@article {bnh-6246, title = {Working outside {\textquoteleft}the rules{\textquoteright}: Opportunities and challenges of community participation in risk reduction}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction}, volume = {44}, year = {2020}, month = {04/2020}, abstract = {

Research has shown that greater community action is needed for effective risk reduction. Community participation in risk reduction ranges from action that is initiated and led by members of the public, independently of government assistance, to those that are initiated and facilitated by government and non-government organisations. Natural hazards research has demonstrated that despite awareness of and a desire to reduce risk, many community members lack the physical, psychological or financial capacity to take action. This is particularly the case for bushfires, where preparations can be costly and physically demanding. In response to this, Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) established the Community Fire Unit (CFU) program. CFUs are groups of residents who are provided with education, training and equipment to enable them to reduce risks around their homes through enhanced preparation and some bushfire defence. This paper examines the experiences and views of CFU members after bushfires in the Blue Mountains, NSW in October 2013. The majority of respondents believed that their participation in the CFU program reduced bushfire risk and led to a greater sense of community and social capital in their local area. However, the research revealed challenges associated with participating within the formal, top-down structures of a professional fire brigade. Respondents therefore considered that greater flexibility was needed with simultaneously greater support and autonomy from FRNSW. The paper explores the experiences, challenges and opportunities presented by a top-down community based risk reduction program and considers the implications for community participation in risk reduction more generally.

}, keywords = {Bushfire, Community participation, Disaster risk reduction, hazard, Wildfire}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101396}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420919304832?dgcid=author}, author = {Katharine Haynes and Deanne Bird and J Whittaker} } @article {bnh-4238, title = {Bridging the divide between studies on disaster risk reduction education and child-centred disaster risk reduction: a critical review}, journal = {Children{\textquoteright}s Geographies}, year = {2017}, month = {07/2017}, abstract = {

There has been a recent increase in the body of knowledge related to children and disasters. These studies converge into three main fields of research: the impact of disasters on children and their psychological recovery, the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the education sectors and children{\textquoteright}s participation in DRR. This article provides a literature review of the two latter fields of research where the focus is on reducing disaster losses and building resilience prior to a disaster. Overall, 48 studies are critically reviewed and compared in relation to the strengths and weaknesses of their aims, methods, locations of research, impact, and outcomes. The review identified a number of differences between the two fields and significant opportunities for linking the two approaches, sharing lessons and knowledge. Based on the review, recommendations for further research are outlined.

}, doi = {10.1080/14733285.2017.1358448}, url = {http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14733285.2017.1358448?journalCode=cchg20}, author = {Avianto Amri and Katharine Haynes and Deanne Bird and Kevin Ronan} } @article {bnh-4239, title = {Disaster risk reduction education in Indonesia: challenges and recommendations for scaling up}, journal = {Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences}, volume = {17}, year = {2017}, month = {04/2017}, pages = {595-612}, chapter = {595}, abstract = {

This article investigates the implementation of disaster risk reduction education for children in Indonesia. In the last decade, education programmes related to this subject have been promoted as capable of reducing disaster losses and increasing resilience, based on several studies that have identified positive outcomes. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate and address any potential challenges that might impede their success. The article uses a case study in Jakarta, a rapidly growing megacity that is highly prone to disasters and natural hazards, especially floods and fires, to explore the scaling up and sustainability of disaster risk reduction in Indonesian schools. Based on previous studies, a new approach was developed for evaluating the implementation of education programmes related to these subjects. This study captured the perspectives of children, school personnel, and non-governmental organisations on the challenges of scaling up the implementation of disaster risk reduction education in schools. The study revealed seven key issues and suggests several policy recommendations to move forward. These key issues may also be apparent in many other developing and developed countries, and the suggested recommendations may well be applicable beyond Indonesia.

}, doi = {10.5194/nhess-17-595-2017}, url = {https://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/17/595/2017/}, author = {Avianto Amri and Deanne Bird and Kevin Ronan and Katharine Haynes and Briony Towers} } @article {bnh-5075, title = {Exploring the circumstances surrounding flood fatalities in Australia{\textemdash}1900{\textendash}2015 and the implications for policy and practice}, journal = {Environmental Science \& Policy}, volume = {76}, year = {2017}, month = {10/2017}, pages = {165-176}, chapter = {165}, abstract = {

This paper documents the analysis of the circumstances surrounding fatalities due to flooding in Australia between 1900 and 2015. This longitudinal investigation is important to understand changing trends in social vulnerability and to inform efficient and strategic risk reduction strategies. The basis of this analysis was\ PerilAUS, Risk Frontiers{\textquoteright} database of historical natural hazard impacts in Australia. This data was augmented and verified using coronial inquest records which provide detailed data concerning the social, demographic and environmental circumstances of each fatality. A statistical analysis of the data was undertaken, examining demographics (age, gender), location (state), seasonality, circumstances surrounding the fatality,\ environmental factors\ (e.g. the event intensity) and social factors (e.g. the decisions or actions which led to death). Overall there have been 1859 fatalities identified, with distinct trends in relation to gender, age, activity and reason behind the activity. Flood deaths have been declining. The majority of the fatalities are male (79.3\%): however, since the 1960s the proportion of female to male fatalities has increased. Children and young adults (\<29years) make up the greatest proportion of the fatalities (53.8\% of cases where age is known). The highest proportions of fatalities occurred while victims attempted to cross a flood-impacted bridge or road. The recommendations for\ emergency management\ policy and practice are discussed, outlining the need for a new approach that accounts for a continuum of measures including regulation and incentive, education and structural intervention.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.07.003}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901117301818}, author = {Katharine Haynes and Coates, Lucinda and Robin van den Honert and Andrew Gissing and Deanne Bird and Felipe Dimer de Oliveira and Rebecca D{\textquoteright}Arcy and Chloe Smith and Deirdre Radford} } @article {bnh-2735, title = {An analysis of human fatalities from floods in Australia 1900-2015}, number = {166}, year = {2016}, month = {05/2016}, abstract = {

This report examines the socio-demographic and environmental circumstances surrounding flood fatalities in Australia between 1900 and 2015. It is the first major milestone from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre funded project {\textquotedblleft}An analysis of human fatalities and building losses from natural disasters in Australia{\textquotedblright}.

The foundation for this work is the use of the Risk Frontiers{\textquoteright} database PerilAUS, which contains historical data on the incidence (magnitude, affected locations, etc.) and consequences (property damage and fatalities, etc.) of natural hazard events in Australia. PerilAUS contains many of the names of the deceased, which, during the course of this project has enabled the collection of more detailed information on the circumstances of many of the fatalities from coronial inquest reports. Since project commencement, the Flood Database has increased in total number of flood events by 75\%. The number of fatal flood events has increased by 100\% over the length of the project. Importantly, the percentage of named fatalities has increased from 50\% to 90\%, in addition to an increase in the overall numbers of fatalities.

The data has been analysed in relation to informing the understanding of the circumstances surrounding the deaths and how this information could best be utilised for emergency management policy and practice. This has included an examination of the data around the following themes: demographics, cause of death, location of the fatality and transport, activity and reason behind action prior to death, capacity and awareness, and flood type and severity.\ 

}, issn = {166}, author = {Katharine Haynes and Coates, Lucinda and Felipe Dimer de Oliveira and Andrew Gissing and Deanne Bird and Robin van den Honert and Deirdre Radford and Rebecca D{\textquoteright}Arcy and Chloe Smith} } @article {bnh-1350, title = {Investigating the activation of community fire units in the Blue Mountains during the October 2013 bushfires}, year = {2014}, institution = {Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC}, abstract = {

Fire \& Rescue NSW (FRNSW) and the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC) engaged Risk Frontiers to examine the effectiveness of Community Fire Units (CFUs) activated in the Blue Mountains, NSW during the period of heightened bushfire activity from 17 to 23 October 2013. Four focus groups, one interview and an online survey were utilised in order to explore 1) the activities undertaken and their impact on damage reduction and 2) the effectiveness of the equipment and training provided to CFU members.

Fieldwork was conducted between December 2013 and February 2014. The questionnaire was completed by 328 CFU members, giving a response rate of 32.5\%. The predominant respondents were men, aged 55{\textendash}64 years, working full-time, living in their own home as a couple without dependents and working more than 20 km from their home. A total of six CFUs were included in the focus groups and interview, with a total of 22 men and three women in attendance. All four focus groups and the interview were digitally recorded and professionally transcribed. Salient themes in the qualitative data were coded according to the specific aims of the research. Quotes are provided where possible in order for the respondent{\textquoteright}s voices to be heard.

The conclusions and findings section summarises the most salient points emerging from the quantitative and qualitative results in relation to the aims and objectives of the research. These findings are provided for FRNSW to consider in the context of their CFU program.

The main findings include:

}, author = {Katharine Haynes and Deanne Bird} } @article {bnh-2776, title = {Recovery and Resettlement following the 2011 flash flooding in Lockyer Valley}, journal = {International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,}, volume = {8}, year = {2014}, chapter = {20}, author = {Tetsuya Okada and Katharine Haynes and Deanne Bird and Robin van den Honert and David King} }