The Human Side of Natural Disaster

Andrew Nocita

doi:10.1037/a0019687

Mud and tears: The human face of disaster – A case study of the Queensland floods, January 2011

Journal of Management & Organization ◽

10.5172/jmo.2011.17.6.864 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 864-872

Author(s):

Charmine E J Härtel ◽

Greg M Latemore

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Case Studies ◽

Natural Disaster ◽

Disaster Management ◽

Human Face ◽

Management Planning ◽

Large Organization ◽

Human Side ◽

Disaster Management Planning

Abstract January 2011 visited on Queensland Australia floods of proportions many thought could not have occurred again, following disaster management planning taken after the historic floods of the 1800s and 1974. This paper presents some reflections on this natural disaster, which affected many members of the ANZAM community and left a permanent mark on those directly affected and those who watched as the waters washed away lives, memories and many of the things that give people a sense of place. Amongst tragedy came stories of generosity of human spirit as well as the occasional case of greed and callousness. When all was over, however, there was no doubt about the human side of disaster management. Through two case studies of a family-owned business and a large organization impacted by the flood in Brisbane, we highlight some lessons for disaster management and propose some strategies for building social capital in times of disaster.

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Mud and tears: The human face of disaster – A case study of the Queensland floods, January 2011

Journal of Management & Organization ◽

10.1017/s1833367200001231 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 864-872 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charmine E J Härtel ◽

Greg M Latemore

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Case Studies ◽

Natural Disaster ◽

Disaster Management ◽

Human Face ◽

Management Planning ◽

Large Organization ◽

Human Side ◽

Disaster Management Planning

AbstractJanuary 2011 visited on Queensland Australia floods of proportions many thought could not have occurred again, following disaster management planning taken after the historic floods of the 1800s and 1974. This paper presents some reflections on this natural disaster, which affected many members of the ANZAM community and left a permanent mark on those directly affected and those who watched as the waters washed away lives, memories and many of the things that give people a sense of place. Amongst tragedy came stories of generosity of human spirit as well as the occasional case of greed and callousness. When all was over, however, there was no doubt about the human side of disaster management. Through two case studies of a family-owned business and a large organization impacted by the flood in Brisbane, we highlight some lessons for disaster management and propose some strategies for building social capital in times of disaster.

Download Full-text

Mud and tears: The human face of disaster – A case study of the Queensland floods, January 2011

Journal of Management & Organization ◽

10.5172/jmo.2011.864 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 864-872 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Charmine E J Härtel ◽

Greg M Latemore

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Case Studies ◽

Natural Disaster ◽

Disaster Management ◽

Human Face ◽

Management Planning ◽

Large Organization ◽

Human Side ◽

Disaster Management Planning

AbstractJanuary 2011 visited on Queensland Australia floods of proportions many thought could not have occurred again, following disaster management planning taken after the historic floods of the 1800s and 1974. This paper presents some reflections on this natural disaster, which affected many members of the ANZAM community and left a permanent mark on those directly affected and those who watched as the waters washed away lives, memories and many of the things that give people a sense of place. Amongst tragedy came stories of generosity of human spirit as well as the occasional case of greed and callousness. When all was over, however, there was no doubt about the human side of disaster management. Through two case studies of a family-owned business and a large organization impacted by the flood in Brisbane, we highlight some lessons for disaster management and propose some strategies for building social capital in times of disaster.

Download Full-text

When Mother Earth Rises Up

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000112 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

pp. 271-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Simona Sacchi ◽

Paolo Riva ◽

Marco Brambilla

Keyword(s):

Free Will ◽

Natural Disasters ◽

Natural Disaster ◽

Mental States ◽

Disaster Victims ◽

Willingness To Help ◽

Mother Earth

Anthropomorphization is the tendency to ascribe humanlike features and mental states, such as free will and consciousness, to nonhuman beings or inanimate agents. Two studies investigated the consequences of the anthropomorphization of nature on people’s willingness to help victims of natural disasters. Study 1 (N = 96) showed that the humanization of nature correlated negatively with willingness to help natural disaster victims. Study 2 (N = 52) tested for causality, showing that the anthropomorphization of nature reduced participants’ intentions to help the victims. Overall, our findings suggest that humanizing nature undermines the tendency to support victims of natural disasters.

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