philosophical core sought to engage with processes of owner-driven reconstruction, currently recognized as reconstruction best practice. Owner-driven reconstruction informs Habitat's approach to and endorsement of homeowner participation in their housing reconstruction projects. However, Habitat's version of participation differs from international standards as Habitat's reconstruction approaches rework best practice principles for religious ends. This combination has the effect of reducing suspicion of proselytisation, which was a major concern in Sri Lanka during the reconstruction process, while at the same time allowing Habitat to enact its Christian values. As a religious NGO, Habitat therefore adopts multiple reconstruction approaches in order to practice its Christian convictions within a hostile religious-political environment.
An Examination of Evolving Crowd Management Strategies at Pilgrimage Sites: A Case Study of ‘Hajj’ in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Taibah Hassan , Arlikatti Sudha
Published: January 2023

The growing popularity of large crowded events has complicated their management, leading to the exploration of new crowd management strategies targeted at streamlining operations to address the risks from stampedes, infrastructure collapse, health, and terrorist threats. The emphasis has been to alleviate financial losses, keep event organizers safe from liability, and most importantly keep the attendees safe. Effective communication among and between officials and guests has been identified as a key element in this process. However, few scholars have investigated these strategies among heterogeneous crowds that congregate at religious sites. To overcome this gap, the authors use a case study approach focusing on initiatives adopted in managing approximately 3 million pilgrims from over 140 countries, congregating in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during the Hajj pilgrimage season. Findings suggest that the recently popularized use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) wrist bands for counting pilgrims at ports of entry and mosque gates alone is inadequate. A more networked approach that integrates the voices of Hajj pilgrims in risk communication is needed. Setting up Community Response Grids (CRGs) to use social media channels among pilgrim visitors need to be explored.
Military Foreign Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (FHA/FDR) Evolution: Lessons Learned for Civilian Emergency Management Response and Recovery Operations
Authors: Beal Heather L.
Published: January 2023

The military and civilian models for emergency management differ significantly in both structure and execution. In order to appreciate the differences, similarities, and potential value of each approach, it is important to first frame these systems through a common lens of the emergency management cycle, mission areas, and system, as practiced in the United States. This analysis deliberately does not focus on the use of military in support of domestic emergency management operations within the United States. Instead, case studies were carefully chosen to highlight the military contribution to international disaster response through foreign humanitarian assistance (FHA) and foreign disaster relief (FDR) military mission. Ultimately the strengths and weaknesses of these military emergency support operations were assessed and lessons learned extracted. These lessons learned were then aligned with the civilian model and recommendations made suggesting the adoption of military techniques to civilian emergency management actions in response to catastrophic disasters.
Social Media as Participatory Tools in Post-Disaster Reconstruction: Re-Negotiating Power Relationships and Achieving Self-Empowerment
Authors: Tagliacozzo Serena , Arcidiacono Caterina
Published: January 2023

This paper presents the first attempt to integrate studies on the use of social media for public participation and social mobilization with research on post-disaster reconstruction (PDR). The description of three case studies of disasters in different social and cultural contexts is used to demonstrate that social media represent means to re-discuss power relationships and the meaning of the disaster during the recovery process. It is also argued that certain elements of the recovery process may exacerbate the contrast between citizens and authorities and result in social media being used as self-empowerment platform to contest rather than to collaborate with authorities. In conclusion, it is suggested that this open conflict may hinder the achievement of a full recovery process, and that new studies should be geared toward examining possible ways to support and enhance authorities-citizens communication during the PDR process by the means of social media.
Nepal 2015 Earthquake: A Rapid Assessment of Cultural, Psychological and Social Factors with Implications for Recovery and Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Welton-Mitchell Courtney , James Leah , Awale Rubina
Published: January 2023

Approximately one month after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, an interdisciplinary team visited several affected districts to conduct a rapid assessment of community impact. Over the course of 8 days, two social scientists with the team collected information from 80 community members about cultural, psychological and social factors with implications for rebuilding and future disaster preparedness. Results from the rapid assessment highlight perspectives from community members on the following topics: disaster attributions, psychological distress, preferred means of coping, social support, community conflicts, livelihood impacts with implications for well-being, and concerns with governance and corruption that may undermine hopes for recovery- providing a snapshot of the situation in the early aftermath of the earthquake. Qualitative data derived from conversations with community members and other in-country stakeholders is interpreted in light of the current social-political context in Nepal. Results are situated within a larger body of disaster research literature, including work on earthquake impacts and recovery. Suggestions are made for future research to further examine factors highlighted in this initial assessment.
Emergent Issues and Vulnerability Factors in Temporary and Intermediate Shelters following the 2015 Nepal Earthquake
Authors: Khazai Bijan , Girard Trevor , Brink Susan , Anhorn Johannes , Jimee Ganesh Kumar , Parajuli Bhubaneswari , Wagle Sarad , Khanal Omkala
Published: January 2023

The 25 April 7.8 magnitude Gorkha earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, including the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Dolakha, severely damaged or destroyed nearly 900,000 buildings and approximately 2.3 million people continue to be displaced. We conducted 284 household surveys in 177 shelter sites spanning 27 Municipalities/VDCs and 7 districts. The aim of the survey was to analyze the shelter response situation in both urban and rural areas with a view on emerging factors influencing the decision processes of displaced households seeking shelter and temporary housing. It was found that in-place sheltering close to damaged homes was favored by many residents in both urban and rural areas as many preferred to stay close to their homes, food reserves, livelihoods and social ties. The experience from this event shows that spontaneous sheltering behavior and participatory management of these sites should be accommodated and supported in the shelter response strategy.
Using a Disaster Preparedness Triangle Framework to Link Disaster Preparedness to Pandemic Outcomes
Authors: Sundar Subhashree , Stratman Jeff K. , Sundar Krishna M.
Published: January 2023

In order to demonstrate that disaster preparedness is associated with improved outcomes in pandemics, we use secondary source mortality data from the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and correlate that to individual U.S. states’ disaster preparedness data based upon the TFAH (Trust for America's Health) 2009 report. To understand impact of different disaster preparedness parameters, we categorize them into sub-categories of detection, inventory and capacity. Our analyses using the proposed framework show that overall disaster preparedness for each US state was associated with reduced H1N1-related mortality attesting to the benefits of preparedness for unpredictable events like influenza pandemics. Furthermore, elements of the disaster preparedness triangle were found to be strong predictors of pandemic mortality, indicating that investments made towards disaster preparation are in the best interests of society.
Giving Attention: Reflections on Severe Weather Warnings and Alerts on Mobile Devices
Authors: Yoder-Bontrager Daryl , Trainor Joseph E. , Swenson Madison
Published: January 2023

Smartphones are an increasingly important channel through which to issue weather alerts and warnings. Yet it is important to consider the nature of these devices and the implications for alerts and warnings. Alerts have traditionally been designed to get the attention of recipients while warnings provide the information needed to decide if it is necessary to take protective action. Smartphones are distinct from traditional channels in that they do both. They can be incredibly effective at delivering alerts and are also able to deliver multiple streams of warning information simultaneously to a single person. Our work suggests that this reality can result in information flow fatigue if these message systems are not properly designed. In a process which we describe as setting up jigs, smartphone users report the importance of restricting or prioritizing information using their phone settings or even turning off notifications or shutting down their phones at specific times and places. Our analysis of focus group discussions concludes that storm alerts and warnings delivered through smartphones must prioritize personalized settings and messages that help recipients filter the information they want to give their attention to rather than designing them to forcibly get people's attention.
American Sign Language & Emergency Alerts: The Relationship between Language, Disability, and Accessible Emergency Messaging
Authors: Bennett DeeDee , LaForce Salimah , Touzet Christina , Chiodo Kay
Published: January 2023

Emergency alert messages are not always completely accessible for people who are Deaf that rely on American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is a visual and conceptual language that has its own unique syntax and grammar. ASL has no roots in English and is the 3 rd most taught foreign language in our colleges today. Not all individuals who are deaf rely on ASL for “clear and effective” communication. For many individuals who become hard-of-hearing or deaf later in life (late-deafened), closed captioning can provide accommodations. For individuals who are Deaf and rely on ASL as their primary language, closed captioning is not a useful means of communication because the information is being conveyed in a language most ASL users do not fully comprehend. Similarly, emergency alert messages delivered via SMS text or email can also present confusion to ASL users who may struggle to understand the written English messages. One size does not fit all; and in this case, English text as a sole means of communication is not entirely accessible for people who rely on ASL. This paper outlines the relationship between language, disability, and emergency messaging as learned from several research studies examining the accessibility of public alerts and warnings.
Return-Entry Risk Communication Challenges: Experiences of Local Emergency Management Organizations following Superstorm Sandy
Authors: Manandhar Rejina , Siebeneck Laura K.
Published: January 2023

The communication of risk and return-entry information is vital following a disaster. Although several studies examine challenges households experience when gathering information after an event, very little has been done to understand the communication challenges local emergency managers face during this time period. This study examines the risk communication challenges experienced by the local emergency management organizations in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy (2012). Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 local emergency management officials from the state of New Jersey. Qualitative data analysis using a grounded theory approach yielded four primary themes related to challenges: information challenges, technological challenges, organizational constraints, and social challenges. This article examines these four themes from the perspective of the local emergency manager and provides insights into the unique challenges these organizations faced in the aftermath of this disaster.
On the Margins, No More: Teaching and Learning as a Core Concern of Disaster Scholarship Introduction to the IJMED Special Issues on Teaching and Learning
Authors: Haney Timothy J. , Lovekamp William E.
Published: January 2023

This paper introduces two special issues of the International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters focused on teaching and learning. Though there is much recent literature on teaching from other fields, the hazards and disasters community has produced little written scholarship on pedagogy and on curriculum design. To address this gap, we produced a call for papers for a special issue and received many submissions. In this paper, we introduce the need for more scholarship on teaching and learning on the hazards and disaster field. This includes classroom exercises, experiential learning activities, service-learning and citizen science approaches, and explorations of curricular design. We also introduce the papers that make up the two special issues. The first issue focuses on “Innovative Teaching Techniques and Practices in Hazards and Disaster Studies” and the second on “Curricular Innovations in Hazards and Disaster Studies.” We hope that the papers contained in these two special issues will creat a sustained dialogue on best practices in teaching about hazards and disasters.
Riskville - A Game for Learning about Disaster Risks and Urban Planning
Authors: Christenson Nina , Koivisto Jenni , Persson Erik , Hindersson Emelie , Gustafsson Kristin , Pettersson Andreas
Published: January 2023

Education plays a key role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and in creating resilient societies worldwide by disseminating information about risks and in improving people's risk awareness. This, in turn, helps them to prepare, cope with and recover from possible disaster events, hence making the societies more resilient. This paper shortly presents the theoretical background and the rules of the game Riskville where the participants get to experience in a hands-on manner the connections and conflicts between urban planning, different interests and climate related risks. We conclude that Riskville promotes discussions on different perspectives on disaster risk and resilience and approaches in including them into urban planning.
Teaching Disaster Management Using a Multi-Phase Simulation
Authors: Corbin Tanya Buhler
Published: January 2023

This article details the development and implementation of a simulated disaster scenario for disaster policy and emergency management students. Through a coordinated effort across a disaster policy course and emergency management course, this pedagogical method was used to apply the theoretical lessons and course content to a simulation of a complex disaster event. In keeping with the FEMA Whole Community Approach, the simulation involved the full range of community members and stakeholders. Students played roles of government officials at local, state, and national levels, community members, non-profit organizations, emergency managers, and first responders working in coordination to respond to an increasingly complex disaster scenario of an extensive power outage. Detailed in this article is the process of developing and implementing the simulation, with information useful for other instructors who might implement this or similar exercises in their courses. This exercise can be adapted for multiple disciplines and courses related to disasters and emergency management.
From Machu Picchu to Masaya Volcano: An Interdisciplinary Approach to offering Study Abroad Courses on International Disasters and Crisis Communication
Authors: Siebeneck Laura K. , Richardson Brian K.
Published: January 2023

As the nature of managing hazards and disasters grows increasingly complex, educating the next generation of emergency management practitioners and scholars requires innovative strategies. This article describes the utilization of a collaborative teaching approach when offering a study abroad course examining hazards, emergency management, and crisis communication in Central and South America. Co-taught cross-disciplinary courses provide opportunities for students to gain exposure to the different perspectives inherent in the study and management of hazards and disasters. This, coupled with the study abroad experience, offers students a unique viewpoint on how hazards, risks, and communication are managed and perceived in other countries. This paper highlights the recent research about benefits of co-teaching and study abroad courses, provides a description of our study abroad programs, and offers tips and suggestions for developing similar courses at other higher education institutions.
Experimental Design in Teaching Crisis and Emergency Management in Social Sciences: The Case of the RCR Lab at Mid Sweden University
Authors: Sparf Jörgen , Petridou Evangelia , Skog Frida , Kolmodin Sophie , Ljungdahl Jens
Published: January 2023

This short paper is a case study of the RCR Lab located at the campus of Mid Sweden University in Northern Sweden. We argue that experimental design thinking in research and higher education in the fields of crisis and emergency management in social studies can ameliorate the post hoc methodological problem and shed light in the decision processes and information flow among first responders as well as public officials of various levels. The RCR Lab may be used as an enhanced, realistic space for the enrichment of role-playing and simulations, to activate students, as well as a sophisticated tool for the collection not only of quantitative, but also of qualitative data. The audience for this paper may be institutions of higher education that have a lab on campus and are looking for new ways of utilizing it, as well as educators in general who are looking for new ways to integrate experimental thinking in their classes.
On Seeing and Listening: How to Better Support Affected Communities before the Disaster Starts
Authors: Dietrich Alexa S.
Published: January 2023

This article draws on insights from disaster anthropology and medical anthropology, using examples from community-based research after Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy on Staten Island, and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico, illustrating how lack of cultural knowledge and contextual “not seeing” hampers both emergency response and longer term recovery efforts. Using these two distinct examples, it reveals underlying biases within the culture of emergency management that hamper agency effectiveness. It then makes recommendations as to how emergency management personnel can work to overcome these biases, and quickly obtain and incorporate previously unfamiliar information about local context. Building equitable partnerships with local organizations and networks will better support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and recovery efforts.
Exploring the Benefits of Disaster Preparedness: A Study of Businesses Affected by Hurricane Irma
Authors: Tyler Jenna , Sadiq Abdul-Akeem
Published: January 2023

Despite pushes to increase the level of disaster preparedness among businesses, few studies have empirically explored the extent to which businesses benefit from adopting preparedness measures. The present study aims to narrow this research gap by examining whether businesses with higher levels of perceived disaster preparedness experience fewer hurricane impacts and report a higher perceived recovery rating from disasters in comparison to businesses with lower levels of perceived disaster preparedness. Using data gathered from 19 businesses in Florida, United States, affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017, the authors find that businesses perceived they were very prepared for Hurricane Irma. However, businesses with higher perceived preparedness ratings did not always experience fewer hurricane impacts or report a higher perceived recovery rating. Responses from business owners and risk managers provide insights into why higher perceived preparedness ratings did or did not translate into fewer hurricane impacts and a higher perceived recovery rating.
Emergency Managers’ Attitudes about Communication of Hazard Vulnerability by Monuments and Historical Markers
Authors: Cross John A.
Published: January 2023

The utility of communicating hazard vulnerability to the public through monuments and historical markers commemorating and describing past disasters is explored in this paper. A survey of county emergency management directors in Wisconsin focused upon their awareness of such monuments and their attitudes regarding the effectiveness of disaster markers and commemoration in communicating hazard risk to the public, both residents and visitors. Emergency managers held disparate views regarding the effectiveness of the markers among the public, although managers in counties with markers tended to hold a higher opinion of their effectiveness in communicating hazard risk and to be more willing to commemorate future disasters.
Disaster resilience of traditional societies from Small Island Developing States: The 2015 tropical cyclone Pam in Vanuatu
Authors: Dé Loïc Le , Defossez Stéphanie , Leone Frédéric
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the resilience of traditional societies from Small Island Developing States in the face of disaster. It focuses on tropical cyclone Pam that impacted Vanuatu in 2015. Drawing upon focus group discussions using participatory tools in disaster-affected villages between 2015 and 2017, it examines both the recovery challenges faced and mechanisms developed by traditional societies from Tanna Island post-disaster. The study emphasizes that traditional societies’ resilience goes beyond absorbing and recovering from a large event but also relates to recurrent small-scale hazards. The paper further highlights traditional societies’ capacities in the face of disaster and stresses the need to strengthen or reintroduce traditional practices while supporting newly adopted mechanisms such as transnational kinship networks and remittances. It also points out the role of external aid intervention post-disaster that, if top-down and delivered disproportionally can compete with local initiatives and have negative effects on traditional societies’ resilience. The paper concludes that traditional societies should themselves define and assess their own resilience and ways to strengthen it.
Multidisciplinary Perspectives of Micro Human Efforts in Post-Disaster Recovery
Authors: Subasinghe Chamila , Sutrisna Monty , Olatunji Oluwole
Published: January 2023

This seminal discourse on a phenomenon called “micro-human efforts” sheds light on specific human capacities that assist in sustainable disaster recovery at various geospatial scales. It focuses on the efforts made by individuals that develop into collective measures and the establishment of a new status quo. Typically, these efforts tend to sweep away from the core to the peripheries of recovery programs due to their innate vulnerabilities to systemic limitations and consequent distortions. Via a range of systematic research reviews and original research, this special issue narrates a series of studies that reveal a few critical attributes of a human effort-based disaster recovery model. To an extent, it synthesizes isolated multidisciplinary research with new insights to deliver a re-developmental role model that could potentially mobilize efforts of vulnerable communities in defining resilience for themselves. It further flags focus areas to lead enhanced protocols, policy recommendations, and best practice scenarios by primarily promoting a self-based recovery approach.
Co-Creating Safety and Security?: Analyzing the Multifaceted Field of Co-Creation in Finland
Authors: Raisio Harri , Puustinen Alisa , Valtonen Vesa
Published: January 2023

Complexity is said to be on the rise in the security environment and co-creation has been proposed as one of the ways to respond to this situation. Through co-creation, complexity is addressed by a plurality of actors and actions, instead of by any single authority or recipe. Such an approach is the main premise of the Finnish Concept for Comprehensive Security. This article seeks to answer the question of how co-creation occurs as part of societal safety and security functions in Finland and what kind of challenges and problems are involved therein. The focus of the article is on the regional and local levels of action and on the public-sector/civil-society interface. The data informing this study are 31 small-group discussions that took place in so-called security cafés. This article uses the modified ladder of safety and security co-creation derived from previous research to provide its analytical framework. The ladder of co-creation proved to be a useful analytical tool to address the phenomenon and to illustrate the multifaceted and context-dependent nature of safety and security co-creation. Results indicate that at present co-creation within the safety and security functions in Finland seems to focus more on action-oriented co-production. Citizens as volunteers participate in the functions of producing safety and security, but talk-centered, planning-oriented co-creation seems to be less common. The data also provide clear indications of the darker sides of co-creation. Co-creation may be symbolic and tokenistic in that it remains at a rhetorical level. The data also offer examples of co-contamination (the lowest level of the ladder of co-creation). These examples were related to the roles of spontaneous volunteers and emergent citizen groups.