Rural Realities Is Published by the Rural Sociological Society, 104 Gentry Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7040

�� Volume 1 | Issue 3

�� © 2006, Rural Sociological Society Community Emergency Response Teams: From Disaster Responders to Community Builders By Courtney Flint and Mark Brennan In brief... Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) – local residents trained as first responders to natural disasters – can also be used to help build community capacity before disasters strike.

The CERTs framework for pulling together localities to prepare for disasters can also be mobilized to focus attention on other pressing issues in local areas.

In communities with less capacity, CERT programs can provide a roadmap for how people and organizations can organize themselves to address important local issues and challenges

To be effective in developing community capacity, CERTs must: • Involve diverse groups of residents and ensure balanced community representation • Get back to basics – CERTs have lately focused almost exclusively on major natural disasters and terrorist acts. However, they were originally designed to respond to a variety of local emergencies and serve as a broad-based conduit for community development and civic engagement. • Update training: Community development and civic engagement training should be the cornerstone of all CERT programs • Expand the view of what constitutes a disaster: rapid economic decline or environmental change can also be disastrous for rural areas

The federal government should: • Re-evaluate the role and position of FEMA and the CERT Program within the Department of Homeland Security • Re-evaluate the 2000 Disaster Management Act in light of rural community vulnerability

Rural Realities is published by the Rural Sociological Society, 104 Gentry Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-7040

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Rural communities often find themselves citizenry it is intended to protect and serve. doing more with less. This imbalance is perhaps no This brief explores CERT’s role both in helping rural more evident than during a natural disaster. communities prepare for disaster and in building sustainable capacity in those communities. If CERT However, a new approach – the Community is to achieve its potential as a tool for community- Emergency Response Team (CERT) program – shows capacity building, it must re-embrace its original promise, not only for disaster response, but also as a focus on long-term preparedness and sustainability, tool for building community capacity.1 Based on the promote broad-based community participation, and concept of neighbors helping neighbors, the CERT revamp its training materials to focus on developing program trains local volunteers as first responders community and civic engagement. At the federal to emergencies. CERTs, which are administered level, community disaster management must move beyond the current emphasis on terrorism and national security, and current disaster policy must A Word About the CERT Program provide funds and expertise to rural communities in The Community Emergency Response Team disaster mitigation planning. (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their Disaster Policy Shifts area and trains them in basic disaster response to Local Control skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, Local communities are less often seen today as team organization, and disaster medical operations. helpless victims needing outside assistance. 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Source: CERT and Citizen Corps. Retrieved from http://www.citizencorps.gov/citizenCorps/certsByState

funds is linked to compliance with these requirements. and response frameworks must be bolstered to The National Response Plan, established by the better support the role of local communities. Department of Homeland Security in December 2004, also emphasizes local response to Community Emergency emergencies – by local police, fire, medical Response Teams personnel, and other responders – and specifies The CERT program emerged from a growing that responses be handled at the lowest possible appreciation for local participation. The first CERT organizational and jurisdictional level. Federal appeared in Los Angeles in 1985 when city officials involvement is outlined for cases when an incident and the Los Angeles Fire Department modeled exceeds local and state capabilities. However, as the a disaster program on the Japanese tradition of 2005 hurricane season underscored, disaster policy involving local residents and volunteers in training

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Table 1. CERT Training Materials and Incident Plans, and Recommended Areas for Expansion

Current Activities CERT Training Modules Specific Incidents Covered in the CERT Plans • Disaster Preparedness • Earthquake • Fire Safety • Fires and wildfires • Disaster Medical Operations • Floods • Advanced Disaster Medical Operations • Excessive heat • Light Search and Rescue Operations • Hurricanes and coastal storms • CERT Organization • Landslides and mudflows • Disaster Psychology • Severe thunderstorms • Terrorism and CERT • Tornadoes • Disaster Simulation • Tsunamis • Volcanoes • Winter storms • Nuclear power plant emergencies • Hazardous materials incidents

Proposed Areas for Future CERT Training 1. Key Components of Local Community- 3. Responding to Local Economic and Building: Environmental Disasters • The role of local institutions • The nature of community leadership 4. Addressing Rapid Growth/Decline of Diverse • The demographic and economic complexion of Populations the community • Community and economic development 5. Local Participation in Environmental and strategies Natural Resource Risk Mitigation: • Opportunities for volunteer involvement with 2. Building Broad-Based Citizen Involvement: land management agencies • Uncovering the community-building assets of • Voluntary assistance with environmental local people and organizations monitoring • Leadership development • Expanding voices through public deliberation • Effectively managing community conﬂicts

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If used previous responses to natural disasters. At the same effectively, CERTs can help rural areas that are time, the demographic diversity of the community under social and economic stress respond more – its race, ethnic, age, and economic richness – must effectively to disasters by building capacity before also be duly represented on the local CERTs. disaster strikes. The CERTs framework for pulling together localities to prepare for times of need also Tapping CERT Potential can be mobilized to focus attention on other pressing in Rural Montana issues in local areas. In rural communities that are Out here in rural Montana, if we get a wildfire or a well prepared for disaster, the existing networks, flood, we will be on our own for a long time. CERT infrastructures, and alliances can be refocused is about learning to take care of ourselves and each on economic development or other community other. The challenge is figuring out how to keep the improvement projects. In communities with less volunteers involved over time between emergencies. capacity, CERT programs can provide a roadmap – Art Koenig, CERT Coordinator for how people and organizations can organize Musselshell County, Montana themselves to address important local issues and challenges. As the instructor guide for the CERT The mission of Musselshell County CERT Program is to training materials states, “(O)rganized grassroots engage the abilities of individuals through education, efforts may be more successful if they are woven training, and volunteer service to make communities into the social and political fabric of the community.” safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, Balanced Community and disasters of all kinds. The program tailors Representation is Crucial activities to the community and builds on community For CERTs to be effective in rural communities, strengths to develop and implement a local strategy their membership must represent the entire local for individual participation.

5 ur ica ra So l S o io ie lo R og ur l ra So oc o ol y io ur u ica ra So l S o io ie lo R og ur l ra So oc o ol y io u R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc R y R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y R ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S ty iet iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc oc oci cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc oci l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S l S S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S S a al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca a ral al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru ic og l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru og log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y logiol ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y iol io R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet io oc R y og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S ty iet iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra cie oc oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru So l S l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ra ral al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru y log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S 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al ral l oc oc oc ty olo y R ica Ru al l S l S oc iet oci ty gi R y al ral l oc oc oc ty olo y R ica Ru al l S l S oc iet oci ty gi y ety ic Ru ica l S l S l S cie oci iet og y gic ra ca l S oc S ie oloety iet ic Ru ica l S l S l S cie oci iet og y gic ra ca l S oc S ie olo iet ci og y complimentaryog ra rolesca -- preparera So for andS respondoc ol eCurrentt lo disasterRu policy,gi underra the SDisasteral oc oci ci oc og o y og ra ca ra So S oc ol et lo Ru gi ra S al oc oci oc o to disasters, and contribute to rural well-being by Management Act of 2000, calls for all communities engaging in broader rural development initiatives. in the country to establish disaster mitigation Building relationships in quiet times creates a plans. However, mandating disaster planning as valuable network and sense of community to call on a prerequisite for receiving federal disaster funds in times of emergency or disaster. may severely disadvantage some of the most vulnerable communities, particularly in rural areas. Policy Suggestions It would be better to provide funds and expertise Local residents are present long before and long to rural communities in disaster mitigation planning. after disaster. Effective policies to help build Consciously integrating local, state, and federal broader community capacity beyond disaster disaster planning, personnel, and infrastructure can planning are essential in reducing vulnerability in better facilitate disaster mitigation efforts in rural rural communities. The following policy suggestions America. would help to support CERTs in developing or expanding this capacity, with the added value of Get Back to Basics creating healthier communities in the long term. • Re-emphasize the original mission CERT and other such programs have evolved in Re-evaluate the Role and Position of recent years to focus almost exclusively on major FEMA and the CERT Program within the natural disasters and terrorist acts. However, Department of Homeland Security. CERTs were originally designed to respond to Community disaster management must move beyond a variety of local emergencies and serve as a the current emphasis on terrorism and national broad-based conduit for community development security. The CERT program is currently administered and civic engagement. Future policy and program by FEMA and Citizen Corps under the Department of development efforts would do well to recognize the Homeland Security (DHS), where its focus risks being original purpose of these teams and work to keep overshadowed by a strong emphasis in DHS on CERTs together and active over the course of the terrorism. Although national coordination of CERT is long time spans between disasters. important – and the appointment of a new national CERT coordinator is promising – developing CERT • Underscore the mission with training guidelines at the state level would provide oversight Training programs could be a valuable instrument that is more in line with regional, environmental, and to facilitate continued community involvement of institutional contexts. For example, see the Vermont CERT participants. In fact, community development

6 ur ica ra So l S o io ie lo R og ur l ra So oc o ol y io u R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y R ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc oci l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S S a al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru og log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y iol io R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru y log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y i cio R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc So ty andiol civic tengagementy ic Rtrainingu ica shouldl S be thel S So ciebuilding,oc assetety mapping,og tandy theic aimportancera i cofa l S oc l S l cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra o So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S al ra cornerstoneal So of alloc CERTo cprograms,ty includingiol y ica Ruincludingal diversel S communityl S oc residentsie andoc groups.ty og ty ca ic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi R ty log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y ie cio trainingR inog asset Rmapping,u al assessingra llocalS poweroc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc So ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l al cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra ur So structures,l S S oconflictcio resolutionie skills,iol managementR og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru R al ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica ExpandingRu al lOurS lViewS o cof Whatie o c ty og ty c ic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi log ty log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra o oc oc olo o ie cmethods,io R and gcommunityRu demographic/economicl ra l S oc oc Constitutescio ty io la DisasterR ica Ru l S l S l S oci i oc So ty iolo ty ica Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ty og y ica ra ica S oc l S l cie oc cie log y g ra ica al o S cie iol iet og Ru g ral l S a ura profileSo development.S So i oTrainingiet activitiesiolo couldRu beg ur CERTsl S canra providel So a varietyoc ofoc servicesiol andy increaseolo Ru ca R R al ral l oc oc oc ty olo y R ica Ru al l S l S oc iet oci ty gi y ety ic Ru ica l S l S l S cie oci iet og y gic ra ca l S oc S ie olo iet ci og yprovidedog by Extensionra ca educatorsra Swhoo areS parto ofc ol localet capacitieslo Rtou respondgi to rdisaster.a S Theya lcan oc oci oc o each state’s land-grant university system, community also do more. To effectively expand their focus, we college faculty, or by other community development must first expand our view of what we consider educators. Such training could relay to citizens that disasters. Emergencies and disasters take many their involvement is essential to local development forms. Hurricanes and floods are the most recent well beyond times of disaster. vivid examples. However, disasters in the form of rapid economic decline or environmental change • Reinforce the mission (drought, forest fires) may have equally detrimental Changes to CERT program descriptions and effects on rural life and well-being. CERT programs language would also reinforce a broader mission offer the potential to help communities respond to for CERTs. Program descriptions should stress that a nontraditional disasters and to directly shape local first step in being ready to respond to emergencies capacity for rural development. is building local capacity for change. These changes would return attention to the enormous local impact Closing Thoughts that CERTs can have. Regardless of the type of disaster facing rural communities, building local capacity prior to disaster Ensure Broad-Based Participation is key, both to the effectiveness of the response As noted in an earlier section of this brief, to be and to the ability to bounce back after disaster effective, local CERT teams must reflect the local strikes. Where there is local capacity, CERTs will population. CERT training materials should guide flourish and provide critical disaster response skills communities in ensuring representative participation. and organization for recovery. By building local Without such efforts, select groups might be structures, networks, and effective communication excluded, ignored, and eliminated from decision through community-capacity training, CERTs can making. Such exclusions are particularly detrimental also contribute broadly to local life. Such efforts in times of severe disaster. In these dire conditions, could have a dramatic effect in vulnerable strong, comprehensive networks are vital to quick rural communities with an eye to simultaneously and efficient response. developing a sense of community among residents while addressing specific disaster risk mitigation, Steps to ensure broad representation include preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. canvassing multiple community groups (formal and informal) to encourage participation, and adding an Such a vision is by no means idealistic or utopian. additional CERTs training unit on community capacity- Communities that are well organized, broadly

7 ur ica ra So l S o io ie lo R og ur l ra So oc o ol y io u R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y R ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc oci l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S S a al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru og log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y iol io R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru y log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y i cio R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc So ty ioconnected,l ty andic haveRu the capacityica l Sto act,l Swill So cie Flint,oc C.G.,ety ando gA.E. Luloff.ty 2005.ica r a“Naturalica l S oc l S l cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra o So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S al ra abel ableSo to prepare,oc o crespond,ty andio lrecovery far ica Ru Resource-Basedal l S l SCommunities,oc ie Risk, oandc Disaster:ty o g ty ca ic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi R ty log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y ie cio moreR oquickly.g R Mostu aimportant,l ra thel Spath thatoc theseoc cio Anty Intersectioniol ofR Theories,”ica RSocietyu l and Naturall S l S oci iet oc So ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l al cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra ur So l communitiesS So ctakeio willie be aio productl R of theog vision,Rur l Resourcesra So 18(5):oc 399-412;oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru R al ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty c ic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi log ty log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra o oc oc olo o ie cio ingenuity,R andg hardRu workl of localra people,l S notoc ones oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l S l S l S oci i oc So ty iolo ty ica Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ty og y ica ra ica S oc l S l cie oc cie log y g ra ica al o S cie iol iet og Ru g ral l S a ura So mandatedS S byo externalio parties.iet io loIn theR ﬁnalu analysis,g ur lHerbert,S ral S. 2005.So o “Thec Trapdooroc iol of Community,”y olo Ru ca R R al ral l oc oc oc ty olo y R ica Ru al l S l S oc iet oci ty gi y ety ic Ru ica l S l S l S cie oci iet og y gic ra ca l S oc S ie olo iet ci og y locallyog drivenra activitiesca arera theS oonly wayS to otrulyc ol eAnnalst l oof theR uAssociationgi ofra AmericanS Geographersal oc oci oc o advance the long-term vitality of these local places. 95(4): 850-865.

Endnote Hewitt, K. 1998. “Excluded Perspectives in the 1. Community capacity refers to the ability of a Social Construction of Disaster.” Pp. 75-92 in E.L. diversity of people, formal organizations, and Quarantelli (ed.), What Is a Disaster? Perspectives on informal groups to work together in tackling the the Question. New York: Routledge. important challenges affecting their communities. Independent Sector. 2001. Giving and volunteering Additional Resources in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Independent Brennan, M. A. 2005. Volunteerism and Community Sector. Development: A Comparison of Factors Shaping Volunteer Behavior in Ireland and America,” Journal Luloff, A. E., and J. Bridger. 2003. “Community of Volunteer Administration 23(2): 20-28. Agency and Local Development.” Pp. 202-213 in D. Brown and L. Swanson. (eds.), Challenges for Rural Berke, P.R., J. Kartez, and D. Wenger. 1993. America in the Twenty-First Century. University Park: “Recovery after Disaster: Achieving Sustainable Pennsylvania State University Press, Development, Mitigation and Equity,” Disasters 17(2): 93-109. Simpson, D. 2001. Community Emergency Response Training (CERTs): A Recent History and Review,” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Natural Hazards Review 2(2): 54-63. 2000. Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability. FEMA Wilkinson, K. P. 1991. The Community in Rural Report 364. Washington, DC: FEMA. America. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 2000. Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework. FEMA Report 365. Washington, DC: FEMA.

8 ur ica ra So l S o io ie lo R og ur l ra So oc o ol y io u R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y R ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc oci l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S S a al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru og log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y iol io R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc y ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S iet cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra oc So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S ra al So oc oc ty iol y ica Ru al l S l S oc ie oc ty og ty ca ral Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi Ru y log ura ica ra So l S oc io ie lo Ru og ura l S ra So oc oc olo y i cio R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc So ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S l cie Aboutoc c iethe lAuthorsog ty og ura ica al So Aboutl S Ruralci io lRealitiesie log Ru og ra l S ra o So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru l S al ra Courtneyal FlintSo is assistantoc oprofessorc ty in theio lDepartmenty ica RuRural Realitiesal l Sis a quarterlyl S opublicationc ie ofo cthe Ruralty og ty ca ic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi R ty loofg Naturalura Resourcesica randa EnvironmentalSo l S Sciencesoc atio ie Sociologicallo Ru Societyog (RSS)ura . Itsl S purposera is to:So (1) Provideoc oc olo y ie cio R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci iet oc So thety Universityiol oft yIllinois iatc Urbana-Champaign.Ru ica l S Her l S So valuablecie insightsoc onety the currentog andty emergingica issuesra ica l S oc l al cie oc cie log ty og ura ica al So l S ci iol ie log Ru og ra l S ra ur So l S So cio ie iol R og Rur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica Ru R al researchra a interestsl So focus oonc howo ccommunitiesty respondiol y ica impactingRu peopleal l andS placesl S in ruraloc Americaie oandc ty og ty c gic Ru ic l l S l S cie oc iet log ty gic ra ica l S oc l S cie iol ie gi lo ty to environmentallog ura changeica andra disturbance.So l S Her workoc io iebeyond;lo and R(2)u Offerog policyura and lprogramS ra optionsSo that oc oc olo o ie cio R og Ru al ra l S oc oc cio ty iol R ica Ru l l S l S oci i oc So ty iol ty ic Ru ica l S l S So cie oc ety og ty ica ra ica l S oc l S al examinescie theoc relationshipcie l obetweeng ty risk operceptiong ra andic a almightS proveo leffectiveS ci in addressingiol ie thesel oimportantg Ru ruralog ra l S a ur So l S So io ie iol Ru g ur l ra So oc oc io ty iol Ru ica R R allocal communityra al actionoc and ohowc thiso caffectsty naturaliolo y R challengesica Ru and aopportunities.l l S l ArticlesS o cshowcasedie ino c ty g y ety ic Ru ic l S l S l S cie oc iet og y gic ra ica l S oc S ie olo iet ci og resourcey omanagementg ra andca disasterra responseSo andS oc ol the eseriest drawlo uponRu highg qualityra social sciences-basedS al oc oci oc o recovery. Questions regarding the content of this brief studies conducted by researchers and practitioners can be directed to Dr. Flint at cﬂ[email protected]. located within universities/colleges, government, philanthropic, and nonproﬁt organizations. Mark Brennan is an assistant professor of Community Development at the University of Florida. His work The Rural Sociological Society is a professional focuses on community, social change, disaster response/ social science association that promotes the generation, recovery, and rural sociology. application and dissemination of sociological knowledge. The Society seeks to enhance the quality of rural life, Potential Rural Realities Authors communities and the environment through research, We encourage potential authors to submit a brief teaching, and outreach/extension education. abstract (approximately 250 words) via email to Bo Beaulieu, the Series Editor, at [email protected].

TheRural Realities Editorial Board Series Editor: • Lionel J. “Bo” Beaulieu Southern Rural Development Center Mississippi State University E-mail: [email protected]

Editorial Board: • Walt Armbruster • Steve Murdock Farm Foundation University of Texas – San Antonio • Frank Boteler • William O’Hare Economic and Community Systems, Visiting Senior Fellow – The Carsey Institute CSREES/USDA • Jim Richardson • Alisha Coleman National Rural Funders Collaborative Penn State University • Louis Swanson • Tadlock Cowan Colorado State University Congressional Research Service • Rachel Tompkins • Al Cross Rural School and Community Trust Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, • Michelle Worosz University of Kentucky Michigan State University • Brian Dabson Rural Policy Research Institute, Technical Assistance Provided By: University of Missouri • Barbara Ray, Communications Specialist • Robert Gibbs Hired Pen, Inc., Chicago, Ill. Economic Research Service, USDA • Jeremy S. Robbins, Freelance Designer Jackson, Miss.

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