Browsing by Author "Donner, William R."
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Item Allocation of Radar Resources and Policy Implications: The End-User Community in Oklahoma(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, Havidan; Diaz, Walter; Donner, William R.; Santos, Jenniffer; Marks, DanielSocial scientists at the Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware, the Center for Applied Social Research (CISA) at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, and at the University of Massachusetts are conducting a research project focusing on the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of end-users (primarily emergency managers and representatives from the National Weather Service – NWS) in the State of Oklahoma regarding severe weather events, warnings, and the development of new radar technology. Particular attention has also been paid to the advantages, problems, and limitations of current weather technology from the emergency manager’s perspective. This research brief focuses on the end-users’ recommendations regarding the allocation of the new radar resources that are being developed by the Engineering Research Center (ERC) on the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA), which is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). In-depth interviews were conducted with members (n=38) of the emergency management community and NWS meteorologists with diverse experiences in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Based on the results from the in-depth interviews, we generated seven (7) broad categories that include the recommendations or factors that emergency managers reported should be taken into account in the allocation of radar resources, including a) nature of the hazard event, b) potential impact and outcomes of the hazard event, c) lead time, d) false alarm rates, e) population issues, f) infrastructure, and g) availability of other resources.Item Decision-Making as Community Adaptation:The Human Ecology of Emergency Management(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Donner, William R.This paper explores how emergency managers make judgments regarding longterm policy and offers a sociological account of organizational decision making within an ecological context. Discussions with emergency managers focusing on the relative merits of rainfall estimation and tornado detection served as data to address these issues. Among the thirty-nine (n=39) interviewees, a consensus emerged favoring tornado detection over rainfall estimation. From these findings, the paper attempts to a) understand why emergency managers prefer tornado detection over rainfall estimation and b) develop theoretical generalizations explaining trends in these preferences. Concerning the first goal, analysis revealed emergency managers stressed the relative threats of common hazards in Oklahoma, the capabilities of technology in hazard mitigation, and public opinion. Given the environmental, technological, and social concerns reflected in this reasoning, there appears to be a strong ecological context driving the need for tornado detection among emergency managers. Implications and concerns are presented in the final section.Item The Political Ecology of Disaster: An Analysis of Factors Influencing U.S. Tornado Fatalities and Injuries, 1998-2000(Disaster Research Center, 2006) Donner, William R.This study examines the causes of tornado fatalities and injuries in the United States between the years 1998-2000. A political model of human ecology (POET) was used to explore how the environment, technology, and social inequality influence rates of fatalities and injuries in two models. Data were drawn from four sources: John Hart's Severe Plot v2.0, National Weather Service (NWS) Warning Verification data, Storm Prediction Center (SPC) watch data, and tract-level Census data. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the causes of tornado fatalities and injuries. Independent variables (following POET) are classified in the following manner: population, organization, environment, and technology. Tornado area represents environment; tornado watches and warnings, as well as mobile homes, correspond to technology; rural population, population density, and household size operationalize population; and racial minorities and deprivation represent social organization. Findings suggest a strong relationship between the size of a tornado path and both fatalities and injuries, whereas other measures related to technology, population, and organization produce significant yet mixed results. Census tracts with larger populations of rural residents was, of the non-environmental factors, the most conclusive regarding its effects across the two models. The outcomes of analysis, while not entirely supportive of the model presented in this paper, suggest to some degree that demographic and social factors play a role in vulnerability to tornadoes.Item Rainfall Estimates or Tornado Detection?: An Assessment Based on the Needs of Emergency Managers(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Donner, William R.; Grainger, Desiree; Rodriguez, Havidan; Diaz, Walter; Santos, JennifferThe following research brief uses data obtained from twenty six (n=26) interviews with emergency managers, National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters, and amateur radio operators (HAM) to determine whether rainfall estimation or tornado detection would more effectively address the needs of the emergency management community in Oklahoma. This study was conducted as part of a broader project on end-user integration, which intends to incorporate the needs and recommendations of end users into the design of radar technology currently under development by the Engineering Center for the Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA). In the course of our analysis, we discovered that a majority of emergency managers require tornado detection due to the specific needs of Oklahoma communities, as well as their experiences with severe weather. We identified three reasons for this decision. First, tornados are less predictable than floods. Second, mitigation strategies, such as rain gauges and retention ponds, have significantly reduced the threat of flooding in most regions. Finally, failed tornado warnings vis-a-vis flood warnings seem to pose a greater threat to professional credibility and legitimacy. Overall, these findings indicate that emergency managers consider a wide range of factors when making decisions related to severe weather. While much is revealed about the decision-making process, the reasons for which emergency managers chose tornado detection over rainfall estimation were, in some cases, based on incomplete or inaccurate information. Most strikingly, for example, is that according to epidemiological statistics, flooding appears to be a greater threat to life than tornados. Moreover, current flood mitigation practices do not address the fact that a) floods produce long-term and diffuse effects (e.g. insurance costs), and b) mitigation techniques may decrease the level of individual preparedness, putting a population at risk of flash and/or major flooding. It is the recommendation of emergency managers that radar resources should primarily be allocated to tornado detection. It should, however, be remembered that flooding may continue to constitute a major threat to these communities.Item Technological Innovations, Disaster Management, and End-User Needs: Challenges and Opportunities for Emergency Managers and Practitioners(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, Havidan; Diaz, Walter; Santos, Jenniffer; Donner, William R.; Marks, DanielItem Technology, Society & Severe Weather Events: Developing Integrated Warning Systems(2008) Rodriguez, Havidan; Santos-Hernandez, Jenniffer; Diaz, Walter; Donner, William R.PowerPoint presentation created as part of the Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Program of the National Science Foundation under NSF Cooperative Agreement No. EEC-0313747 in cooperation with the Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA). Describes research conducted regarding tornadoes and tornado warning systems and how these systems can improve forecasting and reduce vulnerability and exposure to extreme weather events.