This paper reports on a comprehensive vulnerability analysis based on a research work developed w... more This paper reports on a comprehensive vulnerability analysis based on a research work developed within the EC ENSURE Project (7FP) dealing with the assessment of different volcanic phenomena and induced mass-movements on Vulcano Island (S Italy) as a key tool for proactive efforts for multi-risk mitigation. The work is mainly focused on tephra sedimentation and lahar hazards and related physical, systemic and mitigation capacities.
Evacuation and shelter in place are two common protective action measures during hazardous events... more Evacuation and shelter in place are two common protective action measures during hazardous events that involve the release of hazardous materials. These responses are complex and require advanced planning to determine their appropriateness to reduce human exposure to hazardous materials and minimize related health risks. Evacuation and shelter in place responses were assessed for people in the town of Erwin, Tennessee, USA, a small, rural town in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee, using a release of uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The population at risk was identified using historical meteorological data and the Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis tool to create plume models for a hypothetical release of UF6 from a nuclear fuel facility that downblends highly enriched uranium. Two hypothetical evacuation scenarios were modeled. One uses the total road network in Erwin and the other involves a train impeding access to an arterial evacuation route. Two routing algor...
Tsunamis represent significant threats to human life and development in coastal communities. This... more Tsunamis represent significant threats to human life and development in coastal communities. This quantitative study examines the influence of household characteristics on evacuation actions taken by 211 respondents in American Samoa who were at their homes during the 29 September 2009 Mw 8.1 Samoa Islands earthquake and tsunami disaster. Multiple logistic regression analysis of survey data was used to examine the association between evacuation and various household factors. Findings show that increases in distance to shoreline were associated with a slightly decreased likelihood of evacuation, whereas households reporting higher income had an increased probability of evacuation. The response in American Samoa was an effective one, with only 34 fatalities in a tsunami that reached shore in as little as 15 minutes. Consequently, future research should implement more qualitative study designs to identify event and cultural specific determinants of household evacuation behaviour to loc...
American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway bet... more American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. In 2009, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake occurred between nearby Tonga and American Samoa, creating a regionally destructive tsunami that destroyed coastal infrastructure, killing approximately 169 people. In coordination with the local Territorial Emergency Management Coordinating Office and the Office of Samoan Affairs, we conducted an interview study of 300 adult residents of American Samoa in 2012 to better understand the associations between individual determinants (i.e. health and household characteristics) and household response to the 2009 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Not unlike many areas in the United States, American Samoa has experienced a sustained rise in obesity. Our study confirmed preliminary reports that the people of American Samoa displayed a remarkable adaptive response to the earthquake and tsunami events by evacuating to safe areas between the time they first experience ground motion from the earthquake and the time the tsunami arrived on shore, which was as little as 15 minutes after the earthquake. Despite this overwhelming adaptive response, it was also determined that some individuals were unable to respond appropriately to the earthquake and impending tsunami due to obesity related health conditions, which limited their mobility. This paper applied a modified version of the Precede-Proceed Model to quantitative and qualitative data collected from the interviews in search of innovative ways to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities for hazards requiring quick response. The aim is to ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality from obesity and obesity related conditions.
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015
ABSTRACT This study used variables from the Protective Action Decision Model to guide data collec... more ABSTRACT This study used variables from the Protective Action Decision Model to guide data collection about 262 residents' responses to the 2009 Samoa M8.1 earthquake and tsunami. The results show that earthquake shaking, combined with knowledge that this can cause a tsunami, was the most common source of first awareness about a possible tsunami and that broadcast media were the most common first social sources of warnings. Radio was an important source of additional information, as were face-to-face contacts and phone calls. Contrary to previous research, few of the recommended elements of a warning message were communicated to those at risk and none of these message elements was significantly correlated with evacuation. Nonetheless, two thirds of coastal residents and half of inland residents began evacuations within 15 min after the earthquake. Those who had participated in earthquake hazard awareness meetings had higher risk perceptions but were no more likely to evacuate to higher ground or evacuate promptly. This study's results are broadly consistent with previous findings on disaster response but raise a number of unresolved questions about behavioral response to rapid onset disasters.
Although now a growing and respectable research field, crisis management—as a formal area of stud... more Although now a growing and respectable research field, crisis management—as a formal area of study—is relatively young, having emerged since the 1980s following a succession of such calamities as the Bhopal gas leak, Chernobyl nuclear accident, Space Shuttle Challenger loss, and Exxon Valdez oil spill. Analysis of organizational failures that caused such events helped drive the emerging field of crisis management. Simultaneously, the world has experienced a number of devastating natural disasters: Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, etc. From such crises, both human-induced and natural, we have learned our modern, tightly interconnected and interdependent society is simply more vulnerable to disruption than in the past. This interconnectedness is made possible in part by crisis management and increases our reliance upon it. As such, crisis management is as beneficial and crucial today as information technology has become over the last few decades. Crisis is varied and unavoidable. While the examples highlighted above were extreme, we see crisis every day within organizations, governments, businesses and the economy. A true crisis differs from a "routine" emergency, such as a water pipe bursting in the kitchen. Per one definition, "it is associated with urgent, high-stakes challenges in which the outcomes can vary widely (and are very negative at one end of the spectrum) and will depend on the actions taken by those involved." Successfully engaging, dealing with, and working through a crisis requires an understanding of options and tools for individual and joint decision making. Our Encyclopedia of Crisis Management comprehensively overviews concepts and techniques for effectively assessing, analyzing, managing, and resolving crises, whether they be organizational, business, community, or political. From general theories and concepts exploring the meaning and causes of crisis to practical strategies and techniques relevant to crises of specific types, crisis management is thoroughly explored. Features & Benefits: A collection of 385 signed entries are organized in A-to-Z fashion in 2 volumes available in both print and electronic formats; Entries conclude with Cross-References and Further Readings to guide students to in-depth resources; Selected entries feature boxed case studies, providing students with "lessons learned" in how various crises were successfully or unsuccessfully managed and why; Although organized A-to-Z, a thematic "Reader's Guide" in the front matter groups related entries by broad areas (e.g., Agencies & Organizations, Theories & Techniques, Economic Crises, etc.); Also in the front matter, a Chronology provides students with historical perspective on the development of crisis management as a discrete field of study; The work concludes with a comprehensive Index, which—in the electronic version—combines with the Reader's Guide and Cross-References to provide thorough search-and-browse capabilities; A template for an "All-Hazards Preparedness Plan" is provided the backmatter; the electronic version of this allows students to explore customized response plans for crises of various sorts; Appendices also include a Resource Guide to classic books, journals, and internet resources in the field, a Glossary, and a vetted list of crisis management-related degree programs, crisis management conferences, etc.
ABSTRACT In 2009, the islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga were struck by an 8.1 magnitude... more ABSTRACT In 2009, the islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga were struck by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami. The latter claimed an estimated 149, 34, and nine lives, respectively. Preparing persons to take protective action during an earthquake and tsunami is important to help save lives, but evacuation behavior is a dynamic process, which involves many factors such as recognition and interpretation of environmental cues, characteristics of the receiver, characteristics of official and informal warnings and a person's social context during the event. Compared to individualistic cultures like that in the USA, little is known about what factors affect household evacuation behavior in collectivist cultures. The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) of Lindell and Perry (2004) is a theoretical framework that purports to explain human response to natural hazards. This broad behavioral hazard model has been tested in several settings in the United States. However, to date, the PADM has never been tested in a collectivist culture. Thus, this study will summarize interview findings from 300 American Samoan survivors to understand household evacuation behavior in response to the 2009 tsunami and earthquake that hit American Samoa. In addition, an investigation of how well the PADM explains evacuation action behavior will be reported. Findings from this study will be useful for public health emergency professionals in planning efforts for local tsunamis in coastal communities in the Pacific and around the world.
ABSTRACT SynonymsAlerting system; Early warning systems; End-to-end warning system; Immediate war... more ABSTRACT SynonymsAlerting system; Early warning systems; End-to-end warning system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warningDefinitionA warning system is a network of interrelated sensors and processes that detect signals of a possible or imminent dangerous event and provide information that people can use to make protective action decisions before the moment of impact.A natural hazard warning system is usually technology based, monitors signs of a natural hazard, evaluates the signs against rules and notifies people, triggering a human response.End-to-end warning systems consider, or are owned by, responding communities.Early warning systems are often synonymous with warning systems.Public notification systems are the mechanisms by which the public are notified within a warning system.Natural warnings are provided by nature. They are often synonymous with environmental cues, but are distinguished from them in that some geological or meteorological phenomena, for example, ...
Synonyms Alerting system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warning; Warning systems Definitio... more Synonyms Alerting system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warning; Warning systems Definition The term early warning system often refers to the technological monitoring, telemetry, and notification aspects of warning systems. The term is also used to distinguish cases where a warning is able to be delivered in a time frame that permits protective action, such as may occur for tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, or severe weather, but not necessarily an earthquake. Overview Synonyms While all aspects of a warning system are sometimes referred to as an early warning system, the term early warning system overlaps most in meaning with immediate and short-fuse warning systems which are warning systems designed in regard to hazardous events with very short durations of time between the onset of the event and the occurrence of a hazardous process. Monitoring Methods used for monitoring natural hazards vary widely, but usually revolve around one or more environmental sensors that telemeter data to communications hardware, which is capable of disseminating a warning notification. Sensors detect a variety of geological and geophysical phenomena, including, but not limited to pressure, temperature, distance, chemistry, electromagnetic radiation, and ground-shaking. Monitoring equipment is often located in remote areas, requiring special design or housing to withstand extreme environmental conditions of cold, heat, and precipitation, in addition to its own power supply, which would include batteries and solar or fuel generators. Monitoring equipment may be positioned in permanent to semipermanent fixed locations or mounted on vehicles, balloons, aircraft, or satellites and positioned in multiple areas over short time periods. Some monitoring networks are permanent, whereas others are deployed in response to initial signs of unrest.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2004
Volcanic hazards in Kona (i.e. the western side of the island of Hawaiki) stem primarily from Mau... more Volcanic hazards in Kona (i.e. the western side of the island of Hawaiki) stem primarily from Mauna Loa and Huala lai volcanoes. The former has erupted 39 times since 1832. Lava flows were emplaced in Kona during seven of these eruptions and last impacted Kona in 1950. Huala lai last erupted in ca. 1800. Society's proximity to potential eruptive sources and the potential for relatively fast-moving lava flows, coupled with relatively long time intervals since the last eruptions in Kona, are the underlying stimuli for this study of risk perception. Target populations were high-school students and adults (n = 462). Using these data, we discuss threat knowledge as an influence on risk perception, and perception as a driving mechanism for preparedness. Threat knowledge and perception of risk were found to be low to moderate. On average, fewer than two-thirds of the residents were aware of the most recent eruptions that impacted Kona, and a minority felt that Mauna Loa and Huala lai could ever erupt again. Furthermore, only about one-third were aware that lava flows could reach the coast in Kona in less than 3 h. Lava flows and ash fall were perceived to be among the least likely hazards to affect the respondent's community within the next 10 years, whereas vog (volcanic smog) was ranked the most likely. Less than 18% identified volcanic hazards as amongst the most likely hazards to affect them at home, school, or work. Not surprisingly, individual preparedness measures were found on average to be limited to simple tasks of value in frequently occurring domestic emergencies, whereas measures specific to infrequent hazard events such as volcanic eruptions were seldom adopted. Furthermore, our data show that respondents exhibit an 'unrealistic optimism bias' and infer that responsibility for community preparedness for future eruptions primarily rests with officials. We infer that these respondents may be less likely to attend to hazard information, react to warnings as directed, and undertake preparedness measures than other populations who perceive responsibility to lie with themselves. There are significant differences in hazard awareness and risk perception between students and adults, between subpopulations representing local areas, and between varying ethnicities. We conclude that long time intervals since damaging lava flows have occurred in Kona have contributed to lower levels of awareness and risk perceptions of the threat from lava flows, and that the ongoing eruption at K| lauea has facilitated greater awareness and perception of risk of vog but not of other volcanic hazards. Low levels of preparedness may be explained by low perceptions of threat and risk and perhaps by the lack of a clear motivation or incentive to seek new modes of adjustment.
This article describes the testing of a model that proposes that people's beliefs regarding t... more This article describes the testing of a model that proposes that people's beliefs regarding the effectiveness of hazard preparedness interact with social context factors (community participation, collective efficacy, empowerment and trust) to influence levels of hazard preparedness. Using data obtained from people living in coastal communities in Alaska and Oregon that are susceptible to experiencing tsunami, structural equation modelling analyses confirmed the ability of the model to help account for differences in levels of tsunami preparedness. Analysis revealed that community members and civic agencies influence preparedness in ways that are independent of the information provided per se. The model suggests that, to encourage people to prepare, outreach strategies must (a) encourage community members to discuss tsunami hazard issues and to identify the resources and information they need to deal with the consequences a tsunami would pose for them and (b) ensure that the comm...
Lahars pose a significant risk to communities, particularly those living near snow-capped volcano... more Lahars pose a significant risk to communities, particularly those living near snow-capped volcanoes. Flows of mud and debris, typically but not necessarily triggered by volcanic activity, can have huge impacts, such as those seen at Nevado Del Ruiz, Colombia, in 1985 which led to the loss of over 23,000 lives and destroyed an entire town. We surveyed communities around Mount Rainier, Washington, United States, where over 150,000 people are at risk from lahar impacts. We explored how factors including demographics, social effects such as perceptions of community preparedness, evacuation drills, and cognitive factors such as risk perception and self-efficacy relate to preparedness when living within or nearby a volcanic hazard zone. Key findings include: women have stronger intentions to prepare but see themselves as less prepared than men; those who neither live nor work in a lahar hazard zone were more likely to have an emergency kit and to see themselves as more prepared; those who...
Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 2015
Purpose – Near-field tsunamis provide short warning periods of equal to 30 minutes, which can com... more Purpose – Near-field tsunamis provide short warning periods of equal to 30 minutes, which can complicate at-risk individuals’ protective action decisions. In the face of a tsunami, people may turn to individuals such as friends, family, neighbors, or organizations such as the media to obtain warning information to help facilitate evacuation and/or to seek protection from the hazard. To characterize norms for protection action behavior during a near-field tsunami, the purpose of this paper is to explore American Samoan residents’ perceptions of four social stakeholder groups on three characteristics – tsunami knowledge, trustworthiness, and protection responsibility – regarding the September 29, 2009, Mw 8.1 earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa. Design/methodology/approach – The social stakeholder groups were the respondents themselves, their peers, officials, and media. Mean ratings revealed that respondents rated themselves highest for tsunami knowledge and protection against t...
The island of Hawaii is composed of five sub-aerially exposed volcanoes, three of which have been... more The island of Hawaii is composed of five sub-aerially exposed volcanoes, three of which have been active since 1801 (Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai). Hawaii has the fastest population growth in the state and the local economy in the Kona districts (i.e., western portion of the island) is driven by tourism. Kona is directly vulnerable to future lava flows from Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes, as well as indirectly from the effects of lava flows elsewhere that may sever the few roads that connect Kona to other vital areas on the island. A number of factors such as steep slopes, high volume eruptions, and high effusion rates, combine to mean that lava flows from Hualalai and Mauna Loa can be fast-moving and hence unusually hazardous. The proximity of lifelines and structures to potential eruptive sources exacerbates societies' risk to future lava flows. Approximately \$2.3 billion has been invested on the flanks of Mauna Loa since its last eruption in 1984 (Trusdell 1995). An equiva...
This paper reports on a comprehensive vulnerability analysis based on a research work developed w... more This paper reports on a comprehensive vulnerability analysis based on a research work developed within the EC ENSURE Project (7FP) dealing with the assessment of different volcanic phenomena and induced mass-movements on Vulcano Island (S Italy) as a key tool for proactive efforts for multi-risk mitigation. The work is mainly focused on tephra sedimentation and lahar hazards and related physical, systemic and mitigation capacities.
Evacuation and shelter in place are two common protective action measures during hazardous events... more Evacuation and shelter in place are two common protective action measures during hazardous events that involve the release of hazardous materials. These responses are complex and require advanced planning to determine their appropriateness to reduce human exposure to hazardous materials and minimize related health risks. Evacuation and shelter in place responses were assessed for people in the town of Erwin, Tennessee, USA, a small, rural town in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee, using a release of uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The population at risk was identified using historical meteorological data and the Radiological Assessment System for Consequence Analysis tool to create plume models for a hypothetical release of UF6 from a nuclear fuel facility that downblends highly enriched uranium. Two hypothetical evacuation scenarios were modeled. One uses the total road network in Erwin and the other involves a train impeding access to an arterial evacuation route. Two routing algor...
Tsunamis represent significant threats to human life and development in coastal communities. This... more Tsunamis represent significant threats to human life and development in coastal communities. This quantitative study examines the influence of household characteristics on evacuation actions taken by 211 respondents in American Samoa who were at their homes during the 29 September 2009 Mw 8.1 Samoa Islands earthquake and tsunami disaster. Multiple logistic regression analysis of survey data was used to examine the association between evacuation and various household factors. Findings show that increases in distance to shoreline were associated with a slightly decreased likelihood of evacuation, whereas households reporting higher income had an increased probability of evacuation. The response in American Samoa was an effective one, with only 34 fatalities in a tsunami that reached shore in as little as 15 minutes. Consequently, future research should implement more qualitative study designs to identify event and cultural specific determinants of household evacuation behaviour to loc...
American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway bet... more American Samoa is part of the Samoan Islands located in the South Pacific Ocean about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. In 2009, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake occurred between nearby Tonga and American Samoa, creating a regionally destructive tsunami that destroyed coastal infrastructure, killing approximately 169 people. In coordination with the local Territorial Emergency Management Coordinating Office and the Office of Samoan Affairs, we conducted an interview study of 300 adult residents of American Samoa in 2012 to better understand the associations between individual determinants (i.e. health and household characteristics) and household response to the 2009 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Not unlike many areas in the United States, American Samoa has experienced a sustained rise in obesity. Our study confirmed preliminary reports that the people of American Samoa displayed a remarkable adaptive response to the earthquake and tsunami events by evacuating to safe areas between the time they first experience ground motion from the earthquake and the time the tsunami arrived on shore, which was as little as 15 minutes after the earthquake. Despite this overwhelming adaptive response, it was also determined that some individuals were unable to respond appropriately to the earthquake and impending tsunami due to obesity related health conditions, which limited their mobility. This paper applied a modified version of the Precede-Proceed Model to quantitative and qualitative data collected from the interviews in search of innovative ways to improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities for hazards requiring quick response. The aim is to ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality from obesity and obesity related conditions.
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015
ABSTRACT This study used variables from the Protective Action Decision Model to guide data collec... more ABSTRACT This study used variables from the Protective Action Decision Model to guide data collection about 262 residents' responses to the 2009 Samoa M8.1 earthquake and tsunami. The results show that earthquake shaking, combined with knowledge that this can cause a tsunami, was the most common source of first awareness about a possible tsunami and that broadcast media were the most common first social sources of warnings. Radio was an important source of additional information, as were face-to-face contacts and phone calls. Contrary to previous research, few of the recommended elements of a warning message were communicated to those at risk and none of these message elements was significantly correlated with evacuation. Nonetheless, two thirds of coastal residents and half of inland residents began evacuations within 15 min after the earthquake. Those who had participated in earthquake hazard awareness meetings had higher risk perceptions but were no more likely to evacuate to higher ground or evacuate promptly. This study's results are broadly consistent with previous findings on disaster response but raise a number of unresolved questions about behavioral response to rapid onset disasters.
Although now a growing and respectable research field, crisis management—as a formal area of stud... more Although now a growing and respectable research field, crisis management—as a formal area of study—is relatively young, having emerged since the 1980s following a succession of such calamities as the Bhopal gas leak, Chernobyl nuclear accident, Space Shuttle Challenger loss, and Exxon Valdez oil spill. Analysis of organizational failures that caused such events helped drive the emerging field of crisis management. Simultaneously, the world has experienced a number of devastating natural disasters: Hurricane Katrina, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, etc. From such crises, both human-induced and natural, we have learned our modern, tightly interconnected and interdependent society is simply more vulnerable to disruption than in the past. This interconnectedness is made possible in part by crisis management and increases our reliance upon it. As such, crisis management is as beneficial and crucial today as information technology has become over the last few decades. Crisis is varied and unavoidable. While the examples highlighted above were extreme, we see crisis every day within organizations, governments, businesses and the economy. A true crisis differs from a "routine" emergency, such as a water pipe bursting in the kitchen. Per one definition, "it is associated with urgent, high-stakes challenges in which the outcomes can vary widely (and are very negative at one end of the spectrum) and will depend on the actions taken by those involved." Successfully engaging, dealing with, and working through a crisis requires an understanding of options and tools for individual and joint decision making. Our Encyclopedia of Crisis Management comprehensively overviews concepts and techniques for effectively assessing, analyzing, managing, and resolving crises, whether they be organizational, business, community, or political. From general theories and concepts exploring the meaning and causes of crisis to practical strategies and techniques relevant to crises of specific types, crisis management is thoroughly explored. Features & Benefits: A collection of 385 signed entries are organized in A-to-Z fashion in 2 volumes available in both print and electronic formats; Entries conclude with Cross-References and Further Readings to guide students to in-depth resources; Selected entries feature boxed case studies, providing students with "lessons learned" in how various crises were successfully or unsuccessfully managed and why; Although organized A-to-Z, a thematic "Reader's Guide" in the front matter groups related entries by broad areas (e.g., Agencies & Organizations, Theories & Techniques, Economic Crises, etc.); Also in the front matter, a Chronology provides students with historical perspective on the development of crisis management as a discrete field of study; The work concludes with a comprehensive Index, which—in the electronic version—combines with the Reader's Guide and Cross-References to provide thorough search-and-browse capabilities; A template for an "All-Hazards Preparedness Plan" is provided the backmatter; the electronic version of this allows students to explore customized response plans for crises of various sorts; Appendices also include a Resource Guide to classic books, journals, and internet resources in the field, a Glossary, and a vetted list of crisis management-related degree programs, crisis management conferences, etc.
ABSTRACT In 2009, the islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga were struck by an 8.1 magnitude... more ABSTRACT In 2009, the islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga were struck by an 8.1 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami. The latter claimed an estimated 149, 34, and nine lives, respectively. Preparing persons to take protective action during an earthquake and tsunami is important to help save lives, but evacuation behavior is a dynamic process, which involves many factors such as recognition and interpretation of environmental cues, characteristics of the receiver, characteristics of official and informal warnings and a person's social context during the event. Compared to individualistic cultures like that in the USA, little is known about what factors affect household evacuation behavior in collectivist cultures. The Protective Action Decision Model (PADM) of Lindell and Perry (2004) is a theoretical framework that purports to explain human response to natural hazards. This broad behavioral hazard model has been tested in several settings in the United States. However, to date, the PADM has never been tested in a collectivist culture. Thus, this study will summarize interview findings from 300 American Samoan survivors to understand household evacuation behavior in response to the 2009 tsunami and earthquake that hit American Samoa. In addition, an investigation of how well the PADM explains evacuation action behavior will be reported. Findings from this study will be useful for public health emergency professionals in planning efforts for local tsunamis in coastal communities in the Pacific and around the world.
ABSTRACT SynonymsAlerting system; Early warning systems; End-to-end warning system; Immediate war... more ABSTRACT SynonymsAlerting system; Early warning systems; End-to-end warning system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warningDefinitionA warning system is a network of interrelated sensors and processes that detect signals of a possible or imminent dangerous event and provide information that people can use to make protective action decisions before the moment of impact.A natural hazard warning system is usually technology based, monitors signs of a natural hazard, evaluates the signs against rules and notifies people, triggering a human response.End-to-end warning systems consider, or are owned by, responding communities.Early warning systems are often synonymous with warning systems.Public notification systems are the mechanisms by which the public are notified within a warning system.Natural warnings are provided by nature. They are often synonymous with environmental cues, but are distinguished from them in that some geological or meteorological phenomena, for example, ...
Synonyms Alerting system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warning; Warning systems Definitio... more Synonyms Alerting system; Immediate warning system; Short fuse warning; Warning systems Definition The term early warning system often refers to the technological monitoring, telemetry, and notification aspects of warning systems. The term is also used to distinguish cases where a warning is able to be delivered in a time frame that permits protective action, such as may occur for tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, or severe weather, but not necessarily an earthquake. Overview Synonyms While all aspects of a warning system are sometimes referred to as an early warning system, the term early warning system overlaps most in meaning with immediate and short-fuse warning systems which are warning systems designed in regard to hazardous events with very short durations of time between the onset of the event and the occurrence of a hazardous process. Monitoring Methods used for monitoring natural hazards vary widely, but usually revolve around one or more environmental sensors that telemeter data to communications hardware, which is capable of disseminating a warning notification. Sensors detect a variety of geological and geophysical phenomena, including, but not limited to pressure, temperature, distance, chemistry, electromagnetic radiation, and ground-shaking. Monitoring equipment is often located in remote areas, requiring special design or housing to withstand extreme environmental conditions of cold, heat, and precipitation, in addition to its own power supply, which would include batteries and solar or fuel generators. Monitoring equipment may be positioned in permanent to semipermanent fixed locations or mounted on vehicles, balloons, aircraft, or satellites and positioned in multiple areas over short time periods. Some monitoring networks are permanent, whereas others are deployed in response to initial signs of unrest.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2004
Volcanic hazards in Kona (i.e. the western side of the island of Hawaiki) stem primarily from Mau... more Volcanic hazards in Kona (i.e. the western side of the island of Hawaiki) stem primarily from Mauna Loa and Huala lai volcanoes. The former has erupted 39 times since 1832. Lava flows were emplaced in Kona during seven of these eruptions and last impacted Kona in 1950. Huala lai last erupted in ca. 1800. Society's proximity to potential eruptive sources and the potential for relatively fast-moving lava flows, coupled with relatively long time intervals since the last eruptions in Kona, are the underlying stimuli for this study of risk perception. Target populations were high-school students and adults (n = 462). Using these data, we discuss threat knowledge as an influence on risk perception, and perception as a driving mechanism for preparedness. Threat knowledge and perception of risk were found to be low to moderate. On average, fewer than two-thirds of the residents were aware of the most recent eruptions that impacted Kona, and a minority felt that Mauna Loa and Huala lai could ever erupt again. Furthermore, only about one-third were aware that lava flows could reach the coast in Kona in less than 3 h. Lava flows and ash fall were perceived to be among the least likely hazards to affect the respondent's community within the next 10 years, whereas vog (volcanic smog) was ranked the most likely. Less than 18% identified volcanic hazards as amongst the most likely hazards to affect them at home, school, or work. Not surprisingly, individual preparedness measures were found on average to be limited to simple tasks of value in frequently occurring domestic emergencies, whereas measures specific to infrequent hazard events such as volcanic eruptions were seldom adopted. Furthermore, our data show that respondents exhibit an 'unrealistic optimism bias' and infer that responsibility for community preparedness for future eruptions primarily rests with officials. We infer that these respondents may be less likely to attend to hazard information, react to warnings as directed, and undertake preparedness measures than other populations who perceive responsibility to lie with themselves. There are significant differences in hazard awareness and risk perception between students and adults, between subpopulations representing local areas, and between varying ethnicities. We conclude that long time intervals since damaging lava flows have occurred in Kona have contributed to lower levels of awareness and risk perceptions of the threat from lava flows, and that the ongoing eruption at K| lauea has facilitated greater awareness and perception of risk of vog but not of other volcanic hazards. Low levels of preparedness may be explained by low perceptions of threat and risk and perhaps by the lack of a clear motivation or incentive to seek new modes of adjustment.
This article describes the testing of a model that proposes that people's beliefs regarding t... more This article describes the testing of a model that proposes that people's beliefs regarding the effectiveness of hazard preparedness interact with social context factors (community participation, collective efficacy, empowerment and trust) to influence levels of hazard preparedness. Using data obtained from people living in coastal communities in Alaska and Oregon that are susceptible to experiencing tsunami, structural equation modelling analyses confirmed the ability of the model to help account for differences in levels of tsunami preparedness. Analysis revealed that community members and civic agencies influence preparedness in ways that are independent of the information provided per se. The model suggests that, to encourage people to prepare, outreach strategies must (a) encourage community members to discuss tsunami hazard issues and to identify the resources and information they need to deal with the consequences a tsunami would pose for them and (b) ensure that the comm...
Lahars pose a significant risk to communities, particularly those living near snow-capped volcano... more Lahars pose a significant risk to communities, particularly those living near snow-capped volcanoes. Flows of mud and debris, typically but not necessarily triggered by volcanic activity, can have huge impacts, such as those seen at Nevado Del Ruiz, Colombia, in 1985 which led to the loss of over 23,000 lives and destroyed an entire town. We surveyed communities around Mount Rainier, Washington, United States, where over 150,000 people are at risk from lahar impacts. We explored how factors including demographics, social effects such as perceptions of community preparedness, evacuation drills, and cognitive factors such as risk perception and self-efficacy relate to preparedness when living within or nearby a volcanic hazard zone. Key findings include: women have stronger intentions to prepare but see themselves as less prepared than men; those who neither live nor work in a lahar hazard zone were more likely to have an emergency kit and to see themselves as more prepared; those who...
Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 2015
Purpose – Near-field tsunamis provide short warning periods of equal to 30 minutes, which can com... more Purpose – Near-field tsunamis provide short warning periods of equal to 30 minutes, which can complicate at-risk individuals’ protective action decisions. In the face of a tsunami, people may turn to individuals such as friends, family, neighbors, or organizations such as the media to obtain warning information to help facilitate evacuation and/or to seek protection from the hazard. To characterize norms for protection action behavior during a near-field tsunami, the purpose of this paper is to explore American Samoan residents’ perceptions of four social stakeholder groups on three characteristics – tsunami knowledge, trustworthiness, and protection responsibility – regarding the September 29, 2009, Mw 8.1 earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa. Design/methodology/approach – The social stakeholder groups were the respondents themselves, their peers, officials, and media. Mean ratings revealed that respondents rated themselves highest for tsunami knowledge and protection against t...
The island of Hawaii is composed of five sub-aerially exposed volcanoes, three of which have been... more The island of Hawaii is composed of five sub-aerially exposed volcanoes, three of which have been active since 1801 (Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Hualalai). Hawaii has the fastest population growth in the state and the local economy in the Kona districts (i.e., western portion of the island) is driven by tourism. Kona is directly vulnerable to future lava flows from Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanoes, as well as indirectly from the effects of lava flows elsewhere that may sever the few roads that connect Kona to other vital areas on the island. A number of factors such as steep slopes, high volume eruptions, and high effusion rates, combine to mean that lava flows from Hualalai and Mauna Loa can be fast-moving and hence unusually hazardous. The proximity of lifelines and structures to potential eruptive sources exacerbates societies' risk to future lava flows. Approximately \$2.3 billion has been invested on the flanks of Mauna Loa since its last eruption in 1984 (Trusdell 1995). An equiva...
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