Disaster relief volunteerism: Evaluating cities’ planning for the usage and management of spontaneous volunteers

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason David Rivera, PhD ◽  
Zachary David Wood, MA
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Survey Instrument ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Us

This exploratory study sought to observe the perceptions, usage, and planned management of spontaneous volunteers in disaster planning and response within various urban environments. The authors discuss the perceptions of spontaneous volunteerism in America, specifically the challenges of using spontaneous volunteers in disaster response activities. A content analysis of the 50 largest cities in the US Office of Emergency Management Web sites and a survey instrument administered to emergency managers in these 50 cities were used to explore various questions raised throughout the discussion of the literature. The authors found significant discrepancies between what is stated in the disaster plans of cities and what emergency managers claim is covered in their plans. Of the managers surveyed, only a handful mention spontaneous volunteers in their plans at all, and even fewercities discuss them extensively. In addition, stated perceptions of the value of spontaneous volunteers may impact both how we plan for them and the value they provide.

Collaboration and crowdsourcing in emergency management

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Ernst ◽  
Andreas Mladenow ◽  
Christine Strauss
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Network Effects ◽  
Weak Ties ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Social Network Effects

Purpose Emergency managers face coordinative challenges that require a high degree of mobility, flexibility and the ability to interpret heterogeneous, location-dependent information of various sources and quality. Recent information and communication technology-driven developments like crowdsourcing or social networks have opened up new organizational possibilities for emergency managers. To make quick but solid decisions, and improve the coordination of activities performed by crowdsourcees during disaster response, the authors suggest the use of collaborative features from crowdsourcing and inherent availability of resources from social network effects. In this paper, the idea of considering collaboration and crowdsourcing as drivers for flexibility in the design of business processes in the context of emergency management is prepared, the meaning of location-dependent tasks for volunteers is investigated, and the added value of social network effects is substantiated. Design/methodology/approach This paper is part of an ongoing research project in the field of crowdsourcing. It represents conceptual work that builds on relevant literature. Findings In terms of emergency management, the paper sheds light on what emergency managers may consider when coordinating activities performed by volunteers and how they may benefit from social network effects. Furthermore, it is shown how they can exploit information using collaboration-based and tournament-like crowdsourcing, how they can benefit from invoking additional resources using weak ties from social networks, and how visualization of information may support decision-making. Practical implications Exemplary applications to exploit crowdsourcing and social network effects to support improvisation and to respond flexibly in disaster response are given. Originality/value This paper suggests novel collaborative approaches to support emergency managers in their decision-making. Based on social network analysis, the value of weak ties is elaborated, and based on a taxonomy from crowdsourcing, distinct collaborative alternatives are developed and proposed for application in emergency management.

The future of emergency management

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane A. Bullock ◽  
George D. Haddow
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Homeland Security ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Organizational Changes ◽  
Department Of Homeland Security ◽  
The Past ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Future ◽  
Us Federal Government

The discipline of emergency management (EM) is at a critical crossroads. Emergency managers around the world are faced with new threats, new responsibilities, and new opportunities. This paper examines the organizational changes made by the US federal government in shaping the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and presents three key lessons learned during the past decade that could guide emergency planners as they design and manage EM organizations of the future.

Promotion or transition: From fire officer to emergency manager

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Ray H. Chang, PhD ◽  
Dave Neal, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Career Paths ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Job Skills ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Emergency Manager ◽  
Task Differences

The field of emergency management has put much focus on disaster response activities. By overly emphasizing response, some people have come to regard fire officers as ideal candidates for promotion into emergency manager positions. To understand this process, we first review the basic definitions of emergency management. Next, drawing upon these definitions, we identify differences between fire officers’ and emergency managers’ tasks. Based on the analysis, we found that the task differences were large enough to distinguish emergency managers as a profession separate and distinct from that of the fire officer. Finally, we conclude with suggestions on how fire officers can enhance or expand their job skills to change effectively their career paths to emergency management.

What influences the acceptance of emergency management decision-support software? A study of county emergency management officials

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 539
Author(s):  
Eliot A. Jennings, PhD ◽  
Sudha Arlikatti, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Support Software ◽  
Management Decision Support

Objective: While the benefits of emergency management decision-support software (EMDSS) have been touted for helping reduce time in decision making, increasing interoperability, and real-time data management for effective disaster response, little is understood regarding the factors that influence the acceptance of these technologies by emergency management officials. This study aims to fill this gap and contribute to theory on user acceptance of EMDSS in the public sector and highlight practical constraints and solutions for emergency managers. Design: This research uses secondary data available from the 2006 survey of county emergency management agencies conducted by the National Center for the Study of Counties.Results: Having a lead county emergency management official with higher qualifications and an in-house geographic information system division, both have a positive influence on the acceptance of EMDSS by that agency.Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, the level of local collaborative planning efforts, the perceived level of threat, and number of disaster declarations for the county did not influence the use of these sophisticated EMDSS. To ensure use of such technology for effective emergency management, more funding to offer specialized training in the use of DSS is required in those agencies that do not have in-house GIS specialists.

scholarly journals The Implications of Sex Tourism on Mens Social, Psychological, and Physical Health

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Bender ◽  
Rich Furman
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Sex Tourism ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
International Context ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
International Social

This article explores sex tourism and possible concerns for the male sex tourist through a content analysis of sex tourism web sites. This qualitative, exploratory study describes the manner in which sex tour web sites attract and maintain male customers. Findings related to men’s psychosocial health are placed within an international context. Recommendations are made that pertain to international social welfare.

Still wary of the Web? The evolution of state emergency management agency Web sites 2008-2017

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 377
Author(s):  
David W. Guth, MA
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Emergency Communication ◽  
Management Agency ◽  
The Web

A 2008 content analysis of state emergency management agency Web sites showed that they tended to be internally focused and needed to be more citizen-focused and journalist friendly. The study was replicated in 2017. Because of changes in technology and agency missions, the content richness indicators were expanded. The study shows an increased acceptance of Internet and social communication. However, it also shows that the full potential of social media in emergency communication has not been reached.

Sport and disaster relief: a content analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuhei Inoue ◽  
Cody T Havard
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
News Media ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Magazine Articles ◽  
Relief Efforts ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore disaster relief activities implemented by high-profile sport organisations and athletes. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 70 newspaper and magazine articles reporting the disaster relief efforts of sport organisations and athletes in various regions were identified and analysed through a content analysis. Findings – The authors find 11 forms of activities that sport organisations and athletes have implemented to provide social support in post-disaster situations. These forms are classified based on type of post-disaster social support: eight forms are categorised as tangible support, while the other three are categorised as emotional support. Research limitations/implications – The findings are based on the analysis of the news media that predominantly reported North American cases, and the current list of disaster relief activities may exclude some activities ignored by these specific data sources. Using the forms of disaster relief activities identified in this study as an initial framework, future studies should engage in the focused analysis of disaster response among sport organisations and athletes. Practical implications – The comprehensive list of the disaster relief activities identified by this study should aid the decision-making of sport organisations and athletes in facing disasters and enable them to better prepare for their disaster response. Originality/value – This study reveals the extensiveness and uniqueness of disaster relief activities currently implemented by sport organisations and athletes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document