Showing papers on "Disaster recovery published in 2018"

Resilient Disaster Recovery Logistics of Distribution Systems: Co-Optimize Service Restoration with Repair Crew and Mobile Power Source Dispatch

Abstract: Repair crews (RCs) and mobile power sources (MPSs) are critical resources for distribution system (DS) outage management after a natural disaster. However, their logistics is not well investigated. We propose a resilient scheme for disaster recovery logistics to co-optimize DS restoration with dispatch of RCs and MPSs. A novel co-optimization model is formulated to route RCs and MPSs in the transportation network, schedule them in the DS, and reconfigure the DS for microgrid formation coordinately, etc. The model incorporates different timescales of DS restoration and RC/MPS dispatch, the coupling of transportation and power networks, etc. To ensure radiality of the DS with variable physical structure and MPS allocation, we also model topology constraints based on the concept of spanning forest. The model is convexified equivalently and linearized into a mixed-integer linear programming. To reduce its computation time, preprocessing methods are proposed to pre-assign a minimal set of repair tasks to depots and reduce the number of candidate nodes for MPS connection. Resilient recovery strategies thus are generated to enhance service restoration, especially by dynamic formation of microgrids that are powered by MPSs and topologized by repair actions of RCs and network reconfiguration of the DS. Case studies demonstrate the proposed methodology.

Disaster nursing and emergency preparedness for chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism and other hazards

Abstract: The new edition of this AJN Book of the Year continues to provide nurses with the most comprehensive, current, and reliable information available so they can develop the skills to efficiently and effectively respond to disasters or public health emergencies. Meticulously researched and reviewed by the world's foremost experts in preparedness for terrorism, natural disasters, and other unanticipated health emergencies, the text has been revised and updated with significant new content, including 10 new chapters and a digital adjunct teacher's guide with exercises and critical thinking questions. This new edition has strengthened its pediatric focus with updated and expanded chapters on caring for children's physical, mental, and behavioural health following a disaster. New chapters address climate change, global complex human emergencies, caring for patients with HIV/AIDS following a disaster, information technology and disaster response, and hospital and emergency department preparedness. The text provides a vast amount of evidence-based information on disaster planning and response for natural and environmental disasters and those caused by chemical, biological, and radiological elements, as well as disaster recovery. It also addresses leadership, management, and policy issues in disaster nursing and deepens our understanding of the importance of protecting mental health throughout the disaster life cycle. Each chapter is clearly formatted and includes Key Messages and Learning Objectives. Appendices present diagnosis and treatment regimens, creating personal disaster plans, a damage assessment guide, a glossary of terms, and more. Consistent with the Federal Disaster Response Framework, the book promotes competency-based expert nursing care during disasters and positive health outcomes for small and large populations.

The link between social capital and disaster recovery: evidence from coastal communities in Bangladesh

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to explore the role social capital played in disaster coping and the recovery process among the southwest coastal villages of Bangladesh. Qualitative methods of data collection such as observation, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were carried out with individuals from several occupational groups in the two of most affected villages by cyclone Aila. The findings suggest that social capital played an instrumental role in personal, household and community recovery processes in the wake of the cyclone. In particular, the bonding and bridging social capital significantly helped the villagers from the emergency period to long-term recovery, while the benefits of linking social capital were reaped by only few individuals. It also shows that features of prevailing social structure—patronage networks and class hierarchy—paved the way to the misappropriation of the sizable amount of disaster relief and rehabilitation resources by local elites and to the channeling to the less affected households. This led to the erosion of bridging social capital of communities, and the reinforcement of unscrupulous linking social networks. These findings contribute both to the social capital literature as well as to formulating sustainable policy and programs for future disasters.

Local community perceptions of disaster tourism: the case of L'Aquila, Italy

Abstract: Despite increasing research in dark tourism, few attempts have been made to explore local community perceptions of becoming the object of the dark tourist gaze, an issue that is of particular relevance at disaster sites given the potential sensitivity of local people to the intrusion of tourists in the aftermath of a disaster. This paper addresses this significant gap in the literature. Based on research undertaken in L'Aquila, an Italian city that in April 2009 suffered a devastating earthquake, it explores the responses of members of the local community to their city becoming a dark (disaster) tourism destination. In so doing, it reveals an evolving response towards tourism that not only contradicts traditional understandings of resident perceptions of tourism, but also points towards how appropriate responses to disaster tourism might support the disaster recovery process.

Tourism Recovery Scorecard (TOURS) – Benchmarking and monitoring progress on disaster recovery in tourism destinations

Abstract: After a disaster, tourism declines and tourist stakeholders suffer because tourists cancel their reservations and choose to go elsewhere. A key part of managing recovery of tourism destinations is restoring the destination image and reputation which can be affected by negative or inaccurate media coverage. This paper reports the results of surveys with tourism sector stakeholders aimed at measuring recovery in three tourism destinations affected by two back-to-back disasters: the Bohol earthquake and tropical cyclone Haiyan in 2013 in the Philippines. The authors developed a methodological framework for the Tourism Recovery Scorecard (TOURS), which can be used as a crisis communication tool for benchmarking and monitoring progress on post disaster recovery of a tourism destination. Three main dimensions of safety, physical recovery and business recovery are considered in the Scorecard, each containing key factors that are important to tourists and meaningful to tourism operators.

Social vulnerability and participation in disaster recovery decisions: public housing in Galveston after Hurricane

Abstract: In September 2008, Hurricane Ike caused massive damages to Galveston Island’s residential structures including four public housing developments. These developments were located in neighborhoods with some of the lowest incomes and highest percentages of people of color on the Island. Four months later, the Galveston Housing Authority (GHA) decided to demolish all four developments consisting of 569 housing units due to the damages to the buildings. Today, despite federal regulations requiring reconstruction, court orders mandating replacement of the demolished units, and available funding, only 142 low-income apartments have been rebuilt. We used the social vulnerability framework to understand these outcomes through the ability of groups to shape post-disaster recovery decisions. This paper argues that one of the overlooked characteristics of social vulnerability is a diminished ability to participate in post-disaster decision-making. We found that social vulnerability limited participation through three distinct mechanisms: the physical displacement of public housing residents, the stigmatization of public housing, and the reduction of residents to housing units in the debates. There were few local advocates arguing for the preservation of public housing units and even fewer remaining residents to speak up for themselves in the face of strong local resistance to the reconstruction of public housing units or the return of public housing residents. The void of a strong and authentic local pro-public housing perspective in Galveston provided an opening for various local campaigns to claim that their desired plan benefited the poor. The disaster recovery became an opportunity to remove or reduce public housing units and therefore public housing residents. Our findings show the dynamic features of vulnerability. While static factors of vulnerability can limit access to resources for recovery, dynamic processes of social marginalization and exclusion limit the voices of socially vulnerable groups in recovery decisions and exacerbate marginalization.

Leveraging Post-Disaster Windows of Opportunities for Change towards Sustainability: A Framework

Abstract: Disasters are catalysts for change: they are increasingly recognized as offering opportunities to direct and navigate change towards aspired outcomes, such as sustainable development goals. However, we know little about how to leverage the opportunities created by disasters to achieve sustainability objectives. Learning from existing case studies is challenging, partly because there is no framework that integrates concepts of change from both sustainability science and disaster recovery literatures. This study develops a unified analytical framework to facilitate the documentation and analysis of case studies of sustainability transitions following disasters. Our aim is to enhance the potential for theory-building, and to draw lessons that can be used to help leverage opportunities presented by disasters in the future. We apply the framework to available empirical cases and identify specific conditions, resources, social relations and constraints that affect disaster-to-sustainability transitions. Our expectation is that this framework will serve professionals and researchers in the fields of sustainable development and disaster mitigation to enhance the effectiveness of their research and applied activities.

People with Disabilities and Disasters

Abstract: Investigations have collectively established that disasters affect people with disabilities both disproportionately and negatively. In addition, perceived disability status is often associated with stigma, creating a separate and unique barrier across societies and cultures, which can augment vulnerability to disasters. Relevant research is reviewed by academic genesis areas in this chapter, namely; 1) disaster-focused research, 2) mental health, 3) epidemiology and public health, and 4) disability studies. Research emanating from these disciplines reflects different epistemological assumptions about disability as well as varying knowledge about disability as a social and cultural construct. As such, this fragmented research has yet to coalesce into a coherent theory of how disasters affect people with disabilities. An important element in reforming practice will be ensuring people with disabilities can be active participants in their own preparedness, disaster risk reduction, disaster response, and disaster recovery.

A proposed framework of key activities and processes in the preparedness and recovery phases of disaster management.

Abstract: This paper proposes an empirically grounded framework for examining the preparedness and recovery phases of disaster management activities and processes pertaining to predictable disasters within a developed country. The two-stage framework provides a single model composed of important preparedness and recovery initiatives, as well as activities and processes derived from empirical data collected for case studies from Australia: the 'Black Saturday' bushfires in the state of Victoria in February 2009; and Cyclone Larry in March 2006. The framework enables a variety of analyses, including the generation of insights into disaster management preparedness and recovery in the context of events in wealthy developed countries. The paper combines two empirical examples, a series of bushfires and a severe tropical cyclone, to enhance understanding of, and to contribute to better, disaster preparedness and recovery in the future. The paper contributes to the growing literature on disasters, preparedness, recovery and associated logistics, and other issues.

Disaster Recovery in an Era of Climate Change: The Unrealized Promise of Institutional Resilience

Abstract: Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy have brought increased attention to the challenges associated with disaster recovery in the United States. However, much work remains to be done. For instance, the shift in thinking from sustainable development to resilience as an organizing concept is best understood as an intertwined relationship and this association should be used to guide research and practice. The rise of programs espousing resilience suggests a need for indicators to help define and measure disaster recovery processes and outcomes. Operationalizing these concepts requires improving the collective capacity, or “institutional resilience” of the “disaster recovery assistance network” through planning. The chapter concludes with a set of policy recommendations that draw from suggestions made in the original edition of this chapter as well as more recent advances in the field.

A framework for assessing the resilience of a disaster debris management system

Abstract: Disaster debris management plays a critical role in expediting the disaster recovery process. This study aims to present a framework for effective disaster debris management for a resilient community. The framework consists of a Geographical Information System (GIS) and system dynamics to assess debris removal performance. GIS was used to conduct a land suitability analysis for a temporary debris management site and system dynamics were applied to evaluate the debris removal performance in different scenarios. This systemic approach and quantitative analysis enable a decision maker to gain insights into the inter-relationship between critical infrastructure and resources, the effectiveness of temporary debris management sites, and the debris removal performance. Also, a debris management team would have benefits from the framework by being able to (1) understand dynamic behaviors of debris removal operation, (2) evaluate the existing debris management plan, and (3) set up multiple strategies for optimal debris removal operations under different disaster-impact scenarios.

Disaster Coverage Predication for the Emerging Tethered Balloon Technology: Capability for Preparedness, Detection, Mitigation, and Response.

Abstract: Objective A disaster is a consequence of natural hazards and terrorist acts, which have significant potential to disrupt the entire wireless communication infrastructure. Therefore, the essential rescue squads and recovery operations during a catastrophic event will be severely debilitated. To provide efficient communication services, and to reduce casualty mortality and morbidity during the catastrophic events, we proposed the Tethered Balloon technology for disaster preparedness, detection, mitigation, and recovery assessment. Methods The proposed Tethered Balloon is applicable to any type of disaster except for storms. The Tethered Balloon is being actively researched and developed as a simple solution to improve the performance of rescues, facilities, and services of emergency medical communication in the disaster area. The most important requirement for rescue and relief teams during or after the disaster is a high quality of service of delivery communication services to save people's lives. Results Using our proposed technology, we report that the Tethered Balloon has a large disaster coverage area. Therefore, the rescue and research teams are given higher priority, and their performance significantly improved in the particular coverage area. Conclusions Tethered Balloon features made it suitable for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery. The performance of rescue and relief teams was effective and efficient before and after the disaster as well as can be continued to coordinate the relief teams until disaster recovery. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:222-231).

Debating Sustainability in Tourism Development: Resilience, Traditional Knowledge and Community: A Post-disaster Perspective

Abstract: This paper proposes resilience as a foundation for sustainability, and sustainable tourism development, identifying that resilience relates to place-based knowledge and senses originating from human–land interaction over a long period of time. A specific case drawn here is the post-disaster recovery phase in rural communities, following the devastation that overwhelmed the northern east coast of Japan on 11 March 2011. Disaster-resilience, although stated as a priority in many of the governmental reconstruction visions, is not easily defined or facilitated. This paper attempts to locate disaster-resilience in the context of sustainable tourism development, through cases of coastal communities in Iwate Prefecture on the Sanriku Coast in their early phase of recovery. With social sustainability-oriented tourism concepts and resilience planning as a framework, the paper argues that the tourism development in the early recovery is vital in assisting communities maintain their connection with their pla...

Social vulnerability of marginalized people in times of disaster: Case of Thai women in Japan Tsunami 2011

Abstract: Although Japan has a long history of disaster response experience with comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and management, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami generated an unexpected and massively devastating tsunami that affected the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. This led to catastrophic destruction in the coastal areas of the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Besides massive physical destruction, the tsunami disaster also created significant socio-economic impacts on people and put them into vulnerable situations. Among the tsunami victims, there was a small group of Thai women who lived in Ishinomaki city, one of the worst tsunami-effected areas. They were struggling with their life, actually even before the tsunami disaster happened. Findings from this exploratory study conducted through qualitative research provide understanding of the pre-existing socio-cultural conditions of Thai women in Ishinomaki. Their conditions of living were addressed which lead to understanding conditions of degrees of social vulnerability in times of disaster as a ‘double vulnerability’ for Thai women in this case. They needed assistance in both the physical aspect to reboot their living condition and mental assistance to recover from the stress of the tsunami experience. There is a discussion on intersecting issues found in this case including gender inequality, limited access to information and assistance, language barriers, immigration statues, and even limited social network for support as all these issues are vulnerabilities threatening marginalized people. Implications from this exploratory study could help to raise awareness and understanding of marginalization in disaster management by considering the importance of social vulnerability in relation to the diversity issue and marginalized people as it can become significant challenge of disaster management Government, aid agencies, and other related authorities and organizations, then, would be able to identify a resilient strategy for those marginalized in times of disaster recovery and management.

Robot Navigation from Human Demonstration: Learning Control Behaviors

Abstract: When working alongside human collaborators in dynamic environments such as a disaster recovery, an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) may require fast field adaptation to perform its duties or learn novel tasks In disaster recovery situations, personnel and equipment are constrained, so training must be accomplished with minimal human supervision In this paper, we introduce a novel framework which uses learned visual perception and inverse optimal control trained with minimal human supervisory examples This approach is used to learn to mimic navigation behavior and is demonstrated through extensive evaluation in a real-world environment Finally, we demonstrate the ability to learn an additional behavior with minimal human demonstration in the field

Post-disaster tourism: building resilience through community-led approaches in the aftermath of the 2011 disasters in Japan

Abstract: Post-disaster tourism is often perceived as a form of Dark Tourism associated with death, loss and destruction. In Japan, the term Dark Tourism has gained prominence following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. This paper focuses on a community-led approach to post-disaster tourism development, initiated in the coastal area of Minamisanriku and labelled by the locals Blue Tourism. From its inception Blue Tourism incorporated non-dark activities which concentrated on the beauty of nature, social and environmental sustainability and the development of an enriched tourist experience. Its co-creational ethos helped transform some of the negative narratives of loss associated with Dark Tourism into positive accounts of communal renewal and hope. The paper highlights the limitations of Dark Tourism to post-disaster recovery and contributes new insights to the community-based tourism literature. We argue that Blue Tourism is not a type of Dark Tourism but a form of resilience which builds around local place-based practices and traditional community knowledge. Consequently, it is capable of achieving sustainable disaster recovery and tourist satisfaction simultaneously.

The Iowa Watersheds Project: Iowa's prototype for engaging communities and professionals in watershed hazard mitigation

Abstract: After more than a century of intensive changes in the state's agricultural watersheds, repeated record floods motivated Iowa to innovate in its flood recovery and disaster mitigation efforts following the 2008 floods. The state created the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) and authorized the creation of Watershed Management Authorities. With enhanced funding from the federal government for disaster recovery, the groups collaborated in four watersheds as part of the Iowa Watersheds Project. The Watershed Management Authorities brought together governmental organizations and local stakeholders, developed watershed plans, defined potential flood and nutrient reduction projects, identified willing landowners for project locations in one subwatershed, and hired consultants to design and build the projects. The IFC coordinated efforts across the four watershed areas, provided hydrologic assessments for each, carried out monitoring and modelling to evaluate the performance of all the constructed projects, and deve...

Beyond public meetings: Diverse forms of community led recovery following disaster

Abstract: Disasters provoke a multitude of responses at different scales of society, both in the immediate aftermath and in long term recovery. The importance of public participation, consultation and citizen engagement is increasingly acknowledged and integrated into an array of sectors, including planning and governance processes following major disaster events. However, there is growing concern that some practices of participation may narrow the space for genuine democratic engagement. This builds on a wider understanding of the potential for participation to be engaged in shallow and tokenistic forms. This paper explores, through a qualitative methodology, how residents perceived participatory processes following the Canterbury earthquakes which affected the city of Christchurch in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2010 and 2011. Importantly, this paper focuses on the diverse forms of participation in the recovery as discussed by residents. This contributes to a wider perspective on post-disaster recovery that recognises the diverse and informal pathways that shape the ongoing recovery of Christchurch. Subsequently, this critical yet hopeful account demonstrates how action at the local scale is integral to fostering a sense of community engagement and ownership over disaster recovery.

Role of government in flood disaster recovery for SMEs in Pathumthani province, Thailand

Abstract: Government is major stakeholder in disaster recovery process in any given affected economy. Government policies impact the sectors of economy in all aspects may it be financial, social or managerial. The vulnerabilities from natural hazards such as floods could be minimized through flood preparedness strategies and recovery mechanisms to cope faster from disasters. This study aims to find out the level of government’s role, responsibilities and strategies adopted while 2011 floods in the Pathumthani province in Thailand. The critical evaluation of the recovery mechanism and loss from floods are analyzed to provide resilient SME in the study area. The methodology includes content analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data collected through survey questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The findings included inter-department miscommunication, mismanagement of available resources, and lack of transparency in the government’s action plans, lack of interest to provide sustainability at the ground level and lack of transportation facilities in the flood affected area. The study sheds light on the gaps of the existing flood recovery mechanisms in the Pathumthani province and provides for recommendations to enhance sustainability among SMEs in the industrialized province of Pathumthani.

Decision-Making Framework for Holistic Sustainable Disaster Recovery: Agent-Based Approach for Decreasing Vulnerabilities of the Associated Communities

Abstract: Sustainable disaster recovery involves not merely the restoration of the physical built environment, but also meeting the needs of the impacted stakeholders and decreasing the vulnerabilit...

Model kebijakan responsif pemulihan bencana letusan gunung sinabung

Abstract: The research aims to design emergency response and recovery policies eruption of Mount Sinabung, conducted using AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) with priority policy directions and implications based on the technique of FGD (Focus Group Discussion). From the analysis that has been done, there are five policy priorities that can be taken into consideration in decision making with respect to emergency response and disaster recovery Sinabung eruption, namely: 1) rehabilitate the economic system and the economic system developing creative for the victims of the eruption of Mount Sinabung, 2) designing programs psychological recovery of child victims of the eruption of Mount Sinabung, 3) conduct accelerated relocation of the residential community located in hazardous zones eruption of Mount Sinabung , 4) conservation of water resources Sinabung mountain areas, and 5) building social capital community disaster response area of ​​Mount Sinabung based custom, religion, and science.

Exploiting smart city IoT for disaster recovery operations

Abstract: Disaster recovery operations are extremely challenging and place significant demands on multiple resources, including local and international emergency response personnel, non-governmental organizations, and the military. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, one of the most pressing requirements is for situational awareness (SA) so that resources, including personnel and supplies, may be prioritized to have the most impact and help those in the most need. As the recovery operations continue, the SA needs to be continuously updated based on changing conditions in the affected areas. There are many sources of information to provide SA, including reporting by the victims of the disaster as well as observations made by responding personnel. In this context, SA can be significantly enhanced via information obtained from Internet of Things (IoT) devices, especially in a smart city environment. This paper explores the potential to exploit Smart City IoT capabilities to help with disaster recovery operations.

Citizen participation in disaster recovery projects and programmes in rural communities: a comparison of the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Katrina

Abstract: This study investigates predictors of local participation in recovery projects and programmes following Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005 and the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Using two sets of survey data, it examines whether disaster impacts and social capital (social trust and civic engagement) are associated with disaster recovery participation and compares predictors of such engagement in the two locations. Multivariate logistic regression results reveal that physical injuries, limited community mobility, and government trust increase recovery participation in Haiti (n=278), whereas emotional distress and homeownership decrease it. On the Gulf Coast of the US (n=259), physical injuries and higher civic engagement augment recovery participation, while homeownership and age reduce it. The confounding factors of national contexts and post-disaster time frames might explain the differences in the results. The discussion addresses the relation between country-specific vulnerability and recovery participation and suggests implications for policy and practice to improve local citizens' capabilities to participate in sustainable recovery processes.

A Typology Framework for Trade-Offs in Development and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Case Study of Typhoon Haiyan Recovery in Tacloban, Philippines

Abstract: Development and disaster risk are deeply linked. Disasters reverse development gains; development initiatives influence the risk, vulnerability, and exposure of people, assets, and environments to disasters. Hence, knowledge of key dimensions of the potential trade-offs between development and disaster risk reduction (DRR) may inform decision-making processes, goals, and initiatives in ways that have potential to address unsustainable development practices that are commonplace in countries of all economic levels. This paper presents, explores, and tests a conceptual framework for analysing the trade-offs that underpin this relationship as evidenced through policy goals, initiatives, and decision-making processes. We categorise key dimensions of relevant trade-offs into five specific dimensions: (i) The aggregation of development and DRR gains and losses, (ii) risk prioritisation when seeking to reduce multiple risks, (iii) the equity of decision-making processes and outcomes, (iv) the balancing of near- and long-term goals, and (v) the distribution of power and participation. By framing key questions related to each trade-off dimension, we test the framework in the context of a major disaster recovery process in Tacloban, the Philippines, following Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in November 2013. We consider how decision-making trade-offs can be made more visible and useful in the pursuit of transformative change in development and DRR.

Pre-Disaster Social Capital and Disaster Recovery in Wenchuan Earthquake-Stricken Rural Communities

Abstract: This study examined the impact of social capital on disaster recovery in the 2008 earthquake-stricken rural communities in Wenchuan, China. The results show that quake-affected households having more social capital recovered more easily and quickly from disasters. A larger network significantly increased the amount of government aid received for housing reconstruction. This indicates that network members assist the quake-affected households to apply for and obtain government aid. These findings imply that social capital, as a kind of non-institutionalized social force, facilitates earthquake-affected households’ recovery from disaster in rural China. Based on these results, this study suggests that policymakers should pay special attention to improving the social capital of existing local households to improve disaster recovery.