Journal of Emergency Management and Disaster Communications

In the humanitarian assistance sector, the primary objective of inter-organizational networks is to ensure that there are efficient and effective humanitarian response efforts that meet the needs of the affected population to the maximum extent possible (Drabek, 1987; Zhao et al., 2009). However, theoretical perspectives on humanitarian organizational networks and effective disaster response have remained relatively modest and confined to developing basic typologies of coordination arrangements and identifying the challenges encountered in the disaster management process. (Bennett, 1999) There also seems to be limited academic endeavor to use network, complexity, chaos and systems theories for disaster research not only for large-scale emergencies worldwide but also in developing countries. Most research works concentrate on an approach limited to a much smaller scale of nodes (organizational actors). In the preceding section, a review of relevant theories is presented in the context of humanitarian organizational network and disaster response.

This study examined the implementation of 911 emergency services text messaging in the city of Memphis, Tennessee for the period encompassing May 1, 2016 and February 28, 2022. Using ANOVA and an alpha value of 0.05, four statistically significant outcomes were shown regarding calls answered within 20s ($p=0.00$; $\alpha =0.05$; ${\omega }^2=0.13$), queued waiting time experienced by system users ($p=0.01$; $\alpha =0.05$; ${\omega }^2=0.07$), ring seconds per call ($p=0.01$; $\alpha =0.05$; ${\omega }^2=0.19$), and mean time regarding 911 call average time ($p=0.01$; $\alpha =0.05$; ${\omega }^2=0.10$). The study also revealed an increase in 911 call volume and a decrease in abandoned calls.

This study aimed to explore emergency planning requirements for managing disasters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The study adopted interpretivism; an inductive approach; a descriptive survey; and qualitative methods to address its aim. The techniques used included a literature review and semi-structured interviews. The study sample consisted of 13 experts from the KSA General Directorate of Civil Defence (GDCD). The data were analyzed by using content analysis. The study findings revealed that the emergency planning requirements are administrative requirements, including regulations and legislation; technical requirements, which include equipment; human resources, including staff and responders; identifying, analyzing, and evaluating risks; determining the tasks and responsibilities of the relevant agencies and stakeholders; qualified leadership; determining the chain of command at national and local levels; coordination and cooperation among stakeholders; knowledge gained from local or international experiences; updated database; the availability of sufficient financial resources; completed infrastructure; and improved training and practice. The study also found that although emergency planning requirements are more or less in place, there is a need for further improvement and development; specifically, there is a need for better understanding, knowledge, and awareness. Consequently, it strongly recommends that all emergency planning requirements developed from this study should be implemented simultaneously and as an integrated whole. By doing so, it could help decision makers and emergency planners at government emergency agencies to improve, develop, and reinforce emergency planning, specifically in reducing disaster risks.

Global climate change-related disasters have dramatically escalated throughout the world. Among a range of unexpected calamities, hydrometeorological disasters have come to the fore. This is because, torrential rains, mass flooding events, cyclones, storms, landslides (wet), droughts, heat waves and cold waves are very predominant. In addition to that, global warming, wild/forest fires, and melting down of glacier/ice covers of polar and nearby regions are very serious. This is because community resilience and ecological resilience are dramatically eroding and challenging. The existing situation is very serious due to the inherent nexus between community resilience and ecological resilience. In this context, the study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on the extant literature of resilience and to identify the cardinal variables that are appropriate to measure community resilience to the ongoing global climate change scenarios. Methodologically, the study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model to filter the appropriate literature (followed by the identifying, screening, and including process). The study considered the manuscripts and reports published in English. Accordingly, inappropriate literature works were excluded. Finally, the study considered 33 literature works on resilience out of 117. According to the analysis and results revealed, six cardinal resiliency aspects were identified, namely, Socioeconomic resilience, Demographic resilience, Health resilience, Sociopolitical resilience, Social capital resilience, and Ecological resilience. These key resiliency aspects will extremely be important for securing the lives and livelihoods of the human population from the ongoing climate change impasses/crisis.

This study looked into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the determinants of part-time employment in the Philippines. Amartya Sen has mentioned that one disparity in a person’s function capability is the occurrence of disasters such as the pandemic. Evidently, employment across the globe has been greatly affected by the pandemic as mentioned in the literature. The effect of the pandemic has been evident in the Philippines due to the policies implemented by the government such as lockdowns and other protocols to control the spread of the virus. As such due to the restrictions, a significant number of employees have lost their jobs and some engaged in part-time employment. By bridging the gap in the literature, the study looked into how the COVID-19 pandemic affects part-time employment in the Philippines by using multinomial logistic regression and making the COVID-19 pandemic an interaction time variable on the determinants. The results showed the determinants of part-time employment in the Philippines and the relationship of these determinants to part-time employment that changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the part of the government and business sector have also been drawn from this result of the study.

To mitigate the damage from and prepare for disasters, individuals and communities should be involved in the disaster risk reduction efforts. Communicating the risk effectively is the essential step of this involvement. Risk communication is a multidisciplinary field. Disaster managers have to work closely with the media, among other partners, but there is a gap in their understanding of each other’s roles. This study aims to explore the process of publishing and broadcasting earthquake information through the experiences of media professionals, to understand how journalists and news organizations function before and after disasters, and to provide evidence to help bridge the gap between disaster managers and/or public health authorities and disaster journalists and/or news organizations., especially in earthquake preparedness. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with editors/journalists from national newspapers and TV channels. A good context for investigating these issues is afforded by the megacity Istanbul and the Turkish media. Turkey is a land of earthquakes. A further strong earthquake is expected to hit in the near future. The findings, which gave valuable hints for better collaboration, are presented according to the focus of the question guide: time of and norms for publishing or broadcasting news or information about earthquakes; content of the news or information; disaster journalism and guidelines.

Ministry of Emergency Management of the People’s Republic of China was established on the basis of the original Work Safety Supervision and Management Department. In addition to assuming the responsibilities of the two committees and four departments, it also administers the four major industries such as non-coal mines, metallurgical industry and trade, hazardous chemicals, fireworks, and firecrackers. The comprehensive coordination quality of the emergency management personnel, and professional quality are constantly improved. This paper conducts a study on the Professionalization of China’s Emergency Management Team, and provides a research basis for further developing the Emergency Management.

The connection between pre-hospital and in-hospital emergency care is paramount in determining the survival rate of trauma patients. Sequential Medical System (SMS) puts an accent on the continuous and efficient entire process of trauma treatment, which promotes the connection of pre-hospital and in-hospital medical activities from “seamless” to “deep convergence” by information sharing platforms, joint teaching rounds, and cooperative medical science popularization. SMS upholds a “people’s health-centered” approach under the guidance of Healthy China Strategy, and its application enables emergency ambulance personnel to participate in the teaching rounds at hospitals, and follow up with their patients. SMS contributes to enhancing patients’ experience, especially to improve the efficiency of the emergency green channel for severe trauma patients. The system embodies the human-oriented discipline in trauma treatment, and facilitates the innovation research on medical and health system reform.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in emergency management presents opportunities to improve crisis response and recovery efforts. However, it also brings forth a range of issues and hurdles that require navigation. This study delves into the implications of implementing AI in emergency management focusing on aspects like bias and discrimination, transparency and clarity, privacy and security data accuracy and accessibility ethical decision-making processes, public trust and acceptance safety measures and regulations among others. By examining real-world instances and potential future scenarios, we shed light on the impacts and moral dilemmas arising from the use of AI during emergencies. The study advocates for crafting frameworks and guidelines while actively engaging the public in governing AI to ensure responsible and efficient utilization of this technology in such a crucial domain. By tackling these challenges head on, we seek to contribute to the conversation about harnessing AI’s capabilities, in emergency management while upholding ethical standards and safeguarding the rights and dignity of affected communities.