Thesis (M. A.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 162-185). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed April 8, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 114-119)

Thesis (Ph.D)--City Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: French, Steven P.; Committee Member: Drummond, William; Committee Member: Goodno, Barry; Committee Member: McCarthy, Patrick; Committee Member: Yang, Jiawen. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (M. S.)--Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Dr. William L. Waugh; Committee Member: Dr. Ronald G. Cummings; Committee Member: Dr. Douglas S. Noonan; Committee Member: Dr. Robert B. Olshansky; Committee Member: Dr. Christopher M. Weible

Climate patterns over the past century served to amplify the frequency and intensity of environmental hazards, including flooding, wind and heat. While indicators like SoVi and BRIC begin to characterize how people and places fair against hazards, they can be limited in scope. Through the administration of household surveys, I investigate the usefulness of such indicators by examining the roles communication, infrastructure, institutional efforts, financial independence, knowledge, mobility and social capital play in producing resilience within the Estates of Fort Lauderdale Community in Dania Beach, FL. While results confirm BRIC’s Medium-High Resilience community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate that place attachment and community connectedness encourage weather-related information sharing, limited experiences and skills impede weather preparedness and response actions, and weather preparedness and response experiences are associated with less evacuation than expected. Findings prove to be richer and more policy and program actionable. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This report focuses on using the Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment Model (PTVA) to demonstrate the vulnerability of Cayucos to a 500-year tsunami, and using the results to inform specific planning recommendations. By modeling inundation with GIS and analyzing building attributes via the PTVA model, this study has gone beyond any previous vulnerability assessments of Cayucos. Findings include: delineation of the most vulnerable areas, estimates of numbers of lost civic buildings, commercial buildings and houses, as well as estimates of people displaced from tsunami damaged homes. The report goes on to discuss what mitigation measures are in place and what further specific steps could be taken to ensure the long term sustainability of the town and help reduce future tsunami losses. Cayucos is a small coastal town in San Luis Obispo County, California; popular with tourists and locals for its beach, pier, and downtown. Intense coastal development and low lying topography makes Cayucos among the most tsunami vulnerable communities in the county. Many civic and economically important buildings, as well as homes, are within the 500-year tsunami inundation area. In the absence of fully developed, and accessible assessment tools like FEMA’s HAZUS tsunami program; local planners have had only basic information to assess the community’s tsunami vulnerability. The Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment Model (PTVA) is a method that uses available tsunami runup estimations and field data collection to produce a detailed assessment of individual building survivability and overall community vulnerability.

Climate change is exerting a profound influence on natural hazards, resulting in increased frequency, intensity, and altered patterns of extreme weather events. These changes pose significant risks to vulnerable populations worldwide. Consequently, it is imperative to adopt hazard mitigation policies to address the impacts of climate change on natural hazards and communities. The adoption of such policies is a complex and dynamic process that requires a thorough understanding of the key factors influencing policy adoption. The United States has experienced a rise in the severity and frequency of floods, necessitating the implementation of comprehensive flood mitigation policies. These policies aim to protect vulnerable communities, safeguard critical infrastructure, and reduce the economic and human costs associated with these natural disasters. Among the various flood mitigation strategies, floodplain property buyout programs have garnered attention. However, there is limited research that examines the factors influencing the adoption of buyout programs at the local government level from a government perspective. This dissertation provides a comprehensive analysis of the adoption process of floodplain property buyout programs at the local level in the United States. The study employs a mixed methods approach to examine the mechanism behind policy adoption and identify the key factors that influence this process. Chapter 1 lays the foundation for the research by defining relevant terms and outlining the characteristics of floodplain property buyout programs in the U.S. Chapter 2 presents a theoretical framework that enhances our understanding of hazard mitigation policy adoption at the local level. The framework is exemplified through case studies of property buyout programs in North Carolina and New Jersey. The case studies conducted in these states offer compelling evidence that supports the proposed framework, which encompasses five-factor categories: hazard problem, social context, institutional capacity, cross-sector collaboration, and policy diffusion. Notably, institutional capacity plays a crucial role in buyout adoption, encompassing individual, organizational, and system capacity. These factors influence the uptake of buyouts and contribute to their success or failure. This exercise gives us valuable insights into the buyout decision making process and suggests avenues for research in the subsequent chapters. Chapter 3 conducts a quantitative analysis to validate the hazard mitigation policy adoption framework. Specifically, it focuses on investigating the factors that influence the adoption of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) property buyout programs by local governments in Virginia counties. Utilizing logistic regression models and a survey dataset collected from local floodplain managers in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the study reveals that floodplain managers' perception of repetitive flood loss and economic spillovers in neighboring areas significantly impact the adoption of buyout programs. In Chapter 4, we conduct a qualitative approach to delve into the decision-making dynamics in the adoption of floodplain property buyout programs from a government perspective in Virginia. Through semi-structured interviews with 12 experts representing various stakeholders involved in floodplain management, this study demonstrates the variations in the adoption processes among different local governments. The findings underscore the importance of leadership, community population size, floodplain managers' perception of repetitive flood loss, organizational staff capacity, and tax revenue considerations in shaping buyout decisions. It highlights the need for local leadership commitment, empowerment of floodplain managers, and comprehensive approaches to address challenges faced by small communities. The research provides practical guidance to enhance flood risk management practices and promote resilient and sustainable communities. In conclusion, this dissertation contributes to the understanding of hazard mitigation policy adoption at the local level by proposing a theoretical framework and providing empirical evidence through case studies, surveys, and interviews. The findings emphasize the importance of various factors, such as hazard problem, social context, institutional capacity, and policy diffusion, in shaping buyout policy adoption. The implications of this research extend to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, providing insights into the motivations, obstacles, and strategies surrounding the adoption and implementation of hazard mitigation policies. By considering these factors and employing comprehensive approaches, communities can enhance their resilience and effectively mitigate the impacts of natural hazards. / Doctor of Philosophy / Climate change is causing significant changes in natural hazards, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. These changes pose risks to vulnerable populations worldwide. To address these risks, it is crucial to adopt policies that mitigate the impacts of climate change on natural hazards and communities. This dissertation focuses on the adoption of such policies at the local level in the United States. The study examines the factors that influence the adoption of floodplain property buyout programs, which aim to protect communities and critical infrastructure from the impacts of floods. The research employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the adoption process and identify key factors that shape policy decisions. By studying case studies in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Virginia, the research provides insights into the motivations and obstacles surrounding the adoption of hazard mitigation policies. The findings emphasize the need for strong local leadership, considering community population size, addressing flood loss perceptions, building organizational capacity, and considering tax revenue implications. The research offers practical guidance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in enhancing flood risk management practices and promoting resilient and sustainable communities. By addressing the identified factors and adopting comprehensive approaches, communities can improve their resilience to natural hazards. The implications extend to policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, providing valuable insights into the adoption of hazard mitigation policies.

No description available.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Howard Hahn / Since 2005, local jurisdictions have been required to prepare hazard mitigation plans to maintain eligibility for a number of disaster-related federal grant programs. All types of communities prepare these plans, high-risk coastal communities and low-risk Great Plains communities alike. Research, both current and historic, has found hazard mitigation plans have a number of weaknesses, ranging from weak fact bases to weak mitigation actions. The purpose of this study is to explore how this research can be used to prioritize enhancements to hazard mitigation plans in growing rural counties, referred to as urbanizing rural communities, which have limited staff and resources. Specifically, Pottawatomie County, Kansas was the focus of this study. In order to prioritize enhancements, the current issues and challenges related to hazard mitigation were explored through interviews and assessing the quality of hazard mitigation plan documents. Based on the outcome of this initial analysis, plans of comparable communities were explored to identify a range of policies and methods that could be used by Pottawatomie County. Finally, these policies and methods will be prioritized based on the level of enhancement and resource requirements. This study found two possible directions for plan improvements: a combined response/mitigation planning process for a single county and strategies for participation within a regional planning context. The interviews with Pottawatomie County staff reveal an opportunity to combine phases of the emergency management cycle to boost interest and participation. The interviews also revealed a statewide shift to a regional planning process. This shift, while presenting new opportunities, will require Pottawatomie County staff to be more active and engaged to ensure the resulting regional plan will be beneficial to the county.

During the past two decades, community-based hazard mitigation (CBHM) has been newly proposed and implemented as an alternative conceptual model for emergency management to deal with disasters comprehensively in order to curtail skyrocketing disaster losses. Local community members have been growingly required to share information and responsibilities for reducing community vulnerabilities to natural and technological hazards and building a safer community. Consequently they are encouraged to join local mitigation programs and volunteer for collective mitigation action, but their contributions vary. This research examined factors associated with Tulsa Project Impact partners?? contributions to collective mitigation action. In the literature review, self-interest and social norms were identified and briefly discussed as two determinants to guide partners?? behavior by reviewing game theoretic frameworks and individual decision-making models. Partners?? collective interest in building a safer community and feelings of obligation to participate in collective mitigation action were also considered for this study. Thus, the major factors considered are: (1) collective interests, (2) selective benefits, (3) participation costs, (4) norms of cooperation, and (5) internalized norms of participation. Research findings showed that selective benefits and internalized norms of participation were the two best predictors for partners?? contributions to collective mitigation action. However, collective interests, participation costs, and norms of cooperation did not significantly influence partners?? contributions.