Title: Collaborative disaster management in local governments: perception, performance, and challenges

Authors: Sooho Lee; Ryan T. Fleming

Addresses: Department of Political Science, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA ' Department of Political Science, University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 30118, USA

Abstract: By using a sample of the State of Georgia local government managers, this study examines the attitude, behaviour, and perception of local managers in collaborative disaster management within the local dimension. The results show that local managers want more collaboration with other local governments than with federal/state or non-governmental organisations; and Georgia managers, on average, collaborate with five other organisations for disaster management, mostly focusing on local organisations through face-to-face meetings. Despite strong support for collaboration among local managers, the biggest concern is with the chain of command in actual emergency situations. Other findings and significant implications are provided.

Keywords: collaborative disaster management; collaboration; local government; training; emergency preparedness; emergency response; communication; non-profit organisations; interlocal agreements; collaborative public management; emergency management; chain of command; disaster response.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2015.074048

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2015 Vol.11 No.4, pp.343 - 355

Received: 24 Jul 2014
Accepted: 13 Oct 2015
Published online: 03 Jan 2016 *

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