Conceptualizing Individual and Household Disaster Preparedness: The Perspective from Cameroon

This research explored the basic issue of what preparedness means and entails to people in Fako Division, Cameroon—a place threated by many hazards and that has experienced many disasters. Findings from the analysis of the 33 interviews conducted in this study indicate that preparedness is a dynamic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of disaster risk science Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 333 - 346
Main Authors: Nojang, Emmanuel Nzengung, Jensen, Jessica
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Beijing Beijing Normal University Press 01.06.2020
Springer
Springer Nature B.V
SpringerOpen
Subjects:
Analysis
Climate Change
Disaster management
Disaster theory
Disasters
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Emergency management
Emergency preparedness
Environment
Hazards
Hazards preparedness
Individuals and households
Landscape/Regional and Urban Planning
Natural Hazards
Risk management
Social networks
Sustainable Development
Cameroon
Hazards preparedness
Emergency management
Individuals and households
Disaster theory
Risk management
ISSN:2095-0055, 2192-6395
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This research explored the basic issue of what preparedness means and entails to people in Fako Division, Cameroon—a place threated by many hazards and that has experienced many disasters. Findings from the analysis of the 33 interviews conducted in this study indicate that preparedness is a dynamic state of readiness that is dependent on context, a social process, and a process of completing activities to save lives and minimize the effects of disasters. In addition, the research determined that Cameroonians view a wholly prepared person as someone who would: (1) have knowledge about hazards and what to do about them; (2) engage others, including their families and neighbors, in discussions about activities related to hazards; and (3) participate in activities to minimize loss from hazards, sustain themselves in the face of hazards, and flee from hazards. The findings from the interview data synchronize to a large extent with what is implied, but not clearly stated, in the existing research literature. The article addresses this synchrony, posits a definition of preparedness, and identifies the theoretical components of preparedness.
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ISSN:2095-0055
2192-6395
DOI:10.1007/s13753-020-00258-x