| Description |
The focus of this research is the geographical and temporal dimensions of the evacuation and return-entry process (EREP). The return-entry process, or the movement of evacuees back home after issuance of an all-clear message, presents unique hazards especially in cases where an area has sustained damage. The goal of this study is to advance our understanding of how risk perception, risk communication, and geographic and demographic factors influence evacuee behavior across the EREP. The four research objectives for this study are as follows: (1) Develop a typology of return-entry strategies and identify the factors that are most salient in making all-clear decisions by emergency managers, (2) Examine how evacuees risk perception varies geographically and temporally throughout the EREP, (3) Examine how risk communication varies geographically and temporally throughout the EREP, and (4) Determine what factors influence compliance with return orders. A case study using the 2008 Cedar Rapids, Iowa Flood was conducted using mail-out surveys. The results of this study indicate that geographic location influences evacuee risk perception throughout the EREP. Risk perception varied throughout the disaster event and evacuees experienced similar levels of risk perception during the EREP. A distance-decay effect was found in receiving the all-clear message following a disaster in that the farther a household evacuates, the less likely they will receive the all-clear message. The results indicate that socio-demographic factors were not a significant predicator of return compliance, however several factors such as age, education, family size, and socio-economic status did influence perceived threat associated with returning home. Finally, the binary logistic regression models developed to predict compliance with evacuation orders demonstrate that factors commonly found to influence compliance with evacuation orders were poor predictors of return compliance in this case study. The findings of this research serve to improve our knowledge and advance theory pertaining to the geographic factors that influence evacuee behavior throughout a disaster event. They also provide insight into evacuee response to protective action recommendations throughout the EREP as well as how emergency officials develop return-entry strategies. |
