HLSC 600 Discussion 2
Understanding Disaster Theory and Research
The Disaster Life Cycle
Disasters can be both slow or fast to occur and there is a natural life cycle that is made up
of four primary phases. As described by Phillips et al., the phases commonly used today are
mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. More simply put, these phases cover the
preimpact, impact and postimpact cycle of the disaster. (Phillips et al., 2016). Typically,
emergency managers are aware of the threats posed to the community they serve and take steps
to mitigate the effects of the known hazards. These mitigation efforts aim to reduce the
probability of occurrence of a disaster. The next step is preparedness, which involves organizing
resources, developing plans, and mobilizing the emergency personnel who will be tasked with
responding when a disaster occurs (Phillips et al., 2016). Mitigation involves training and taking
the necessary steps to address known hazards. Obviously the mitigation plans are simply plans,
where response are the actual activities that take place after an emergency or disaster. First
responders and emergency managers spring into action and follow the emergency response plans
helping organizing resources (Phillips et al., 2016). In the short term, recovery involves helping
restore life-support systems vital to the community such as electricity, water, and other utility
services. Lastly is the recovery phase, which in the long term helps return life to normal in the
community. This involves the rebuilding of infrastructure that were in place before the disaster
occurred.
Disaster Tradition
“The disaster tradition is grounded in disaster preparedness and especially disaster
response activities” (Phillips et al., 2016, p. p. 41). Studying disaster sites and the very people
affected allowed researchers to better understand their behavior and how organizations
responded. What is gleaned from these traditions are innovations in a variety of unique topics
associated with disasters. The Disaster Research Center has been at the center of the effort to find
ways to respond, develop policy and increase resiliency efforts. These all come from careful
study and research when disasters occur ad have helped other countries develop effective
responses. “From a practical view, the disaster research tradition has helped provide emergency
managers to plan and prepare and to respond and recover” (Phillips et al., 2016, p. 41).
Buried within disaster tradition is also the risk perception traditions. Partially developed
as part of the risk analysis related to nuclear power safety, this encompasses how individuals
view and respond to risk. While not exclusive to high-risk activities, having a better
understanding of the thought process of people is important. Our textbook uses the perfect
analogy related to hurricane predictions and how it can be difficult to convince the public of the
impending risk. If people don’t trust or see risk when a landfall prediction is made, there is a
high likelihood they won’t evacuate and instead take their chances. Time and time these risk
perception traditions have led to substantial loss of life such as when hurricane Katrina hit New
Orleans. Hard lessons were learned about public perception of the hurricane risks, and this
resulted in more effective preparedness campaigns and better evacuation readiness (Phillips et
al., 2016).
Disaster Theory
Disaster theory came as a result of early disaster researchers using collective behavior
theory to better understand the many facets of human behavior during a disaster. This led to the
development of emergent norm theory, which focuses on the processes that can lead to new
norms and social structure. During the response phase of a disaster, norms and social structure
are important behaviors to understand.
The evaluation and consideration of “how the built environment, physical environment,
and human beings interact together is known as systems theory” (Phillips et al., 2016, p. 46).
Sociopolitical Ecology theory is a comparative method which involves how various social
groups compete with one another for resources during a disaster. While there is overlap in many
of these theories, there are different perspectives to explain what happens in disasters. The
spectrum of thinking can cover what happens in disasters, why they occur, what effects they
cause and lead to better responses from emergency managers.
Type of Disaster Research
The first types of disaster research interestingly came during World War II as the US
military conducted operations against Germany and Japan (Phillips et al., 2016, p. 54). The
resiliency of both those countries caused the US to look inward to determine if the same would
be true should a similar attack occur on US soil. This research was practical as America was
researching how to protect itself against a wide variety of threats, but also inflict maximum
damage and disruption upon our enemies. For the last 60 years, social scientists have continued
their research focusing on disasters (Phillips et al., 2016).
The research projects and centers created have helped take the field in new directions
worldwide. Now the scholarly programs available around the globe are made up of the body of
research that resulted from years of tireless work in different academic areas.
The Bible speaks to the service of others and can be applied to emergency management.
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself” (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Galatians 5:13-14). Disasters bring
hardship to others and in their time of need, we are all called to serve.
References
Etkin, D. (2014). Disaster theory: an interdisciplinary approach to concepts and causes.
Butterworth-Heinemann.
Phillips, B. D., Neal, D. M., & Webb, G. R. (2016). Introduction to Emergency Management
(2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781315394688
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
(Original work published 1769)
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