Disaster preparedness measures: a test case development and application

This paper sets out to develop disaster preparedness measurement methodology using a small test case of two communities. It is aimed at furthering discussion of the issues and complexities of developing measurement of preparedness indicators for application and utilization.

The study used a multi‐modal approach, utilizing several data sources, including: a survey of essential facility managers in the two communities; document data extracted from the two city's Comprehensive Plans, Budgets, and the Emergency Operation Plans; and key informant interviews. Data collected from these sources formed the basis of the model construction and testing.

The primary conclusion is that a preparedness measurement model, while inherently difficult to construct and execute, has the potential to assist in the comparison and evaluation of community preparedness. Further such development requires additional refinement, calibration, and applied testing.

In terms of future research, this type of effort is preliminary, and needs to be tested across a larger number of communities to gauge its accuracy, and would most benefit from the creation of consistent baseline scores for a larger cross‐section of communities. Baseline scores could be examined for disasters that affect multiple communities, and comparison and evaluations of the preparedness measures can be applied. Future research should calibrate the model using expert and community feedback.

Should a standardized measurement and indicator system be developed with wide application, there would be effects in the insurance, regulatory and management sectors.

The paper creates a measurement and indexing process for discussion and evaluation in the hazards research community.