Hurricane Michael's observed networks based on SITREPs (left) and tweets (right). Entity names are abbreviated for visualization purposes. Edge color represents jurisdiction levels within each pair of organizations: federal‐federal(blue); state‐state(red); local‐local(yellow); cross‐level (green) (edge color corresponds to the font color). (a) SITREP‐based network. (b) Tweet‐based network.
Assistant Professor of USF’s School of Information, Dr. Ly Dinh, published a significant article in the Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management titled “From plan to practice: Interorganizational crisis response networks from governmental guidelines and real‐ world collaborations during hurricane events.” This research emphasizes the critical need for integrated and inclusive emergency response planning.
Co-authored by Mr. Pingjing Yang, Ph.D. Student at the University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign, and Dr. Jana Diesner, Professor at Technical University of Munich, the article highlights the importance of congruency among interorganizational efforts at the federal, state, and local levels during hurricane response. It analyzes and compares emergency response networks to inform best practices for emergency management policy planning.
The findings reveal a disparity in the inclusion of nongovernmental, nonprofit, and volunteer organizations in emergency response plans. Since these agencies play a critical role, the research underscores the need to re-evaluate current emergency response planning and management practices. The study calls for the implementation of clear, consistent protocols and training across all levels of government to improve response times and ensure a coordinated effort during hurricanes. By addressing the gaps in these practices, especially in recognizing the vital roles of nongovernmental and volunteer organizations, policymakers can enhance the effectiveness of hurricane crisis management.
The citation and link to the article can be found here: Dinh, L., Yang, P., & Diesner, J. (2024). From plan to practice: Interorganizational crisis response networks from governmental guidelines and real‐world collaborations during hurricane events. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, 32, e12601. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5973.12601