Open AccessEmergent disaster response during the J une 2007 floods in K ingston upon H ull, UK
Author(s) -
Neal R.,
Bell S.,
Wilby J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of flood risk management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.049
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 1753-318X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-318x.2011.01110.x
Subject(s) - hull , disaster response , environmental science , emergency response , hydrology (agriculture) , physical geography , meteorology , geography , geology , emergency management , oceanography , political science , geotechnical engineering , medical emergency , medicine , law
There is a growing body of research that suggests much of the behaviour that occurs during a disaster response effort is emergent, meaning it is produced as a result of complex non‐linear factors at work both within and between the affected communities, responding organisations, and the environment. This paper uses the pluvial floods of J une 2007 in K ingston upon H ull as a case study to investigate to what extent emergence was apparent during the disaster response effort, as well as identifying certain systemic features that facilitate or inhibit this emergence. Results show that emergent behaviours corresponding to each of the types identified in the literature (emergent groups, networks and activities) were present in the response to the J une 2007 floods; and that these behaviours contributed positively to K ingston upon H ull's community resilience. Both altruism and the relative rate of information transfer were key drivers for emergent actions.