Research on emergent behavior has been a significant topic within disaster studies Through a detailed review of the literature we provide background information about this particular branch of disaster sociology Following a brief discussion of the process by which literature was selected, important trends and areas of debate are discussed These include the validation of previous findings, an expansion of the discussion on emergent phenomena and a critique of the bureaucratic approach We conclude with implications for the theory and practice of emergency management

Emergent phenomena and the sociology of disaster: lessons, trends and opportunities from the research literature

The following article discusses the current emphasis and attention being given to the future of emergency management, as well as theoretical constructs designed to guide research and help practitioners reduce disaster. It illustrates that while the disaster-resistant community, disaster-resilient community, and sustainable development/sustainable hazards mitigation concepts provide many unique advantages for disaster scholarship and management, they fail to sufficiently address the triggering agents, functional areas, actors, variables, and disciplines pertaining to calamitous events. In making this argument, the article asserts that any future paradigm and policy guide must be built on—yet go further than—comprehensive emergency management. The article also reviews and alters the concept of invulnerable development. Finally, the article presents “comprehensive vulnerability management” as a paradigm and suggests that it is better suited to guide scholarly and practitioner efforts to understand and reduce disasters than the aforementioned perspectives.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/3110212

A Comparison of Disaster Paradigms: The Search for a Holistic Policy Guide

What is a disaster?: new answers to old questions , What is a disaster?: new answers to old questions , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی

What Is A Disaster?: New Answers to Old Questions

This article focuses on the emerging role of the public sector in dealing with catastrophic disasters. An empirical analysis of the 9/11 response operations provides a detailed case study with an eye to its implications for not only emergency management practice but public policy as well. The “horde of hurricanes” inundating Florida in 2004 provides a brief example of a “routine” disaster for comparative purposes. The argument is made that the response to the extreme event of 9/11 provides clear evidence of (a) the different standards expected of the public sector in the 21st century and (b) the fundamental difference in kind between routine disasters and catastrophic disasters. The article states that the public increasingly expects better public sector leadership before, during, and after catastrophic disasters than has been seen in the past. High standards of responsiveness and the ubiquitous media compel public leaders to coordinate resources effectively.

/pdf/the-evolving-role-of-the-public-sector-in-managing-3teux7m0by.pdf

The Evolving Role of the Public Sector in Managing Catastrophic Disasters Lessons Learned

Purpose – The following conceptual exposition is presented in light of the growing number of scholars who indicate need for a comprehensive and coherent approach to disaster reduction, while practitioners seem to be continually faced with dynamic and seemingly contradictory goals and strategiesDesign/methodology/approach – This article reviews arguments from an assorted collection of literature in order to increase theoretical understanding of disasters and attempts to integrate various concepts, paradigms and policy proposalsFindings – The discussion points out the strengths and weaknesses of alternative viewpoints about disasters, and suggests that a broad conceptualization of vulnerability may be best suited to assimilate findings for academia and simplify policy guidance for professionals in the fieldResearch limitations/implications – Because this is a cursory exploration of the casting of vulnerability management in terms of liability reduction and capacity building, additional research on the ma

Neil R. Britton

Papers

Whither the emergency manager