4 - Challenges of Disaster Communication Fieldwork - Jeff Neal

Reading Summary 4: Planning for Spontaneity: The Challenges of Disaster Communication Fieldwork

Jeff Neal

Reference: Horsley, Suzanne. (2012).  Planning for Spontaneity: The Challenges of Disaster Communication Fieldwork. International Journal of Qualitative Method.

Theme: Crisis Communication and disaster communication is difficult, and even more difficult to study.  Most events occur in places researchers have never been and have not planned for, with uncertain conditions.  This article discusses the challenges and benefits of disaster research and fieldwork.

Summary: The author of this article attempts to study crisis communication during disasters using the participant-observation of a disaster response with informal on-site interviews.  The challenge is that there are not many disasters and when they do happen most occur without much notice.  Researchers must be prepared to respond quickly and to areas were the conditions are uncertain.  Imagine responding to New York during 911.  Getting into New York was almost impossible and unless you were already in the area, fights had been grounded.  Planning for this event could not have happened.  This is the reason that there is little research done during disasters.  There are times researchers can respond. 2009 Red River Valley floods in Fargo, North Dakota is an example of this.  The author states that gathering information during disasters is critical for data analysis, theory development, and practical application. Benefits of observational research include the researcher not asking participants to perform in any unnatural way (i.e., filling out a survey or taking part in an experiment), but instead allowing the researchers presence to be accepted as they go about their business.

Application to the lesson topic: Planning is important to effectively operate in a disaster.  One critical element is research.  In the fire service we would always have a debriefing following an incident to discuss the good and bad strategies and tactics used during the incident.  The evaluation of data is what has helped develop current systems that are in place.   

Application to emergency services: It's extremely difficult to study communications during a disaster. Simulating the stress and situational difficulties that accompany a disaster is a challenge but could be the best approach to prepare for the actual event. Because when the disaster happens is on the job training which does not always produce the best results.

4 - Planning for Spontaneity - Jeffrey Martin

Reference: Horsley, J. (2012). Planning for Spontaneity: The Challenges of Disaster Communication Fieldwork. International Journal Of Qualitative Methods, 11(3), 180-194.

Theme:  The article discusses fieldwork disaster communication, and the apparent lack of research on the subject.

Summary:  the American Red Cross organizes during disaster to communicate with primary public entities, including the media, donors, partner agencies, and those affected by disaster.  There is little or no research on disaster communication in the middle of an event as it unfolds in front of your eyes.  Communication in the field is vastly different from that in a communications center.

·         The need for an organization to protect its image during a volatile time can cause an organization to exert more control over the dissemination of information.

·         The greatest difference between conducting qualitative fieldwork in disasters and in more stable, certain environments is the simple fact that it is a disaster.

·         Flexibility is vitally important at a disaster site in which the setting and circumstances are constantly evolving.

Other reading:  Eisenman, D. P., Cordasco, K. M., Asch, S., Golden, J. F., & Glik, D. (2007). Disaster Planning and Risk Communication With Vulnerable Communities: Lessons From Hurricane Katrina. American Journal Of Public Health, 97S109-S115.

This article discusses communications with the public during Hurricane Katrina.

Application: Communication from within the safety of a command center does not have the same issues of that from the field.  For those managers and leaders performing actual fieldwork, there needs to be an understanding that it is a very dynamic and possibly hostile/dangrerous environment from what they may be used to.