Research and Innovation

Two University of North Texas researchers are studying disaster preparedness among Native American communities -- a historically underrepresented population in the field of emergency preparedness research in the United States.

Gary Webb, professor and chair of emergency management and disaster science at UNT, and Nicole Dash, associate professor of sociology and associate dean in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service, say the results are expected to help communities better prepare for and rebound from emergencies.

"Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, community resilience has been a national priority, and we know some communities have made great advances in preparing for large-scale disaster events, but we know far less about socially vulnerable communities, including those in rural areas, impoverished communities and certainly Native American communities," said Webb, principal investigator of the grant. "Native American communities are simultaneously socially vulnerable and exposed to significant natural and technological hazards, yet we know almost nothing about their level of disaster preparedness and the impacts of disasters on these communities."

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Webb and Dash are in the third year of the project.

Previous studies in the emergency preparedness field have often focused on individuals, households and organizations rather than communities, the researchers said. But this study will involve engaging with the community to get information about the challenges they face in dealing with hazards and disasters.

"This project is exciting on multiple levels particularly related to the groundbreaking nature of the study," said Dash, co-principal investigator of the grant. "But it is also a great example of the type of community-engaged scholarship many faculty do in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. The college's mission is to strengthen communities, and we are confident that findings from this project will make a significant impact."

Researchers are conducting focus groups in Native American communities and conducting GIS analyses to identify natural and technological hazards they face. They are studying the existing emergency management structures in those communities and assessing the challenges they face in implementing emergency planning initiatives such as the National Incident Management System and National Preparedness Goal.

“Native American communities are disproportionately faced with technological hazards and environmental contamination,” Webb said. “We are surveying tribal leaders across the country to measure their levels of disaster preparedness.”