Title of Paper

Identifying Attributes for a Virtual Community-based Disaster Preparedness Hub: Examples from two coastal communities

Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Zachary Russell is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. His research focuses on the role that social media plays in creating identity and sense of place through tourism.

Ann Savage is a Tourism Extension Associate in the College of Natural Resources at North Carolina State University. She is responsible for creating and supporting resource development and programs that grow prosperous, sustainable tourism opportunities across North Carolina communities.

Dr. Whitney Knollenberg is an Associate Professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on tourism leadership and the influence of policy, planning, and partnerships in sustainable tourism development.

Dr. Erin Seekamp is the Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Coastal Resilience and Sustainability (Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management); she also serves as the Director of NC State University’s Coastal Resilience and Sustainability Initiative. Her research focuses on climate adaptation planning that enables transformation of places and heritage values.

Dr. Bethany Cutts is an Associate Professor in the Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism Management at North Carolina State University. Her research specializes in community engagement for environmentally just outcomes.

Abstract (150 Words)

Remote tourism-dependent communities are particularly vulnerable to crises and disasters. Using the ORID (Observe, Reflect, Interpret, Decide) method, we identified key attributes for a virtual disaster preparedness hub by conducting focus groups with a variety of stakeholders in both Ocracoke and Hatteras. Participants were asked to ‘observe’ different types of online hubs from other communities, ‘reflect’ on the pros and cons of these hubs, ‘interpret’ ways to create a hub that would be most beneficial to their community, and ‘decide’ on the best management practices of implementing an online hub. Throughout this process, it became clear that when planning and implementing a disaster hub, it is important to focus on the user experience, allowing for ease of access to information during times of crisis. Additionally, it is important for communities to use a hub to facilitate their disaster preparation and recovery, rather than to replace current infrastructure.

This document is currently not available here.

COinS
 

Identifying Attributes for a Virtual Community-based Disaster Preparedness Hub: Examples from two coastal communities

Remote tourism-dependent communities are particularly vulnerable to crises and disasters. Using the ORID (Observe, Reflect, Interpret, Decide) method, we identified key attributes for a virtual disaster preparedness hub by conducting focus groups with a variety of stakeholders in both Ocracoke and Hatteras. Participants were asked to ‘observe’ different types of online hubs from other communities, ‘reflect’ on the pros and cons of these hubs, ‘interpret’ ways to create a hub that would be most beneficial to their community, and ‘decide’ on the best management practices of implementing an online hub. Throughout this process, it became clear that when planning and implementing a disaster hub, it is important to focus on the user experience, allowing for ease of access to information during times of crisis. Additionally, it is important for communities to use a hub to facilitate their disaster preparation and recovery, rather than to replace current infrastructure.