Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:37:29.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The General Public’s Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Resource Management, Collaboration, and Community Assistance Centers During Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2017

Rachel L. Charney ,
Terri Rebmann ,
Amy Endrizal  and
Preeti Dalawari
Rachel L. Charney*
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, Missouri
Terri Rebmann
Affiliation:
Institute for Biosecurity, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
Amy Endrizal
Affiliation:
Institute for Biosecurity, College for Public Health & Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
Preeti Dalawari
Affiliation:
School of Medicine, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, Missouri
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Rachel L. Charney, 1465 S. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63104 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

The key to resilience after disasters is the provision of coordinated care and resource distribution to the affected community. Past research indicates that the general public lacks an understanding regarding agencies’ roles and responsibilities during disaster response.

Study Objectives

This study’s purpose was to explore the general public’s beliefs regarding agencies or organizations’ responsibilities related to resource management during disasters. In addition, the public’s attitudes towards the management and use of community disaster assistance centers were explored.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with members of the general public. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to analyze the data and identify themes that describe the public’s expectations of disaster response agencies and the use of community disaster assistance centers.

Results

A total of 28 interviews were conducted. Half of the participants (n=14) were black, 57% (n=16) were female, and the mean age was 49 years. The general public has developed trust and distrust toward response organizations and governmental agencies based on past experiences during disasters. The public wishes to have local agencies to help lead disaster response, but expects a collaboration between all response organizations, including the government. The managing agency overseeing community disaster assistance centers was not perceived as important, but the proximity of these centers to community members was considered critical.

Conclusions

The general public prefers that local agencies and leaders manage disaster response, and they expect collaboration among response agencies. Community assistance centers need to be located close to those in need, and be managed by agencies trusted by the general public. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:446–449)

Keywords

community health planningdecision makingorganizationaldisaster planningleadershiplocal government
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , August 2018 , pp. 446 - 449
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Charney, RL, Rebmann, T, Esguerra, CR, Lai, CW, Dalawari, P. Public perceptions of hospital responsibilities to those presenting without medical injury or illness during a disaster. J Emerg Med. 2013;45(4):578-584.Google Scholar
2. Charney, RL, Rebmann, T, Esguerra, CR, Lai, CW, Dalawari, P. Public expectations for nonemergency hospital resources and services during disasters. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7(2):167-174.Google Scholar
3. Eisenman, DP, Williams, MV, Glik, D, Long, A, Plough, AL, Ong, M. The public health disaster trust scale: validation of a brief measure. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2012;18(4):E11-E18.Google Scholar
4. Andrulis, DP, Siddiqui, NJ, Purtle, JP. Integrating racially and ethnically diverse communities into planning for disasters: the California experience. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2011;5:227-234.Google Scholar
5. Bullard, RD. Differential vulnerabilities: environmental and economic inequality and government response to unnatural disasters. Soc Res. 2008;75(3):753-784.Google Scholar
6. Braun, BI, Wineman, NV, Finn, NL, Barbera, JA, Schmaltz, SP, Loeb, JM. Integrating hospitals into community emergency preparedness planning. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:799-811.Google Scholar
7. Patterson, O, Weil, F, Patel, K. The role of community in disaster response: conceptual models. Popul Res Policy Rev. 2010;29:127-141.Google Scholar
8. Crouse Quinn, S. Crisis and emergency risk communication in a pandemic: a model for building capacity and resilience of minority communities. Health Promot Pract. 2008;9(4 suppl):18S-25S.Google Scholar
9. Wells, KB, Springgate, BF, Lizaola, E, Jones, F, Plough, A. Community engagement in disaster preparedness and recovery: a tale of two cities – Los Angeles and New Orleans. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2013;36(3):451-466.Google Scholar