Browsing by Author "Rodriguez, Havidan"
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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 Communicating Risk and Warnings: An Integrated and Interdisciplinary Research Approach(Disaster Research Center, 2004) Rodriguez, Havidan; Diaz, Walter; Aguirre, Benigno E.Forecasting weather has become a very important scientific, economic, and political endeavor. With the development of new and enhanced technology, weather forecasting skills have improved significantly in the United States and internationally (NRC, 1999 and 2003). However, weather forecasting is a probabilistic science and many uncertainties still remain (see NSF, 2002). Indeed, despite significant improvements in our ability to predict the weather in the short- and long-term, recent experiences with natural hazards show that we continue to confront important challenges regarding lead times, false alarm rates, the accuracy and reliability of the information that is being communicated, and our ability to elicit the appropriate response from the public. As lead time in issuing severe weather warnings to threatened populations increases with improvements in weather monitoring, detection, and mass communication technology, the social and organizational features of integrated warning systems become paramount as key factors in saving lives and reducing damages to property. There is a need to continue to expand our knowledge regarding how people and organizations perceive and react to weather forecasts and warnings. This knowledge must be integrated with other technical information on weather forecasts already available so as to make weather information more useful to society. This paper explores the role of technology, the media, and interdisciplinary research in the communication of warnings, risk, and disaster information. We also focus on how researchers can communicate the importance, value, and contribution of hazard and disaster research to the end-user community, including emergency management organizations and the general public. We argue that significant changes need to occur in the existing scientific paradigms in order to incorporate the needs and problems that the end-user communities confront. Further, we provide a critical analysis on the importance and potential contributions of interdisciplinary research in the disaster field. We emphasize the need to develop an integrated research model to communicate risk and warnings, which takes into account the new and emerging technology, the role of the media, and the changing socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the general population.Item Disaster Decision Support Tool (DDST): An Additional Step Towards Community Resilience(Disaster Research Center, 2008) Santos-Hernandez, Jenniffer; Rodriguez, Havidan; Diaz, WalterThe Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware (UD), with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the University of Puerto-Rico-Mayagüez Sea Grant College Program (UPRSGCP), and in collaboration with the Center for Applied Social Research (CISA-UPRM), the Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA), the University of Delaware Research and Data Management Services (RDMS), and the Ceenter for Coastal Hazards (CCH-UPRM) are pilot testing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based mapping tool. The Puerto Rico Disaster Decision Support Tool (DDST) is an Internet-based scalable mapping server for disaster planners, responders, and related officials at the municipal, emergency management, and state level. DDST offers access to a variety of geo-referenced information for all municipalities in Puerto Rico. The purpose of this manual is to provide an overview of the general capabilities of the DDST as a way to facilitate the use of the tool.Item The Disaster Research Center (DRC), Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware(2006) Rodriguez, Havidan; Trainor, JosephItem Disaster Research In The Social Sciences: Lessons Learned, Challenges, And Future Trajectories(Disaster Research Center, 2004) Rodriguez, Havidan; Wachtendorf, Tricia; Russell, CarlaThe Disaster Research Center (DRC) at the University of Delaware, with the financial support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the College of Arts and Sciences, held a two-day conference titled “Disaster Research in the Social Sciences: Lessons Learned, Challenges, and Future Trajectories.” The conference highlighted the interdisciplinary and international nature of the disaster research field and focused on: 1) the growth and development of the field of disasters, from the perspective of the Social Sciences; 2) theoretical, methodological, and public policy contributions of the field; 3) lessons learned and best practices that have emerged from this area of research; and 4) future trajectories or opportunities for Social Science research in the study of disasters. Conference participants included leading scholars and researchers, practitioners, representatives from funding organizations, and graduate and undergraduate students. The conference allowed participants to discuss substantive, theoretical, and methodological issues and concerns relevant to the field as well as to generate new research initiatives that will contribute to our understanding and knowledge regarding the study of disasters. Substantive and critical issues discussed during this two-day conference included: the growth and development of disaster research in the Social Sciences; theoretical and methodological contributions and challenges in disaster research; impact of disaster research for practitioners; the role and importance of multi- and inter-disciplinary research in the disaster field; the development of an international research agenda; the role of research centers in training the new generation of researchers; funding disaster research and priorities for the future in a post-9/11 environment; major research areas and issues that need to be developed and explored over the next decade at both the national and international level; and efforts to establish collaborative research initiatives across disciplines and geographical boundaries. DRC was the first Social Science research center in the world devoted to the study of disasters, so it was appropriate and timely that a conference of such magnitude was held at the University of Delaware at a particularly historical moment for the DRC and the field of disaster studies. This conference not only provided a stimulating intellectual environment but it also presented an opportunity to celebrate DRC’s 40th anniversary and to examine the impact and contributions of the Center to the field of disaster research both nationally and internationally. Moreover, during the two-day event, conference participants had an opportunity to pay tribute to Enrico L. Quarantelli and Russell R. Dynes, two of the founding fathers of DRC and disaster research from a social science perspective.Item Education, Sustainable Development, and Disasters: An Interactive and Collaborative Approach(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, Havidan; Aguirre, Benigno E.Item The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on the Medical and Healthcare Infrastructure: A Focus on Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Resiliency(2006) Rodriguez, Havidan; Aguirre, Benigno E.Item The Indian Ocean Tsunami: A Preliminary Assessment of Societal Impacts and Consequences(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, Havidan; Wachtendorf, Tricia; Kendra, James M.; Trainor, JosephItem Practical Tips and Guidelines: Conducting Face-To-face Interviews (And Even Focus Groups)(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, HavidanItem 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 Social Science Research: Priority Areas for the National Plan for Research and Development(Disaster Research Center, 2005) Rodriguez, Havidan; Nigg, Joanne; Wachtendorf, TriciaItem 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, Disasters, and Public Response: Understanding the Complexities of Risk Communication(2006-05-01) Rodriguez, HavidanItem 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.