Communication, Coherence, and Collective Action: The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Infrastructure

Communications infrastructure is critical to managing the complex, dynamic operations that evolve in disaster environments. The impact of Hurricane Katrina destroyed the communications infrastructure within the New Orleans metropolitan region, leaving emergency response personnel and the public with little capacity to exchange information vital for coordinating response actions. The loss of communications proved especially damaging, given the size of the geographic region and the number of people affected. The authors used content analysis of news reports to identify the network of organizations that emerged in response to Hurricane Katrina, and network analysis to examine patterns of interaction among the organizations. The patterns reveal significant asymmetry in information among organizations at different levels of authority and responsibility in the disaster response system, a condition that contributed to the collapse of coordination in disaster operations. Conversely, well-designed communications and information infrastructure can contribute significantly to the resilience of communities exposed to recurring risk.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/34383369
• Authors:
  • Comfort, Louise K
  • Haase, Thomas W
• Publication Date: 2006-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 328-343
• Serial:
  • Public Works Management & Policy
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1087-724X
  • EISSN: 1552-7549
  • Serial URL: http://pwm.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communications; Disasters and emergency operations; Emergency communication systems; Emergency management; Hurricanes; Interoperability; Network analysis; Organizational effectiveness
• Identifier Terms: Hurricane Katrina, 2005
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emergency response and recovery; Natural disasters; Policy networks
• Geographic Terms: New Orleans (Louisiana)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01038357
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 29 2006 11:06AM