Assessing international students’ vulnerability to hurricanes: University of Florida case study

Abstract

Disaster research concerning the behavior of international students at U.S. institutions of higher education is very limited. The main objective of our study is to develop new knowledge about international student's behavior at U.S. institutions of higher education in relation to hurricanes in order to enhance the overall campus crisis management. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data from University of Florida (UF) main campus in Gainesville, Florida; UF administrative leaders committed to international students' safety in emergencies were interviewed. In addition, 120 international students at UF were surveyed. The data analysis sought to provide insights into one main research question: In a disaster-context, what challenges do international students face that contribute to their vulnerability at UF main campus? Three main groups of challenges were found; Institutional challenges, Students' well-being and daily challenges, and Disaster preparedness challenges. Moreover, considerable variations in students' behavior were found among some demographics, including gender, ethnicity, housing, degree level, and previous hurricane experience. The research findings shed a light on a research area that has been under-investigated, and contribute to an increased understanding of international students' vulnerabilities at U.S. institutions of higher education.