Personal and familial crisis communication before and

during disastersCrisis Communication in Cultural

Contexts: Preparedness for Disasters in Guyana,

the United States, and Thailand

AbstractMost crisis communication research to date has focused on organizational contexts and the need for organizations to plan for crises. This discussion, however, focuses on personal and familial preparedness practices in three countries. Suggestions for future preparations, such as family preparedness planning, 72 hour kits, and community involvement, are discussed. Also analyzed are motivations for preparation, including civic suggestions and religious community encouragement.

BackgroundBased on fieldwork in

Georgetown, Guyana, Phuket Province, Thailand, and New Orleans, Louisiana

Seeks to better prepare people as they face natural disasters and calamities. 

Discusses how disasters and preparation are socially constructed based on standpoints and cultural beliefs. 

Statement of the problemGovernmental and other

agencies and entities seem both unable to adequately anticipate immediate and long-term needs of those afflicted by disasters.

Different interpretations of disaster and crisis events, based on culture, influence perceptions of who should provide aid.

Need to learn lessons from groups who prepared their members.

Theoretical Framework This phenomenological inquiry

(Lanigan, 1979) describes lived experiences, reduce the capta (conscious experiences or data) into essential themes

Researchers provide reflective, explanatory interpretations of themes which arise from the descriptions. 

Orbe (1990) explains key assumptions of phenomenological inquiry: that it rejects the suggestion of “objective research” and positivistic epistemology

Phenomenological inquiry “seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the nature and meaning of everyday experiences” (Orbe, p. 37).

Theoretical Framework (continued)This methodology is discovery-oriented

it seeks to study phenomenon in an open, non-restrictive manner;

it focuses on the study of persons and their experiences;

the focus is on actual conscious experience instead of hypothetical situations or incidents. 

Theoretical Framework (continued)Phenomenological inquiry research has long been a respected method of capta collection in the field of anthropology and continues to gain respect and increasing use in more disciplines since the legitimizing of the narrative paradigm.

Literature ReviewModels of crisis and risk

communication (Sellnow, Ulmer, & Snider, 1998; Birkland, 1997; Benoit, 1995; Benson, 1988; Fink, 1986) are important to contingency planning and preparation for future events specific to organizations and government entities. 

The models are specific to organizations as management and public relations officials have sponsored or endorsed the research as a protection against interferences to their businesses’ bottom line. 

Literature Review (continued)Crisis communication

theories are also rather new and “…have remained insular and isolated, and there has been an ‘opportunity cost’ to the lack of integration of these ideas” (Fishman, 1999, p. 370). 

Crisis communication studies were first implemented after the 1962 U.S. - Cuban missile conflict prompted researchers to look at groupthink outcomes, game theory in decision making, and scenario planning. 

Literature Review (continued) International development and

persuasion theories such as diffusion of innovation (Rogers, 1995) are helpful to understanding how to best inform cultural audiences of foreign practices and behaviors. 

However, there is not a body of theory which addresses personal preparedness for crises or calamities or theories which explain or predict how organizations can help their individual members prepare for the same events.

Literature Review (continued)This research seeks to

establish a theory of personal preparedness for emergency and crisis situations. 

This theory will bridge a gap in communication studies. 

This study of personal and familial preparedness is timely as disasters will continue to displace people and force evacuations.  

MethodologyQualitative

interviews focus groups

Interview GuideWhat preparations

individuals made when faced by disasters

Who, if anyone, assisted them in preparation efforts

What preparations they wish they had made

how they socially construct the events of the calamity

Interactions videotaped when permitted

Methodology (continued) To ensure the studies are

rigorous findings triangulated by using a

combination of interviews, focus groups, and textual analysis of media coverage of the events.

asked our co-researchers to check our results to ensure we highlight the concepts and strategies they deemed most important and intended.

Data was reviewed by phenomenological inquiry (Van Manen, 1990; Lanigan, 1979) and grounded theory (Strauss & Corbin, 1994), which allows for themes to arise from the collected information.

Emerging Themes Source credibility affects perceptions

of crisis communication and preparation

Government(s) caused (or could have prevented) the disaster(s)

(Governmental) Mismanagement prior to, during, and after the disaster

Collaborating in established social networks, such as religious organizations, helps citizens cope in disasters, but these organizations are problematic partners for aid and relief NGOs

People believe disaster preparedness is important and necessary, but they do not prepare

The experience and effects of disasters vary for each affected person

Emerging Themes Cultural differences affect

individual perceptions of their roles and responsibilities when preparing for natural disasters.

Perceptions of individual responsibility

The perception of individual responsibility exist on a continuum from low to high

 Mediating factors are socio economic, related to group affiliation, and religious beliefs

Within group variance exists

Thailand

Guyana

United

States

Perception of Individual Responsibility

…high

low…

RecommendationsEmpowering

individuals and families through education

Developing culturally based 72 hour kits to address needs before governments can act

Rotating food stored to ensure safe food when needed

Red Thread, Georgetown Guyana

Special thanks to the Tokyo Foundation and

all of our co-researchers.