Second with a framework for measurement methodology, the research will seek to operationalize in a more practical manner the long-standing theoretical construct in the natural hazards and emergency management fields, namely that a disaster occurs when demands on the system are greater than the community’s capacity. This project moves closer to this goal by developing a foundation for meaningful measurement, and then the examining, refining and applying of a community Disaster Preparedness index (DPi). The DPi, once applied, allows the development of a Community Disaster Resilience index score (DRi). The creation of these indices will provide an opportunity to make meaningful cross-comparisons among communities with regard to their emergency preparedness, response capabilities, and potential for recovery from disaster events. This overall Disaster Index (DI) model would generate several important components, including a scoring or indicator system (based on weighted functional factors) directed specifically to a community’s preparedness, and a systematic assessment of a communities capabilities and resources(resulting in a composite score). The resiliency index component would account for a community’s exposure to a set of locational-specific hazards.

Funding Sources:
National Science Foundation

Timeframe:
January 2005 - January 2008

Project Faculty:
David M. Simpson, PhD, AICP (UofL)

Project Staff Lead(s):
Josh Human (UofL), Project Director;
Mollie Franke (UofL), Research Assistant