With the integration of IT with business operations and management, organizations are vulnerable to a myriad of threats ranging from computer viruses to natural disasters and deliberate acts of sabotage. Consequently, IT disaster recovery has emerged as a critical organizational issue. This paper proposes an application portfolio-based framework for IT disaster recovery planning based on the ro...

BACKGROUND Although disaster simulation trainings were widely used to test hospital disaster plans and train medical staff, the teaching performance of the instructors in disaster medicine training has never been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine whether the performance indicators for measuring educational skill in disaster medicine training could indicate issues that needed imp...

There is considerable federal interest in disaster resilience as a mechanism for mitigating the impacts to local communities, yet the identification of metrics and standards for measuring resilience remain a challenge. This paper provides a methodology and a set of indicators for measuring baseline characteristics of communities that foster resilience. By establishing baseline conditions, it be...

Information technology plays a pivotal role in defining the success of organizations. Given its importance, one might assume that modern organizations take steps to ensure the recovery of IT services following disasters. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. To understand the variation in degree of IT disaster recovery planning, this research focused on those responsible for managing IT resou...

The World Report on Disability relates concerns about the experiences of individuals with intellectual disability in disaster situations. Disaster planning related to people with intellectual disability needs to consider that (1) they experience disproportionate risk in disaster situations, (2) they are often excluded from relief processes and are disadvantaged in disaster support situations, (...

Each disaster leaves an imprint on the affected population, a singular “signature.” A critical unmet need in the field of disaster mental/behavioral health is the capability to tailor mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to the unique constellation of psychological risk factors operating within each disaster event. We have developed and introduced Trauma Signature (TSIG) analysis to t...

This study investigated pre- to post-disaster changes in happiness of 491 women affected by Hurricane Katrina, and identified factors that were associated with the survivors' happiness after the storm. Participants completed surveys approximately 1 year before and 1 and 4 years after the storm. The surveys collected information on the women's happiness, social support, household characteristics...

INTRODUCTION In order to prepare the healthcare system and healthcare personnel to meet the health needs of populations affected by disasters, educational programs have been developed by numerous academic institutions, hospitals, professional organizations, governments, and non-government organizations. Lacking standards for best practices as a foundation, many organizations and institutions ha...