Community-based disaster response teams for vulnerable groups and developing nations : implementation, training, and sustainability : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Emergency Management at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
Loading...
Date
2019
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
Rights
The Author
Abstract
Bystanders are often the first to respond to disasters and, for this reason,
Community-Based Disaster Response Teams (CBDRTs) should be established
in vulnerable communities. The literature review examines Disaster Risk
Reduction initiatives and identifies that there is little information available
regarding strategies and training curriculum that could be used to establish and
maintain CBDRTs in developing nations and with vulnerable groups. The three
research questions for this investigation ask how CBDRT courses could be
adapted for these communities, what topics and activities would be most useful
for such training, and how the teams could be established and maintained. The
research objectives are to identify strategies that could be used to train CBDRT
groups in these contexts, to propose an outline for a basic training course, and
to describe techniques that could contribute to the sustainability of these teams.
Research was conducted with CBDRTs in developing nations using a mixed
methods methodology with the United States Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s (FEMA) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programme
being employed as a case study. Quantitative data was obtained from a
questionnaire completed by CERT course graduates, and qualitative
information was acquired from key informant interviews. After a review of the
CERT programme that discusses its history, curriculum, success stories, and
potential pitfalls, the data collected is presented through statistical analysis of
the questionnaire replies and thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.
Suggested CBDRT training strategies are creating courses for adolescents,
modifying the material for non-literate learners, and providing additional
practical activities. Recommendations for establishing programmes include
developing teams for young people, cooperating with Community-Based
Organisations to solve existing problems, and offering CBDRT training in the
post-disaster environment. Techniques for maintaining the teams involve
developing leadership, creating support networks, and cultivating partnerships
with local authorities. The final conclusion is that the CERT model could be
used as the basis for an international CBDRT training programme, although it
would require adaption of the course content and presentation style.
Description
Keywords
Disaster relief, Emergency management, Developing countries, Citizen participation, Study and teaching (Continuing education), Community Emergency Response Team (U.S.)