Register | Senior Sequence

Emma Reed

Academic Year: 2009-2010

Emergency Response Planning at UCSD

Area of Concentration

  • Public Health, Safety and Welfare

Key Terms:

Earthquake, Evacuation, Preparedness, Mitigation, Awareness, University Campus

Significance/Broader Impact:

I decided to research this topic because I find emergency response planning extremely pertinent to the overall planning of urban areas.  Although much of the country has been urbanized already, these developments are constantly expanding at the same time that we are facing a global climate crisis.  Scientists studying this crisis have found evidence to indicate that rising global temperatures are making natural disasters – like hurricanes – stronger and more frequent.  As the planet’s overall temperature continues to rise steadily, it seems only logical for cities and suburban regions to prepare a course of action in case the time comes when they are faced with such a disaster.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster was far less than satisfactory but, despite the lack of preparedness demonstrated by the agency, few policy changes have been implemented to increase the efficiency of emergency response for future events.  The main issue at hand, here, appears to be that not many people actually make disaster preparedness a priority.  After the excitement of a particular disaster has died down, the government tends to forget about the looming threat that something similar will happen again and citizens seem to fall into a state of denial – not wanting to come to terms with the fact that they could find themselves in that same situation the next day.  Through my research, I aim to discover specifically the flaws in UCSD’s emergency response system and I hope to increase mitigation awareness amidst the university campus. 

References

Calcote, Josh. (May 2006). Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. “Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared Executive Summary.” U.S. Senate, Washington D.C: 1-19.
Chan, Theodore C., MD, Killeen, Jim, MD, Griswold, William, PhD, and Lenert, Leslie, MD, MS. (November 2004). “Information Technology and Emergency Medical Care during Disasters.” Wiley Interscience. 11 (11): 1-7.
Cutter, Susan L. (2003). “GI Science, Disasters, and Emergency Management.” Transactions in GIS. 7(4): 1-6.
“FEMA History.” (29 May 2009).  http://www.fema.gov/about/history.shtm.
Niman, Michael I. (November-December 2005). “Katrina’s America: Failure, Racism, and Profiteering.” The Humanist: 11-15.
Petak, William J. (January 1985). “Emergency Management: A Challenge for Public Administration.” Public Administration Review. 45 (Special Issue): 3-7.
Pierre, John K. and Stephenson, Gail S. (30 July 2007). “After Katrina: A Critical Look at FEMA’s Failure to Provide Housing for Victims of Natural Disasters.” Social Science Research Network: 3-46.
Stallings, Robert A. and Quarantelli, E. L. (January 1985). “Emergent Citizen Groups and Emergency Management.” Public Administration Review. 45 (Special Issue): 93-100. 
“University of California-San Diego: General Information, Alumni, History, Campus, Students, Faculty, Address, and Tuition.” 2007. http://www.stateuniversity.com/universities/CA/ University_of_California_San_Diego.html.
Vieweg, Sarah, Palen, Leysia, Liu, Sophia B., Hughes, Amanda L., and Sutton, Jeanette. (May 2008). “Collective Intelligence in Disaster: Examination of the Phenomenon in the Aftermath of the 2007 Virginia Tech Shooting.” ConnectivIT and the Natural Hazards Center – University of Colorado, Boulder: 1-10. 

Links:

http://www.fema.gov/about/history.shtm
http://www.stateuniversity.com/universities/CA/ University_of_California_San_Diego.html

Fall SRP Proposal Abstract

Recent events suggest that the United States as a whole is unprepared to respond effectively to damage caused by natural disasters.  This in turn indicates that the nation’s university campuses require increased attention paid to their own disaster preparedness planning.  A lack of improvement at the national level impedes progression at the local level.  This research is tailored specifically to earthquakes in proximity to the University of California at San Diego.  The goal is to ascertain crucial insight into the potential consequences of a large-scale earthquake in the vicinity and then enact ways to mitigate these.  Data will be gathered through the utilization of interviews and archival research, in addition to first-hand observation as an intern for UCSD’s Department of Continuity and Emergency Services.  The evidence will contribute to the existing literature on disaster preparedness for this region and aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of future emergency responses. 

Winter Senior Research Project (SRP) Abstract

Recent events suggest that the United States as a whole is unprepared to respond effectively to damage caused by natural disasters.  Research indicates that the nation’s university campuses require increased attention paid to their own disaster preparedness planning.  This study is tailored specifically to earthquakes in proximity to the University of California at San Diego.  Data ascertained has provided crucial insight into the potential consequences of a large-magnitude earthquake in the vicinity.  Archival evidence indicates several subtle but significant flaws in UCSD’s current emergency response plans.  Interviews with disaster preparedness experts in the community confirm these.  Findings from a survey of the campus demonstrate a staggering lack of awareness regarding the public’s knowledge of how to react productively in the event of a large-scale earthquake.  The aim is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the campus’s future emergency responses – particularly to major earthquakes – and by so doing to mitigate damage.

Study's Major Findings and Contributions

The first major finding in this study of UCSD is that students perceive themselves – on average – to be adequately prepared to react to a large-scale earthquake event on the campus.  In an earthquake preparedness survey, a majority of students rated their personal level of preparedness at three or higher on a scale from one to five indicating beliefs that they would be able to react effectively if the floor below them started to shake. 
The second key finding is that the actual level of earthquake preparedness at the university appears to be quite a bit lower than students recognize.  Few of the students surveyed signified that they would know the first step to take in the event of a major earthquake and a mere 17 percent (fewer than one in five) of students indicated that they had ever been involved in an earthquake drill at UCSD.  Three emergency planning experts for the campus explained the details of systems currently in place to aid response and recovery efforts in the event of a large-scale earthquake nearby.  For the most part, the logistics of an efficient emergency response system appear to be in place; however, the concern is to what extent this will be successful if such a large student body is unaware of the plan’s details as well as how they can respond most effectively on an individual level.  All interviewees agreed to some extent that there is a gap between the perceived levels and the actual level of preparedness among the student body and a lack of awareness is a significant obstacle to improving the campus’ overall disaster preparedness.

Evidence

To complete my research comprehensively, I will utilize four main sources of information: archival evidence, case studies, interviews, and personal observation.  Archival evidence is generally reliable and a strong starting point; case studies will allow me to see where planning mistakes have been made prior incidents; interviews will enable me to obtain expert/professional information and I can tailor questions to aid my research specifically; and, personal observation will permit me to ascertain a unique point of analysis for my study. 
         
Source of Evidence; Strengths/Weaknesses; How does it fit into the project; Timeline.
1. Archival Evidence - It will tell me what has happened in the past but not present issues; Archival evidence will enable me to find background info; This likely is the first point of research for my topic.
2. Case Studies - They will tell me what has happened in similar instances, but may not be specific earthquake disasters or to SD; I will analyze flaws in similar cases and see how preventive policies might be implemented in SD; This likely is the second point of research for my topic as more specific background info.
3. Interviews - Expert info. but very specific to a single person and his first-hand experience and research on the topic; I could interview a city planning official or an actual emergency response agent; This likely is one of the last steps for my research since I will require background knowledge before.
4. Personal Observation - It will be my own unique research info., but again narrowly tailored to my personal experience in the field; I will be interning at UCSD’s Department of Continuity and Emergency Services and gaining direct experience with SD’s emergency response planning; This research will be on-going throughout the course of my research and will aid my analysis.

Spatial Dimension

(1) The University of California at San Diego. 
(2) A. Fault lines near the campus
    B. Nearby freeways (evacuation routes)
    C. Main Roads
    D. Emergency Containers

Files

Images

/images/student_files/n1271722099_81027_6445.jpg

Login



Forgot your password?

Research Portfolios by Student Name

Research Portfolios by AOC

Research Evaluations by Student Name