Showing papers on "Natural disaster published in 2019"

Disaster and its impact on mental health: A narrative review.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to understand the linkages between disaster and its impact on mental health. To fulfil this objective, an attempt has been made to examine the existing qualitative literature on disaster and mental health. In this paper, disaster and mental health as a concept has been used in a holistic sense. Based on the review of literature, the following broad themes have been identified: natural disaster and its impact on mental health, man-made disaster and its effect on mental health, effects of industrial disaster on mental health. It examines the post-disaster behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with an impairment in functioning. By this review, various protective factors, including resilience and other coping strategies which amplified the individual's capacity while encountering negative situations, have been identified. The effectiveness of post-disaster intervention techniques is also highlighted. Better preparedness and community empowerment can improve the condition of the vulnerable population affected by the disaster. Thus, efforts should be given for holistic rehabilitation of the affected population.

A dilemma of language: ‘‘Natural disasters’’ in academic literature

Abstract: For decades sections of the academic community have been emphasizing that disasters are not natural. Nevertheless, politicians, the media, various international organizations—and, more surprisingly, many established researchers working in disaster studies—are still widely using the expression “natural disaster.” We systematically analyzed the usage of the expression “natural disaster” by disaster studies researchers in 589 articles in six key academic journals representative of disaster studies research, and found that authors are using the expression in three principal ways: (1) delineating natural and human-induced hazards; (2) using the expression to leverage popularity; and (3) critiquing the expression “natural disaster.” We also identified vulnerability themes that illustrate the context of “natural disaster” usage. The implications of continuing to use this expression, while explicitly researching human vulnerability, are wide-ranging, and we explore what this means for us and our peers. This study particularly aims to stimulate debate within the disaster studies research community and related fields as to whether the term “natural disaster” is really fit for purpose moving forward.

Does social capital pay off? The case of small business resilience after Hurricane Katrina

Abstract: This article uses objective and subjective measures of small business resilience and multiple categories of social capital pay‐offs to answer two main questions Does social capital pay off after a natural disaster; and if it does, what type of social capital has the greatest impact on small business resilience? The pay‐off from bridging social capital—receiving support from the community—is what drives both objective and subjective resilience post‐Katrina The results also show linking capital—support from institutions—can improve economic resilience Our results provide evidence social capital is a key asset for long‐term resilience for small businesses Business owners with links to the community and institutions—with more social capital—will be better off when facing a natural disaster

Current capacities, preparedness and needs of local institutions in dealing with disaster risk reduction in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract: Local institutions could play an essential role in providing first-hand rescue and support to communities in reducing the impacts and vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods. Keeping in view the importance of local institutions, Pakistan has established disaster management authorities at a national and provincial level to collaborate with local institutions in dealing with natural disasters. However, little is known about the current level of preparedness and capacity of local institutions and capacity building gaps in managing disasters at the local scale. In order to fill this gap, this study conducted 40 key informants from 19 institutions working at local level to identify the current capacities, preparedness, and gaps in disaster management cycle of local institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan using five indicators of disaster preparedness pillar. The descriptive study statistics are used to explore the study objectives. The study findings revealed that the majority of the local institutions were underprepared in terms of awareness and training, human resources, financial resources, infrastructure and equipment, and coordination. The results further indicated that the existing preparedness capacity gaps could be bridged through capacity building training, technical support and financial capacity and infrastructure building. Additionally, to achieve a higher level of disaster preparedness, the government should establish direct linkages among all institutions which are actively involved and engaged in DRR/DRM especially local institutions. Thus it is very important for local institutions to adopt a proactive approach and engage in preparedness activities and strengthen the existing governance system to manage disaster risks in Pakistan and policymakers should focus more on addressing challenges that could restrict effective preparedness to deal with disaster risks through relevant policy mechanism and consult with all other stakeholders been involved.

Natural disasters, climate change, and their impact on inclusive wealth in G20 countries

Abstract: This paper uses the 1990-2010 natural disaster and carbon emission data of G20 countries to examine the impact of natural disasters and climate change on the natural capital component of inclusive wealth. Our study shows that climate change and GDP have no positive impacts on the growth of natural capital. By contrast, trade openness and natural disaster frequency contribute to the accumulation of natural capital in G20 countries. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the growth of natural capital and the magnitude of natural disaster. Natural capital growth is not affected very much by small disasters. By contrast, large disasters tend to make the growth of natural capital fall sharply.

The Disaster Risk, Global Change, and Sustainability Nexus

Abstract: Until the 1970s, disaster risk was perceived as a direct consequence of natural hazards. Gradually, disaster risk has come to be understood as a compound event, which lies at the intersection of hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of the exposed elements. After decades of research and lessons learned from mega-disasters, social scientists have introduced the social dimension of disaster risk, and the prevailing understanding is that disasters are also a human construct. Now, due to climate and global environmental changes, even the natural component of hazards is being altered by anthropogenic activities, changing hazard susceptibility, coverage, frequency, and severity. This review retraces the brief history and evolution of the global understanding of disaster risk as a compound event, in parallel with research on global environmental change. It highlights the main milestones in this area, and shows that there are tight connections between trends of disaster risk and global change. This paper aims to demonstrate the need to better consider the role of global environmental change in disaster risk assessment. In 2015, three major new agreements were reached to improve global environmental governance: the new Sendai Framework (2015–2030), the post-2015 development agenda with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Climate COP21 in Paris. These all include a clear focus on disaster risk reduction; however, several aspects of disaster risk linked with global environmental changes are still not clearly addressed by the main stakeholders (governments, insurers, or agencies). As the complexity of risk unfolds, more actors are getting together; the need for a holistic approach for disaster risk reduction has become clear, and is closely connected with achieving sustainable development.

Natural disaster preparedness in a multi-hazard environment: Characterizing the sociodemographic profile of those better (worse) prepared.

Abstract: The growing multi-hazard environment to which millions of people in the world are exposed highlights the importance of making sure that populations are increasingly better prepared. The objective of this study was to report the levels of preparedness of a community exposed to two natural hazards and identify the primary sociodemographic characteristics of groups with different preparedness levels. A survey was conducted on 476 participants from two localities of the Atacama Region in the north of Chile during the spring of 2015. Their level of preparedness at home and work was assessed to face two types of natural hazards: earthquakes and floods.The findings show that participants are significantly better prepared to face earthquakes than floods, which sends a serious warning to local authorities, given that floods have caused the greatest human and material losses in the region’s recent history of natural disasters. Men claimed to be more prepared than women to face floods, something that the authors attribute to the particular characteristics of the main employment sectors for men and women in the region. The potential contribution of large companies on preparedness levels of communities in the areas in which they operate is discussed. The sociodemographic profile of individuals with the highest levels of preparedness in an environment with multiple natural hazards are people between 30 and 59 years of age, living with their partner and school-age children. The implications of the results pertaining to institutions responsible for developing disaster risk reduction plans, policies and programs in a multi-hazard environment are discussed.

Impacts of flood disasters in Nigeria: A critical evaluation of health implications and management.

Abstract: Floods lead to tremendous losses of property, infrastructure, business and increased risk of diseases. Floods are also the most frequent natural disasters, affecting over 2.8 billion people in the world and causing over 200 000 deaths over the past three decades. The World Health Organization categorised the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria as the worst flood to have hit the country in the past 50 years. This study reviews flood disasters in Nigeria and how they have been managed over the past two decades. The extensive review of the literature is complemented by data obtained from Ajegunle, a community in Ajeromi–Ifelodun Local Government Area. Because of its proximity to water bodies, its large population and its small land mass, the Ajegunle community is highly susceptible to floods and outbreaks of waterborne diseases. The study also discusses the institutionalisation and development of disaster management in Nigeria. Further, it critically evaluates the disaster management framework and other current disaster management policies as well as the effectiveness and functions of the disaster management focus areas and government response. The study takes a historic approach to flood disasters, linking disaster management to human health with a special focus on flood-related infectious diseases, isolating waterborne diseases as being predominant. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to develop an understanding of how the people of Ajegunle are affected by flood disasters. This study reveals poorly managed health reforms and argues that in spite of government’s disaster management policies, there is an absence of organised and coordinated institutional structures to plan and respond to flood emergencies. It also revealed that diarrhoea outbreak was the predominant waterborne disease associated with flood disasters. Although Lagos State has been said to have the best flood preparedness plan in Nigeria, it has failed to reduce the yearly flood disasters and their impact on the health of the people. The article suggests a holistic approach by the government to get stakeholders, especially the health sector, more actively involved in disaster management planning.

Beliefs about climate change in the aftermath of extreme flooding

Abstract: When faced with natural disasters, communities respond in diverse ways, with processes that reflect their cultures, needs, and the extent of damage incurred by the community. Because of their potentially recurring nature, floods offer an opportunity for communities to learn from and adapt to these experiences with the goal of increasing resiliency through reflection, modification of former policies, and adoption of new policies. A key component of a community’s ability to learn from disaster is how community members perceive the causes of extreme flood events and whether there is risk of future similar events. Perceptions of causes of flooding, including climate change, may be influenced by experiencing a flood event, along with individual preferences for various policies put in place to help a community recover. Using data collected from two rounds of public surveys (n = 903) across six Colorado communities flooded in 2013, we investigate whether there is variation across causal understanding of flooding, and whether this variation can be linked to differences in proximity of damages experienced (personal property, neighborhood, or community). By analyzing these variables, along with other variables (time since flood, political affiliation, and worldview), this study improves our understanding of the factors that drive our beliefs about potential causes of floods, focusing on climate change. The findings suggest that the extent of damage experienced at the neighborhood and community levels can have a significant effect on the perceptions of climate change held by the public. In turn, these beliefs about climate change are positively associated with perceptions of risks of future flooding.

Preparedness or repeated short-term relief aid? Building drought resilience through early warning in southern Africa

Abstract: Southern Africa is highly vulnerable to drought because of its dependence on climate-sensitive sectors of agriculture, hydroenergy and fisheries. Recurring droughts continue to impact rural livelihoods and degrade the environment. Drought severity in southern Africa is exacerbated by poor levels of preparedness and low adaptive capacity. Whilst weather extremes and hazards are inevitable, the preparedness to manage such hazards determines their impact and whether they become disasters. Southern Africa is often caught unprepared by drought as existing early warning systems lack the drought forecasting component, which often results in reactionary interventions as opposed to well-planned and proactive response mechanisms. This study assesses the spatio-temporal changes of rainfall and aridity in southern Africa through an analysis of long-term precipitation and evaporation trends from 1960 to 2007. Stakeholder consultation was conducted in Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe during the peak of the 2015/16 drought, focusing on overall drought impacts, current water resource availability, existing early warning systems, adaptation mechanisms and institutional capacity to mitigate and manage droughts as part of overall disaster risk reduction strategies. Average rainfall has decreased by 26% in the region between 1960 and 2007, and aridity has increased by 11% between 1980 and 2007. The absence of drought forecasting and lack of institutional capacity to mitigate drought impede regional drought risk reduction initiatives. Existing multi-hazard early warning systems in the region focus on flooding and drought monitoring and assessment. Drought forecasting is often not given due consideration, yet it is a key component of early warning and resilience building. We propose a regional drought early warning framework, emphasising the importance of both monitoring and forecasting as being integral to a drought early warning system and building resilience to drought. Keywords: drought, SADC, early warning system, water scarcity, resilience, disaster risk reduction

Natural disaster and destination management: the case of the Caribbean and hurricane Irma

Abstract: This current issue in the Caribbean raises the topic of destination management and more particularly the importance of considering natural phenomenon when planning and developing a tourism product. The impacts of Irma on some Caribbean islands such as Saint-Barthelemy, Saint-Martin, Barbuda and Anguilla show that hurricanes are major risks for the tourism industry of the islands. This risk could be said to be absolute in the Caribbean but the negative impacts can be mitigated by appropriate strategies. To some extent, natural disasters provide tabularaza that give destinations opportunities to reinvent themselves sustainability.

Understanding sustainable disaster mitigation of stakeholder engagement: Risk perception, trust in public institutions, and disaster insurance

Abstract: Many rural settlements in China's western mountainous regions are affected by mountain disasters, such as landslides and mudslides. For residents living in landslide-prone areas, behaviors related to disaster risk mitigation (such as purchasing disaster insurance) are inevitably affected by disaster risk perception. Due to the substantial differences in disaster occurrence patterns, landslide-related insurance research is relatively rare compared with insurance research focused on other types of natural disasters (e.g., floods and droughts). Based on the results of questionnaires administered in landslide-prone areas in Chongqing, China, this paper uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to investigate the relationships among the questionnaire respondents' risk perception, trust in public institutions (TPI), and willingness to buy disaster insurance (WBDI). The results reveal that risk perception and TPI directly affect WBDI. Here, competence, participation, possibility perception, and fear perception are significantly positively correlated to WBDI, whereby fear perception has the largest impact, followed by possibility perception, competence, and participation. In addition, TPI indirectly affects WBDI through risk perception. Here, competence reduces fear perception and indirectly reduces WBDI. The implications of these results for theory are discussed. This study introduces a new method to support disaster risk mitigation-related decision making that can be useful to governments and individuals.

The Role of Natural Disaster Insurance in Recovery and Risk Reduction

Abstract: Natural disaster losses have been increasing worldwide. Insurance is thought to play a critical role in improving resilience to these events by both promoting recovery and providing incentives for ...

Patterns of Firm Responses to Different Types of Natural Disasters

Abstract: This article examines the relationships between disaster type and firms’ disaster responses. We draw on a unique dataset of 2,164 press releases related to the occurrence of 206 natural disasters (hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and wildfires) over a 10-year period (2005-2014) to analyze how firm responses are shaped by the type of disaster it faces. Firms play an increasingly important role in disaster response. We find that firms engage in more anticipatory responses when the type of disaster a firm faces exhibits even impact dispersion and high expected recurrence, and provides substantial warning. Our study draws a relationship between physical geography, disaster type, and more anticipatory firm responses which can improve how firms and communities respond to the risks posed by different types of natural disasters. The article concludes by outlining an agenda for future research on firm responses to natural disasters.

Addressing cascading effects of earthquakes in urban areas from network perspective to improve disaster mitigation

Abstract: Given the rising size and complexity of urban areas, the city governments are faced to the challenges of cascading effects triggered by devastating earthquakes, in which the disastrous consequences are amplified significantly by combined effects of the occurred secondary events with interrelationships on the elements at risks. As a low-probability and high impact natural disaster, the escalation of secondary events are guided by the vulnerability paths, as well as their interconnections should be considered from system perspectives during the preparedness and mitigation process. This research aims to develop, model and analyze cascading effects scenario of earthquakes in urban areas for supporting decision making in disaster risk reduction. A framework for addressing cascading effects of earthquakes in urban area is presented. The procedure for developing cascading effects scenario of such highly complex and uncertain disasters by identifying the triggered disaster chains is introduced. A directed network was built to model and visualize the secondary events with interrelationships involving in the cascading effects scenario. In particular, a range of network metrics are developed to examine the relational patterns of hazardous events based on Social Network Analysis. Together with, how to design disaster mitigation strategies according to network analysis results is introduced, such as disaster chains with priorities to be blocked, hazardous events to be mitigated firstly, and essential collaborative relationships among the responsible organizations. Furthermore, a case study in an urban area in Shenzhen City, China was conducted to highlight the application of the proposed framework. This research presents an innovative approach to address cascading effects in urban areas of earthquakes by developing the triggered worst case scenario, as well as understanding secondary events with interrelationships using network analysis method for providing insights to design disaster mitigation strategies from system thinking perspectives.

Wildfire as an increasingly common natural disaster facing Canada: understanding the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire

Abstract: On May 3, 2016, a wildfire swept into the city of Fort McMurray, Alberta. This natural disaster was significant in both its scale and impact, as the fire prompted a sudden onset evacuation of 88,000 persons. As we reflect on the 150th Commemoration of Canada’s confederation, this 2016 natural disaster ranks as Canada’s most costly disaster. The fire resulted in over $3.5 billion in insured losses. Approximately 2400 buildings were destroyed. In looking towards the future, climate change impacts are expected to cause wildfires that will be progressively worse. This paper explores the Fort McMurray wildfire through the lens of the four pillars of emergency management: response, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness. By exploring aspects of Canada’s most recent mass evacuation, the country can better ready itself for a future where fire will be one of the primary natural disasters reshaping Canadian landscapes.

How Can Cities Respond to Flood Disaster Risks under Multi-Scenario Simulation? A Case Study of Xiamen, China.

Abstract: Flood disasters often have serious impacts on cities. Disaster prevention and mitigation schemes for flood disasters must be based on risk assessment. We constructed an indicator system for flood disaster risk assessment from the aspects of hazard factors, sensitivity to the environment, disaster vulnerability, flood disaster prevention, and resilience. Then we add the precipitation factor as a scenario parameter to the assessment of flood disasters, in order to assess the flood disaster risk under annual average precipitation scenarios, multi-year flood season average precipitation scenarios, and large typhoon precipitation scenarios. Xiamen is one of the cities with more serious flood disasters. We select Xiamen as an example and refer to existing indicators of flood disaster assessment. The results show that: (1) the coefficient of variation of flood disasters in Xiamen under the impact of large-scale typhoon precipitation is large; (2) the drainage and flood control capacity of Xiamen is generally insufficient, and the risk in the old city is high; (3) there are many flood-prone locations in Xiamen. Underpass interchanges, underground spaces, and urban villages have become the new key areas for flood control; and (4) the flood risk in the northern mountainous areas of Xiamen is the highest. Based on the assessment results, we further delineate the urban flood control zones and propose corresponding countermeasures. The study expands the research on flood disaster risk assessment, and also provides reference for relevant cities to deal with flood disasters.

Household vulnerability and resilience in flood hazards from disaster-prone areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract: An environmental variation has caused Pakistan an alarming portrait of vulnerability in flood disasters. The government has focused on a number of realistic actions, heartening insertion of disaster risk-lessening measure by local disaster management policies instead of conventional dealings of aid-based approach due to the destructive outcome of floods and other natural disasters. In this study, household vulnerability and resilience of flood disaster in three districts of Punjab province were detailed. Data of a sample of the 840 inhabitant respondents of flood-prone areas of three districts of Punjab, which were severely affected in flooding of 2010, were collected from household respondent by face-to-face meeting and from Provincial Disaster Management Authority Punjab. A subjective method was used in the study to weight the components of vulnerability and resilience. In the empirical finding, higher vulnerability and lower resilience to the flood were found in these study areas. Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur districts were more vulnerable (higher composite vulnerable index score) and less resilient (lower composite resilience index score) in contrast to Rahim Yar Khan. The mutual contribution of local and provincial disaster management authorities can play the significant role in reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience of the inhabitants of flood-prone areas through strengthening awareness and vigilance, training regarding improving capacity of building and lessening flood costs.

An analysis of natural disaster‐related information‐seeking behavior using temporal stages

Abstract: Since natural disasters can affect many people over a vast area, studying information‐seeking behavior (ISB) during disasters is of great importance. Many previous studies have relied on online social network data, providing insights into the ISB of those with Internet access. However, in a large‐scale natural disaster such as the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, people in the most severely affected areas tended to have limited Internet access. Therefore, an alternative data source should be explored to investigate disaster‐related ISB. This study's contributions are twofold. First, we provide a detailed description of natural disaster‐related ISB of people who experienced a large‐scale earthquake and tsunami, based on analysis of written testimonies published by local authorities. This provided insight into the relationship between information needs, channels, and sources of disaster‐related ISB. Also, our approach facilitates the study of ISB of people without Internet access both during and after a disaster. Second, we provide empirical evidence to demonstrate that the temporal stages of a disaster can characterize people's ISB during the disaster. Therefore, we propose further consideration of the temporal aspects of events for improved understanding of disaster‐related ISB.

Agent-based evaluation of humanitarian relief goods supply capability

Abstract: Natural disasters cause great damage to lives, assets, and the economy. In disaster areas, relief goods are essential sources of life supplies, particularly in the post-disaster context. This study develops a prototype of a spatially explicit agent-based model and uses it to evaluate the deviation of end products between supply and demand for humanitarian relief goods in the areas affected by disaster within a specified time frame. The case modeled here is the supply of refined oil to areas affected by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. The approach focuses on supply and uses socio-spatial datasets, as well as transport and refined oil supply data. Based on the supply of refined oil to the disaster areas after the disaster, this study conducted a quantitative analysis using agent-based simulation of the humanitarian relief supply chain. The study finds that the approach is viable, despite the limitations of publicly available datasets on relief goods in China. The study asserts that this approach has potential in assisting policymakers seeking to identify system vulnerabilities and increase resilience in disaster-prone and disaster areas.

Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response: Evidence from Sales of Emergency Supplies Before and After Hurricanes

Abstract: Government information warns households to acquire emergency supplies as hurricanes threaten and directs households to stay off roads after hurricanes make landfall. Do households follow th...

A Risk-Based Approach to Improving Disaster Relief Asset Pre-Positioning

Abstract: It is well‐recognized that pre‐positioning assets in advance of a natural disaster is important for supporting timely relief provision after a disaster occurs. In addition to preparing for imminent disaster events, humanitarian relief organizations also maintain such asset allocations over time to support future responses to recurrent events such as wildfires or winter storms. This study is motivated by the authors’ work with one such relief organization, the American Red Cross in Colorado and Wyoming, and it discusses a new mixed integer linear programming model that can help to more effectively pre‐position needed assets to open emergency shelters. The new model incorporates a measure of risk into its objective function, which helps address the need for generating equitable solutions, and the model explicitly considers reallocation of assets to nearby locations after a disaster event occurs. Model performance is first analyzed in the context of the Red Cross’ actual asset allocation problem and the results show a decrease in residual risk from that of historical allocations of more than 33%. The general applicability of the approach is then illustrated in the context of several different extensions to the base model and a series of important takeaways are presented and discussed.

Adaptation and Adverse Selection in Markets for Natural Disaster Insurance

Abstract: This paper studies social welfare in markets for natural disaster insurance. I quantify frictions in uptake, test for adverse selection, and estimate the welfare effects of proposed policy reforms by developing a model of natural disaster insurance markets and compiling new data. The paper has three main findings. First, willingness to pay for natural disaster insurance is remarkably low. In the high-risk flood zones throughout all U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coast states, fewer than 60% of homeowners purchase flood insurance even though subsidized premia are only two-thirds of their own expected payouts. Second, homeowners select into insurance based on observable differences in houses' defensive investments against natural disasters (i.e., adaptation), but not on private information about risk. Exploiting house-level variation in flood insurance prices and construction codes reveals that requirements to elevate newly constructed homes reduce insurer costs by 31% and insurance demand by 25%. Asymmetric information between homeowners and insurers, however, does not affect average payouts. Third, ignoring how frictions, such as risk misperception, distort demand understates the welfare cost of currently proposed price increases and changes the sign of the predicted welfare effect. In the presence of such frictions, enforcing a natural disaster insurance mandate increases social welfare.