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When disasters isolate communities from external support, their members must turn to each other for mutual assistance. This study explores (1) resource management, (2) information sharing, and (3) community leadership and civic participation as dimensions of peer-to-peer sharing for more efficient distribution of local resources under “islanded” conditions. Interviews with members and leaders of three neighborhood-scale communities in Washington state revealed concerns about household preparedness and stockpiling of resources, but also the potential to lever individuals’ community knowledge, social networks, and willingness to participate. Future interventions might include enhancing place-based social infrastructure for resource and information sharing; online local databases and applications that normally maintain privacy but “unlock” important household information for community use in emergencies; and programs that help individuals access and adopt leadership and participation roles. Satisfying these requirements for successful disaster prepared ness also aligns with the goals of everyday community-building and strengthening of collective capacity
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Moving toward community preparedness efficacy: Uncovering barriers in communities disproportionately impacted by flooding
Abstract Disasters can have devastating impacts on communities particularly when they are disproportionately impacted by flooding. Despite the presence of governmental programs implemented to increase community preparedness for flooding, communities may still struggle. Currently, we have limited holistic knowledge of barriers that stifle community preparedness. To address this gap, we conducted 32 in‐depth interviews with stakeholders including community members, leaders, and city employees in a community subject to flood risk. The findings suggest that preparedness is not overcome simply by providing knowledge, and people do not necessarily embrace preparedness after participating in training programs. Rather, community preparedness is entwined with addressing chronic stressors, increasing community participation, and attending to social justice and broken trust due to historical mistreatment of the community. We hereby introduce the notion of community preparedness efficacy—defined as the barriers needed to be overcome for communities to be able to prepare for disasters—that considers chronic stressors, community participation, social justice, and equity to move underserved communities forward.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1952196
- PAR ID:
- 10484936
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley-Blackwell
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management
- Volume:
- 32
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 0966-0879
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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