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The Tenure Trap: The Vulnerability of Renters to Joint Natural and Technological Disasters
Abstract
Natural disasters can result in releases of toxic materials that pose a grave threat to populations exposed to them. The authors provide evidence from California and Louisiana to show that in comparison with homeowners, renters are significantly less well prepared to survive a joint naturaland technologicaldisaster without injury. Rentalhousing can be targeted for public awareness and other measures that can improve the preparedness of tenants, but barriers that inhibit progress are substantial. Nevertheless, with a carefully crafted plan of action based on a variety of policy instruments, the tenure trap can be disabled.
... It has also been suggested that tenure type (also referred to as dwelling occupancy), that is, whether a household owns or rents its home, itself is directly related to a home's level of preparedness for and vulnerability to hazards. The tenure trap describes the concept that tenants as opposed to owner-occupiers have higher degrees of vulnerability (Burby et al. 2003). The literature offers a range of explanations. ...
... The influence of tenure type on quality of housing arises also due to the fewer incentives that tenants have to invest in housing, as any improvement of housing accrues to the owner in terms of the financial value of the home, even when such improvements could enhance their own safety. The need to obtain permission from the landlord or to persuade the landlord to make improvements are also barriers and landlords also have a reduced incentive to do so (Burby et al. 2003). In the aftermath of a disaster it has also been identified that low-income tenants are less likely to have their homes repaired (Comerio et al. 1994). ...
... In terms of de facto tenure security, the length of time an individual or household has lived in a locality has been associated with the quality of housing and its resilience to hazards. As owner-occupiers are more likely to spend a longer period in the area, they tend to be more aware of disaster risks and the measures required to mitigate them (Burby et al. 2003). Tenants, tending to be more recent residents of their neighborhoods, may be less likely to have learned about the disaster risks and experienced the disasters that affect the neighborhood. ...
While scholarship suggests that improving tenure security and housing significantly reduces disaster risk at the household level within urban settings, this assertion has not been adequately tested. Tenure security can be conceived as being composed of three interrelated and overlapping forms: tenure security as determined by legal systems; de facto tenure security; and tenure security as perceived by residents. This article traces the relationship between tenure security, the quality of housing, and disaster risk on the basis of a mixed methods comparative case study of the settlements of Kawangware and Kibera in Nairobi. Although the findings suggest that owner-occupancy is associated with the structural integrity of dwellings to a greater extent than tenantship, no association was found between the length of occupancy by households and the structural integrity of the dwelling. Moreover, tenantship is not found to be closely associated with fires and flooding affecting the dwelling as extant scholarship would suggest. Formal ownership is linked with greater investment and upgrading of property with significant implications for disaster risk. Our findings highlight the complex relationship between tenure security and disaster risk in urban informal settlements and provide impetus for further investigation.
... Even today, Black households are more likely to be denied a mortgage (Quillian et al., 2020). Renters, especially low-income and minority renters, also have a greater risk of displacement after a disaster (Burby et al., 2003). One reason for this is that damage to rental housing is likely to be more extensive than damage to owneroccupied housing. ...
... As mentioned previously, low-income renters are more likely to be displaced following a disaster (Burby et al., 2003;Hamideh & Rongerude, 2018). Once these lower income renters are displaced, they also experience greater challenges returning to their communities due to limited resources to move back and deprioritized reconstruction efforts (Fussell, 2015). ...
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural hazards such as hurricanes. With a severe shortage of affordable housing in the United States, renters may be uniquely vulnerable to disaster‐related housing disruptions due to increased hazard exposure, physical vulnerability of structures, and socioeconomic disadvantage. In this work, we construct a panel dataset consisting of housing, socioeconomic, and hurricane disaster data from counties in 19 states across the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States from 2009 to 2018 to investigate how the frequency and intensity of a hurricane correspond to changes in median rent and housing affordability (the interaction between rent prices and income) over time. Using a two‐stage least square random‐effects regression model, we find that more intense prior‐year hurricanes correspond to increases in median rents via declines in housing availability. The relationship between hurricanes and rent affordability is more complex, though the occurrence of a hurricane in a given year or the previous year reduces affordable rental housing, especially for counties with higher percentages of renters and people of color. Our results highlight the multiple challenges that renters are likely to face following a hurricane, and we emphasize that disaster recovery in short‐ and medium‐term should focus on providing safe, stable, and affordable rental housing assistance.
... Exposure to disasterrelated information and preparedness resources is sometimes associated with preparatory action at the household level, but not consistently (Basolo et al., 2009). The quality of information to which people have access is also ostensibly linked to housing conditions, with the source of disaster-related information linked to credibility and preparedness (Burby et al., 2003;Kim and Kang, 2010). ...
... In the literature, housing insecurity often co-occurs with employment insecurity and disproportionately affects African Americans (Desmond and Gershenson, 2016). Most lower-income families in the US depend on the rental market, and previous literature indicates that renters have fewer means of being prepared than homeowners, owing to more frequent movement, less exposure to public health education, and fewer resources to invest in mitigating action (Burby et al., 2003;Levac et al., 2012;NASEM, 2020). Women householders were less prepared overall, and this effect was exacerbated when they were housing insecure. ...
... Second, tenants and landlords alike have fewer incentives to undertake mitigation that would prevent disaster damage (Burby et al. 2003). Renters are dependent upon their landlords' permission to reoccupy their previous housing, which heightens the risk of displacement (McCarthy et al. 2001;Burby et al. 2003;Morrow 1999;Fussell and Harris, 2014). ...
... Second, tenants and landlords alike have fewer incentives to undertake mitigation that would prevent disaster damage (Burby et al. 2003). Renters are dependent upon their landlords' permission to reoccupy their previous housing, which heightens the risk of displacement (McCarthy et al. 2001;Burby et al. 2003;Morrow 1999;Fussell and Harris, 2014). Landlords may not rebuild or may rebuild their properties to higher market rates (Comerio 1998). ...
The unexpected flooding that covered southern Louisiana in August 2016 was the worst disaster in the USA since Hurricane Sandy of 2012 and the worst in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina. The unprecedented amount of rain in just 4 days damaged or destroyed more than 90,000 homes including 28,000 rental units and led to the rescue of more than 28,000 people. This flood was quickly forgotten by national media, but it foreshadowed the flooding from Hurricane Harvey a mere year later. As the climate impacts worsen, a majority of the USA is expected to witness similar large rainfalls that result in “surprising” and extreme flooding. Louisiana’s efforts in rescue and rental housing recovery during 2016 became adaptations that other areas have used or will need to use in the near future. This chapter reviews the 2016 flood event and the growth of two innovations in flood response and recovery: the rise of civilian water rescue organizations and rental housing recovery programs. Both topics have been mostly overlooked by scholars and practitioners. Emergent behavior has a long scholarly history, but few studies address water-based rescue groups. Rental housing, similarly, is often ignored by government and nonprofit recovery programs even as renter populations continue to increase. More flood damage has and will likely occur outside of historic floodplains across the USA given the atmospheric dynamics – thus, we need more analyses of flood and rescue needs along with social vulnerability, especially housing tenure, and hazard mitigation planning in areas that may face these similar impacts.
... 40,25 As a result, renters, who are more likely to be racial minorities, are effectively pushed out of the market, accelerating the gentri cation process. 41,7,42 Communities of color are also disproportionately exposed to ood risk, compounding these negative effects. ...
Floods are increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change, thereby impacting migration within the United States. Considering that Black and Brown populations are disproportionately exposed to floods, less likely to receive disaster-related government funds, and vulnerable during subsequent displacement, an examination of differences in migration patterns across racial/ethnic groups is critical. The prevailing conjecture is that after floods, Black and Brown populations will migrate while White ones remain in place. We test this hypothesis by examining the effect of floods on migration across all U.S. county-pairs between 2006-2016 and find that this hypothesis is incorrect: generally, after floods Black populations remain in place and White populations migrate. However, this pattern reverses when the Federal Emergency Management Agency provides financial support. Notably, migration by Hispanic and Asian populations is not significantly affected by floods. These results provide the first evidence of racial disparities in climate migration.
... A significant number of minorities, females, and dependent age groups are more vulnerable (Borden et al., 2007). Furthermore, another group of vulnerable populations are renters because, in comparison to the homeowners, renters are financially unprepared for the recovery (Burby et al., 2003). Likewise, the topography of Nepal is also a hindrance to distributing relief materials to the affected regions in time which exacerbates the impact of natural hazards. ...
Seismic risk analysis is necessary to mitigate the potential losses resulting from future earthquakes and supplement scientific risk management. In order to assist systematic evaluation and management of risk, it is indispensable to interpret risk in terms of social and economic consequences due to hazardous events like earthquakes. There is an interrelationship between hazards, physical risk, and the social characteristics of populations. Therefore, based on the existing studies focusing on each of these aspects, this paper presents the integrated seismic risk assessment along the subdivisional administrative units of Nepal using 2011 census data. The administrative unit “provinces” are subdivided into districts and each district into municipalities and village development committees (VDCs). The districts, municipalities, and VDCs were considered as our study units. In this paper, the physical or seismic risk was evaluated from the exposure model, hazard curves, and the vulnerability model of the country, whereas the social vulnerability was assessed using social vulnerability index (SoVI) methods. To formulate the physical risk, the assets used were five types of buildings under the exposure model. This model was combined with the physical vulnerability functions of the building and the hazard curves of the country. The result of the physical risk has been presented as annual average loss (AAL). Similarly, among 92 social vulnerability variables, 54 variables were reduced to 7 weighted parameters using principal component analysis (PCA). The scores of a total of 45 parameters were used to evaluate the SoVI index, which was further combined with the physical risk to evaluate integrated risk. The results showed that populated cities like Kathmandu, Hetauda, and Janakpur have a highly integrated risk index. Similarly, the Terai region bordering its neighbor India and some parts of the central hilly region are highly vulnerable, while most parts of the mountainous region in the central and eastern regions are the least vulnerable. The results from the present study can be utilized as a part of a comprehensive risk management framework at the district level to recuperate and recover from earthquakes.
... Many disaster risk reduction practitioners and scholars place the emphasis on bottom-up approaches, which encourage risk communication throughout policy making in order to promote more participatory methods in risk management (Fekete 2012). Transparency and dissemination of risk information have been widely recognized as essential elements in cultivating a milieu of trust between institutions and communities, and go a long way towards encouraging participation in risk reduction processes (Burby et al. 2003;Klinke and Renn 2010). Actors from all backgrounds are urged to engage in the risk-related decision-making processes and codesign the discussion framework. ...
Effective risk communication is essential for disaster risk management. Apart from empowering communities to make informed risk choices, risk information disclosure can also drastically enhance their disaster preparedness, especially concerning conjoint scenarios of technological and natural hazards (Natech). A fundamental precondition is the actual demand for such information. This study ventures to assess whether residents around Osaka Bay have this demand, or “appetite,” for risk information disclosure, as well as to understand their communicative behavior and perceived challenges in the Japanese context through the prism of the Situational Theory of Problem Solving. To test this framework under realistic conditions, data were collected through a household questionnaire survey from two urban areas near industrial complexes in Osaka Bay. The results show that identifying Natech risk information deficiency as a problem was not a statistically significant predictor for individuals’ motivation to communicate. However, their motivation increased as their perceived personal involvement with the situation rose, while the perceived obstacles in doing something about it exerted a negative influence on their motivation. Individuals’ motivation intensified their communicative actions to solve this problem. Public segmentation underscored the elevated public perceptions concerning the issue of risk information deficiency in nearly nine out of ten respondents. These findings indicate a strong community appetite for chemical and Natech risk information, which subsequently led to high situational motivation to engage in communicative action, particularly information acquisition. Risk management policy is suggested to focus on introducing chemical risk information disclosure regulatory initiatives to encourage citizen engagement.
... Homeownership and tenure have been associated with preparedness in the literature, with renters being more susceptible to disasters than homeowners [31,36,48]. A comparison between renters and homeowners across New Orleans and California showed that renters had more characteristics associated with lower disaster readiness, such as a higher likelihood of membership in minority groups, fewer resources at hand, and family composition variables that placed them in a more vulnerable position [49]. ...
The United States experienced losses exceeding 305 billion USD in property damage and relief costs in 2017. While examining the impacts of disasters remains a pressing area of study, it is elemental to understand whether and how social and behavioral contexts relate to the ability to withstand a disaster. Informed by Albert Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and concepts of social vulnerability, we examine socio-cognitive and contextual factors associated with disaster preparedness in the U.S. through a quantitative analysis of cross-sectional data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 2018 National Household Surveys. Building on previous scholarship, disaster preparedness is the dependent variable operationalized as a cumulative score and as two indicator variables: adequate and minimal preparedness. Weighted descriptive statistics describe the sample and ordinary least squares and logistic regression analyses test the association of preparedness with socio-cognitive measures of disaster related efficacy. Response efficacy was significantly associated with preparedness across cumulative and adequate preparedness, but not with minimal preparedness. Confidence in carrying out action, on the other hand, was consistently associated with being better prepared across all three operationalizations. Women householders were less prepared than men overall. African American and Asian respondents were both less likely than their White counterparts to have taken the steps to be considered at least minimally prepared. For disaster policies to remain equitable, administrators and organizers need to ensure resources are devoted to communities that have been historically disenfranchised. Our findings advance knowledge that has the potential to inform policy, practice, and research on pre-disaster interventions.
... These fi ndings suggest that the picture is much bleaker for rental housing, making it diffi cult for households that are dependent upon renting to fi nd replacement housing (Burby, Steinberg, & Basolo, 2003). Traditionally, recovery funds have been targeted almost exclusively to property owners, with little if any attention given to the rights of renters to return (Rodriguez-Dod & Duhart, 2007). ...
... Renters often have less access to the funds necessary to maintain, improve and repair their homes, compared to homeowners [42]. Secure tenure can also lower the risk of displacement following a disaster since renters lack legal rights to influence rebuilding or redevelopment [8,52]. ...
Storms continue to be the deadliest type of weather-related disasters globally. The Philippines is one of the most at risk countries to disasters, yet there continues to be gaps in understanding where and why people are killed in typhoons – the country's most prominent natural hazard. This research sought to understand how typhoon mortality varies across the Philippines at the municipal level, focusing on differences in rural and urban municipalities between 2005 and 2015. Generalised linear regression models (GLMs), including Poisson and negative binomial (NB), were used to analyse the relationship between typhoon mortality and level of urbanisation while controlling for social vulnerability and typhoon exposure. Findings indicate that typhoon mortality is disproportionality concentrated in emerging, rather than established, urban centres. Deaths from typhoons were significantly higher per capita in older age groups and amongst men, with drowning accounting for 71% of deaths, although there is uncertainty in these later trends which show the need for investment in national disaster databases. Our results make contributions to understanding of urban-rural patterns of disaster risk and the determinants of typhoon mortality in the Philippines.
... A significant number of minorities, females, and depending on age groups are more vulnerable (Borden et al., 2007). Moreover, another group of vulnerable populations is the renters because, in comparison to the homeowners, renters are financially unprepared for the recovery (Burby et al., 2003). According to the census of 2011, 85 the population of Nepal is booming at more than 2% per annum. ...
As Nepal is at high risk of earthquakes, the district-wide (VDC/Municipality level) study has been performed for vulnerability assessment of seismic-hazard, and the hazard-risk study is incorporated with social conditions as it has become a crucial issue in recent years. There is an interrelationship between hazards, physical risk, and the social characteristics of populations which are significant for policy-makers and individuals. Mapping the spatial variability of average annual loss (seismic risk) and social vulnerability discretely does not reflect the true nature of parameters contributing to the earthquake risk, so when the integrated risk is mapped, such combined spatial distribution becomes more evident. The purpose of this paper is to compute the risk analysis from the exposure model of the country using OpenQuake and then integrate the results with socio-economic parameters. The methodology of seismic-risk assessment and the way of combining the results of the physical risk and socio-economic data to develop an integrated vulnerability score of the regions has been described. This study considers all 75 districts and corresponding VDC/Municipalities using the available census. The combined vulnerability score has been developed and presented by integrating earthquake risk and social vulnerability aspects of the country and represented in form of the map produced using ArcGIS 10. The knowledge and information of the relationship between earthquake hazards and the demographic characteristics of the population in the vulnerable area are imperative to mitigate the local impact of earthquakes. Therefore, we utilize social vulnerability study as part of a comprehensive risk management framework to recuperate and recover from natural disasters.
... Ideally, post disaster vulnerability assessment should incorporate a wide range of factors: age, disability, family structure, and social networks, immobility, housing and the built environment, land ownership, population densities, income and material resources, the availability and affordability of property insurance, critical lifelines, occupation, and race and ethnicity (Burby et al., 2003;Chang, 2001;Clark et al., 1998;Cutter et al., 2003;Fothergill & Peek, 2004;Kunreuther, 1998;Lewis, 1987). The NRA and non-governmental agencies developed indicators for the vulnerability assessment but they were practically not implemented in the field. ...
This article investigates how earthquake reconstruction was practiced without considering socio-cultural values in the dislocated community after the 2015 earthquake. The process of disaster resilience tended to focus only on technical structures like the number of houses and school buildings as the main indicators of recovery from earthquake. The resilience programs conducted by the government and NGOs did not pay due attention to caste/ethnic tensions, religious division, political clash, and cultural loss among the villagers. In this study I thus wanted to know what were the meanings/ interpretations of reconstruction and community resilience; how reconstruction programs considered socio-cultural resilience; what socio-cultural aspects in practices of reconstruction were missing, and what were the challenges of cultural resilience among the displaced communities. The study was done at Kunchok-Nabalpur of Sidhupalchok. Local people’s perspectives of reconstruction, values, cultural life (ethnographic study) and narratives were collected by using observation, interview, case study and field visit methods. The study found that caste/ethnic, religious and cultural cohesion had not been reinstalled. Socio-cultural diversity and diverse social needs of displaced people were ignored by the resilience programs of the government. This shows how technocratic reconstruction programs were not as effective as expected due to the devaluation of socio-cultural life of the disaster displaced people who otherwise could contribute to the policy and programs of sustainable and inclusive development of the society.
... Housing type matters in disasters, as does the type of resident. Those who are the most socially vulnerable, and face social inequities tend to live in less stable housing and thus suffer greater post disaster loss and damage (Burby et al., 2003;Levine et al., 2007;Peacock et al., 2014). ...
People experiencing homelessness are vulnerable to disasters and hazards and are at risk for contracting COVID‐19. In this study, we gathered data from 10 community‐based organizations (CBO's) in the United States that work to provide services for people experiencing homelessness. The combined CBO's span across rural, urban, and a mixture of both settings. We identified three needs that the CBO's indicated to be urgent: (1) the increased need for basic services among guests/clients, (2) new organizational challenges for the CBO's, and (3) issues related to emergency management and disasters. Among these urgent needs, respondents also indicated the need for emotional support for staff and volunteers experiencing burnout during the COVID‐19 response. They also expressed some unique aspects of new care delivery systems, such as clients' willingness to engage in rehabilitation programs because of noncongregate sheltering options corresponding with those support services.
... Climate justice: the special case of renters While there are many reasons affluent people may choose to be renters rather than homeowners (for example, youth, temporary job locations, personal preference, and ownership availability in expensive urban areas), low income has been documented as a primary reason to rent. Burby et al. (2003) found that low-income households make up two-thirds of the entire renting population in the USA. Furthermore, in a study of 51 communities in Nebraska, Paine (2017) found that renters made up over 50% of properties. ...
Abstract For most Americans, the value of their home represents the largest portion of their total wealth; accordingly, homeowners even in very poor areas can obtain some benefit from a home-buyout program as a means to move away from risk and begin again. Renters, however, are an overlooked population during implementation of post-disaster retreat programs that predominantly focus on homeownership. Racism is a substantial factor in homeownership disparities between black and white Americans that can be traced to the post World War II GI Bill—a law that delivered to returning veterans federally-backed home mortgage loans, loans that were largely denied to returning black soldiers. These inequities have not been overcome, leaving minority renters as some of the most vulnerable populations after a disaster. Indeed, some renters may be substantially worse off after a buy-out program is implemented in an area. Renters represent an atypical “trapped” population when it comes to relocation programs because they may be economically forced to move to even more climate vulnerable housing. This paper will explore post-implementation impact on renters of home buy-out and similar retreat programs. We will examine the factors that contribute to this cycle of failed re-location efforts for this sub-group such as the lack of retreat policies aimed at assisting low-income renters, lack or limitations of home or rental insurance, the absence of “duty to warn” obligations from landlords to inform renters of repeated flooding risks at the property, and market failure to encompass climate risks in rental pricing.
... En outre, certains risques ne renvoient pas à un seul événement et se combinent parfois avec des conséquences graves. Par exemple, Burby, Steinberg et Basolo (2003) s'intéressent à un risque « techno-naturel », à savoir les matières toxiques qui peuvent être relâchées dans l'air suite à un désastre naturel, et le danger que cela représente pour les populations qui résident dans des zones industrialisées. Pour les auteurs, ces risques peuvent être « particulièrement problématiques, car les comportements adaptés pour un type d'aléa peuvent renforcer la menace de l'autre » (p. ...
Ces travaux de thèse, financés par la région PACA, visaient à favoriser l’adoption de comportements de protection du risque sismique en région PACA. Pour cela, nous nous sommes intéressé dans un premier temps à la perception des séismes dans la région, pour ensuite mener un certain nombre de travaux en laboratoire visant à élaborer un protocole de changement comportemental reposant sur un principe de substitution de soi à autrui (c’est-à-dire, répondre comme le ferait la plupart des habitants de la région PACA). Enfin, nous avons mené un travail de terrain visant à favoriser l’adoption de comportements de protection en amont d’un tremblement de terre (par exemple, accrocher les grands meubles aux murs, faire des réserves d’eau, convenir d’un point de rendez-vous post-séisme etc.). Les résultats obtenus semblent indiquer que la substitution de soi à autrui peut être une technique efficace pour obtenir un changement comportemental, mais d’autres recherches sont nécessaires, notamment sur les comportements effectifs, afin d’améliorer et de poursuivre le développement de ce paradigme.
... By contrast, renters are more likely to relocate, are less likely to apply for and receive less assistance post disaster [56,57]. Renters also often lack the authority and means to enact structural changes to their domiciles for hazard mitigation, response, or recovery, which raises the hazard exposure and susceptibility of renters while lowering their capacity to cope [58][59][60][61]. ...
Short-term disaster assistance is an important component of federal disaster response in the United States, providing over $63 billion from 2007 to 2016. Though assistance programs are designed to facilitate the return to basic living conditions, ambiguity surrounds their relationship with socially vulnerable populations who are most likely to require external aid. This study explores the spatial and statistical association between short-term disaster assistance and social vulnerability across the contiguous US. Analysis using bivariate Local Indicators of Spatial Association revealed places with high levels of both assistance and social vulnerability to be clustered in the southeastern United States, as were those with low assistance and high social vulnerability. Overall, places with high social vulnerability were predominantly rural. Based on multivariate regression analysis, dollar damage was the major determinant of allocated assistance for homeowners, but was not explanatory for renters. Indicators of race were associated with lower levels of assistance to homeowners in places where assistance was otherwise high. Among renters, indicators associated with increased coping capacities were associated with greater levels of assistance in places with low allocations of assistance disbursement. Our findings indicate disaster assistance may be underserving some places with more socially vulnerable populations. We recommend that social vulnerability should be explicitly considered in the allocation of assistance to improve social equity in short-term assistance programs.
... Specifically, home ownership is a determinant of disaster readiness. Wood et al. (2010), citing a study done by Burby et al. (2003), mention that home-renters are generally less prepared for a natural disaster when compared to homeowners. This could pose a problem in communities dense in renters, such as more expensive urban areas. ...
The Cascadia Subduction Zone on the northwest coast of the United States poses the threat of a devastating megathrust earthquake and subsequent tsunami damaging coastal populations. This paper synthesizes literature to analyze the geologic and socioeconomic effects of this natural disaster, as well as examines the existing warning system infrastructure, and makes recommendations to mitigate the damage. In order to assess the geologic effects of a megathrust earthquake, I investigate the tectonic history, the role of episodic tremor and slip (ETS) in stress buildup, crustal architecture of the subduction zone, and analogous subduction zones such as Chile and Japan. This information is then used to assess the socioeconomic effects of a megathrust earthquake. Demographic, geographic, and temporal information of the coastline are used to assign relative vulnerabilities to individual communities, pinpointing the areas at highest risk. Both geologic and socioeconomic effects are incorporated into an evaluation of ShakeAlert, the warning system in development for Cascadia. Recommendations for preemptive measures and warning system design, such as a higher magnitude criterion and more densely spaced instrumentation, are made by incorporating all factors, as well as by comparing ShakeAlert to the effective early warning systems of Japan.
... Studies have looked at the issue of communication in the fields of natural or public hazards (Vieweg, 2012;Feldman et al., 2016;Mileti et al., 2004Mileti et al., , 1992Burby et al., 2003;Basolo et al., 2008;Tanaka, 2005). Communication on hazards information was increasingly relayed to the public through the mass media (Mileti et al., 2004). ...
... New condo residents tend to be renters rather than owners, making them more sensitive to hazards given their limited power to repair, harden, or insure the structure (Morrow, 1999). Relative to homeowners, renters tend to have lower socioeconomic status and often lack the place attachments and strong social ties necessary for expedient disaster response and recovery (Burby, Steinberg, & Basolo, 2003). Furthermore, renters often struggle to find replacement housing post-disaster because of the slower repair of rental units and their unaffordability (Rufat, Tate, Burton, & Maroof, 2015). ...
Disasters disrupt the functions and meanings of urban spaces, often prompting changes in their ownership, management, and use. This study examines two such disaster events: riverine flooding in Lexington, Kentucky, and Hurricane Katrina in coastal Mississippi. After each event, we observe the emergence of quasi-public spaces during long-term recovery, where residents generally perceive an increase in the ‘publicness’ of formerly exclusive spaces. This trend more closely mirrors public-private hybrid spaces discussed in urban geographic literature rather than strict privatisation as observed in most post-disaster studies. Terming this shift from private to greater public use post-disaster communalism, we employ data from open-ended surveys, photovoice, and resident interviews to describe the phenomenon. Using discourse analysis and grounded theory, we explore residents’ perceptions of access and belonging in these quasi-public urban spaces. Findings show how different policy instruments (public buyouts versus insurance rate changes) contribute to similar land uses and perceptions of access. Building upon previous human geography research, we discuss five broad mechanisms that collectively generate communalism in our study sites. Finally, we consider the competing implications of post-disaster communalism for promoting both ideals of public space and of community resilience to future disasters.
... For example, minorities are more likely than white Americans to rent a home (Fussell and Harris 2014), and renting a home introduces an additional source of vulnerability after disaster (Fothergill and Peek 2004). Renters lack control over the return to their dwelling (Burby et al. 2003; Van Zandt and Sloan 2017), face potential rate hikes, and minority renters may face discrimination when seeking new housing (Hunter 2005). In addition, due to reduced housing supply, rental prices in low SES neighborhoods often increase significantly after a natural hazard event, creating an additional hardship (Finger 2015; Stough et al. 2016). ...
Despite the growing number of natural disasters around the globe, limited research exists on post‐disaster patterns of neighborhood change. In this paper, we test two theories of neighborhood change, the “recovery machine” and “rent gap,” which predict opposing effects for low socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhoods following damage from hurricanes, tropical storms, and other natural hazard events. The recovery machine theory posits that after natural hazard events, local communities experience patterns of recovery based on their pre‐disaster SES and access to resources, suggesting that wealthier neighborhoods will recover robustly while lower status neighborhoods languish. In contrast, the rent gap theory suggests that developers will identify a profit opportunity in the depressed values created by damage from natural hazard events, and seek to redevelop low SES areas. We use fixed effects models with census data from 1970 to 2015 to test the impact of damage from natural hazards on neighborhood change. We find substantial recovery and change in low‐income neighborhoods, but not in the high‐income neighborhoods supporting the rent gap theory. We conclude that natural hazard events resulting in damage produce uneven recovery by socioeconomic status of neighborhoods, potentially leading to displacement of low SES groups.
... Thus, higher income is associated with higher preparedness levels partly because it enables households to afford to take such actions (Mishra & Suar, 2007;Murphy, Cody, Frank, Glik, & Ang, 2009;Phillips, Metz, & Nieves, 2005). Also, homeowners are more likely to be prepared than renters (Burby, Steinberg, & Basolo, 2003;Siegel, Shoaf, Afifi, & Bourque, 2003;Spittal, McClure, Siegert, & Walkey, 2008). Having invested more time and money in constructing their homes and household goods, homeowners have stronger ties with the property and place of residence while those who rent are more mobile and less focused on the long-term horizon (Harvatt et al., 2011). ...
This study aims at understanding the role of education in promoting disaster preparedness. Strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards is an urgent target of Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Preparing for a disaster such as stockpiling of emergency supplies or having a family evacuation plan can substantially minimize loss and damages from natural hazards. However, the levels of household disaster preparedness are often low even in disaster-prone areas. Focusing on determinants of personal disaster preparedness, this paper investigates: (1) pathways through which education enhances preparedness; and (2) the interplay between education and experience in shaping preparedness actions. Data analysis is based on face-to-face surveys of adults aged ≥15 years in Thailand (N = 1,310) and the Philippines (N = 889, female only). Controlling for socio-demographic and contextual characteristics, we find that formal education raises the propensity to prepare against disasters. Using the KHB method to further decompose the education effects, we find that the effect of education on disaster preparedness is mainly mediated through social capital and disaster risk perception in Thailand whereas there is no evidence that education is mediated through observable channels in the Philippines.
... 403. Private tenants, already a very vulnerable group, due to factors such as low income (Burby et al., 2003), seem to have been particularly prone to difficulties during refurbishment; this may have implications for the exclusion of landlords from the Flood Re scheme and is discussed in more detail later in this section. ...
During the first week of December 2015, Cumbria was subjected to its third extreme flood event in a decade. Despite this recent experience, the impact of Storm Desmond on the county was unparalleled in many respects: i.e. in terms of record rainfall and river flows, the number of properties flooded and flood affected and also in terms of the pressure that dealing with those impacts placed on all organisations with a role in response and recovery. In effect, Cumbria, its institutions and its communities were faced with recovering from a disaster.
Given the scale of the event, the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum partners activated a coordinated response effort on Saturday 5th December that drew resources from across the country. This acute phase response has already been subjected to a review process, which generated 82 recommendations.
Even as people were still being rescued from their homes, Cumbria’s resilience partners began planning for the recovery challenge; this is a clear illustration of good practice. Partnership groups to support recovery were established within the first few days.
Once the response phase had been concluded, formal responsibility for the coordination of recovery activities across the four affected districts transitioned to the Strategic Recovery Coordination Group (SRCG) chaired by Cumbria County Council. This transition occurred on Thursday 10th December.
The SRCG and its sub-groups then acted as a central hub to oversee recovery activities, securing additional capabilities and capacities where necessary and always endeavouring to meet the group’s principal objective:
“Working with local communities to restore Cumbria to normality”
The nine SRCG sub-groups each focused on the coordination of a set of clearly defined, but also inevitably cross-cutting, work streams: Financial & Legal; Infrastructure; Business & Economy; Health & Welfare; Schools & Learning; Environment; Housing; Communities, and; Communications.
This review focused on investigating the activities of the SRCG and its sub-groups for a period of more a year and a half following the storm. This long timeline allowed for a greater understanding to be developed of both the initial efforts to restore and reconstruct following such a major event (e.g. bridge repairs) and the longer-term persistent challenges that have affected Cumbria’s impacted communities (e.g. householders’ negotiations with insurers and builders).
In response to increasing weather-related threats in the Mid-South, the Mid-South Regional Resilience Master Plan (RRMP) has been designed to bolster resilience across the region, using the HUD's definition of resilience. The RRMP aims to address the area's greatest resilience needs, proposing best practices, prioritizing future actions, and providing resources for implementation. Its recommendations are presented as a curated toolbox, designed for a broad audience including officials, engineers, businesses, property owners, and the general public.
The RRMP seeks to identify resilience opportunities at a regional level and across intersecting systems such as social, ecological, and infrastructural. Its strategies focus on prevention rather than emergency management, recognizing that interventions in one system can improve resilience in another. The RRMP encourages viewing resilience as a productive investment, offering cost-efficiency, addressing existing problems, providing public goods, and creating economic opportunities.
Developed over two years from 2017-2019 and involving multiple rounds of public workshops, the RRMP addresses the evolving nature of threats and the systems they interact with. Its recommendations are designed to remain relevant even as systems and technologies change, thus ensuring a safer, more resilient future for the Mid-South region.
Urban cities which look smart with towering structures, massive infrastructure, have their backbone in the migrant labor, but they are also the ones which are most vulnerable to the plight of disasters. Migrant labor move to cities for better livelihood and income opportunities, but the city’s landscape with its high rental rates, unplanned growth, does not accommodate the needs of the migrant population thus pushing them to periphery. Migrant communities usually occupy spaces that are hazard-prone areas and are vulnerable to disaster risk. These spaces come up as squatters, slums, and jhuggis that lack formal recognition of ownership rights with dwindled space, lack of basic infrastructure, and have higher population density that adds to the vulnerability of migrant communities. This affects the coping capacity of the migrant communities in the aftermath of a disaster, and it also poses a greater risk to these vulnerable communities in disaster response and recovery. This chapter argues that the migrant communities occupying spaces in hazard-prone areas differ in their context and vulnerability; therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all approach in disaster risk management. It therefore needs a bottom-up community-based participatory approach that integrates the efforts of communities in disaster preparedness, risk, and resilience.
Despite the growing literature on sea level rise (SLR), the current understanding of how SLR risks influence postdisaster relocation remains limited. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by examining how local leaders (i.e., public officials and community leaders) perceive: (a) resident relocation decisions in a disaster-affected community that is also vulnerable to SLR; and (b) the role of SLR in residents’ relocation decisions. Based on the case of Monroe County, Florida, which was affected by Hurricane Irma in 2017, our findings suggest that local leaders perceive residents’ relocation decisions as being driven by predisaster challenges that were exacerbated by conditions in the aftermath of the hurricane—specifically: the lack of affordable housing, low wages, and high cost of living. Leaders believe that SLR-related risks have little/no direct influence on relocation decisions; instead, they suggest that the community’s focus is on the next storm and community members’ short-term needs.
Mataura is a small township in the Southland region of Te Waipounamu (South Island), Aotearoa New Zealand. This article documents the evacuation of the Mataura community during the Mataura River flooding in February 2020, as conveyed by the Mataura Community Development Coordinator. Presented as a case study, this article features the way in which community spirit and collaboration facilitated successful disaster evacuation processes to improve community recovery and resilience. Community-based case studies, such as this, offer frontline insights into the mechanisms and functions of groups during times of adversity. The analysis encompasses vlog narratives and then key issues are considered, including access to practical resources, mental and emotional wellbeing, and the importance of effective communication during community evacuation.
Technological accidents triggered by natural hazards are considered as Natech events. Natech events involve chemical releases, which could cause serious health and environmental problems and large economic losses. Several studies have pointed out that the number of Natech events is on the rise. Learning lessons from Natech event data could provide critical ideas to risk managers and local governments to take action towards Natech risk reduction. However, there are currently only limited efforts to collect and analyze Natech event data, and especially there are no tools to manage historical Natech data from spatial perspective. This study proposes and develops of a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) tool, Find-Natech, to collect, analyze and share historical data of Natech events. It presents a case study on analyzing the temporal-spatial distribution of hurricane-related Natech events in the United States based on data from the National Response Center (NRC) database. Furthermore, the case study shows that Find-Natech can support risk managers in understanding the geographical distribution of historical events, their spatial variation by changing over time which could be further used to understand the characterization of Natech events. In addition, the proposed tool can support conducting studies on understanding incidence of Natech events during natural hazards with scale effects at city, state, or national levels, to support risk governance and risk reduction strategies.
This research investigated determinants of typhoon and earthquakemitigation behaviors in Taiwan based on risk analysis of hazards,exposure, and vulnerability, supplemented by the protective actiondecision model (PADM). Besides psychological condition (i.e., risk perception, life satisfaction, and anxiety), demographics, and socio-economic characteristics factors (i.e., gender, age, ratio of home own-ership, and average monthly income per household) mentioned in thePADM, this research added factors of family structure, social network,and internet and social media usage in the analysis. All of these factorswere for the concept of social vulnerability—one dimension of riskanalysis. Furthermore, this research used the factor of disaster-proneareas (i.e., disaster experiences, flood-prone areas, and number of protected people possibly affected by debris flow) to represent anotherdimension of risk analysis: the intersection of hazard and exposure.The 2020 Taiwan Social Change Survey data and multiple hierarchicalregression analysis were used for analysis. The results showed that (1)the demographic and socio-economic factor had the greatest impact onmitigation behaviors among all the factors when added hierarchicallyin the model. This finding added to the literature on the importance of the demographic and socio-economic factor: as the third factor addedin the model, it had an impact larger than those of the first and secondfactors added in the model, namely disaster-prone areas and psycho-logical condition. (2) Risk perception had a larger impact than disasterexperience on mitigation behaviors—whether the impact of disasterexperience on mitigation behaviors was significant depended on thetype of disaster. This result suggested that to encourage mitigation behaviors, actively raising people’s risk perception might be a betterstrategy than passively focusing on disaster experiences. (3) The factorof psychological condition could be an antecedent variable of mitiga-tion behaviors. Experts or practitioners in the field of disaster man-agement could plan how to integrate mental health services into the promotion of disaster mitigation behaviors. (4) Among all variables,education had the greatest impact on mitigation behaviors, which wasan exciting result. This result might support the viewpoint of sociologyof disasters which believes that education provides capability to absorbknowledge and obtain information of disaster mitigation behaviors. (5)The impact of the factor of family structure on mitigation behaviorswas not significant. Unlike the results of previous studies, cohabiting people, especially school-age children, did not encourage family mit-igation behaviors in Taiwan. Therefore, the practitioners must continueto work hard to meet their own expectation that school-age children bring home the knowledge they have acquired from school, therebyinfluencing their families to take disaster mitigation behaviors. Thefact that families with access and functional needs did not have moremitigation behaviors than their counterparts suggested a disaster vul-nerability in today’s aged society. (6) Social networks, the internet,and social media influenced the flood model but were not significantin the earthquake model. As there is still room for improvement, practitioners could learn to effectively use existing social mechanismsto promote and implement disaster mitigation behaviors in Taiwan,such as school-based and neighborhood-based disaster education andmanagement, as well as social media.
Extreme events (like earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires) can create significant physical damage to structures and infrastructure, downtime and business interruptions, economic losses, and casualties. The assessment of the consequences of past extreme events and the prediction of the consequences of future extreme events has typically focused on these types of consequences. However, the consequences of extreme events typically exceed these more immediately evident consequences. The societal consequences are complex and multi-faceted, affecting financial, economic, and physical aspects of individual well-being such as psychological trauma, missed work and school opportunities. Yet due to restrictions on time and resources, not every possible consequence of an extreme event can be included in risk analysis or impact analysis. To assess the societal impact of extreme events, it is critical to first determine which consequences should be considered (measured for disasters and predicted for hazards.) This paper develops a comprehensive list of which consequences need to be considered. We provide a theoretical justification for the list by adopting a capability approach for extreme event consequences. The list of consequences is meant to go beyond the traditional metrics of infrastructure damage and downtime. We show how the developed list incorporates the diverse insights of recent work expanding the consequences of extreme events. The proposed list is general and can be used within different assessment approaches.
Problem, research strategy, and findings: The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is the most common financing mechanism for subsidized housing production in America. We investigate how and to what extent states are currently using the LIHTC to prepare for and recover from disasters. We systematically code guidelines in the 2017 LIHTC qualified allocation plans from 53 states and territories to identify disaster-related provisions. Twenty-four states and territories include provisions for preparedness or recovery in their allocation plans, of which 13 include only preparedness provisions, 3 include only recovery provisions, and 8 include both types. Preparedness provisions address project design and siting, whereas recovery provisions direct credits to disaster-affected areas or the replacement of damaged units. Using t tests, we compare three sets of states—those without any disaster-related provisions, those with either preparedness or recovery provisions, and those with both types of provisions—across measures of housing cost, demographic composition, disaster exposure, and political ideology. States with higher homeownership rates, lower home values, and lower rents are more likely than other states to have either or both types of provisions. Future research should investigate state adoption of disaster-related LIHTC provisions to better inform affordable housing policy.
Takeaway for practice: State governments could mitigate disaster-related hazards and help speed recovery by including locally relevant preparedness and recovery provisions in their LIHTC allocation plans. These provisions could encourage resilient construction, weigh the social costs and benefits of LIHTC construction in floodplains, or waive program rules to address postdisaster housing shortages.
Social vulnerability describes human susceptibility to harm or loss from hazards; hence, understanding the human-environment interactions that underlie vulnerability is essential for aspiring emergency managers. Notably, however, pedagogical scholarship on social vulnerability remains scarce. To address this gap, this paper considers how an upper-division undergraduate course integrates a state-mandated social science objective (social responsibility). Next, it profiles a teaching intervention (the Signature Assignment Institute) aimed at improving alignment of student assignments with this objective. Empirical comparison of student assignments reveals a statistically significant improvement in quality post-intervention. Finally, the paper discusses social vulnerability’s aptness for promoting geographic literacy and social responsibility across the curriculum. Resources to improve student learning outcomes are also identified.
Emergency Preparedness for Vulnerable Populations in a Group Home setting.
As a group, renters experience a broader range of housing problems than do owners, and disasters worsen these problems. Yet to date, housing tenure has been relatively understudied compared to other vulnerability characteristics. This review addresses the differences in housing needs faced by renters and owners during and after a disaster. It examines variation between renters and owners, recent studies of a disaster’s impacts on each group by disaster phase, and disaster-related housing policies and programs. This research explores significant questions related to the housing needs of renters in times of disaster, yielding important insights for policy makers and local planners.
Introduction: Fire hazards are an extreme risk to occupants of high-rise buildings. Little attention has been paid to emergency and evacuation preparedness among people living in high-rise buildings. This paper reports on emergency fire preparedness among residents of a high-rise building that has experienced multiple fires in the past.
Methods: An exploratory qualitative pilot study was conducted using key informant interviews. Six residents participated. Themes on preparedness for fires and emergency evacuation were extracted.
Results: Findings indicated varying levels of preparedness for fires and emergency evacuation among residents. Factors influencing residents’ emergency preparedness included fire risk perception, owner or renter status, and building-level emergency preparedness. Fire alarms were considered to be an ineffective evacuation cue. Severe cues such as seeing fire or smoke were more likely to prompt evacuation. Participants provided a series of suggestions to keep high-rise residents safe during fire emergencies.
Discussion: The study revealed fire preparedness knowledge, decision-making processes, and actual behaviors of residential high-rise occupants who experienced a fire emergency in their building. Main findings of the study are discussed in two themes: influences on fire emergency and evacuation preparedness, and evacuation decision-making and response to fire. Results from this pilot study will be used as the basis for a follow up study involving residents from multiple high-rise buildings.
Keywords: disaster, emergency preparedness, evacuation, fire, hazard, high-rise building, pilot study, qualitative research
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Providing a detailed and comparative assessment of the humanitarian responses to a series of major disasters in Asia over the past two decades, including massive earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, this book explores complex and changing understandings and practices of relief, recovery, and reconstruction. These critical investigations raise questions about the position and responsibilities of a growing range of stakeholders, and provide in-depth explorations of the ways in which local communities are transformed on multiple levels - not only by the impact of disaster events, but also by the experiences of rebuilding. This timely volume highlights how the experiences of Asia can contribute towards post-disaster responses globally, to safeguard future communities and reduce vulnerabilities. This is a valuable resource for academic researchers interested in post-disaster transformations and development studies, practitioners in NGOs, and government officials dealing with disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
Residents of a high seismic hazard uvea were compared with those in a moderate seismic hazard area in terms of demographic characteristics, personal hazard experience, risk perception, hazard intrusiveness, and self-reported adoption of 16 hazard adjustments (preimpact actions to reduce danger to persons and property). The results show that the two locations differed substantially in hazard experience, somewhat less so in risk perceptions and hazard intrusiveness, and little in hazard adjustment. Multiple regression analyses supported a causal chain in which location and demographic characteristics cause hazard experience, hazard experience causes hazard intrusiveness, perceived risk causes hazard intrusiveness, and hazard intrusiveness causes the adoption of hazard adjustments.
Studies of risk perception examine the judgements people make when they are asked to characterize and evaluate hazardous activities
and technologies. This research aims to aid risk analysis and policy-making by providing a basis for understanding and anticipating
public responses to hazards and improving the communication of risk information among lay people, technical experts, and decision-makers.
This work assumes that those who promote and regulate health and safety need to understand how people think about and respond
to risk. Without such understanding, well-intended policies may be ineffective.
The English House Condition Survey for 1991 demonstrated that levels of energy efficiency in private rented property are significantly below other sectors, even though energy improvements have tangible benefits for landlords. The low level of energy efficiency provision in the private rented sector indicates that landlords are unaware or unconvinced of these benefits and market barriers may have restricted uptake. Information regarding energy efficiency advice to the private rented HMO sector has focussed on offering good practice design guidance, and information about the level of fitness and overall characteristics of the sector. This research project evaluated the PRESS scheme, which encouraged landlords to introduce energy efficiency measures. A total of 78 private sector rented properties in Sheffield were analysed with retrofit measures to improve levels of energy efficiency. The results demonstrate that whilst market barriers exist, the PRESS scheme went some way to overcoming some barriers to energy efficiency.
Hurricanes and other natural disasters can induce hazardous material (hazmat) releases. How-ever, researchers generally treat natural and technological disasters as separate entities rather than as conjoint events. This paper investigates hurricane-induced hazardous material (hurmat) releases in a petroleum re-finery. The information developed in this study indicates the need to develop emergency response plans, mitigation measures, and design criteria to minimize health risks and property damage from conjoint dis-asters at industrial facilities. This paper identifies possible hurmat release scenarios in a refinery, and assesses the type of release that might result. Four hurricane threats are considered: high winds, tornadoes, flooding, and lightning. These hazards can lead to hazmat releases caused by damage to equipment, damage to pipes and connections, short circuits and/or power failures, punctured tanks and vessels, and structural damage to buildings and facilities. Hazmats can be released in fires and/or explosions, toxic gas emissions, and spills. The multiple consequences of each hazard scenario are analyzed, and the relationships between the different hazard types are illustrated. The present paper concludes that refineries are susceptible to all four hurricane threats and that these threats could serve as triggering mechanisms for hazardous chemical re-leases. For public policy application, risk quantification of the scenarios presented should be undertaken; the authors recommend that a strategy of expert elicitation be adopted for this purpose.
In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the problem of earthquake-initiated hazardous materials releases (EIHRs). While the evidence indicates that EHIRs are an important part of the earthquake hazard profile, little attention has been given to documenting them in a way that could form the basis for more systematic estimates of their probability and consequences. Data from the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake document the range and nature of hazardous materials events in the impact area, including those at fixed-site facilities and in transportation systems. Proportional estimates of hazmat incidence are provided, and the implications of these data for developing risk assessments and earthquake hazard management are discussed.
We present the energy savings and costs of conservation measures in U.S. multifamily buildings based on an analysis of measured data from our data base of over 25,000 dwelling units. Median energy savings were 1450 kWh/unit in electric-heat buildings and 14 MBtu/unit in fuel-heat buildings, or ~14–16% of pre-retrofit consumption. We found that differences in pre-retrofit usage, size of investment, and choice of retrofit strategy were particularly influential in explaining the variation in energy savings among buildings. Retrofit costs were typically much lower in fuel-heat buildings than in electric-heat buildings ($370/unit vs $1600/unit). Median payback time in fuel-heat buildings was 6 yr; paybacks were typically 20–25 yr in electric-heat buildings where the emphasis was on costlier shell improvements. Comparisons of pre-retrofit predictions with actual savings showed fairly good agreement on average, in five out of seven programs, although the variance for individual buildings was often quite large. Extrapolating these measured retrofit results to the U.S. multifamily stock suggests opportunities for saving 0.2–0.5 quads/yr (resource energy), which represents 10–22% of current consumption.
Disaster vulnerability is socially constructed, i.e., it arises out of the social and economic circumstances of everyday living. Most often discussed from the perspective of developing nations, this article extends the argument using American demographic trends. Examples from recent disasters, Hurricane Andrew in particular, illustrate how certain categories of people, such as the poor, the elderly, women-headed households and recent residents, are at greater risk throughout the disaster response process. Knowledge of where these groups are concentrated within communities and the general nature of their circumstances is an important step towards effective emergency management. Emergency planners, policy-makers and responding organisations are encouraged to identify and locate high-risk sectors on Community Vulnerability Maps, integrating this information into GIS systems where feasible. Effective disaster management calls for aggressively involving these neighbourhoods and groups at all levels of planning and response, as well as mitigation efforts that address the root causes of vulnerability.
In this paper we synthesise past disaster research that addresses issues of race and ethnicity in the United States. Using an eight-stage typology to organise the findings, this literature review presents the results from a wide range of studies. The synthesis shows how various racial and ethnic groups perceive natural hazard risks and respond to warnings, how groups may be differentially affected, both physically and psychologically, and how disaster effects vary by race and ethnicity during the periods of emergency response, recovery and reconstruction. We show that studies have important findings, many illustrating that racial and ethnic communities in the US are more vulnerable to natural disasters, due to factors such as language, housing patterns, building construction, community isolation and cultural insensitivities. By presenting these studies together, we are able to witness patterns of racial and ethnic inequalities that may be more difficult to see or interpret in individual studies that take place in one specific time and place. We conclude the review with policy and research recommendations.
This article examines the impact of disaster education on hurricane preparedness among residents in Charleston, South Carolina. The article examines (1) the impact of participation in disaster education programs generally; (2) the impact of hurricane experience as a type of education; and (3) the impact of participation in earthquake specific education programs to determine whether there is any transference of knowledge across agent types. Two indices of preparedness are used: household planning activities, and adaptive response activities. It was found that participation in some type of disaster education program is strongly related to the preparedness measures. Hurricane experience has some minimal effect on adaptive response but not on household planning. Participation in the earthquake specific education programs is not a significant predictor when controlling for other variables.
Using data collected on the general public, health, safety and welfare agencies and organizations, and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area we describe what people thought and did in response to receiving an informational newspaper insert about revised probabilities for the next damaging Bay Area earthquake. Our findings suggest that the insert was relatively successful in reaching all groups, that Bay Area residents are making earthquakes a permanent part of local culture, and sufficient knowledge may be in-hand with which to effectively and productively manage public earthquake predictions.
The failure of homeowners to invest in mitigation measures for reducing potential losses from earthquakes presents a major obstacle to stemming economic losses. The design of earthquake risk reduction policies requires an understanding of the appropriate combination of institutional and individual incentives for inducing investment in mitigation. We address the challenges of inducing protective actions by considering the experiences with energy conservation, radon reduction, and termite control. We examine the institutional design of relevant policies and programs, the role of various intermediaries, and the involvement of third parties in creating markets for services. From this, we draw lessons about the leveraging of governmental resources, fostering of markets for services, and carrying out of programs for outreach and education.
In 1985, the City of San Francisco initiated a tenant-incentive demonstration project in public housing to stimulate energy-conservation behavior among its tenants. The goals of the incentive demonstration project were to demonstrate energy savings and to measure the effectiveness of financial incentives in public housing. We found that elderly tenants believed they were already using a minimal amount of energy, and several barriers prevented other tenants from reducing their heating use. Accordingly, we did not expect many elderly tenants in public housing to use less energy in response to an incentive program. Individual and social conditions prevented these tenants from responding to energy-conservation programs. Our preliminary analysis of energy use before and after the incentive program indicates increased gas consumption in both the control and experimental buildings.
This study uses two data sets to examine racial/ethnic differences in three aspects of housing consumption - housing unit inadequacy, proximity to abandoned buildings, and home ownership - in the New York-New Jersey-Long Island metropolitan area and in New York City. In general, the results show that the spatial assimilation model explains the process of home ownership well, but that housing unit quality and neighborhood physical condition respond mainly to indicators of a family's purchasing power. After controlling far group differences in family composition and socioeconomic resources, Black and Hispanic families remained less likely than white families to live in high-quality units and neighborhoods, and all minority families were less likely to own their homes in both locations, These persistent disadvantages may partially reflect preferences for residence apart from whites (see Feagin 1994) but also suggest that the poorer treatment that minority home seekers receive from housing market agents helps to sort Black, Hispanic, and - to a lesser degree - Asian families toward lower-quality housing opportunities than those available to whites.
The field of thanatology has given extensive attention to death as an outcome of illness. A more comprehensive picture, however, would also encompass the hazards of natural and technological disasters. Deaths from both natural and technological disasters continue to increase in the United States, despite intensified government efforts to reverse this trend, and despite improved understanding of the cognitive processes of people who face either long-term or impending catastrophes. Key findings are reviewed in the areas of vulnerability to natural hazards, disaster behavior and risk perception, societal concern over technological hazard, and the social-psychological effects of disasters. It is noted that findings based upon natural disasters cannot necessarily be extrapolated to technological disasters, such as the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Furthermore, data on long-term emotional recovery from natural disasters are inconsistent. Among areas requiring more extensive research is the role of the media, and the measurement of secondary consequences to disaster exposure. Improved methodologies for measuring distress over long periods of time must be developed. The disaster may never end for technological disaster victims because of the long latency period between exposure and disease manifestation.
This study examines the current state of preparedness among Los Angeles County and San Francisco Bay Area residents, determines the extent to which levels of preparedness have changed since the Sylmar earthquake in 1971, identifies the circumstances under which people have prepared, and assesses the extent to which respondents' overall perceptions of preparedness match their reports of preparedness activities. Since the 1970s, residents of the two areas have increased their level of survival activities substantially, but progress in home-hazard mitigation and family earthquake planning has generally remained constant and low. Pre-earthquake preparedness was predicted by home ownership, income, education, marital status, number of children at home, number of years in the neighborhood, and number of earthquakes experienced. In contrast, post-earthquake preparedness was predicted by proximity to the earthquake epicenter, earthquake-related experiences, fear, and levels of pre-earthquake preparedness.
Generally, hazards research and literature has treated natural and technological disasters as separate entities. This study attempts to determine how frequently interaction between these two types of disaster took place in the United States from 1980-1989. Data were collected by performing a literature review, contacting organizations and individuals active in hazards research and mitigation, and through a questionnaire sent to the emergency management agencies of all 50 states. The consensus derived from the data is that the number of incidents where natural and technological disasters interact is rising while preparations, which recognize the complications inherent in such combined events, remain cursory. There is a pressing need for states to record, and make available to managers, information regarding the number of combined natural/technological events affecting their areas. Only when such data are available will it be possible to make appropriate decisions regarding the best way to reduce the effects of a natural disaster causing a catastrophic release of hazardous materials.
This article is about the choice of policy instruments to promote electricity-efficient household appliances and office equipment. We analyse the design process of the energy-efficiency policies implemented by Canada, Denmark, the United States, Sweden and Switzerland from 1973 to 1996. The results of this comparative study suggest that a policy instrument is adopted (1) if the degree of coercion involved is compatible with the party ideology of the ruling majority, (2) if a specialized administrative institution already exists, which helps to minimize the costs of implementation, (3) if other political or administrative jurisdictions have already applied it with success and if the transfer of their experiences is desirable or necessary, or (4) if the groups which are targeted are not opposed to it. Finally (5), its adoption also depends on the structure of the market and the speed of technological developments affecting household appliances and office equipment. In conclusion, we recommend taking account of these considerations in designing new energy-efficiency policies at both national and international levels.
This article described three heuristics that are employed in making judgements under uncertainty: (i) representativeness,
which is usually employed when people are asked to judge the probability that an object or event A belongs to class or process
B; (ii) availability of instances or scenarios, which is often employed when people are asked to assess the frequency of a
class or the plausibility of a particular development; and (iii) adjustment from an anchor, which is usually employed in numerical
prediction when a relevant value is available. These heuristics are highly economical and usually effective, but they lead
to systematic and predictable errors. A better understanding of these heuristics and of the biases to which they lead could
improve judgements and decisions in situations of uncertainty.
We identify behavioral questions that arise with 4 kinds of policy interventions for energy efficiency in buildings: information, incentives, standards, and technological research and development. A general strategy is described for answering such questions by using 6 analytical methods: formal models, analysis of existing data, surveys, ethnographic methods, small-scale experimentation, and evaluation research. We evaluate each method for addressing each behavioral question in policy analyses. Peer Reviewed http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/26718/1/0000268.pdf
The Triad Alliance: Preparing vulnerable populations. Public Management
- D Lunsford