Information management and the return-entry process: Examining information needs, sources, and strategies after Superstorm Sandy

Abstract

The effective management of disasters requires timely and accurate information. Both emergency management (EM) organizations and the public are involved in information management activities during and after a disaster where they seek information from various sources to reduce disaster-related uncertainties. While studies have focused on information needs and source reliance behaviors of EM organizations amid a disaster, the information management behaviors of the organizations during return-entry phase has gained little scholarly attention. This study examines the information management strategies of local EM organizations while managing the initial return-entry movement following Superstorm Sandy. Using a qualitative research design, the researchers conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 25 EM officials from New Jersey. The data analysis yielded five themes that highlight the information management strategies of the EM organizations – information needs, information sources, information seeking behavior, information exchange, and applying information for return-entry decisions. This paper discusses these findings and provides proactive strategies to gather and manage information to facilitate return-entry decision-making and risk communication in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Introduction

Emergency managers utilize a variety of information when formulating protective action recommendations and managing risks during and after a disaster [[1], [2], [3]]. During the response and short-term recovery phases, emergency managers require information about the nature and extent of disaster impacts and secondary hazards, location of disaster survivors needing assistance, magnitude of damage to the communities, and statuses related to the restoration of services and infrastructure [4,5]. Despite these vital information needs, the acquisition and transmission of information after an event may be challenging, especially in circumstances where communities experience disruptions and damage to utilities and communication infrastructure [6]. Additionally, because disasters are non-routine events, they often introduce uncertainties into the decision-making process, as emergency managers may need to make timely decision based on limited or incomplete information [[7], [8], [9]].

Both the public and emergency management (EM) organizations participate in information management activities to acquire information, overcome uncertainties, and to guide their actions during and after a crisis. Information management is defined as “… the various stages of information processing from production to storage and retrieval to dissemination in order to facilitate work of an organization; information can be from internal and external sources and in any format” (AIM, 2005 as cited in OCHA, 2006) [10, p.2]. Information management is an important aspect of emergency management, as timely and accurate information is crucial in reducing disaster-related uncertainties. Within this process, individuals often undertake activities such as seeking information, evaluating the content, and using the gathered information to make decisions that protect people and property [[11], [12], [13]]. Although numerous studies have focused on information seeking and source reliance behaviors of individuals and households [[14], [15], [16]] the examination of information management behaviors of EM organizations post-disaster has gained less scholarly attention. The purpose of this paper is to examine the information management strategies of EM organizations while overseeing the initial return-entry movement of residents back to their homes following Superstorm Sandy. The paper first reviews prior literature on information management and is then followed by the method and the results section. Finally, the findings are discussed, and recommendations are offered for effective information management after a disaster.