Journal article
Exploring Spatiotemporal and Social Network Factors in Community Response to a Major Flood Disaster
The Professional geographer, Vol.66(3), pp.421-435
07/03/2014
DOI: 10.1080/00330124.2013.799995
Abstract
In this study the characteristics of volunteering and community response to major natural disasters are examined. We investigate
the spatiotemporal patterns of volunteering and the extent to which such community response can be understood in terms
of social networks. Understanding the linkages among volunteering, social networks, and disasters offers opportunities for
improving the planned response when disasters strike, including how volunteering might be increased by tapping into social
networks, how far volunteers might be willing to travel, and the degree to which volunteers help out over the course of the
hazard. This research focuses on the severe flooding that affected Fargo, North Dakota, in spring 2009. We examine how the
structure of social networks is related to different types of volunteering behavior, including the intensity of volunteering and
spatiotemporal aspects of volunteering. The investigations revealed that volunteers were willing to travel at least five miles and,
in some cases, up to approximately eighteen miles to volunteer. The results also indicate that even volunteers who resided in
locations farthest away from the flooding endured during all phases of the hazard event. Our findings suggest that network
density and diversity are significantly related to different types of volunteer behavior. Network diversity predicts volunteering
early, for a greater number of days, and doing multiple types of volunteering, and network density is a positive predictor of
volunteering after flood stage was declared and at a friend or family member’s home or the workplace.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Exploring Spatiotemporal and Social Network Factors in Community Response to a Major Flood Disaster
- Creators
- Kathleen StewartJennifer L GlanvilleDavid A Bennett
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Professional geographer, Vol.66(3), pp.421-435
- DOI
- 10.1080/00330124.2013.799995
- ISSN
- 0033-0124
- eISSN
- 1467-9272
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/03/2014
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9983983644602771
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