Skip to main content

A Case for the Grand Challenge of Disaster Science

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Disaster Research and the Second Environmental Crisis

Part of the book series: Environmental Hazards ((ENHA))

Abstract

This work calls for the development of the field of disaster science. Specifically, it calls on those in the disaster research community to develop a grand vision for the field. This vision could include assembling the various disciplines that study disasters; examining large scale community and society disruption, dissembling, and destruction; and concerning itself with the social, technical, and environmental phenomenon that pertain to the causes and recognition of, as well as the reaction and adjustment to, various stages of that process. Incremental aspects of this effort already represent much of the actual work of interdisciplinary disaster researchers. The author provides an argument for why a rethinking of the field is important.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Davis, E. A., Hanson, R., Kett, M., Mincin, J., & Twigg, J. (2013). Disability. In D. S. K. Thomas, B. Phillips, W. E. Lovekamp, & A. Fothergill (Eds.), Social vulnerability to disasters (Vol. 2E, pp. 199–232). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dynes, R. R. (2004). Expanding the horizons of disaster research. Natural hazards observer (Vol. 28(4), pp. 1–2). Boulder: Natural Hazards Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, H. W., III. (1994). Responses to disaster: Fact versus fiction and its perpetuation: The sociology of disasters. New York: University Presses of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, C. E., & Mathewson, J. H. (1957). Convergent behavior: A disaster control problem. Special report for the committee on disaster studies (Vol. 9, pp. 1–102). Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguín-Veras, J., Pérez, N., Ukkusuri, S., Wachtendorf, T., & Brown, B. (2007). Emergency logistics issues impacting the response to hurricane Katrina: A synthesis and preliminary suggestions for improvement. Transportation Research Record, 2022, 76–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguín-Veras, J., Jaller, M., Van Wassenhove, L. N., Pérez, N., & Wachtendorf, T. (2012). On the unique features of post-disaster humanitarian logistics. Journal of Operations Management, 30(7–8), 494–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holguin-Veras, J., Wachtendorf, T., Jaller, M., & Jefferson, T. (2013). Logistics and the management of critical supplies following catastrophes. In R. Bissell (Ed.), Preparedness and response for catastrophic disasters. Boca Raton: CPC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguín-Veras, J., Jaller, M., Aros-Vera, F., Amaya, J., Encarnación, T., & Wachtendorf, T. (2016). Disaster response logistics: Chief findings of fieldwork research. In C. Zobel, N. Altay, & M. Haselkorn (Eds.), Advances in managing humanitarian operations (International series in operations research & management science). Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holguin-Veras, J., Jaller, M., Van Wassenhove, L. N., Perez, N., & Wachtendorf, T. (2014). Material convergence: An important and understudied disaster phenomenon. Natural Hazards Review, 15(1), 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penta, S., Nelan, M., & Wachtendorf, T. (2015, May 10). The thought that counts: Motivations for giving to disaster relief. Presentation at the Production and Operations Management Society Annual Conference, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, R. W. (2006). What is a disaster? In H. Rodriguez, E. L. Quarantelli, & R. L. Dynes (Eds.), Handbook of disaster research. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quarantelli, E. L. (2006). Catastrophes are different from disasters: Implications for crisis planning and managing drawn from Katrina. Understanding Katrina: Perspectives from the Social Sciences, Social Science Research Council. Available at: http://understandingkatrina.ssrc.org/Quarantelli/. Accessed 5 Jan 2009.

  • Thomas, D. S. K., Phillips, B., Lovekamp, W. E., & Fothergill, A. (2013). Social vulnerability to disasters (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachtendorf, T., Brown, B., & Holguin-Veras, J. (2013). Catastrophic characteristics and their impact on critical supply chains: Problematizing material convergence and management following hurricane Katrina. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 10(2), 497–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachtendorf, T., Penta, S., & Nelan, M. (2015). When push comes to shove: The framing of need in disaster relief efforts. In H. Egner, M. Schorch, & M. Voss (Eds.), Learning from calamities – Interpretative patterns and practices of communication on disasters and catastrophes (pp. 235–252). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tricia Wachtendorf .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Wachtendorf, T. (2019). A Case for the Grand Challenge of Disaster Science. In: Kendra, J., Knowles, S., Wachtendorf, T. (eds) Disaster Research and the Second Environmental Crisis. Environmental Hazards. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04691-0_17

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics