Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

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December 2007                                                                                              Volume 13 - Number 3

Perspectives...

Access to Information about Disaster Management: An Issue of National Security
By Lauren Ohl-Trlica

I started my graduate studies in crisis, emergency, and risk management only a few months ago. Since then, I have been designated with several activities that involve researching historical disasters, vulnerability assessments, and general disaster management information. Many of my efforts to procure information resolved in dead ends. This happened to me repeatedly, and quickly I grew frustrated. For an academic field that stresses public awareness and public involvement, why was the information so hard to access?

In one case, I had a phone call in to a municipality I will refer to as American City. My call was returned within the week; however, my questions remained unanswered. The representative of American City was reluctant to discuss disaster management policy and directed the conversation instead towards the natural hazards of the area. The representative from American City apologized for reserving the information, citing various reasons that included the phrases “sensitive information” and “homeland security.” Also, the written and codified Disaster Management Plan for American is also only available to those who visit their physical office.

I can understand why places like American City are tightfisted with sensitive information. Should the information fall to the hands of a terrorist, it could produce tragic consequences. I do, however, have a hard time believing that information about structural vulnerability to flooding is information a terrorist would be after. It seems that American City, much like the American Government, has conglomerated disaster management and homeland security into one obtuse, hidden, protected entity of information. The lines between issues of disaster management and homeland security grow ever more blurred.

The reluctance to disseminate disaster management information is especially sad. The study of disaster management as an academic science is still in its nascent stages, and the lack of information available to the public and students could immensely stunt its growth. Resources such as the Multi-disciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research and the Natural Hazards Center are slowly centralizing information on natural hazards and this should be lauded. Similar databases for information regarding disaster management need to be formed to fodder the development of the field.