"Back to Normal: Network Integration, Cognitive Accuracy, and Organizational Recovery"

Abstract

Recent experiences of disasters have attracted our attention to disaster management. Scholars of public administration as well as disaster management emphasize an organization's internal preparedness such as disaster plans and an organization's external preparedness such as disaster networks. However, empirical evidences that reveal disaster management matters for organizational recovery after disasters are lacking. To fill this gap, this study conducts a natural experiment in a context of Hurricane Rita that hit Texas school districts in 2005. Findings show that after controlling for the severity of Hurricane Rita measured by the size of hurricane wind forces and districts' distance from the coast, school districts with quality disaster plans, active resource sharing, integrating and accurately recognizing disaster networks are more likely to restore their core functions lost due to Hurricane Rita.This study is expected to contribute to an understanding of disaster management with empirical support that ...