From Research to Praxis: The Relevance of Disaster Research for Emergency Management

Abstract

The field of emergency management is “the discipline and profession of applying science, technology, planning, and management to deal with extreme events that can injure or kill large numbers of people, do extensive damage to property, and disrupt community life. When such events do occur and cause extensive harm, they are called disasters” (Hoetmer, 1991). This definition eloquently defines emergency management clearly explains what a disaster is, and exemplifies how academia and research provides conceptual and practical tools for emergency managers. Researchers tell us who we are; what we do; how and why we do the things we do; as well as provide guidance and advise as to where we should be going.

Editors’ Note: This chapter was written by Commissioner Rotanz, an emergency manager with extensive experience in the field. In his years as an emergency manager, Rotanz has used and values the cumulative body of knowledge generated by disaster researchers. Rotanz provides a general overview regarding the role and importance of disaster research for practitioners and makes a compelling case calling for increased communication, coordination, and integration of experiences and knowledge generated by practitioners, researchers, and scholars in the field of disaster research.