Sociology of disaster

Sociology of disaster is a special branch of sociology. The research is predominantly done in the United States, Germany and Italy. Theoretically it includes not only local disasters, but catastrophes on a grand scale. The field is closely linked with environmental sociology and sociocultural anthropology.

Overview

Many studies in the field of Sociology of disaster focus on the link between social solidarity and the vulnerabilities exposed by disasters. Scholarship in this field has observed how such events can produce both social solidarity[1][2][3][4] and social conflict,[5][6][7][8][9] and more importantly, expose inequalities inherent in the social order by exponentially exacerbating its effects.

Early disaster research established the mainstream parameters of what it is to do such research - i.e. a focus on solidarity arising in the aftermath of disasters and that disasters are a consequence of human maladaptation to the hazardous environment.[10]

Types of Disasters and What Causes Them

Natural Disaster- a natural disaster is an event that occurs on its own due to the earth's regular processes. Some natural disasters can be predicted while others happen very suddenly. Injury, death and damage to personal or commercial property often occurs during these events. A few examples are tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. Certain areas around the globe are prone to certain natural disasters.[12]

Man Made/Technological Disaster- these types of disaster are caused by the human race but can also be prevented by the human race. Advancements in technology are a wonderful thing but some uses of it can be very hazardous to life on earth. Extreme precautions must be taken in order to avoid most of these types of disasters. A few examples are chemical/nuclear, mass power outages and cyber attacks such as computer hacking.[13]

Terrorist Attacks- a terrorist attack is an act of crime or violence that is directed towards a certain group or belief system. These attacks are usually provoked by political or religious reasons. These events usually include the use of violence that often occur in bodily injury and even loss of life. Some examples are 9/11, Boston marathon bomber and the beheading of multiple American reporters by ISIS[12]

Natural disasters and terrorist attacks are the most common occuring types of disasters that affect the human population not only physically but mentally also. These types of disasters are the most detrimental to the morality of society and inflict a lot of mental stress and fear. People affected often have horrific flashbacks and can lead to self harm and suicide is even possible.


What do people do before, during and after disasters occur?

In the sociology of disaster, we as human beings are naturally inclined to prepare for the odd event of disaster to strike our community. We buy supplies such as nonperishable foods, bottled water, basic medical supplies, sources of light and heat and batteries to operate such things. We stow these things away in an accessible place but we also have predetermined evacuation routes and ways of transportation to escape the area that will be affected in the coming hours or days if a reliable prediction of catastrophe is presented to us. During the event of disaster humans usually panic and become stressed out. This is predictable because of we have seen the destruction that certain natural disasters can do. We often contact loved ones and try to seek shelter if we can not avoid the upcoming disaster. Sometimes nearby societies will prepare and gather supplies to help the people that are being affected by the disaster. Some organizations will try to help the best they can during the disaster and get people out of harms way. After disaster strikes people tend to act in many different ways. The community in a whole tries to help the affected victims but sometimes a few people can act out of the norm and act in criminal ways. Looting and shootings are often associated with disasters. Many organizations band together and provide relief. Communities eventually learn to adapt to the situation at hand and eventually start to thrive again.

Emergency Response Organizations[15]

• Local Police and Fire and Rescue is one of the first responders when it comes to receiving help when disaster strikes. Many of the people that work for these organizations are skilled in many ways from protection against danger/threats all the way to emergency medical help.

• The Red Cross is one of the best known organizations when huge disasters occur. This organization is known world wide for their disaster relief contributions. They have been involved in many of the world's most recent large scale disasters, providing those affected with food, shelter, water, medical assistance and much much more.

• The armed forces is another huge contributor to helping those who have been affected by disaster. The armed forces are often called upon because of their professionalism and ability to adapt and move very quickly. Time is key when it comes to disaster relief.

Conclusion

The sociology of disaster includes many different topics but it is about how people act and react when catastrophe strikes not only on the local scale but the world wide scale as well. People have a certain way about them that urges them to help people that have been struck by disaster. They want to get the economy and the society back to the way it was before it was altered. Society basically falls apart when disaster hits and some people will do things out of the norm like loot businesses and residences. Sickness and death is also involved in catastrophes. Luckily there are many organizations world wide that provide help and support.


References

  1. ↑ Barton AH. 1969. Communities in Disaster: A Sociological Analysis of Collective Stress. Garden City, NY: Doubleday
  2. ↑ Drabek TE. 1986. Human System Responses to Disaster. New York: Springer-Verlag
  3. ↑ Dynes RR. 1970. Organized Behavior in Disaster. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books
  4. ↑ Taylor VA. 1977. Good news about disasters. Psychol. Today 5:93-94
  5. ↑ Barry JM. 1997. Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America. New York: Simon & Schuster
  6. ↑ Bolton M. 1997. Recovery for whom? Social conflict after the San Francisco earthquake and fire, 1906-1915. PhD thesis. Univ. Calif., Davis
  7. ↑ Fradkin P. 2005. The Great Earthquake and Firestorms ofl 906: How San Francisco Nearly Destroyed Itself. Berkeley: Univ. Calif. Press
  8. ↑ Henderson AD. 2005. Reconstructing home: gender, disaster relief, and social life after the San Francisco earthquake and fire, 1906-1915. PhD thesis. Stanford Univ. Press, Stanford, CA. 278 pp.
  9. ↑ Phillips B. 1998. Sheltering and housing of low-income and minority groups in Santa Cruz county after the Loma Prieta earthquake. In The Loma Prieta, California, Earthquake of October 11, 1989?Recovery, Mitigation, and Reconstruction, ed. JM Nigg, pp. D17-28. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 1553D. Washington, DC: USGPO
  10. ↑ "Ezproxy | FIU Libraries". ezproxy.fiu.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-08.

Bibliography

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