Disaster Programs Research Articles

Assessing social equity of federal disaster aid distribution: A nationwide analysis.

In this study, we conduct the first comprehensive, nationwide assessment of social equity performance of multiple federal post- and pre-disaster assistance programs that differ in targeted recipients, project types, forms of aid, and funding requirements. We draw on the social equity and distributive justice theory to develop and test a set of hypotheses on the influence of program design and specificity on their aid distributional patterns and equity performance. The analysis uses panel data of about 3000 US counties to examine the relationship between a county's receipt of federal assistance and its recent disaster damage, socioeconomic, demographic, political, local government, and geographic characteristics in a two-stage random effects Tobit model. Expectedly, we find that post-disaster grants are largely driven by recent disaster damage, while damage is simultaneously influenced by local socioeconomic conditions. For all disaster programs, disproportionately more federal aid is allocated to populous counties. For programs geared toward state and local governments and targeting community recovery and mitigation, more aid is received by counties with better socioeconomic conditions. Conversely, for programs targeting individual relief and recovery, more aid is given to counties with lower incomes and greater social vulnerability. Results also indicate that counties located in high-risk regions receive greater outlays. These findings shed light on the varying degrees of social equity of federal disaster assistance programs tied to their cost-share requirement, funding caps, and inherent complexity of application procedures.

Soil Moisture Information Improves Drought Risk Protection Provided by the USDA Livestock Forage Disaster Program

Abstract The USDA Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) offers financial assistance to farmers and ranchers with grazed forage losses caused by fire or drought. Payments for drought losses are based on the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM), which is designed to integrate meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, ecological, and socioeconomic droughts. Because soil moisture deficit is a more specific measure of agricultural drought, we hypothesized that basing LFP payments on soil moisture observations could better reduce producers’ risk. Therefore, our objectives were to 1) quantify relationships of forage yield with USDM-based LFP payment multipliers and with in situ soil moisture, 2) develop an alternative LFP payment multiplier structure based on in situ soil moisture, and 3) quantify risk reduction using the current and alternative payment structures. We focused on Oklahoma, United States, which has led the nation in LFP payments received and has >25 years of in situ soil moisture observations statewide. Using non-alfalfa hay yield as a surrogate for forage production, we found that LFP payment multiplier values and soil moisture anomaly were each related to yield, and soil moisture anomaly explained 54% of yield variability. However, the USDM-based LFP payment structure sometimes resulted in payments for above-average yield, and higher payments did not always correspond with greater yield losses. We developed an alternative soil-moisture-based payment structure that reduced financial risk by >20% compared with the current USDM-based structure. Our study identifies an improved LFP payment structure for Oklahoma that can be evaluated and refined in other states or nationwide using other soil moisture data sources.

Detection of pyroclastic material and deformation of the lava dome in Mt. Sinabung with multi-temporal analysis (2010-2020)

The persistent eruptions of Mt. Sinabung resulted in the lava dome’s deformation and blanketed the surrounding area with pyroclastic material. This research focused on determining the changes in Mt. Sinabung during the prolonged eruptions from 2010-2020. A total of 22 volcanic ash samples were collected following a 1x1 km grid interval spread over from the East to South slope of Mt. Sinabung. The studied area is the most affected by the volcanic eruption. Digital elevation models from the shuttle radar topographic mission and sentinel-1 were utilized to monitor deformations of the lava dome and the distribution of pyroclastic material on Mt. Sinabung. Sentinel Application Platform and Google Earth Engine were used as the main tools in multi-temporal digital elevation model (DEM) data processing. The eruption of Mt. Sinabung from 2010 to 2020 changed the height from 2,460 m to 2,404.3 m and created a new crater (5.35 ha). The lava dome volume from 2010 to 2020 is about 2,308,041 m3 and has collapsed to produce pyroclastic material which deposits to the surrounding area of Mt. Sinabung during the eruption. The distribution of pyroclastic material increased from 2010 to 2019, covered up an area of 103.27 ha (2010), 846.48 ha (2013), 1,029.74 ha (2016), 1,235.97 ha (2017) and 1,463.62 ha (2019). The thickness of the pyroclastic material deposits at Mt. Sinabung until 2020 varied from 13,24 cm to 219 cm. The findings from this study can be used as a reference for observing topographic changes due to volcanic activities and drawing a mitigation and contingency plan for a volcanic disaster program in the active volcanic region of Indonesia.

Lessons from the Archives: Understanding Historical Agricultural Change in the Southern Great Plains

In the US, agriculture rapidly expanded beginning in the 1850s, influenced by homesteader policies and new technologies. With increased production also came widespread land-use/land-cover change. We analyze historical agricultural policies and associated land and water use trajectories with a focus on the Southern Great Plains (SGPs). Rapid changes in agriculture and reoccurring drought led to the infamous Dust Bowl, triggering new agricultural and land management policies, with lasting impacts on the landscape. To understand historical agricultural change, we use mixed methods, including archival literature and historical agricultural census data (1910 to 2017) from three counties in a tri-state (Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado) area of the SGPs. Our archival policy and agricultural census analysis illustrates 110 years of agricultural change, showing that agricultural policies and technological advances play an integral role in the development of agroecological systems, especially the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP). Further, while communities began with distinct agricultural practices, agricultural policy development resulted in increasing uniformity in crop and livestock practices. The results suggest that there are sustainability lessons to be learned by looking to the land and water trajectories and accompanying unintended consequences of the past.

A SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT ANALYSIS ON COMMUNITY BASED DISASTER MANAGEMENT TO RESPOND TO PANDEMIC COVID

The Covid 19 pandemic has hit various aspects of life in society. Disaster management programs carried out by the government are not fully effective, and community-based disaster management is one solution for this case. One of the problems faced by community-based disaster management is the lack of funding support. Business sector involvement is needed to strengthen community-based disaster management. Inviting multi-stakeholders by involving the community, the business, and the government to provide real solutions to the limitations of disaster programs. This research uses a qualitative and quantitative mixed method with a social return on investment calculation approach to facilitate the process of analyzing the success of community-based disaster management programs. The results of the study stated that the “Program Masyarakat Tanggap Bencana” ASTANA is very feasible to be done and replicated by other stakeholders with an SROI value of 1.60.

Perceptivity of UMPC on Disaster Programs: A Quantitative Inquiry

This study aims to evaluate the school's profile in terms of its current building structure, disaster preparedness plan, and safety facilities. It also seeks to determine how aware students and staff are of the school's current preparedness programs. Based on the study's findings, an action plan may be put into place. This study assesses the institution in question's preparedness for disasters using a quantitative, non-experimental descriptive evaluative research methodology. The study's findings demonstrated that while UM Panabo College's disaster preparedness program is regularly carried out, a lackluster choice of emergency vehicles emphasizes the importance of staff and students in times of catastrophe. The results showed that behavior related to preparing for disasters was predicted by risk perception and preparation intention.

Social support and community embeddedness protect against post-disaster depression among immigrants: a Vietnamese American case study.

Immigrants often face increased vulnerabilities to disaster-related poor health and recovery, compared to mainstream populations. Little is known about Hurricane Harvey's impacts among the storm affected area's large Vietnamese American population. Our study documented diverse psychological experiences and recovery challenges 1 year post-storm among a sample of 120 Vietnamese Americans residing in the Houston, Texas area. Using linear regression modeling, we examined the association between social support and depressive symptom development among these storm-affected Vietnamese Americans. Social support encapsulating both social embeddedness and perceived support was measured by the Louisville Social Support Scale and depressive symptom development was measured by 18 items that assessed emotional distress. These items included loss of appetite, loss of concentration, exposure to persistent pain, and the exhibition of hopelessness, tiredness, sadness, frustration, discouragement, desperation, exhaustion, disgraced, anger, and craziness. We found adverse post-disaster health outcomes, as well as potential avenues to mitigate them, that should be taken into consideration in the design and implementation of inclusive disaster programs. A high level of social support lowered depressive symptomology among Vietnamese Americans post-Hurricane Harvey, even when accounting for Hurricane Harvey-related home damages and injuries/illness. The negative association between social support and depressive symptom development remained after accounting for both post-storm self-rated mental and physical health. Our results suggested that public health practitioners and emergency management entities should prioritize social support resources to foster mental well-being after hurricanes among Vietnamese Americans as future hurricanes are expected to be stronger and more prevalent along the United States Gulf Coast.

Developing Prepositioned Burn Care-Specific Disaster Resources for a BMCI

Introduction:Disaster planning and preparedness for a burn mass casualty incident (BMCI) must consider the needs of those who will be directly involved and support the response to such an event. An aspect of developing a more comprehensive statewide burn disaster program included meeting (regionally) with healthcare coalitions (HCC) to identify gaps in care and deficiencies.Method:Regularly scheduled (quarterly) HCC meetings are held around the state linking stakeholders representing local hospitals, health departments, emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, and other interested parties. We were able to use the HCCs regional meetings to serve as a platform for conducting focus group research to identify gaps specific to a BMCI and to inform strategy development for a statewide approach. Additionally, we held engagement meetings with state emergency response network (a state agency that coordinates the movement of ambulances to appropriate destinations) and the Burn Medical Directors findings were vetted from the focus groups.Results:One of the deficiencies identified, included a lack of burn-specific wound care dressings that could support the initial response. Relying on this same process, a consensus was attained for equipment types and quantities, including a kit for storage. Furthermore, a maintenance, supply replacement, and delivery to the scene processes were developed for these kits of supplies that could augment a BMCI response.Conclusion:Focus group feedback reminded us that outside of the world of burn care, many report an infrequent opportunity to provide care for patients with burn injuries. Several types of burn-specific dressings can be expensive, and with the occurrence being infrequent. EMS agencies and rural hospitals alike reported that it was unlikely their agency/hospital would have more than a minimal stock of burn injury supplies. Developing supply caches that can be quickly mobilized and deployed to the impacted area was one of the deficiencies we addressed.

Development of Prepositioned Burn Care-specific Disaster Resources for a Burn Mass Casualty Incident

Disaster preparedness for a burn mass casualty incident (BMCI) must consider the needs of the first responders and community hospitals, who may be the first to receive those patients. Developing a more comprehensive statewide burn disaster program includes meeting with regional healthcare coalitions (HCCs) to identify gaps in care. Quarterly HCC meetings, which link local hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, and other interested parties, are held around the state. We rely on the HCC's regional meetings to serve as a platform for conducting focus group research to identify gaps specific to a BMCI and to inform strategy development. One of the deficiencies identified, particularly in rural areas that infrequently manage burn injuries, was a lack of burn-specific wound care dressings that could support the initial response. Relying on this process, a consensus was created for equipment types and quantities, including a kit for storage. Furthermore, maintenance, supply replacement, and scene delivery processes were developed for these kits that could augment a BMCI response. The feedback from the focus groups reminded us that many systems report having infrequent opportunities to provide care for patients with burn injuries. Additionally, several types of burn-specific dressings are expensive. With the infrequent occurrence, EMS agencies and rural hospitals reported that it was doubtful their agency/hospital would have more than a minimal stock of burn injury supplies. Therefore, developing supply caches that can be quickly mobilized and deployed to the impacted area was one of the deficiencies we identified and addressed through this process.

Crop Insurance Implications of Permanently Authorizing the Emergency Relief Program

AbstractThe United States has a long history of providing ad hoc disaster assistance to agricultural producers. The latest version – the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) – follows five consecutive years of appropriations for disaster assistance. In response to ongoing appropriations, there is growing interest in establishing a permanent disaster program. However, with that comes concerns over the impact it could have on the existing farm safety net, particularly crop insurance. In this paper, we characterize the likely effects on crop insurance coverage levels of a permanent authorization of ERP. We assume that corn and soybean producers choose a coverage level based on the effects of that choice on the distribution of future ending wealth reflecting crop revenue, insurance indemnities, and ERP payments. We find very modest effects on crop insurance coverage level choices and crop insurance premiums collected.

The American Red Cross and Disaster Relief in the 1960s: Nonprofits and Mass Philanthropy in an Era of Rising Expectations

Hurricane Camille, a devastating Category Five hurricane which hit the Gulf Coast of the U.S. in August, 1969, prompted a reassessment of U.S. disaster relief policy. The American National Red Cross, which had played the dominant role in disaster relief for individuals in the U.S. since the turn of the century, saw its role in disaster relief challenged on a number of fronts. Facing failures in its response to Camille, financial challenges in meeting every-more-costly disasters in the post-World War Two era, and rising expectations of both adequacy and equity on the part of disaster victims, the non-governmental agency ultimately found its role diminished by both the expansion of federal disaster relief programs and by the increasing prominence of disaster programs performed by other voluntary agencies such as the Salvation Army and the Mennonite Disaster Service.

EFEKTIVITAS PROGAM KELURAHAN TANGGUH BENCANA OLEH BPBD KOTA PADANG

The background of this research is to examine the effectiveness of the occurrence of several problems in the Tangguh Kelurahan Disaster Program by BPBD Kota Padang which can be seen in the parameters of the Study in Padang City which aims to determine the Effectiveness of the Tangguh Kelurahan Disaster Program by BPBD Kota Padang. This research is a qualitative research with a descriptive approach using source triangulation method. The results of the study showed that the Effectiveness of the Tangguh Disaster Village Program by BPBD Kota Padang concluded that the program aimed at Kelurahan Olo was right on target, but the socialization was not maximized and there were still many factors that influenced the effectiveness of the Kelurahan Tangguh Disaster Program by BPBD Kota Padang.

All Creatures Safe and Sound: The Social Landscape of Pets in Disasters

All Creatures Safe and Sound: The Social Landscape of Pets in Disasters

Peranan Program Siaran Kentongan Terhadap Mitigasi Bencana Bagi Pendengar Lembaga Penyiaran Publik Radio Republik Indonesia Banda Aceh

The Kentongan Broadcast Program became a disaster management program, especially in Banda Aceh. The Kentongan Broadcast Program has been running for more than two years. The Kentongan Broadcast Program runs from 2019 to the present. After examining what happened, the purpose of this research is to find out how the role of the LPP-RRI Banda Aceh kentongan broadcast program in disaster management. This study uses a qualitative descriptive analysis technique. This research was obtained through interviews. Interviews were conducted using a question and answer process directly with parties who were considered to understand and understand the problem that the researcher was doing. From the results of the research conducted, it shows that the Kentongan Broadcast Program is a disaster response program presented by RRI Pro-1 Banda Aceh at a frequency of 97.7MHz. The Kentongan Broadcast Program contains information on disaster mitigation. The Kentongan Broadcast Program with a duration of 60 minutes is an excellent disaster program at Pro-1 RRI Banda Aceh. The Kentongan Broadcast Program has 2 series of events, namely dialogue inside and outside the studio and interviews of course. and response to disasters. Based on the research results, Radio RRI Banda Aceh plays a very important role in increasing knowledge related to disaster for the community. The role of RRI Banda Aceh can increase public knowledge about disasters.

Peranan Program Siaran Kentongan Terhadap Mitigasi Bencana Bagi Pendengar Lembaga Penyiaran Publik Radio Republik Indonesia Banda Aceh

The Kentongan Broadcast Program became a disaster management program, especially in Banda Aceh. The Kentongan Broadcast Program has been running for more than two years. The Kentongan Broadcast Program runs from 2019 to the present. After examining what happened, the purpose of this research is to find out how the role of the LPP-RRI Banda Aceh kentongan broadcast program in disaster management. This study uses a qualitative descriptive analysis technique. This research was obtained through interviews. Interviews were conducted using a question and answer process directly with parties who were considered to understand and understand the problem that the researcher was doing. From the results of the research conducted, it shows that the Kentongan Broadcast Program is a disaster response program presented by RRI Pro-1 Banda Aceh at a frequency of 97.7MHz. The Kentongan Broadcast Program contains information on disaster mitigation. The Kentongan Broadcast Program with a duration of 60 minutes is an excellent disaster program at Pro-1 RRI Banda Aceh. The Kentongan Broadcast Program has 2 series of events, namely dialogue inside and outside the studio and interviews of course. and response to disasters. Based on the research results, Radio RRI Banda Aceh plays a very important role in increasing knowledge related to disaster for the community. The role of RRI Banda Aceh can increase public knowledge about disasters.

Mapping the susceptibility of persons with disabilities to landslides in a highland landscape of Bushika Sub County, Mount Elgon, Eastern Uganda.

Terrain parameters such as slope aspect, angle, curvature, stream power and altitude have been noted to spur landslide occurrence as well as, acting as a hindrance to evacuation efforts. Yet, persons with disabilities (PWDs) are seldom given priority during rescue and recovery programmes during pre- and post-disaster evacuation. The study was guided by two objectives, namely, (1) to map the landslide risk for households of PWDs and (2) to investigate the disability type that is perceived to be most affected by landslides. A cross-sectional household survey was adopted employing snowball sampling, Key Informant Interviews (KII), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) for primary data collection. A 30-m Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used for terrain spatial landslide risk analysis in ArcGis 10.8 and System for Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA) tools. A one-sample t-test in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used to analyse the score values on a five-point Likert scale to ascertain the perceived landslide effect on the different disability categories. Qualitative data was subjected to content analysis. We found out that majority of PWDs live in high-risk landslide zones with 1400 m – 1700 m, S-E, 10–80, > 10, and –0.8–0.13 of altitude, aspect, slope angle, Stream Power Index (SPI), and slope curvature, respectively. T-test results revealed that blind and deaf-blind were perceived as most affected by landslides with t(31) = 58.42, mean = 4.7, p < 0.0001, and t(31) = 34.8, mean 4.6, p < 0.0001. The deaf people were perceived to also be highly affected by landslides with t(31) = 34.4, mean = 3.9, p < 0.0001. In conclusion, PWDs in Bushika were highly susceptible to landslide hazards and yet considered as a minority for rescue and recovery during landslide occurrences. We recommend for prioritisation of inclusive disaster programmes such as disaster training, relocation, and resettlement to reduce vulnerability and enhance landslides disaster resilience of PWDs especially in high-risk areas.

Social capital and institutional complexity in Svalbard: the case of avalanche disaster management

PurposeResilience can be understood as the ability of communities to adapt to disturbances in a way that reduces chronic vulnerability and promotes growth. Disaster scholars assert that resilience is developed through a set of adaptive capacities across multiple domains, including society, the economy, the built and natural environments, and sociopolitical institutions. These adaptive capacities have been thought to be networked, but little is known about how they are connected. The authors explore how institutional capacity and social capital intersect to influence change adaptation, using a case from the Artic: Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use case study methods that integrate original interviews of Longyearbyen residents with news articles and public documents to analyze emergent themes related to institutional capacity, social capital and disaster risk reduction.FindingsAnalyses reveal that implementation gaps in hazard and disaster programs and policies, coupled with high turnover of staff in key positions, have created accountability issues indicative of low institutional capacity and weak social capital between the public and government. Additionally, high turnover of the population of the community, within the context of the legacy as a mining company town, is accompanied by social divisions and low trust between diverse cultural groups in the community. This lack of social capital provides little support for institutional capacity to effectively mitigate risk posed by climate change.Originality/valueThis study illuminates institutional capacity building needs directly related to disaster resilience for cases of complex institutional arrangements and developing democracy.

From scenario to mounting risks: COVID-19’s perils for development and supply security in the Sahel

The African Sahel countries are inherently fragile, environmentally insecure and economically weak. This paper underscores the compounded impacts brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic on resource supply security and, hence, the long-term development of the region. It outlines the Sahel-specific COVID-19 scenario by firstly highlighting the underlying vulnerabilities and later linking the health sector outcomes to increased political instability and environmental insecurity, particularly the deterioration of food security. In this sense, this paper shows from a region-wide perspective how COVID-19 in the Sahel is associated with enlarged sociopolitical developmental perils. Lower remittance sent by expatriates, violent conflicts, increased cross-border terrorism and migration, discriminant mobility restrictions of people and goods, weak national healthcare infrastructures, bottlenecks in international aid, pressures on the education system and recent climate extremes are some revealing examples of aggravators of the impacts on the supply of vital resources, such as food. This paper also shows the importance of considering the close interlinks between health, food and political stability in the Sahel. There is a paramount need for more comprehensive approaches linking human health to other sectors, and for re-considering local sustainable agriculture. To avoid prolonged or recurrent humanitarian crises, the Sahel countries need to strengthen response capacities through public sector-led responses. Examples of these responses include reinforced national disaster programs for the vulnerable, support to sustainable agriculture and food markets, improved performance and communication of public sector relief, state-based cooperation, building of regional alliances and peacemaking efforts.

The Role of Local Disaster Relief Agencies in Influencing Local Government to Make New Spatial Management Local Regulations in Pandeglang Regency

This study aimed to analyze the role of Local Disaster Relief Agencies (LDRA) in influencing the local government of Pandeglang Regency to amend previous regional regulations supporting disaster risk reduction. This research was conducted on the coast of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province, Indonesia, which was the site of the 2018 tsunami. A qualitative approach including in-depth interviews, direct observation on the field, and documentation based on the values, beliefs, and knowledge of thirteen informants was adopted to support tsunami risk studies by developing local regulations. The results revealed that 1) the utilization of the Sunda Strait coast is not prioritized in disaster risk reduction; 2) implementing the prescribed role as a facilitator between the government and the community and the enacted role based on the reality on the field by conducting a disaster risk study in Pandeglang Regency, where the tsunami disaster becomes a priority disaster to address. With these results, the government and House of Local Representative members can consider changing previous regional regulations into new regional regulations that support efforts to reduce the risk of a tsunami disaster. The practical implications of this research suggest that every LDRA in Indonesia should use the results of disaster risk studies that are tailored to regional disaster priorities to capture the attention of local governments and secure disaster programs to be executed effectively every year.

Trust Building Techniques for Virtual Team Assignments

Leaders of organizations frequently a failure to employ the process of gaining trust tactics required for virtual project team adoption to be successful (VPTs). The goal of this qualitative single case study, which was based on Meyerson et alquick.'s trust theory, was to see what tactics project management office leaders and project team leaders (PTLs) in philanthropic nonprofit organizations use in order to successfully create VPTs can be trusted. Six project management office leaders and PTLs from a benevolent a non-profit in the Beijing metropolitan area region took part in the workshop. Semi structured interviews and a study of organizational documents were used to gather data. A thematic approach was used to analyses the data. Trust, leadership, communication, and technology were the primary topics that emerged from the research. One of the most important recommendations is for leaders to create a climate that promotes good communication and the use of appropriate technologies to improve team collaboration and work efforts. The possibility for charitable groups in order to successfully use VPTs in support of disaster and humanitarian relief programmes for the benefit of communities and individuals all over the entire world is one of the positive social change implications.