Abstract
Disasters are inevitable and public safety policies exist as reliance on government for effective response coordination is essential. However, overreliance on government is a public concern for many. Communities’ abilities to be more self-sufficient and rely less on the government is on the rise in different parts of the United States. If citizens receive basic training on disaster response, fewer lives may be lost and less property may be damaged or destroyed if organizations such as community emergency response teams (CERTs) align with governmental agencies and the private sector towards effective emergency management. Most communities are embracing formal community organizations such as CERTs that prepare citizens with training on basic disaster preparedness. In spite of the steady growth of CERT programs in the United States, very little effort has been made to clarify volunteer integration approaches within the different jurisdictions and the extent to which CERTs have been integrated into formal local emergency systems. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to improve understanding of CERT programs and explore the lived experiences of CERT coordinators who engage, recruit, and train citizen volunteers. Ten CERT coordinators from California participated in the research and shared their lived experiences of coordinating and managing CERT. This study was a replication of a 2015 study by Carr and Jensen. Therefore, some aspects of their data analysis method applied to this study. Utilizing Carr and Jensen’s coding and group concepts and Moustakas’s phenomenological data analysis approach, six themes emerged from the data: (a) catch-and-release dilemma, (b) risk and liability, (c) program ambiguity, (d) structural role ambiguity, (e) CERT credibility, and (f) lack of resources. Outcomes indicated that CERT teams fit differently within the integration spectrum. In addition, the findings emphasized that integrating CERTs into jurisdictional planning thrives in a top-bottom management style. Adoption of this approach could improve alignment of CERTs’ objectives with those of local jurisdictions to respond to and manage emergent disasters.
Citations
IRE Journals:
Patience Adagba
"Variances in Predisaster Planning And Integration Of Community Emergency Response Teams" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 8 Issue 6 2024 Page 121-192
IEEE:
Patience Adagba
"Variances in Predisaster Planning And Integration Of Community Emergency Response Teams" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 8(6)
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