Natural disaster

About: Natural disaster is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5456 publications have been published within this topic receiving 104808 citations. The topic is also known as: natural calamity & natural hazard.

Corporate social responsibility and disaster reduction: a global overview.

Abstract: Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID): ESCOR award no. R7893. DFID supports policies, programmes and projects to promote international development. DFID provided funds for this study as part of that objective but the views and opinions expressed are those of the author alone.

Considering Disaster Vulnerability and Resiliency: The Case of Hurricane Effects on Tourism-based Economies

Abstract: In this study, we examine the vulnerability and resiliency of 10 tourism-based regional economies which include US national parks or seashores (situated on the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean coastline) affected by several hurricanes over a 26-year period. The vulnerability of each economy to natural disasters was estimated using a panel linear model, while resilience was estimated by employing a negative binomial panel regression and a difference-in-difference model. Natural disaster damage, related to physical damage and human loss, was shown to have a negative effect on regional economies. Regions with stronger economies prior to natural disasters have lower disaster losses than regions with weaker economic characteristics. More effort to improve regional economic conditions before natural disasters is necessary to minimize disaster loss. Lessons learned from the economic impacts of past natural disasters, in particular in tourism-based regions, can help regional planners and policy makers predict problems related to disasters and more effectively prepare for future events.

Climate disaster resilience of the education sector in Thua Thien Hue Province, Central Vietnam

Abstract: Recognizing the importance of building disaster resilience for education sector, this study aims to develop a methodology to measure the level of educational resilience to cope with natural disasters and is then applied in Central Vietnam. The assessment tool in this paper is developed through a combination of climate disaster resilience indexes and the 16 tasks of Hyogo framework for action designed for education sector. It looks at five dimensions namely physical conditions, human resources, institutional issues, external relationships, and natural conditions, with each dimension characterized by three parameters and five variables. Findings from this study provide important insights into enhancing resilience of the education system in Thua Thien Hue at the provincial, local, and school levels. By giving the overall resilience situation, it can help policy-makers and practitioners in developing an effective plan to increase the level of educational resilience. In addition, it provides the School Management Board with a means to assess the school’s resilience level and set out priorities that need to be focused on with regard to the improvement of school safety and disaster risk reduction education.

The Effect of a Natural Disaster on Social Cohesion: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract: On January 8, 1998, a severe ice storm devastated electrical power grids and caused extensive environmental damage in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. This study examines the effect this natural disaster had on perceptions of social relations in the village of Potsdam, a rural community in northern New York State. Residents (N=88) were surveyed on their perceptions of their community one month following the disaster. These data are compared with a surveyed (N=127) of community perceptions conducted three years prior to the disaster. These two surveys provide a rare opportunity to perform a longitudinal study of the effects of the disaster on social cohesion. Findings indicate that social cohesion increases in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. However, one month after the disaster, perceptions of the community return to predisaster levels. This study indicates that there are few lasting effects on social cohesion resulting from a natural disaster.