Response to Social Crisis and Disaster

A tale of three cities: Crime and displacement after Hurricane Katrina

“…Findings also suggested the destructive effects of disasters were particularly problematic in areas already suffering from weak social bonds, such as economic and socially disadvantaged neighborhoods (Genevie et al, 1987;Siegel et al, 1999). Thus, consistent with the suggestions of a long line of researchers (Barton, 1969;Bolin, 1985;Miller, 2007;Quarantelli & Dynes, 1977), pre-disaster conditions explained much of the post-disaster responses. The duration of destructive elements (temporary or long-term) is dependent on the nature of the disaster, the capacity of local infrastructure to provide assistance, and the quality of the social support systems on which victims must rely.…”

“…Within this milieu, a variety of individual, community, and victim characteristics (some preexisting, others emerging in the aftermath of an incident) influenced the collective responses to disasters (Barton, 1969;Bolin, 1985;Drabek, 1986;Dynes & Quarantelli, 1980;Quarantelli & Dynes, 1977). Quarantelli and Dynes (1977), for example, explained that the response of groups to disasters is understood very much in the context of preevent "readiness. "…”

Conséquences des inondations de juillet 1996 sur la santé psychologique et physique d'individus sinistrés âgés de 55 ans et plus vivant en milieu rural /

“…Les résidents des milieux ruraux sont également considérés comme socialement avantagés puisqu'ils possèdent une certaine stabilité sociale ainsi que de nombreux réseaux de soutien interpersonnels (George et al, 1986). Coward et Jackson (1983) (Fincher & Wulff, 1998 (Baker & Chapman, 1982;Bromet, Schulberg, & Dunn, 1982;Farberow, 1985;Melick, 1978;North, Smith, McCool, & Lightcap, 1989;Perry & Lindell, 1978;Quarantelli & Dynes, 1977;Tierney & Baisden, 1979). D'autres auteurs, au contraire, rapportent l'existence de psychopathologies et de maladies sérieuses, répandues et persistantes conséquentes aux désastres (Adams & Adams, 1984;Erickson, 1976;Gleen, 1979;Gleser, Green, & Winget, 1981;Green et al, 1990;Lifton & Oison, 1976;Phifer & Norris, 3989;Rangell, 1976;Solomon & Davidson, 1997;Titchener & Kapp, 1976), La plupart des chercheurs ont toutefois constaté qu'au cours de la première année suivant l'exposition à une catastrophe, les individus vivent plusieurs situations difficiles (pertes financières, perte du domicile, conflits familiaux, apparition de problèmes de santé physique) qui perturbent généralement leur état de santé psychologique et physique (Norris et al, 2002).…”

Assessing the effect of the Queensland “Summer of Disasters” on perceptions of collective efficacy

“…We find that one of the consequences of Queensland's "Summer of Disasters" is that it reduced perceptions of collective efficacy among Queensland residents. Contrasting findings, such as those by Quarantelli and Dynes (1976), suggest that disasters not only strengthen identification with the community, but any conflict that arises out of the recovery and rehabilitation period may also increase cohesion around the source of the conflict. Similarly, Carrol et al (2011) found that although cohesion increased in the short-term after wildfires in Arizona, they also cautioned that these effects may not be present in the long term.…”

“…Prior and current research from the disaster literature has typically distinguished natural disasters from man-made disasters with respect to the effect they have on individuals 4 and communities (Freudenburg, 1997;Quarantelli & Dynes, 1976). While natural disasters have been found to have a therapeutic effect on individuals and communities (Cuthbertson & Nigg, 1987;Freudenburg & Jones, 1991), man-made disasters such as the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (Picou, Marshall, & Gill, 2004) have a tendency to be corrosive to individuals and communities (Freudenburg, 1997).…”