Disaster Experience Research Articles

A Study on the Actual Utilization of Disaster Experience Stories for School Disaster Prevention Education in Japan

A Study on the Actual Utilization of Disaster Experience Stories for School Disaster Prevention Education in Japan

Insuring for cyclone events: What matters to small business owners?

AbstractUsing a discrete choice experiment, we examined the impact of previous disaster experiences, charity hazard, and temporal orientation on willingness to pay (WTP) for hypothetical cyclone insurance. We found that business owners preferred policies that covered flood, windstorm, and business interruption regardless of the combination. They also preferred shorter waiting periods and higher coverage levels. Respondents who had previously experienced cyclones were more willing to pay for the presented insurance policies than those who had not. Furthermore, future‐orientated owners were more likely to pay for the presented policies, while charity hazard was positively correlated with WTP for government‐provided insurance.

THE EFFECT OF EARTHQUAKE KNOWLEDGE AND RİSK PERCEPTİON ON SOCİAL SUSTAİNABLE EARTHQUAKE AWARENESS

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between participants' earthquake risk perception and knowledge level and sustainable earthquake awareness in terms of various variables. The study is descriptive cross-sectional research. 559 volunteer individuals participated in the study. Relationships between quantitative variables were determined with Pearson correlation analysis. Our research found that there is a significant difference between gender and earthquake risk perception. It has been determined that my disaster experience has an impact on the level of earthquake knowledge. Women were found to have lower earthquake knowledge scores than men. Women were found to have higher earthquake risk perception scores than men. Single people had higher cognitive earthquake risk perception scores than married people. It was found that the earthquake risk perception scores of the disaster survivors were higher than those of the non-survivors. More comprehensive studies may be needed to understand the interaction of factors such as gender, marital status, and disaster experience on earthquake knowledge level and risk perception. These studies can contribute to the development of more effective education and awareness strategies for the general earthquake preparedness of society.

Exploring house purchase intention considering typhoon and earthquake disaster experiences in Taoyuan, Taiwan: An extended theory of planned behaviour approach

Exploring house purchase intention considering typhoon and earthquake disaster experiences in Taoyuan, Taiwan: An extended theory of planned behaviour approach

A Cross‐Community Comparison of Antecedents of Hurricane Ian Risk Perceptions and Evacuation Behaviours

ABSTRACTThis study seeks to understand how historical models of risk perception and protective action antecedents, as predicted by The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM), apply across micro‐regional differences in the context of Florida counties during the 2022 Hurricane Ian, and how these regional differences may lead to differences in reception, perception and response to information and evacuation warnings across the state. Two Florida communities (Southwest vs. Central and Eastern regions) with different typography, historical disaster experience, demographics and existing hazard adjustment programs were surveyed and compared. Results showed that, within the same hurricane event and broader geographic region (Florida), the two community locations differ in their reliance on information sources, social cues and prior hurricane experiences to inform risk perceptions and evacuation decisions. Additionally, different mediation patterns of risk perceptions were found between the antecedents and evacuation behaviours for the different community locations. The findings imply the importance to consider regional variations and to strategize messaging communicating risk and self‐protective behaviours accordingly.

Disaster Management and Social Work Students' Willingness to Work in Disaster: A Cross-Sectional Study

The negative effects of disasters can be reduced through disaster management strategies, joint practices, experiences, preparedness plans, and mitigation efforts. This study aims to determine the willingness of Emergency Aid and Disaster Management (EDM) and Social Work (SW) students studying in two different departments of a state university to work in disasters. This descriptive research was conducted by applying a face-to-face survey to 561 students. Relationships between variables were examined with chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. 85.2% (n=179) of EDM students are willing to work, 0.9% (n=2) are not willing, 56.6% (n=197) of SW students are willing to work. 6.6% are willing to work. (n=23) are not willing. Two variables were identified to determine the willingness of EDM students: gender (OR: 0.317, CI: 0.134-0.751) and membership in a disaster-related Non governmental organization (OR: 0.003, CI: 1.533-8.082). It was found that the variable explaining SW students' willingness was membership in a disaster-related NGO (OR: 0.378, CI: 1.770-7.789). For students to gain the desire to work in disasters, the needs of applied education should be met, and similar supportive initiatives should be encouraged in various areas of education.

Sculpting stories: methods to unsettle knowledge production in disasters

PurposeThis study examines the application of arts-based research (ABR) methods in producing knowledge about the lived experiences of disasters, particularly focusing on the effects of flooding in an informal settlement in South Africa. It emphasizes the use of playdough sculpting as a tool for storytelling, aiming to address and reduce power imbalances between local participants and external researchers.Design/methodology/approachThe study employed a qualitative approach, using playdough sculpting workshops conducted in the Quarry Road West informal settlement in Durban. These workshops were designed to capture the personal stories of individuals affected by the 2022 Durban floods. Data were collected through participant observation, photography and interviews, and were analyzed using a thematic framework to identify recurring patterns in the participants’ disaster experiences.FindingsThe research demonstrates that ABR methods, particularly playdough sculpting, effectively foster participatory engagement in disaster research. This method provided a platform for participants to describe their embodied experiences of the floods, addressing uneven epistemological power dynamics. It also highlighted the potential of ABR in facilitating the decolonization of disaster research by centering local narratives.Originality/valueThis study offers insights into the potential of ABR as a creative methodology in disaster research. It highlights how ABR can complement traditional research approaches by incorporating local perspectives and fostering more inclusive knowledge production in the context of disasters. The study also presents a ten-step guideline for applying playdough sculpting across various disciplines.

Survivors’ Narratives of the Oklahoma City Bombing Retold Seven Years Post-Disaster

Introduction: A large proportion of the existing voluminous disaster mental health research literature represents the quantitative study of psychopathology, especially posttraumatic stress disorder. Subjective disaster experience is relatively unexplored. Qualitative narratives of surviving a disaster may provide insight into individual experiences of it and efforts to derive meaning from it. Methods: From an initial random sample of 182 survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing, narrative descriptions of this experience were collected 7 years after the bomb blast from 116 of the original sample, for the purpose of examining persistent as well as newly evolving content through qualitative analysis. The narrative content was analyzed for the evolution of thematic content in narrative data also collected at 6 months post-disaster and 1 year later. Results: The thematic content of the bombing experience was structured in a chronological fashion from the bomb blast (sensory, cognitive, and emotional), its immediate aftermath (e.g., escaping danger), and later experiences, (e.g., leaving the bomb site and receiving hospital treatment). During the time between interviews, the focus and general content of the narratives changed minimally, despite considerable compression of detail. Conclusions: The consistency of the material in these narratives over 7 years may reflect the persistence and salience of disaster memories, with the potential for its continuation for the rest of their lives.

Associations between community social capital and posttraumatic growth among older survivors 11 years after a natural disaster.

We prospectively examined whether community-level social capital plays a significant role in developing Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) among older survivors of the 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The baseline survey was conducted 7 months before the disaster among residents of a city located 80km west of the earthquake epicenter. The survey inquired about participants' health status and social capital (informal socializing and social participation, and social cohesion). Approximately 2.5 years after the disaster, we surveyed older survivors to assess their disaster experiences. A follow-up survey in 2022 inquired about PTG in the 11 years following experiences of the disaster (n = 1,819). Multilevel linear regression analysis showed that pre-disaster community-level informal socializing and social participation was associated with higher PTG scores (coefficient = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.47). In cross-classified multilevel regression, maintenance of higher community-level informal socializing and social participation during the post-disaster period was associated with higher scores of PTG (coefficient = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.37). Pre-disaster community-level informal socializing and social participation was associated with higher PTG scores among older survivors. Interventions encouraging social interactions among neighbors may be effective in promoting PTG of survivors after natural disasters.

Opportunities for Implementation of Disaster Risk Management Strategies among Public Housing Authorities

Renters living in subsidized housing managed by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are vulnerable to disasters. This study aims to describe barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for the implementation of disaster risk management (DRM) strategies at PHAs. Fifteen semi-structured key informant (KI) interviews with federal and state housing officials, PHA leaders, and housing non-profit staff were conducted and thematically analyzed. Interviewees mentioned financial and administrative hindrances, lack of policy, and lack of disaster training among PHA staff as notable barriers to engaging in DRM. Past disaster experience, interagency partnerships, and designated DRM roles at PHAs were introduced as facilitators for implementing DRM strategies.

Experiences of Immigrants During Disasters in the US: A Systematic Literature Review.

As a vulnerable population, immigrants can be disproportionately affected by disasters. Because of their legal and migratory status, immigrants may have different challenges, needs, and possibilities when facing a disaster. Yet, within disaster studies, immigrants are rarely studied alone. Instead, they are often considered part of the large heterogeneous group of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. This racial classification points to a gap in the literature and in our understanding of how disadvantaged groups may cope with disasters. To address this gap, the current study hypothesizes that: (1) Immigrants have unique experiences and disaster impacts compared to the broader aggregated category of racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. and (2) There are variations in disaster experiences and impacts across different types of immigrant subgroups beyond refugees. To explore these hypotheses, a study of the literature across six databases from 2018 to 2023was conducted. The review identified a total of 17 articles discussing immigrant experiences during disasters. Major cross-cutting themes on immigrant disaster experiences include fear of deportation, restrictive immigration status, excessive economic burden and labor exploitation, employment rigidity, adverse health outcomes, limited informational resources and limited social capital, selective disaster relief measures, and infrastructural challenges as regards to housing and transportation. Many of the themes identified are unique to immigrants, such as the fear of deportation, restrictive immigration status and visa policies, and selective disaster relief measures.

How to encourage more public participation in marine disaster risk management: Evidence from a survey experiment in China

Raising public awareness of maritime risk and disseminating information about disaster prevention and reduction are the most frequent ways that the government incorporates citizens in marine disaster risk management (DRM). However, these measures are deemed to be insufficient to drive the participation rate. This study aims to understand the participation trend of citizens in marine DRM. On the basis of the theory of citizen participation’s ladder, public participation within marine DRM is categorized into non-participation, tokenistic participation, and substantive participation. Using organization theory, the government’s strategies for encouraging participation are classified into common approach (raising awareness), structural approach (innovating instruments), and cultural approach (developing citizenship). Considering the vignette experiment of 403 citizens in a coastal city of China that has historically been subject to marine disasters, it was found that effectiveness of the strategies, from highest to lowest, are citizenship development, risk education, and instruments innovation. At the individual level, psychological characteristics such as trust in the government, past disaster experience, and knowledge of marine DRM did not significantly influence citizens’ participation preferences. At the government level, even when citizens are informed about new participatory mechanisms and tools, they still tend to be unwilling to share responsibilities. However, self-efficacy and understanding the beneficial outcomes of their participation in marine (DRM) can positively impact the willingness to participate. The results show that to encourage public participation substantively in the marine DRM, it is important to cultivate a sense of civic duty and enhance citizens’ sense of ownership, fostering a closer and more equitable partnership between the state and society.

Evaluating the impact of rational emotive behavior therapy on post-traumatic stress in farmers with experiences of natural disaster.

This study was necessary due to the increasing number of cases of natural disasters such as flood, air pollution, erosion, etc in Nigeria, particularly in the Abia state, as well as the accompanying psychological and health issues affecting individuals within families and society as a whole. The study aimed to examine the impact of rational emotive behavior therapy on farmers' post-traumatic stress (PTS) in Abia State, Nigeria. A randomized control trial was conducted in Abia state, with a sample size of 118 farmers with experiences of natural disasters. Two assessments were conducted before the treatment, immediately after the treatment, and 2 months later to evaluate PTS and irrational beliefs among the farmers. The treatment involved a self-developed PTS-focused rational emotive behavior therapy manual, consisting of 12 sessions lasting 60 minutes each, delivered by counseling psychologists trained in rational emotive behavior and family therapies. Data from the pretest, posttest, and follow-up test were analyzed using chi-square, percentage, partial eta squared, and analysis of covariance statistical tools. The results showed no significant gender differences in the socioeconomic status, employment, and debt status of the participants. The rational emotive behavior therapy was effective in reducing PTS caused by the flood among farmers. Gender did not have a significant moderating effect on farmers' experiences with PTS. The study suggested that family health specialists and rational-emotive therapists collaborate with local authorities to provide career counseling services to farmers and establish community-based rational emotive institutes in each state of Nigeria.

A tale of two disasters: Unpacking how social learning from the Ebola epidemic shaped COVID‐19 response in informal settlements in Freetown

AbstractPrior disaster experiences often provide lessons for communities to respond to new disasters. In informal communities prone to disasters but conditioned within reactive disaster management regimes, residents and Community‐Based Organizations (CBOs) play immense roles in disaster risk reduction and response. In Freetown, Sierra Leone, limited government disaster capacities during health disasters like Ebola and the COVID‐19 pandemic occasioned community action led by residents and CBOs. This paper, utilizing qualitative data, draws on the social learning theory to unpack how residents’ and CBOs’ experiences with the Ebola epidemic provided profound lessons that contributed to the COVID‐19 pandemic response in two informal communities. Findings highlight how prior disaster experiences consolidate memory and generate attention, retention, motivation, and reproduction of lessons for future disasters. The paper also fronts how lessons from peoples’ lived experiences with disasters can offer pluralistic ways of knowing about disasters and responding to future risks through co‐productive and equitable strategies.

Экология техносферы человеческого сообщества

In the 19th century, the sphere of interest of the science of “ecology” was formulated. Over the course of a century and a half, the semantics of its tasks has undergone significant changes. However, the original definition of ecology given by E.G. Haeckel, as a science about the interaction of living and inanimate nature, has again become relevant with the technological development of mankind. This development led to the emergence of an alternative habitat - the technosphere. The technosphere, within the framework of environmental ideas, is considered as a formation deeply hostile to nature in its essence. Nature is considered as a certain ideal that creates favorable conditions for the existence of living organisms in it. The experience of natural disasters and cataclysms, accompanied by the mass death of living organisms, indicates that this is an idealized idea. The existence of modern man outside the technosphere is practically impossible. The techno-sphere takes on the task of providing humanity with protection from pathogens. An example of such control is the use of DDT against vectors of malaria and other diseases. The technosphere solves problems in relation to humanity that are similar to providing the body with food, solving the problems of energy supply and movement over various distances – both people and cargo. The technosphere is evolving, using the achievements of developing sciences and technologies, reducing the specific impact on the natural environment while meeting the needs of the individual. For the further development of human ecology at the intersection of natural and artificial, the solution of traditional management problems is required: strict control of raw materials, technologies and products used, and their rational distribution. This is important since the human population is steadily growing and a significant part of the planet’s population finds itself in conditions of food and energy shortages, while the other part has an abundance of resources.

Elucidations of Present Situation of Preparedness for Natural Disasters at Home in Japan and its Effective Factors

This study elaborates on the measures to improve preparedness for natural disasters by elucidating the present situation of preparedness for natural disasters at home in Japan as well as the effective factors to promote such preparedness. An Internet monitoring survey was conducted throughout Japan, and valid responses (n=1,599) were obtained. To measure preparedness for natural disasters at home, we used 31 items, including the ones in the “public opinion poll on disaster management” conducted by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan. The Internet monitoring survey revealed that approximately 30% of the respondents arranged for articles they may require in the event of a disaster and had contemplated their evacuation actions immediately after a disaster. The Internet monitoring survey results were compared with the results of the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan’s public opinion poll. It revealed that the internet monitoring survey results better represent the tendency of the Japanese people as a whole. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine six independent variables—age, marital status, prior disaster experience, awareness of hazard maps, disaster imminence, and communal exchanges—statistically significant as effective factors to improve preparedness for natural disasters at home. Particularly, considering a large standardizing coefficient (β) for awareness of hazard maps, it is proposed that the most effective measure to improve preparedness for natural disasters at home to comprehend the risks posed to one’s community and own house is by using the opportunities of disaster prevention education and drill rather than simply viewing the hazard maps aimlessly.

The impact of educational and training programs on disaster awareness and preparedness among health sciences students: A quasi-experimental study

Disaster preparedness among health sciences students is critical but often insufficient. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a disaster awareness and impact reduction educational intervention in enhancing disaster preparedness. A quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design was employed, with the intervention consisting of 16 h of education delivered over four weeks via a distance learning platform. The study involved 599 students from the faculties of health sciences, who were assessed at baseline and three months post-intervention. Results indicated that students’ baseline disaster preparedness levels were low, with no significant correlations found between demographic characteristics, previous disaster experiences, or prior disaster preparedness training and baseline preparedness levels. Repeated-measures Analysis of Variance confirmed a significant impact of the intervention after controlling for baseline preparedness levels. Significant improvements were observed post-intervention across all preparedness dimensions: disaster physical protection, disaster planning, disaster assistance, disaster warning systems, and total preparedness levels (p < .001). The most substantial gains were noted among students with initially low preparedness levels. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating disaster preparedness education into health sciences curricula to better equip future healthcare professionals for effective disaster response.

The driving mechanism of citizens’ protective behaviors for rainstorm flood disasters in China: An empirical study based on the protection motivation theory and protective action decision model

[Background/significance]Rainstorm floods have become a high-impact natural disaster and are expected to become more extreme shortly, seriously threatening human safety. Although the government issues timely and precise rainstorm flood warning information, citizens remain indifferent and engage in maladaptive behavior. Therefore, understanding the relationship between emergency information, psychological cognition, individual characteristics, and protective behavior is crucial for effective risk information communication and evacuation guidance. [Method/process]This study utilizes the protection motivation theory (PMT) and protective action decision model (PADM) to develop a structural equation model (SEM) that evaluates the factors driving both protective and non-protective behaviors of individuals to rainstorm flood disasters. [Result/conclusion]The findings indicate that the disaster experience and emergency information received significantly shape how individuals perceive risks, their ability to manage them, and who should be accountable for the disaster. The findings further indicate that how people view their ability to handle a risk situation (perceived coping ability) and who they think is responsible for the situation (perceived attribution of responsibility) directly influence whether they will take protective behaviors. Based on these results, this study puts forward policy recommendations for emergency information release strategies to enhance citizens' willingness to adopt protective behaviors.

Disaster Risk Perception and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Among Public and Private University Nursing Students.

This research was conducted in descriptive type to determine the disaster risk perception and sustainable earthquake awareness of nursing students studying at public and private universities. The study sample consisted of 400 nursing students studying at one public and one private university. The research was conducted between April and May 2023. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Form, University Students Disaster Risk Perception Scale (USDRPS), and Sustainable Earthquake Awareness Scale (SEAS). Data were collected online using a questionnaire created on Google Forms. Analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation values, independent groups t-test, post-hoc Tukey test, LSD, and ANOVA test. Of the students, 61.8% had a disaster experience, 17.4% had lost a relative in the disaster, and 76.8% did not consider themselves prepared for a possible disaster. In the study, the exposure sub-dimension score of the disaster risk perception scale was found to be higher in students who had disaster experience than in those who did not (p=0.032). Nursing students from the private university had higher sustainable earthquake awareness scores than those studying at the state university (p=0.001). The mean scores of female students on the earthquake preparedness and preparation application sub-dimensions showed a significant difference compared to the scores of male students (p=0.016). In the study, sustainable earthquake awareness total and earthquake preparedness sub-dimension scores were higher in second-year nursing students than in students of other years (p=0.042; 0.015). Those who had received disaster training had low scores on the uncontrollable sub-dimension of the disaster risk perception scale, and high scores on the total SEAS and earthquake-structure relationship, earthquake preparedness, and earthquake preparation application sub-dimensions (p<0.05). In the study, three out of four students did not find themselves prepared for disasters. Those who had disaster experience had higher disaster risk perceptions. Students who had received disaster-related training had more positive earthquake preparedness, earthquake-structure relationship, and earthquake preparation applications than those who had not. Students who were female and were in the second year had higher earthquake awareness. Studies can be carried out to inform people about the pre-disaster and preparation stages to raise awareness about disasters at universities. Education on disaster management can be integrated into courses from the first years of university.

After the storm: Environmental tragedy and sustainable mobility

Due to mounting environmental challenges, communities are increasingly prioritising resilience and sustainability. Environmental disasters can be seen as windows of opportunity for collective action, influencing pro-environmental attitudes and engagement. While personal experiences of catastrophe can increase environmental awareness, they can also affect social capital, impacting relationships with peers and institutions. Within this context, a post-disaster community might be encouraged to put more efforts in the local urban sustainable transformation to reduce the impact of climate-change related event. To this end, individuals' daily micro-mobility choices may offer insight into community engagement with sustainability initiatives, given the link between modes of transportation and long-term urban pollution. Through a survey of Italian citizens, we explored how disaster experiences shaped attitudes towards sustainable modes of mobility, as well as changes in individual and social factors. The analysis employed a structural equation model based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour. The results revealed that disaster experiences tended to heighten awareness of climate change risk while also reducing social interaction, thereby affecting pro-environmental behaviour. Trust in local government was not permanently affected, highlighting the difficulty in identifying the direct impacts of environmental disaster experiences on pro-environmental actions. Sustainable consumption choices and pro-environmental attitudes may be influenced by social and psychological factors, including personal experiences, personal well-being and civic engagement.