Emerald | Disaster Prevention and Management | Table of Contents

Understanding wildfire vulnerability of residents in Teton County, Wyoming

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Lucas Kanclerz, Lisa M. DeChano-Cook) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – This research aims to examine the wildfire vulnerability of part-time and full-time residents in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) of Teton County, Wyoming. Are part-time residents creating more of a vulnerability to the community because they do not live in the community all year, they have limited experience with wildfires, and they perceive Firewise activities as not being effective mitigation practices? Design/methodology/approach – Data collection took place via a survey that inquired about respondents past wildfire experiences, if they do Firewise activities, and how effective they feel these wildfire home protection activities are. Responses were analyzed by Chi-squared and t-tests where appropriate. Findings – The results of this study indicate that part-time residents have the same past wildfire experiences and perceptions of Firewise activities, and do similar Firewise activities as full-time residents. This suggests that these communities in Teton County may be more homogenous in their vulnerability than other wildfire communities. Research limitations/implications – Because of the limited geographic scope, results cannot be generalized for the entire county, the state of Wyoming, or other wildfire-prone residential areas. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to investigate other WUI areas. Practical implications – This research suggests that local and federal agencies in and near these communities talk to the residents of wildland-interface communities and help them become less vulnerable to the wildfire hazard. Originality/value – This research adds to the limited know of wildfire-urban interface vulnerability and perceptions. It is significant because this interface will expand as amenity migration into these natural areas continues to occur.

Ethnic differences in perceptions of social responsibility: Informing risk communication strategies for enhancing community resilience to flooding

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Aaron Mullins, Robby Soetanto) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate ethnic differences in perceptions of social responsibility, in relation to flooding, for householders, local businesses and policy makers. Design/methodology/approach – The data were obtained via a questionnaire survey of three communities in Birmingham and one community in South East London, UK. A total of 481 responses were received and used in the statistical analysis. The interpretation of the findings was aided by cognitive mapping to synthesise the data transcripts from 174 responses to the open-ended questions. Comparisons were made between communities in different locations and with different experience of flooding. Findings – Ethnic differences consistently exist within the perceptions of householder and business groups within communities (in different locations) which have recent experience of flooding, but not in the policy maker group or in a community without recent flood experience. The finding also suggests three different levels of resilience and their association with different ethnic groups. Research limitations/implications – Future research should conduct further analysis with equal ethnic representation throughout each community group so that more ethnic groups can be investigated and compared. For a more comprehensive understanding, further investigation should be conducted across different communities in different countries with different environmental hazards. Practical implications – The findings contribute to the understanding of the influence of demographic factors in disaster management field, and can provide useful knowledge for targeted and tailored strategies of communication of flood information. Originality/value – The research represents the first attempt to investigate ethnic differences in perceptions of social responsibility of householders, small businesses and policy makers for the community resilience to flooding.

The effect of communication during mass decontamination

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – Reports from small-scale incidents in which decontamination was conducted suggest that a successful communication strategy is vital in order to increase public compliance with, and reduce public anxiety about, decontamination. However, it has not been possible to examine public behaviour during large scale incidents involving decontamination. The aim of the research reported here was to examine the relationship between people's positive perceptions of responding agencies’ communication strategies and relevant outcome variables, such as level of compliance and level of reassurance, in several field exercises involving mass decontamination. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected using feedback questionnaires completed by simulated casualties, which contained items relating to casualties’ perceptions of the success of responding agencies’ communication strategies, their confidence in emergency responders, and their compliance with the decontamination process. Path analysis was used to examine the relationships between variables. Findings – Results show a significant relationship between responding agencies’ communication strategies, level of public reassurance, and level of public compliance. The relationship between responders’ communication strategies and the outcome variables was partially mediated by public confidence in responders. Practical implications – Emergency responders should focus on communication with members of the public as a key element of the decontamination process, as failure to do so could result in high levels of anxiety and low levels of compliance among those who are affected. Originality/value – This research highlights the importance of effective responder communication strategies. Further, findings indicate the value of examining feedback from field exercises in order to facilitate a greater understanding of public experiences of the decontamination process.

Media and social amplification of risk: BSE and H1N1 cases in South Korea

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Ji Bum Chung, Gi Woong Yun) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims at exploring the topology of two risk communication cases, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in 2008 and H1N1 in 2009, in South Korea and investigating the progression of risk events related to media's role in risk amplification. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis of major Korean media is conducted. BSE and H1N1 stories in 2008 and 2009 are collected and analyzed. First, the basic nature of media coverage of the events such as frequency of stories is surveyed. Second, framings adopted in media to cover two cases are analyzed. Findings – The result indicates that unfolding events related to BSE and H1N1 risk show a similar timeline with the frequency of media coverage of the given risks. Also, media adopted political framings for BSE and health/medial framings for H1N1.The authors cautiously suggest that the framings in media have influenced the politicization of BSE risk issue among the public, but, at the same time, the media framings on H1N1 have attenuated potential politicization of H1N1's risk. Originality/value – This paper demonstrates the relationship between the process of social amplification of risk and media framings in Korea.

Developing an approach to assess the influence of integrating disaster risk reduction practices into infrastructure reconstruction on socio-economic development

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – Disasters provide physical, social, economic, political and environmental development windows of opportunity particularly through housing and infrastructure reconstruction. The reconstruction process should not be neglected due to the opportunistic nature of facilitating innovation in development. In this respect, post-disaster “infrastructure” reconstruction plays a critical role in development discourse and is often essential to sustain recovery after major disasters. However, reconstruction following a natural disaster is a complicated problem involving social, economic, cultural, environmental, psychological, and technological aspects. There are significant development benefits of well-developed “Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategies” and, for many reasons, the concept of DRR can be more easily promoted following a disaster. In this respect, a research study was conducted to investigate the effects of integrating DRR strategies into infrastructure reconstruction on enhancing the socio-economic development process from a qualitative stance. The purpose of this paper is to document part of this research study; it proposes an approach that can be used to assess the influence of the application of the DRR concept into infrastructure reconstruction on socio-economic development. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology included a critical literature review. Findings – This paper suggests that the best way to assess the influence of integrating DRR strategies practices into infrastructure reconstruction on socio-economic development is to assess the level of impact that DRR strategies has on overcoming various factors that form vulnerabilities. Having assessed this, the next step is to assess the influence of overcoming the factors that form vulnerabilities on achieving performance targets of socio-economic development. Originality/value – This paper primarily presents a framework for the concept of socio-economic development and a modelled classification of DRR practices.

Resource challenges for housing reconstruction:: A longitudinal study of the Australian bushfires

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify resourcing challenges that face housing rebuild following the 2009 Victorian “Black Saturday” bushfires in Australia and to examine the impacts of resource shortages on longer term community recovery. Design/methodology/approach – The research methodology included a longitudinal study which consists of a questionnaire survey, field-based interviews and observations to track trends evident in the survey. Findings – A total of 28 months after the bushfires, reconstruction in the worst-affected area, the Shire of Murrindindi, was proceeding slowly despite the institutions and procedures set up for recovery. This slow reconstruction was due to the unavailability of building resources. Changed Building Standards, increased building markets outside the bushfire zone, lack of economic incentives, combined with home owners’ socio-economic vulnerabilities, created a chain of impacts on households’ ability to get resources. Research limitations/implications – The evidence in this paper points to emergent resource issues that impeded recovery progress in the bushfire zone. These issues primarily come from technical decisions on building controls, economic conditions, and risk perceptions of construction professionals. Findings from this longitudinal study will inform the recovery planning of government agencies in future events. Originality/value – This paper makes the case for a new approach to looking at resourcing problems following a major disaster. This study demonstrates that recovery planning needs to include a resource perspective which explains both impacts of recovery polices on resource availability and impacts of resourcing dynamics on the wider recovery environment.

Jean Baudrillard: From the Ocean to the Desert or the Poetics of Radicality

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Reviewed by Maximiliano E. Korstanje) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Disasters Without Borders

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Reviewed by Ilan Kelman) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100