Using Game Technique as a Strategy in Promoting Disaster Awareness in Caribbean Multicultural Societies: The Disaster Awareness Game

Abstract

The high vulnerability of Caribbean countries to multiple hazards is well documented. However, there is a paucity of knowledge related to variations in vulnerability within and among countries. As the Caribbean region moves towards cementing the arrangements for a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) that will allow greater multiculturalism among many countries of the region, internal disparities in vulnerability are likely to increase. Disaster managers of the region will be challenged with the development of strategies and techniques that will minimize disparities and allow equity in access to disaster information by all cultural groups. The Disaster Awareness Game (DAG) is a response to this challenge and was designed to evaluate levels of disaster awareness among different groups and countries of the Caribbean region as well as to promote awareness equitably to all cultural groups. Application of the DAG in the multicultural setting of the TCI suggests that this technique can be effective in promoting equitable access to disaster education.

Using serious games to evaluate the potential of social media information in early warning disaster management

“…people-centred early warning systems). This is also in line with recent approaches in DRM that call for more participatory and community-based strategies, in which the end users of information are treated as partners [10][11][12].…”

“…people-centred early warning systems). This is also in line with recent approaches in DRM that call for more participatory and community-based strategies, in which the end users of information are treated as partners [10][11][12].However, limited research exists on how emergency mangers in EOC would use information from social media in their decision-making process. Therefore, the first goal of the study is to demonstrate the usefulness of public social media information in warning decision-making.…”

Flood Risk Awareness Game (FRAG): Learning to Prepare in Flood Events

“…Numerous well-known board games such as Millionaires, Snake and Ladders, Disaster, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Game were incorporated for this study analysis to determine the key elements of board game design and development on flood awareness and preparedness. In addition, disaster-related board games such as "Disaster Master" (UNESCO Asia, 2007) "The Disaster Awareness Game: DAG" (Clerveaux, Spence and Katada, 2008) and "Hazagora" (Mossoux et al, 2015) were analyzed to identify the key concepts of disaster board game design and development. Documentary analysis and content analysis were major approaches in this step.…”

“…Board games have been popularly utilized to foster disaster awareness and preparedness of people in the past years such as "Disaster Master" (UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education in Bangkok (Thailand), 2017), "The Disaster Awareness Game (DAG)" (Clerveaux, Spence and Katada, 2008), and "Hazagora" (Mossoux et al, 2015). However, a board game that placed its emphasis on flood preparedness knowledge and awareness is scant and needs more attention on developing and designing to be used as an additional instrument of flood risk awareness improvement.…”

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in the Curricular of Colleges of Education in Ghana

“…Increasingly, the connection between hazards/disaster impact and sustainable development is being highlighted in risk reduction initiatives. This relationship is especially obvious in developing countries where a single disastrous event can turn developmental gains made in several years' upside down [15]. The undertaking of disaster loss-reduction programs in schools is being recommended as a key element in long-term DRR strategies.…”