Societal Response to Disaster and Governance Research Paper

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The occurrence of hazards and disaster events has increased in the last few decades. The events now occur with far more devastating impacts on humans, societies, and infrastructures. Recent events such as the 9/11 terrorist attack and Hurricane Katrina attest to this. The catastrophic impacts of hazards and disaster events warrant more effective disaster management. In its book Facing Hazards and Disasters, the National Research Council (2006) provides a conceptual model of societal response to disaster. This paper describes the model and discusses how it relates to Ahrens & Rudolph (2006), Tierney (2012), and Stoker’s (1998) perspectives on governance. Attention is specifically paid to the view that the model does not clearly explain how governance affects how communities deal with hazards and disasters.

According to National Research Council’s (2006) disaster response model, the physical and social effects of disaster events are dependent on the attributes of the disaster event, hazard vulnerability, and the hazards and disaster management system. These factors comprise the major components of the model. Whether natural, environmental, or technological, disaster events catalyse the society’s collection action prior to, during, and after their occurrence. An important antecedent to the occurrence of these events is hazard vulnerability, which encompasses hazard exposure, physical vulnerability, and social vulnerability. Disaster event attributes denote the characteristics of the disaster event. These include frequency of occurrence, predictability, controllability, length of forewarning, as well as the magnitude, scope, and duration of impact.

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These characteristics permit the comparison of various types of disaster events. The element of hazards and disaster management system entails the pre-impact and post-impact interventions undertaken to mitigate and deal with disaster events. This includes mitigation practices, emergency preparedness, recovery preparedness, emergency activities, and recovery activities. As per the model, the outcome and levels of impact of disaster events are determined by the interaction between the hazards and disaster management system, disaster event characteristics, and hazard vulnerability.

The overarching argument of the model is that collective actions relating to the components and their interdependence minimise the human and social harm associated with disaster events. To what extent does the model account for the influence of governance on how communities address hazards and disasters? Whereas the model identifies the hazards and disaster management system as a key component of societal response to disaster events, a closer look reveals that the model does not answer the governance question satisfactorily. Ahrens & Rudolph (2006) assert that governance is crucial in minimising risk and managing disasters. Governance basically means putting in place strong institutions, policies, structures, and actors (Stoker, 1998). These facets are imperative for maintaining public order and facilitating collective action. A governance system installs formal processes, institutions, and decision makers in an effort to address socioeconomic issues. The system ensures proper assignment….....

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