Social Construction Of Disasters

The social construction of disasters evolves throughout the years due to political and economic factors as well as education and technological advancement. One thing is that disasters are commonly understood to be limited in both time and effect (Hills, p.163). When analyzing and interpreting past, present and future political synergies, it is necessary to include a human dimension that encapsulates and embraces socio-cultural appreciation and understanding of man and his environment (Trim, p. 218). The meaning of place can be defined as the natural environment— the physical milieu in which a disaster occurs in a given time at a given point (McEntire, p 405). Place is an integral part of human identity (Lect.). Examining the connection between
2). These actions have changed over time because of new safety protocols, technology and political factors to prevent and mitigate disasters, some have been praised and others have been heavily criticized. A timeline of events has shaped the social perceptions of disasters. In the 1980s, major events such as Mt. Helen’s eruption, the Bhopal chemical release, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, and the Loma Prieta earthquake. In the 1990s, Hurricane Andrew, the Midwest flooding, the bombing of World Trade Center, and Tokyo gas release. In the new millennium, physical damage, lives lost, and the economic impact escalated, 9/11 attacks, in 2005 the coast of Indonesian extreme earthquake and Hurricane Katrina, devastating earthquake in Haiti 2010, and Hurricane Superstorm Sandy in 2012 hit NJ and NY mostly, but 24 states were also impacted. The response to Katrina by local, state, federal authorities was harshly criticized by citizens and politicians shaping new perceptions (McEntire, p.