Concerns and future preparedness plans of a vulnerable population in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy

Burger, Joanna; Gochfeld, Michael; Lacy, Clifton R.

doi:10.1111/disa.12350

“…The farmers and Native Americans settled nearby, where the nuclear explosive hazards and chemical contamination remained an exposure threat, creating an environmental justice situation for the low‐income and largely minority communities nearby. For Native Americans, it is not just a matter of the existence of radionuclide contamination on their Tribal Treaty lands (although this is stressful in itself), but that the construction of roads and structures, and the destruction of ecosystems, damages burial and hunting grounds, destroys traditional medicinal and religious plants, and degrades viewsheds (Bohnee et al., 2011; Burger et al., 2019; Gochfeld et al., 2015; Landeen & Pinkham, 1999). They cannot visit their sacred places or collect their traditional herbs for food or ceremonial purpose.…”

Section: Trust and Empowerment: A Multidimensional Multicommunicator ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust and consequences: Role of community science, perceptions, values, and environmental justice in risk communication

Burger

¹

2022

Self Cite

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Risk communication is often viewed as imparting information and perhaps as a two‐way dialogue. Risk communication inadequacies on the part of both “communicator” and “community members” can lead to adverse consequences and amplify environmental justice disparities. The paper suggests a transformational approach where risk communicators must learn to trust community experts and their knowledge base (and act upon it), where risk information imparted by risk communicators addresses what communities are most concerned about (as well as risk from specific chemicals or radionuclides), and where risk information and assessments address underlying issues and disparities, as well as cultural traditions (among others). Providing risk probabilities is no longer sufficient; western science may not be enough, and community and native scientific knowledge is needed. Risk communication (or information transfer) for environmental risks that are ongoing usually applies to low‐income, minority communities—people living in dense inner cities, rural communities, Native American communities—or to people living near a risky facility. Communication within this context requires mutual trust, listening and respect, as well as acceptance of indigenous and community knowledge as equally valuable. Examples are given to illustrate a community perspective.

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“…Similarly, Lim et al (2015) found that families with children and educated individuals were more likely to evacuate [19]. Burger et al (2019) surveyed minorities following Hurricane Sandy and found that as many as 35% were not going to prepare for an event [20]. Brodie et al (2006) surveyed individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina and emphasized the need for better plans for emergency communication and evacuation of low-income and disabled individuals [21].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

How effective are evacuation orders? An analysis of decision making among vulnerable populations in Florida during hurricane Irma

Younes

¹

,

Darzi

²

,

Zhang

³

2021

Travel Behaviour and Society

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Natural disasters preparedness measures are of paramount importance in reducing fatalities, economic tolls, and health concerns for vulnerable populations. One such preparedness measure that policymakers can take is issuing an evacuation order. Our study focuses on vulnerable populations including people in low lying areas, flood evacuation zones, low income communities, sparsely populated areas, and in manufactured or mobile homes. We analyze the evacuation decision and distance of over 170,000 individuals using passively collected location-based service (LBS) data in Florida before, during and after Hurricane Irma. We control for evacuation order, evacuation order date, and storm path. The results of the analysis are in line with hurricane evacuation studies using survey data, which provides validation that using big data can be a reliable and efficient method to analyze hurricane evacuation decision making. Our major findings are that (1) individuals issued a mandatory order are far more likely to evacuate than if given a voluntary order, (2) manufactured and mobile home residents are more likely to evacuate short distances than site-built home residents but less likely to evacuate longer distances, (3) people living in low income census tracts were less likely to evacuate longer distances than those in higher income census tracts and (4) population, employment and road density were positively associated with decision to evacuate. The authors recommend that policies and hurricane preparation measures pay particular attention to less densely populated and low-income regions as these were identified as vulnerable areas that were less likely to evacuate.

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“…Similarly, Lim et al (2015) found that families with children and educated individuals were more likely to evacuate [19]. Burger et al (2019) surveyed minorities following Hurricane Sandy and found that as many as 35% were not going to prepare for an event [20]. Brodie et al (2006) surveyed individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina and emphasized the need for better plans for emergency communication and evacuation of low-income and disabled individuals [21].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

How effective are evacuation orders? An analysis of decision making among vulnerable populations in Florida during Hurricane Irma.

Younes¹,

Darzi²,

Zhang³

2021

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Natural disasters preparedness measures are of paramount importance in reducing fatalities, economic tolls, and health concerns for vulnerable populations. One such preparedness measure that policymakers can take is issuing an evacuation order. Our study focuses on vulnerable populations including people in low lying areas, flood evacuation zones, low income communities, sparsely populated areas, and in manufactured or mobile homes. We analyze the evacuation decision and distance of over 170,000 individuals using passively collected location-based service (LBS) data in Florida before, during and after Hurricane Irma. We control for evacuation order, evacuation order date, and storm path. The results of the analysis are in line with hurricane evacuation studies using survey data, which provides validation that using big data can be a reliable and efficient method to analyze hurricane evacuation decision making. Our major findings are that (1) individuals issued a mandatory order are far more likely to evacuate than if given a voluntary order, (2) manufactured and mobile home residents are more likely to evacuate short distances than site-built home residents but less likely to evacuate longer distances, (3) people living in low income census tracts were less likely to evacuate longer distances than those in higher income census tracts and (4) population, employment and road density were positively associated with decision to evacuate. The authors recommend that policies and hurricane preparation measures pay particular attention to less densely populated and low-income regions as these were identified as vulnerable areas that were less likely to evacuate.

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Concerns and future preparedness plans of a vulnerable population in New Jersey following Hurricane Sandy

Cited by 17 publications

References 47 publications

Trust and consequences: Role of community science, perceptions, values, and environmental justice in risk communication

Trust and consequences: Role of community science, perceptions, values, and environmental justice in risk communication

How effective are evacuation orders? An analysis of decision making among vulnerable populations in Florida during hurricane Irma

How effective are evacuation orders? An analysis of decision making among vulnerable populations in Florida during Hurricane Irma.

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