Ten Criteria For Evaluating the Management of Community Disasters

Abstract

In this paper we discuss what is important in the local managing of disasters We contrast this with the related but different process of planning for disaster occasions. Our assumption is that what is crucial is not management per se, but good managing. Thus, to assess in any intelligent way the management of community disasters requires answering the question: what is good managing? The results of the empirical research undertaken by social scientists over what is now a 40 year period, are used for this purpose. The criteria discussed have to do with: (1) correctly recognizing differences between response and agent generated demands; (2)adequately carrying out generic functions; (3) effectively mobilizing personnel and resources; (4) generating an appropriate delegation of tasks and a division of labor; (5) adequately processing information; (6) properly exercising decision making; (7) developing over all coordination; (8) blending emergent and established organizational behaviors; (9) providing appropriate reports for the news media; and (10) having a well functioning emergency operations center. Also raised is the applicability of these research findings derived mostly from developed countries to developing societies.