Disaster vulnerability of businesses in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake

Abstract

This paper examines the impacts of the February, 2001, Nisqually earthquake on businesses. Focusing on two hard-hit business districts in Seattle, the study investigates the extent of losses, patterns of disparities, and underlying loss factors. A conceptual framework is proposed of how business vulnerability dimensions contribute to disaster loss. Interviews were conducted with owners and managers of 107 businesses. Data were gathered on impacts, methods of finance, and disaster preparedness. Results showed that business losses were much greater than what standard statistical data would imply. Analysis found that a composite index of vulnerability—based on business sector, size, and building occupancy tenure—provides a very powerful predictor of business loss. Physical damage was a much weaker predictor of loss. Moreover, business recovery was influenced not only by characteristics of the business itself, but also by conditions in the neighborhood.     

Factors affecting post-disaster location choices of businesses: an analysis of the 1999 earthquake

Despite global policies advocating risk reduction and community level recovery, post-disaster implementations usually focus on households, but fail to focus on businesses in spatial terms. Due to the lack of appropriate policy and tools, businesses often make their own location choices as part of their recovery strategy. In view of this, this study aims to establish the factors affecting the location choices of businesses challenged by disasters in the absence of any specific spatial strategies designed for them. In order to determine these factors, empirical research was conducted in Adapazari, Turkey on 232 firms selected as a result of a stratified random sampling procedure. According to the analysis of the results, the most notable impacts on business location choices after a disaster shock are associated with occupancy status, education level, and extent of damage. In line with these findings, the impacts of business location choices are discussed to highlight the role of businesses in spatial decisions.     

A national and local media perspective on responsibility for and solutions to storm-related power outages in the northeastern United States

Major storms in the northeastern United States in 2011 and 2012 caused widespread power outages, bringing attention to the vulnerability of utility infrastructure as a result of extreme weather and environmental change. Media coverage of such focusing events provides context for and can affect government and public response. Our objective was to analyze gatekeeping, agenda setting, and framing in the New York Times (NYT) and local newspapers covering power outages related to large storm events in 2011 and 2012 (Tropical Storm Irene, October snowstorm, Hurricane Sandy). Government and utility officials focused on structural solutions to mitigate future storm impacts, whereas residents and businesses targeted individual actions. NYT interviews included residents more frequently than local newspapers, influencing coverage of impacts and solutions. Geographic differences between NYT and local newspapers’ foci may relate to coverage of solutions to and responsibility for outages. Our findings demonstrate the importance of collective action toward shared solutions.     

The impact of disasters on small business disaster planning: a case study

A major flood in 1997 forced the evacuation of Grand Forks, North Dakota and caused damage of USD 1 billion. Despite this recent disaster there is only marginal evidence of an increase in disaster recovery planning by businesses that experienced the flood. This finding is consistent with the results of other business-related disaster research. Statistical tests of survey results from 2003 indicate that there is a significantly higher rate of disaster recovery planning in businesses started since the 1997 flood than in businesses started before the flood and still in business. Such an outcome indicates a need for public policy actions emphasizing the importance of disaster planning. Improved disaster planning is an aid to business recovery and the results demonstrate the need for more widespread efforts to improve disaster recovery planning on the part of smaller businesses, even in areas that have recently experienced disasters.     

Forgetting about hazard

Abstract

This paper examines long-term recovery outcomes of businesses impacted by major natural disasters. Data were collected via two large-scale mail surveys—one administered to Santa Cruz County, California businesses 8 years after the Loma Prieta earthquake and the other administered to businesses in South Dade County, Florida, 6 years after Hurricane Andrew. Based on the results of OLS regression models, we argue that long-term recovery experiences of businesses are affected by various factors, including the economic sector in which a business operates, its age and financial condition, and the scope of its primary market; direct and indirect disaster impacts, including physical damage, forced closure, and disruption of operations; and owner perceptions of the broader economic climate. Previous disaster experience, level of disaster preparedness, and use of external sources of aid were not found to significantly affect the long-term economic viability of businesses in the two study communities.     

Business closure and relocation: a comparative analysis of the Loma Prieta earthquake and Hurricane Andrew

The occurrence of a number of large‐scale disasters or catastrophes in recent years, including the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), the Kashmir earthquake (2005), Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008), have raised our awareness regarding the devastating effects of disasters on human populations and the importance of developing mitigation and preparedness strategies to limit the consequences of such events. However, there is still a dearth of social science research focusing on the socio‐economic impact of disasters on businesses in the United States. This paper contributes to this research literature by focusing on the impact of disasters on business closure and relocation through the use of multivariate logistic regression models, specifically focusing on the Loma Prieta earthquake (1989) and Hurricane Andrew (1992). Using a multivariate model, we examine how physical damage to the infrastructure, lifeline disruption and business characteristics, among others, impact business closure and relocation following major disasters.     

Vulnerability of community businesses to environmental disasters

Business plays important roles in community functioning. ² However, disaster research has been disproportionately focused on units of analysis such as families, households and government agencies. This paper synthesises the major findings within the business development research field and the disaster research field. It constructs a framework for evaluating business vulnerability to natural disasters. Our theoretical integration of the research conducted to date addresses five major issues. First, it defines the ways in which businesses are subject to the impacts of natural disasters. Second, it identifies the factors that determine the magnitude of business impacts after a disaster. Third, it identifies how and when businesses return to their pre-disaster level in the disaster stricken community. Fourth, it describes measures that can be taken by individual firms and community planners to reduce the impacts of environmental disasters. Fifth, it identifies needs for public policy and future research to reduce business vulnerability to environmental disasters.     

The continued operation of businesses after an earthquake: a case study from Lushan County,China

This study performed a comparative analysis of changes in the operating status of initial surviving disaster‐stricken businesses and non‐disaster‐stricken businesses in Lushan County, China, after a devastating earthquake on 20 April 2013. It used a logistic regression model to explore the key factors associated with ‘post‐disaster continued business operation’ in the long term. Field data were collected from 1,078 businesses and questionnaire data from 263 small businesses between 2013 and 2017. The results indicate that a higher proportion of initial surviving disaster‐stricken businesses than non‐disaster‐stricken businesses managed to remain operational in each observation period. The continued operation of disaster‐stricken businesses after the earthquake was positively associated with the owner's age, previous disaster experience, pre‐disaster financial conditions, closure duration, and borrowing money from family or friends. A negative association was found with the size of the business. The findings serve as a vital reference for strategies to promote post‐disaster continued business operation.     

Building community resilience: business preparedness lessons in the case of Adapazarı, Turkey

The lack of attention paid to businesses in disaster management systems from the standpoint of state policies hampers efforts to build community resilience. This paper examines, therefore, the extent of business preparedness for disasters. Empirical research was conducted in Adapazarı, Turkey, 13 years after the İzmit earthquake, which struck the northwest of the country on 17 August 1999, claiming the lives of some 17,000 people. For the study, 232 firms were selected to inquire about their preparedness before and after the event. It is hypothesised that business preparedness is influenced by the following set of variables: business size; business sector; business age; financial condition prior to the disaster; occupancy tenure; market range; education level; and previous disaster experience. In line with the findings of the research, a policy framework is constructed to rationalise the allocation of resources for building resilience at the aggregate level by facilitating business preparedness.     

Organisational resilience following the Darfield earthquake of 2010

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a study on the resilience and recovery of organisations following the Darfield earthquake in New Zealand on 4 September 2010. Sampling included organisations proximal and distal to the fault trace, organisations located within central business districts, and organisations from seven diverse industry sectors. The research captured information on the challenges to, the impacts on, and the reflections of the organisations in the first months of recovery. Organisations in central business districts and in the hospitality sector were most likely to close, while organisations that had perishable stock and livestock were more heavily reliant on critical services. Staff well‐being, cash flow, and customer loss were major concerns for organisations across all sectors. For all organisations, the most helpful factors in mitigating the effects of the earthquake were their relationship with staff members, the design and type of buildings, and critical service continuity or swift reinstatement of services.     

震害下电-气关联生命线网络韧性研究

随着各类生命线网络间关联日益紧密,对关联生命线网络进行韧性研究刻不容缓。以地震灾害为背景,构建了城市电-气关联生命线网络韧性评估框架,并基于电力潮流分析和天然气稳态仿真分析,建立了考虑电力网络和燃气网络功能特性的性能评价指标。同时,以关联的IEEE30节点网络和20节点燃气网络为案例,结合评估框架分析网络韧性在不同恢复预算和恢复资源下的变化规律,为资源优化配置提供依据,为建设“韧性城市”提供支撑。     

生命线系统的震害耦联

在震害分析时,弧立地评价一个生命线系统的功能,不考虑与其它生命线系统间的耦联关系,可能会低估地震造成的损失。将地理信息系统（ＧＩＳ）与现有的震害预测方法结合起来,有利于推动新方法的研究。本文在ＧＩＳ环境下定义了网络失效率,提出了一种考虑不同生命线系统之间耦联关系的震害分析方法,给出了一个算例,并建议了相应的生产能力相关的震后应急抢修决策方案。     

Business recovery: an assessment framework

This paper presents a Business Recovery Assessment Framework (BRAF) to help researchers and practitioners design robust, repeatable, and comparable studies of business recovery in various post‐disruption contexts. Studies assessing business recovery without adequately considering the research aims, recovery definitions, and indicators can produce misleading findings. The BRAF is composed of a series of steps that guide the decisions that researchers need to make to ensure: (i) that recovery is indeed being measured; (ii) that the indicators of recovery that are selected align with the objectives of the study and the definition of recovery; and, where necessary, (iii) that appropriate comparative control variables are in place. The paper draws on a large dataset of business surveys collected following the earthquakes in Canterbury, New Zealand, on 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 to demonstrate the varied conclusions that different recovery indicators can produce and to justify the need for a systematic approach to business recovery assessments.     

城市生命线地震后恢复曲线与恢复过程优化的影响因素分析

恢复曲线的研究是城市生命线恢复过程和震灾的重要手段，它揭示恢复率与震后时间的关系，文中探讨了恢复曲线图的构造及相关参数的物理意义，恢复过程优化的数学模型及影响优化的主要因素（震后开始恢复时间ｔｆ、每一恢复单元的恢复时间ｔｉ、恢复单元数与恢复顺序等）的分析。     

基于脆性理论的灾害作用下生命线系统耦联分析

一个城市或地区的承灾能力主要看其基础设施的承灾能力,其中最重要的一个部分就是生命线系统的承灾能力。在分析评价生命线系统承灾能力时,不仅要考察复杂性、均衡性和可靠性这些网络特征,还要考虑各子系统间的关联性。这种关联对生命线系统整体的承灾能力有削弱作用。根据复杂系统脆性理论的思想和脆性联系熵的方法,提出了用系统综合脆性联系熵来反映和评价生命线系统整体的关联特性,并通过判断各子系统间的相互影响关系,量化了生命线系统整体的易损性。经耦联关系分析和计算,灾害破坏下,从生命线系统相互作用来看,电力系统受其他子系统的影响最大;而由于供水系统的关键性和其影响方式的不确定性,灾后首先要恢复的是供水系统的工作或供给。证明了该方法为优化系统组织管理、控制灾后的修复工作和协调子系统间的关系提供了依据。     

生命线工程网络抗震可靠性分析方法的比较研究

生命线工程网络抗震可靠性分析是进行生命线工程系统规划、设计、改造与优化的基础。因此 ,寻找一种高效的适应性强的系统可靠性分析方法对实际工程应用具有重要的意义。本文主要介绍两种高效的网络系统两终端连通可靠性分析方法———递推分解算法和有序二分决策图算法。首先 ,分别对两种算法的原理及实现过程进行了详细的论述和说明 ,并且用c语言编制了二分决策图算法的计算程序。然后 ,利用这两种方法及随机模拟算法对 2 0个以往研究中的经典算例和两个实际工程网络———河南省电力网和上海市浦西供水管网 ,进行了网络系统抗震连通可靠性分析。通过对实例分析结果的比较研究 ,得到了一些经验性的结论 ,以期为优化设计工程网络时选择系统可靠性的分析工具提供参考。研究表明 ,由于递推分解算法具有适应性强和能够求得问题近似解的优点 ,因此有良好的实际工程应用前景。     

油田生命线工程系统抗灾防灾时域变化可靠度控制研究

本文从工程可靠度理论出发，探讨了油田生命线工程系统随着时域的变化控制抗灾防灾能力的问题。提出了界线控制，保证油田生命线工程系统抗灾防灾能力的方法。指出了油田生命线工程系统抗灾防灾进行可靠度研究的必要性及意义。阐述了计算机仿真应用于油田生命线工程系统抗灾防灾研究的可行性和方法。     

生命线工程网络系统抗震可靠性分析方法综述

生命线工程系统地震反应分析的一个重要任务是计算系统的抗震可靠度,因此,寻找一种高效合适的系统可靠性分析方法至关重要.对生命线工程网络系统抗震可靠性分析中目前常用的几种算法进行了系统的比较、分析和综述.     

蚁群算法在生命线网络系统抗震拓扑优化中的应用

近年来,遗传算法和模拟退火算法已经应用于网络系统的抗震拓扑优化,蚁群算法也已经成功应用到多个组合优化问题中。首先论述了生命线网络系统抗震拓扑优化模型,然后介绍了网络抗震可靠度分析的最小路递推分解算法。通过对优化问题解形式的分析,采用二进制编码的蚁群算法对优化模型进行了求解。最后,结合实例分析,并与遗传算法和模拟退火算法的计算结果进行了对比。结果表明,蚁群算法可以作为一种新的工具进行网络系统的优化设计。