Title

Collaborative emergency management: better community organising, better public preparedness and response

Authors

Authors

N. Kapucu

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Disasters

Keywords

community coordination; disaster management; disaster response; operations; hurricanes; public preparedness; repeated threats; RISK COMMUNICATION; DISASTER; ORGANIZATIONS; Planning & Development

Abstract

Community coordination requires communication and planning of precautions to take when faced with a severe threat of disaster. The unique case of the four Florida hurricanes of 2004-Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne-is used here to assess community responses to repeated threats of hurricanes. The paper examines how effectiveness in coordinating community disaster response efforts affects future public preparedness. The findings suggest that pre-season planning, open communication between emergency managers and elected officials, and the use of technology all had a significant impact on community responses. The repeated threat scenario indicates that emergency managers must work vigilantly to keep residents informed of the seriousness of a situation. The study describes how emergency managers in Florida countered public complacency during four hurricanes in six weeks. The strategies identified as useful by public managers in the context of hurricanes are applicable to other natural and man-made disasters.

Journal Title

Disasters

Volume

32

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

239

Last Page

262

WOS Identifier

WOS:000254609600004

ISSN

0361-3666

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