Risk Narrative of Emergency and Disaster Management, Preparedness, and Planning (EDMPP): The Importance of the ‘Social’

Abstract

Risk perception, literacy, communication, narrative, governance, and education are important aspects of emergency and disaster management, preparedness, and planning (EDMPP) as they for example influence and direct EDMPP policies and actions. A thorough understanding of the ‘social aspects of risk is important for EDMPP, especially in relation to marginalized populations who are often overlooked. Technologies are increasingly employed for EDMPP. How these technology applications identify and engage with the ‘social’ of risk in general and the ‘social’ of risk experienced by marginalized populations is important for EDMPP. Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and similar phrases are employed as policy concepts to improve research, education, and participation in the workplace for marginalized groups such as women, Indigenous peoples, visible/racialized minorities, disabled people, and LGBTQ2S including in workplaces engaging with EDMPP which includes universities. The aim of this scoping review was to generate data that allows for a detailed understanding of the risk related discussions within the EDMPP academic literature as these discussions shape EDMPP policies and actions. The objective of this scoping review study was to map out the engagement with risk, specifically the social aspects of risk, in the EDMPP-focused academic literature with a focus on (a) EDMPP in general, (b) COVID-19, (c) EDMPP and marginalized groups, (d) EDMPP and patients, and (e) EDMPP and technologies (artificial intelligence, machine learning, machine reasoning, algorithm design approaches such as Bayesian belief networks, e-coaching, decision support systems, virtual coaching, automated decision support, e-mentoring, automated dialogue and conversational agents). Using the academic databases SCOPUS, Web of Sciences, and databases accessible under Compendex and EBSCO-HOST and performing hit count frequency searches of online and downloaded abstracts and thematic analysis of downloaded abstracts the study reveals a lack of coverage on the social aspects of risk and engagement with risk concepts such as risk perception, risk governance, risk literacy, risk communication, risk education and risk narrative especially in conjunction with marginalized groups and technologies employed in EDMPP decision support. Our findings suggest many opportunities to further the EDMPP academic inquiry by filling the gaps.

Potential Impact of Environmental Activism: A Survey and a Scoping Review

“…This gap is problematic because it hinders the ability of students and others to become literate on the topic of environmental activism and disabled people. This lack of data especially problematic given the already noted problems regarding engagement with environmental issues including emergency and disaster management and environmental education in relation to disabled people [131,[212][213][214]259].…”

Risk, Resilience, and Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence

“…The risk of not drinking water outweighed the costs of illness and disease that might occur from unsanitary conditions. Finally, crises and risk assessments also display deep and entangled layers of problems in society, problems that become "wicked" insofar as they are linked with poverty, lack of education Designing a multidisciplinary AI institute for marginalized populations and with respect to DEIA, is lacking (Lillywhite and Wolbring, 2023).…”

“…Sometimes researchers, media specialists, and policy makers fail to anticipate or strategically omit the groups that might be most affected by risk and crises (e.g. children isolated in homes with adults under extreme strains suffered violence during the pandemic; the elderly have been swayed more easily by scams and digital propaganda; ChatGPT and similar AI models have not been regulated sufficiently; Hacker et al, 2023; Lillywhite and Wolbring, 2023; Waymer, 2020). Furthermore, underresourced communities, such as those living in coastal areas affected by climate change, might not have personal funds or access to governmental grants to rebuilt using the latest materials and technologies to withstand the next disaster.…”

“…AI risks and opportunities are contested in areas of medicine and healthcare, disaster and security breach forecasts, organizational membership such as recruitment and hiring, smart city designs, agricultural equipment, and forecasting, responsible teaching and learning, and much more. For AI, coverage of the social and cultural, particularly for marginalized populations and with respect to DEIA, is lacking (Lillywhite and Wolbring, 2023).…”

Academic Coverage of Social Stressors Experienced by Disabled People: A Scoping Review

“…The "United Nations 2018 flagship report on disability and development: realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by, for, and with persons with disabilities" highlights many environment-based social stressors experienced by disabled people, such as energy insecurity and lack of access to clean water and sanitation, to just mention two topics [117]. One purpose of emergency and disaster management, preparedness, and planning is to prevent emergencies and disaster-related social stress [5,118]. At the same time, many problems are noted in how emergency and disaster management, preparedness and planning discussions, policies, and actions cover disabled people [5,118].…”