Timely assessment of disaster and emergency response networks in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, 2012
| Published date | 12 November 2018 |
| Pages | 1010-1023 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-09-2016-0280 |
| Date | 12 November 2018 |
| Author | Jungwon Yeo,Louise Comfort,Kyujin Jung |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Collection building & management,Bibliometrics,Databases,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet,Records management & preservation,Document management |
Timely assessment of disaster
and emergency response
networks in the aftermath of
superstorm Sandy, 2012
Jungwon Yeo
School of Public Administration, University of Central Florida,
Orlando, Florida, USA
Louise Comfort
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs,
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and
Kyujin Jung
Department of Public Administration, Sungkyunkwan University,
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to elaborate pros and cons of two coding methods: the rapid network
assessment (RNA) and the manual content analysis (MCA). In particular, it focuses on the applicability of a
new rapid data extraction and utilization method, which can contribute to the timely coordination of disaster
and emergency response operations.
Design/methodology/approach –Utilizing the data set of textual information on the Superstorm Sandy
response in 2012, retrieved from the LexisNexis Academic news archive, the two coding methods, MCA and
RNA, are subjected to social network analysis.
Findings –The analysisresults indicate a significantlevel of similarity betweenthe data collected using these
two methods. The findings indicate that the RNA method could be effectively used to extract megabytes of
electronicdata, characterize the emergingdisaster response networkand suggest timely policy implications for
managers and practitioners during actualemergency response operationsand coordination processes.
Originality/value –Considering the growing needs for the timely assessment of real-time disaster response
systems and the emerging doubts regarding the effectiveness of the RNA method, this study contributes to
uncovering the potential of the RNA method to extract relevant data from the megabytes of digitally available
information. Also this research illustrates the applicability of MCA for assessing real-time disaster response
networks by comparing network analysis results from data sets built by both the RNA and the MCA.
Keywords Disaster response network analysis, Manual content analysis, Rapid network assessment,
Superstorm sandy
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Disaster and emergency management studies have employed social network analysis, which
allows for superior understanding of the roles and functions of emergent disaster response
systems ( Jung et al., 2017; Yeo and Comfort, 2017; Kim et al., 2017; Kim and Hossain, 2013;
Comfort et al., 2004, 2012; Kapucu et al., 2010; Provan and Kenis, 2007; Comfort and Haase,
2006; Comfort, 1994). Social network analysis supports operations of disaster response and
recovery by identifying key agents and by highlighting any relationships, functional or
Online Information Review
Vol. 42 No. 7, 2018
pp. 1010-1023
© Emerald PublishingLimited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/OIR-09-2016-0280
Received 6 November 2016
Revised 10 October 2017
12 February 2018
18 March 2018
Accepted 9 May 2018
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm
The research was funded by the National Association of Workforce Boards in 2013. Authors, also,
acknowledge the researchers in the Center for Disaster Management at the University of Pittsburgh:
Brian Chalfant, Jee Eun Song and Mengyao Chen for MCA data coding; and Mark Voortman, PhD for
his technical support for RNA data coding.
1010
OIR
42,7
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