Disaster analysis: emergency management offices and arrangements. Final report on Phase 1

Technical Report · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6496255

Wenger, D; Quarantelli, E L; Dynes, R

Part I describes and analyzes the research of the Disaster Research Center (DRC) on the responses of local emergency management system in six community disasters. Effectiveness of response was assessed in terms of communication that resulted in correct information collection, a fully functioning EOC, appropriate procurement and distribution of human and material resources, proper task delegation and coordination, a legitimated authority structure, integrated and coordinated relationship with outside private, state, and federal organizations, cooperative relationships with mass media groups, and response activities based upon real, not mythical needs. We examined how extensiveness of response was influenced by prior disaster experiences, prior planning, and federal aid. We then derived an eight-fold categorization of emergency management systems: traditional offices, by-passed agencies, emergent agencies, established agencies, embedded agencies; by-passed community agencies; emergent community agencies; and established community agencies. After a comparative examination of the likelihood of the existence of different types, we point out the policy implications of the findings for response, planning and structure of local emergency management systems. Part II describes the processes and problems in the computerization of the DRC library and data base and projectes DRC's future work.

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark (USA). Disaster Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6496255
• Report Number(s): AD-A-179024/5/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990300 -- Information Handling
COMMUNITIES
COOPERATION
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
DISASTERS
EMERGENCY PLANS
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
MANAGEMENT