Natural disasters are increasing in both number and severity, causing the number of people being displaced by disaster to rise as well. Hurricane Katrina provides a particularly poignant example of the human impact of disaster, and of inadequate disaster response, especially where housing is concerned. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans exposed a gap in the approach to housing survivors of natural disasters, especially at the interim housing level. The FEMA trailer - which was only intended to house survivors temporarily but, in many cases, became a long term housing solution, - provided shelter for survivors, but did not account for their psychological well-being. The loss of one’s home can be a traumatic experience, as people identify their sense of self with their home. Therefore, it is crucial to reinstate this sense of home, and in turn provide continuity to the sense of self, early on in the recovery process. Rebuilding after a natural disaster is a long process. Because of this, disaster housing needs to be able to evoke a sense of home and ownership so that inhabitants can connect with their environment and reinstate their daily routines. This helps them to rebuild their lives. The proposed project attempts to do this by allowing for flexibility and choice in both the design and daily use of the house. The house transitions from temporary to permanent housing, allowing for a dialogue between inhabitant and environment to begin early on in the recovery process, and to persist. The design is informed by theories on place making, elements of home, dwelling, as well as loss and the grieving process.

Many of the most destructive natural disasters have taken place in situations characterized by armed conflict and insecurity: the Indian Ocean tsunami in Sri Lanka and Indonesia in 2004, the floods in Pakistan in 2011, the drought in Somalia in 2011 and typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. Surprisingly little research has systematically explored how armed conflict affects natural disaster management, and how shocks from natural disaster influence conflict dynamics. This dissertation addresses these gaps by providing a qualitative and disaggregated analysis of the micro-dynamics underpinning the relationship between armed conflict, natural disasters and cooperation. It asks: what is the relationship between natural disasters and processes of conflict and cooperation in countries affected by civil conflict? To explore this question, the dissertation offers four essays that explore different facets of this relationship, focusing on the rebel group. Examining collaboration between rebel group and humanitarian actors during disaster relief efforts in the Philippines, essay I finds that rebel group behavior after a natural disaster is shaped by the level of hostility between combatant parties and the nature of the ties with the local population. Exploring the effect of natural disasters on conflict dynamics in the case of the Philippines, essay II suggests that natural disasters hinder rebel group recruitment tactics, by increasing hardship for rebel combatants and supporters, by weakening the rebel group’s organizational structure and supply lines, and by leading to a loss of territorial control. Based on a comparative case study between Colombia and the Philippines, essay III revisits ripeness theory and argues that the level of rebel group cohesion will help to predict whether or not rebel groups stay at the negotiation table until an agreement is reached. While a typhoon affected the Philippines during the negotiations, it did not “ripen” the peace talks. Finally, article IV explores pre-disaster evacuation across conflict-affected regions in the Philippines and India, and argues that both experience of previous disaster and the level of trust in government officials influence the likelihood of people evacuating. The dissertation has important implications for both disaster management and conflict resolution, and it calls for more dialogue between both disciplines.

Sustainability of biophysical soil and water conservation measures undertaken on communal land remains a challenge. This research was conducted in the two watersheds of Legambo district, Ethiopia, using a conservation project implemented as disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change. The study examined relevance and appropriateness of conservation measures and identified factors affecting sustainability. Findings show that population growth is high and crop production is the major source of income for all households. Crop income levels varied significantly (P<<0.01) with wealth status of households. Droughts, floods, crop diseases and frost are hazards that frequently occur in the area. Some conservation measures implemented were considered by communities as inappropriate. Low community participation, poor planning and unclear objectives and use rights, weak enforcement of by-laws and lack of maintenance of structures are the major challenges. Integrating family planning, enhancing participation of women, clarifying responsibilities and benefit sharing arrangements, enforcement of rules and building capacity are suggested to improve effectiveness and sustainability of conservation measures / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Management)

Cette thèse se compose de trois essais sur l’éducation et la cohésion sociale dans les pays en développement, et plus particulièrement en Égypte et en Indonésie. Le premier chapitre analyse les comportements des ménages en Égypte, notamment l’investissement pour l’éducation et la santé, suite à la révolution de 2011, que nous interprétons ici comme un environnement instable. Pour étudier les effets du déclenchement de la révolution Égyptienne, nous combinons l’enquête représentative des ménages avec un enregistrement statistique unique de toutes les personnes arrêtées, blessées ou tuées lors des manifestations politiques dans le pays. Nos résultats montrent que les ménages adaptent considérablement leur comportement dans un contexte politique instable. Le deuxième chapitre analyse les conséquences des tremblements de terre sur l’éducation et les mesures de santé des enfants en Indonésie. Nous constatons que les résultats en matière d’éducation et de santé des enfants sont négativement affectées lorsqu’un ménage subit un tremblement de terre, avec une certaine hétérogénéité selon l’âge et le sexe de l’enfant. Le troisième chapitre analyse les effets du favoritisme ethnique dans l’attribution des transferts gouvernementaux aux ménages suite à une catastrophe naturelle Les résultats suggèrent que bien que tous les ménages d’un même village soient affectées, les ménages les plus susceptibles de recevoir des transferts gouvernementaux sont ceux qui partagent la même origine ethnique que le leader de la communauté. Mes conclusions démontrent également que dans les villages ou le favoritisme ethnique est répandu, la confiance entre groupes ethniques s’est réduite entre 2007 et 2014. / This thesis is a collection of three independent essays in empirical development economics, with a particular focus on the study of mechanisms that impact education and social cohesion in Egypt and Indonesia. The first chapter analyses the effects of the Egyptian Revolution on education and health spendings as well as savings. We construct a new measure of revolution intensity and match a representative household panel survey data with a unique statistical record that documents the number of arrested, injured and deaths during the uprisings in Egypt. We find that households significantly adapt their behaviour in a politically unstable environment. The second chapter analyses the short and long-term effects of earthquakes on children’s education and health outcomes. Findings rely on individual-level panel data from large-scale household surveys combined with precise measures of local ground tremors obtained from a US Geological Survey database. Results suggest that children’s education and health out-comes decrease with some heterogeneity by age and gender. The third chapter identifies ethnic favouritism in the distribution of post-disaster aid at household level in the context of Indonesia. Results show that co-ethnic households are more likely to receive post-disaster relief transfers than households that were equally affected by a natural disaster, but do not share the same ethnicity as the community leader. Results also suggest that ethnic favouritism significantly reduces social cohesion measured by trust in affected communities.Keywords: Education; Health; Cognitive skills; Critical age; Post-disaster aid; Household savings; Trust; Natural disaster; Political instability; Ethnic diversity; Ethnic favouritism; Egypt; Indonesia.

A participação social é um elemento essencial para que se possa garantir legitimidade e governabilidade no planejamento e implantação de políticas públicas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a participação da população no processo de gerenciamento de riscos ambientais, e também avaliar se a percepção dos cidadãos pode contribuir para o diagnóstico da vulnerabilidade e riscos, e desta forma subsidiar a gestão do problema em nível local. O estudo foi realizado na bacia hidrográfica do rio Indaiá - Ubatuba, São Paulo Brasil, com área de 37,6 Km2, abrangendo os bairros do Perequê-açu, Barra Seca, Taquaral, Casanga e Sumidouro. Conforme o mapeamento realizado pelo Instituto Geológico do Estado de São Paulo (SÃO PAULO, 2006), esta bacia possui extensas áreas com riscos de inundações, escorregamentos de terra e queda de blocos. Para contextualizar a questão da participação social na gestão de riscos, foram analisados os instrumentos legais e políticas públicas em nível federal, estadual e municipal a partir da Constituição de 1988, tendo como foco principal a etapa de prevenção. O estudo da percepção ambiental teve como base teórica e conceitual as obras de Tuan (1983) e Del Rio e Oliveira (1996). Acompanhou-se também a tendência dos estudos da vulnerabilidade do lugar de Marandola Jr.; Hogan (2004a; 2004b; 2005). Para o levantamento das informações junto à população utilizou-se diversas metodologias. Na consulta junto à população foram aplicados 209 questionários, e realizadas entrevistas com educadores e lideranças locais. As atividades participantes incluíram a realização de um curso e de uma reunião comunitária sobre mapeamento e prevenção de riscos ambientais. Os resultados da análise da percepção dos participantes sobre elementos da vulnerabilidade e riscos foram representados cartograficamente e correlacionados com as informações do mapeamento técnico existente, sendo analisados seis casos específicos que demonstram problemas quanto à gestão de riscos. A falta de informações e orientações sobre a questão e o desconhecimento de grande parte dos entrevistados sobre os instrumentos de gestão e o mapeamento técnico existente, demonstram que a população local não participa do processo de gestão de riscos ambientais na área de estudo, comprovando-se a hipótese inicialmente formulada. Os recursos utilizados para coleta e espacialização dos dados se mostraram eficazes, propiciando o levantamento de informações relevantes sobre a vulnerabilidade, os perigos e riscos ambientais a partir do olhar da comunidade sobre o lugar. Estas informações podem subsidiar diretrizes e ações do poder público na prevenção de riscos ambientais. Recomenda-se a adoção de um processo participativo de gestão de riscos, com canais de diálogo e de educação aproximando a sociedade do Sistema de Proteção e Defesa Civil. / Social participation is an essential element that can ensure legitimacy and governance in the planning and implementation of public policies. This study aims to analyze the participation of the population in the process of environmental risk management, and evaluate the perception of the citizens can contribute to the diagnosis of vulnerability and risk, and thus support the management of the problem at the local scale. The study was conducted in the river basin Indaiá - Ubatuba, Sao Paulo - Brazil, with an area of 37.6 km2, covering the districts of Perequê-açu, Barra Seca, Taquaral Casanga and Sink. As the mapping done by the Geological Institute of the State of São Paulo (SAO PAULO, 2006), this basin has large areas at risk of flooding, landslides and land falling blocks. To contextualize the issue of social participation in risk management, the legal and public policy at the federal, state and municipal governments, were analyzed from the Constitution of 1988, focusing primarily on the prevention stage. The study of environmental perception was based on theoretical and conceptual works of Tuan (1983) and Del Rio and Oliveira (1996). It is also followed the trend of studies of the vulnerability of the place of Marandola Jr.; Hogan (2004a, 20 04b, 2005). For collecting the information on the population, 209 questionnaires and interviews were applied with educators and local leaders. The activities included the realization of a course and a community meeting on mapping and environmental risk prevention. The results of the analysis of the participants\' perceptions about aspects of vulnerability and risks were represented cartographically and correlated with technical information mapping existing, and six cases were analyzed that demonstrate specific issues regarding the management of risks. The lack of information and guidance on the issue and ignorance of most of the interviewees regarding the management tools and mapping existing technical, demonstrate that the local population does not participate in the process of environmental risk management in the study area, confirming the hypothesis initially formulated. The resources used for data collection and data mapping are efficient, providing a survey of relevant information about the vulnerability, hazards and environmental risks from the look of the community about the place. These informations can support policies and government actions to prevent environmental hazards. It is recommended the adoption of a participatory risk management, channels of dialogue and education society approaching Protection System and Civil Defense.

En quoi le traitement journalistique contribue-t-il à une construction de l’Histoire, quand il se confronte à la barbarie du genre humain ou aux pires déchaînements de Mère Nature ? De quels éléments de compréhension dispose-t-on dans la mémoire de ces événements ? La place occupée par le journaliste sur ces terrains en crise est intenable. Il est comme coincé dans une crise perpétuelle qu’il ne vit qu’au présent. Avec des archives conservées ou non, les traces disponibles sont très aléatoires. Je souhaite décortiquer ce que l’on appelle parfois la machine médiatique. Par une recherche approfondie mais non moins sélective des médias et des publics qui les consomment, il s’agit de trouver les clés pour comprendre comment ces crises majeures se transforment en une nouvelle Histoire focalisée sur l’instantané du journaliste qui traite de ces crises. Guerres, crimes génocidaires, tremblements de terre, tsunami : cette toile de fond ne reçoit pas le même traitement journalistique selon que l’on se situe en avril 1994 ou en janvier 2010.Interroger l’approche de ces crises qui se ressemblent mais déchirent les mémoires diversement selon que le traitement journalistique porte sur la République démocratique du Congo ou le Rwanda ; éclairer ce qui fait le terreau du misérabilisme ou suscite l’admiration dans la manière de rapporter les événements qui touchent Haïti ou le Japon ; savoir pourquoi telle ou telle direction est privilégiée dans la couverture de ces crises dans la presse imprimée francophone à travers des titres belge et français ; comprendre comment le Web bouscule les choix et la vitesse de la couverture du chaos : voici la base de cette recherche. / How does media coverage contribute to build History, when it faces Human atrocities and huge natural disasters? What keys to understanding can be found in the recollection of such events? The journalist’s position on these unstable fields is untenable. He is stuck in a permanent crisis that he can only watch as a contemporary witness. And, because records are not always held, traces are randomly available. My objective is to dissect what we may call the media spiral. Through an in-depth but nonetheless selective study of the Medias and their publics, the aim is to find keys to understanding how these major crises are turned into a new History focused on the reporter’s snapshot. Wars, genocides, earthquakes, and tsunami: this backdrop is not subject to the same media coverage depending whether we are in April 1994 or in January 2010. Questioning the approach to crises which are alike, but tear memories variously as the journalistic treatment concerns the Democratic Republic of Congo or Rwanda; decoding what is a breeding ground for ‘miserabilism’ on the one hand, and what arouses the admiration on the other hand, in the way of reporting the events which affect Haiti or Japan; trying to find out why such or such direction is favoured in the coverage of these crises in French-speaking printed press, through the study of Belgian and French titles; comprehending why the Internet rushes the choices and the race for the chaos coverage: here is the basis of this research.

The environment has become the center of attention in recent years. The world is at the brink of several interrelated ‘green’ crises: environmental degradation, climate change, peak oil, food crisis, and various natural disasters. Hence, there is a viable threat to society. This essay aims to explore the significance of the environment for societal collapse—with a Western world city focus. The method of choice is a literature-based critical instance case study. In this thesis, the environmentally focused collapse theories of Jared Diamond and Clive Ponting are tested on the empirical example of the city of New Orleans, USA. In 2005, New Orleans was wrecked by Hurricane Katrina. As a result, 80% of New Orleans was flooded, almost 1,800 people lost their lives, and the infrastructural systems suffered lengthy breakdowns. Consequently, the supply of basic services such as water, food, sewage, electricity, heating, communications, transportation and shelter was severely compromised.   The study shows that in the specific case of New Orleans, the underlying reasons for collapse cannot be explained by ‘green’ collapse theories alone. In fact, poor wetlands management was the only environmental issue of importance. Contributing causes were various managerial flaws (including lack of financing) on all levels in terms of emergency prevention, preparedness and response, as well as long-term structural implications for social justice. Thus, the environmentally related theories of Diamond and Ponting do not prove a perfect match. Instead, the collapse of New Orleans had better been explained by a ‘root cause mix’ theory, which takes political, economic, social and environmental aspects into consideration. / Miljöfrågor har hamnat allt mer i fokus de senaste åren. Världen står på tröskeln till ett flertal miljörelaterade kriser: miljöförstöring, klimatförändring, peak oil (oljeproduktionstoppen), global matkris samt diverse naturkatastrofer. Detta medför sammantaget ett allvarligt hot mot samhället. Examensarbetet syftar till att belysa miljöns betydelse för samhällskollaps – med fokus på den västerländska staden. Den metod som tillämpas är en litteraturbaserad fallstudie. I uppsatsen testas Jared Diamonds och Clive Pontings miljöinriktade teorier om samhällskollaps på det empiriska exemplet New Orleans, USA. År 2005 ödelades New Orleans av orkanen Katrina. Så mycket som 80 % av staden drabbades av översvämning, 1 800 invånare omkom och hela infrastrukturen bröt samman. Katastrofen fick därmed allvarliga konsekvenser för grundläggande samhällsfunktioner som försörjningen av vatten, livsmedel, avlopp, elektricitet, värme, kommunikationer, transporter samt boende.   Studien visar att miljöorienterade teorier om samhällskollaps inte fullt ut kan förklara grundorsakerna till det sammanbrott som skedde i New Orleans. Den enda miljörelaterade orsaken av betydelse var inadekvat skötsel av våtmarkerna. Bidragande faktorer var istället bristande politisk styrning (inklusive otillräcklig finansiering) på alla nivåer vad gäller förebyggande, beredskap och hantering av kriser, samt långvariga strukturella hinder för social rättvisa. Slutsatsen blir därför att varken Diamonds eller Pontings miljöinriktade teorier träffar helt rätt. För större träffsäkerhet, borde New Orleans’ sammanbrott förklaras med en teori som förutom miljöfaktorer även innefattar politiska, ekonomiska och sociala aspekter.

Les troubles anxieux apparaissent très tôt chez les jeunes. Les études corrélationnelles suggèrent que plusieurs facteurs, tels que le stress prénatal maternel (SPM) et la surimplication maternelle contribueraient à leur développement et à leur maintien. L’objectif de l’étude est de mieux comprendre si la surimplication maternelle est une cause ou une conséquence de l’anxiété chez l’enfant, le tout dans un contexte de stress prénatal maternel causé par un désastre naturel. L’échantillon fait partie d’un projet plus grand dans lequel les stress objectif et subjectif ont été mesurés chez les femmes enceintes lors de l’inondation en 2011 à Queensland en Australie. L’échantillon de l’étude inclut 72 dyades mère-enfant, ayant complété une tâche difficile de casse-tête, d’une durée de 5 minutes, lorsque les enfants étaient âgés de 4 ans. À partir des vidéos, les observateurs ont évalué le comportement maternel (la surimplication) et le comportement de l’enfant (l’anxiété) en continu. Des techniques d’analyse séquentielle ont été utilisées pour déterminer la probabilité qu’un comportement maternel de surimplication se produise avant ou après un comportement anxieux et vice versa. Les corrélations obtenues entre le SPM (objectif et subjectif), le comportement anxieux de l’enfant et le comportement de surimplication maternelle n’ont pas été significatives. Le comportement de surimplication n’est pas un médiateur entre le SPM (objectif et subjectif) et le comportement anxieux de l’enfant. Toutefois, les chances qu’un comportement maternel de surimplication suive un comportement anxieux chez l’enfant étaient plus grandes que les chances qu’un comportement anxieux suive un comportement maternel de surimplication. Nos résultats suggèrent que le stress prénatal maternel n’est pas associé avec le comportement de surimplication maternelle, ni avec le comportement anxieux de l’enfant. La surimplication maternelle est plutôt une réaction au comportement anxieux de l’enfant. Il est essentiel, pour de futures recherches, de se rappeler que l’enfant est un participant actif dans la relation mère-enfant et qu’il est important d’étudier la bidirectionnalité de la relation pour mieux comprendre et pour mieux intervenir. / Anxiety disorders start very early in young people and several factors, such as prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) and maternal overinvolvement are believed to contribute to their development and maintenance. The objective of this study is to better understand if the overinvolvement of the mother is a cause or a consequence of the child’s anxiety, all in a context of prenatal maternal stress due to a natural disaster. The sample is part of a larger project that assessed the objective hardship and the subjective distress in women who were pregnant during the 2011 Queensland flood in Australia. The current sample included 72 mother-child dyads, completing a 5-minute puzzle task when the children were 4 years old. Observers rated maternal (overinvolved) and child (anxious) behaviors from videos continuously. Sequential analysis techniques were used to determine the likelihood of a maternal overinvolved behavior occurring before or after a child anxious behavior and vice versa. The correlations between PNMS (objective and subjective) and the child's anxiety and maternal over-involvement were not significant. Maternal overinvolvement did not mediate the relationship between PNMS (objective and subjective) and anxiety in children. However, the odds of maternal overinvolvement following child anxiety, was stronger than the odds of child anxiety following maternal overinvolvement. Our results suggest that prenatal maternal stress is not associated with maternal overinvolvement nor with child anxiety. It also suggests that maternal overinvolvement is a reaction to the child’s anxious behavior rather than a cause of it. Future research needs to keep in mind that the child is an active participant in the mother-child relationship and that it is important to study the bidirectionality of the relationship to better understand it and intervene.

Le stress prénatal maternel (SPM) est un concept largement étudié et ce, autant par de méthodes objectives que subjectives. Certains chercheurs évaluent les symptômes d’anxiété et de dépression des femmes au cours de leur grossesse alors que d’autres préfèrent mesurer les niveaux de cortisol des femmes enceintes. Pour cette thèse, le SPM a été mesuré par deux méthodes différentes, soit l’exposition des femmes enceintes à une catastrophe naturelle et l’exposition des mêmes femmes enceintes à des événements de vie stressants plus courants. Puisqu’il est bien établi que ce type de stress engendre des répercussions négatives sur la femme enceinte ainsi que sur le développement de l’enfant, il est désormais d’intérêt d’accentuer les recherches sur les moyens qui permettent d’atténuer les conséquences d’un tel stress. Dans les études auprès des animaux, nous savons que les conditions de maternage ainsi que l'enrichissement environnemental semblent renverser les effets du SPM, mais nous ne savons pas si, chez les humains, un bon encadrement parental, c’est-à-dire un cadre structuré avec des règles prévisibles et consistantes, peut protéger les enfants des effets du SPM. L’objectif de cette thèse est donc d’augmenter notre compréhension sur l’effet protecteur de l’encadrement parental dans le développement d’enfants qui ont été exposés à différents types de SPM. Cet objectif pourra être atteint grâce à une collaboration internationale initiée par la Dre Suzanne King suite aux inondations qui se sont produites en 2008 dans l'état d'Iowa. Suite à la catastrophe, la Dre King est entrée en contact avec le Dr O’Hara afin d'évaluer la sévérité du stress dû aux inondations chez les femmes enceintes et pour déterminer les effets de ce stress sur leur enfant. Trois types de stress ont été évalués: le degré objectif de difficulté (p. ex., pertes financières), l'évaluation cognitive de la catastrophe en tant qu'expérience négative, neutre ou positive, et la détresse subjective causée par l'inondation (p. ex., symptômes de TSPT). Suite au recrutement des mères, les enfants de l'échantillon ont été évalués à l’âge de 2, 4, 5 et 7 ans. La présente thèse est composée de trois études. La première étude porte sur l’effet modérateur de l’encadrement parental sur les associations entre le SPM causé par les inondations d’Iowa et les problèmes comportementaux chez les enfants âgés de sept ans. Les résultats indiquent qu’un encadrement parental où la discipline est consistante protège les garçons qui ont été exposés au SPM objectif contre différents symptômes de problèmes internalisés et externalisés. La deuxième étude se penche également sur la question de l’effet protecteur de l’encadrement parental sur les associations entre le SPM et les problèmes comportementaux chez les enfants âgés de sept ans. Toutefois, cette étude s’est plutôt penchée sur l’influence du SPM lorsque celui-ci est causé par des événements de vie qui sont plus communs qu’un désastre naturel. De nouveau, les résultats de cette étude nous révèlent qu’un encadrement parental consistant joue le rôle de facteur de protection, chez les garçons qui ont été exposés au SPM causé par des événements de vie stressants, mais seulement en ce qui concerne les problèmes de comportement externalisés. La troisième étude vient reconsidérer l’effet protecteur de l’encadrement parental sur les liens entre le SPM et les problèmes comportementaux des enfants qui ont été exposés à un désastre naturel. Cependant, pour cette étude, les comportements des enfants n’ont pas été évalués par un questionnaire, mais plutôt par une méthode observationnelle (tâche de frustration). Toutefois, dans cette étude, il n’est ressorti aucun effet significatif de l’encadrement parental comme variable modératrice. En somme, nos résultats rapportent que l’implantation d’un cadre structuré et consistant peut venir pallier et même renverser les conséquences du SPM sur le comportement des garçons. / Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is a widely studied concept, both by objective and subjective methods. Some researchers assess women's symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy, while others prefer to measure cortisol levels in pregnant women. For this thesis, PNMS was measured by two different methods: either exposure of pregnant women to a natural disaster, or exposure of these same pregnant women to more common stressful life events. Since it is well established that this type of stress has a negative impact on the pregnant woman as well as on the development of the unborn child, it is now of interest to increase research on ways to mitigate the consequences of such stress. In animal studies, we know that rearing conditions and environmental enrichment seem to reverse the effects of PNMS, but we do not know whether, in humans, good parental structure, that is, a structured framework with predictable and consistent rules, can protect children from the effects of PNMS. The aim of this thesis is, therefore, to increase understanding of the protective effect of parental structure in the development of children who have been exposed to different types of PNMS. This goal can be achieved through an international collaboration initiated by Dr. Suzanne King following the 2008 floods in the state of Iowa. Following the disaster, Dr. King contacted Dr. O'Hara to assess the severity of flood stress in pregnant women and to determine the effects of this stress on their children. Following the recruitment of mothers, the children in the sample were assessed at the ages of 2, 4, 5 and 7 years. This thesis consists of three studies. The first study examines the moderating effect of parental structure on the associations between PNMS caused by a natural disaster and behavioural problems in the Iowa Flood Study children at age 7 years as reported by their mothers. The results indicate that consistent parenting protects boys who have been exposed to PNMS from various symptoms of internalizing and externalizing problems. The second study also examines the issue of the protective effect of parental structure on associations between PNMS and behavioural problems, as reported by their mothers, in the Iowa Flood Study seven-year-olds. However, this study looked at the influence of PNMS when it is caused by life events that are more common than a natural disaster while controlling for the severity of their flood exposure. Again, the results of this study reveal that consistent parenting plays the role of a protective factor in boys who have been exposed to PNMS caused by stressful life events, but only with regard to externalizing behaviour. The third study reconsiders the protective effect of parental structure on the links between PNMS and behavioral problems of children who have been exposed to a natural disaster. However, for this study, children's behaviors were not assessed by a questionnaire, but rather by an observational method (task of frustration). However, the limitations of this study did not allow us to observe the effects of parental structure. In summary, our results show that the implementation of a structured and consistent framework can overcome, and even reverse, the consequences of PNMS on boys' behaviour.

Disaster victims and vulnerable populations are audiences that communications professionals and scholars have ignored. Public relation practices dominate current disaster communication policy. This study examines the disaster communication network, including policy and practice, of the Thai Red Cross, before, during, and after the Asian tsunami. Disaster communication(s) is defined as the sharing and exchange of information with the victims immediately affected by a disaster. This definition focuses specifically on the vulnerable audience and allows response efforts to emerge from multiple disciplines. Focusing response efforts on victims' assessed needs and abilities allows for a multi-disciplinary approach to mitigate further suffering. The disciplines of health, development, and communications converge for efficient disaster management. This case study gives great insight into the cultural chasm between policy making and practical application and also reveals the value of personal initiative. A proposed model of disaster communication is offered. Significantly more research is needed in the area of disaster communications.