Meeting everyday needs in a disaster scenario: the potential role of social ties and social infrastructure

Keywords: social infrastructure, hazards, disaster preparedness, resource matching
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 05:20 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 06:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 68

Abstract

In the Pacific Northwest, recent advances in seismic hazards science have heightened regional interest in preparedness for a potential magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) event. Were a CSZ event to occur, communities would likely need to be self-reliant for multiple weeks, highlighting the critical role that local resources play in community resilience. In such extreme disaster scenarios, a community’s social relationships and its social infrastructure – the places and institutions that support public life – can help to connect people with needed knowledge and resources. However, social infrastructure is rarely leveraged in standard approaches to disaster preparedness. In this paper, we explore the potential for hyperlocal resource matching – how can social ties and social infrastructure help to meet community members’ essential needs in a disaster scenario?

To answer this question, we investigate patterns related to resource needs and anticipated resource-seeking behavior across three communities using data gathered from a sample survey in three Washington State communities. Assessing the survey data together with local stakeholders, we identify potential gaps and opportunities for improved hyperlocal disaster preparedness. We find that although each community approaches disaster preparedness differently, stakeholders in all communities felt the role of community organizations and social infrastructure could be expanded to make disaster preparedness more relevant to everyday community life.