A disaster impact assessment model : an empirical study of a technological disaster

Abstract

This dissertation proposes a synthesized approach for explaining the consequences of technological and natural disasters. This approach contends that disasters can be conceptualized into components which are amenable to social impact assessment techniques. The disaster impact assessment model developed within this context provides a systematic method for collecting and analyzing data on the impacts of disasters and the factors which mediate these impacts. Special emphasis is given to technological disasters. Social psychological stress is identified as a special consequence of technological disasters and a model demonstrating the relationships between stress, the disaster structure, and the social characteristics of the impact area is proposed. Thirty hypotheses are derived from the social psychological stress model. These hypotheses are based on the empirical findings of previous disaster research and the theoretical generalizations from research in related areas of stress research. Data from a community which experienced a technological disaster are used to test the hypotheses and the utility of the disaster impact assessment model. Using tau-b coefficients and multiple regression analysis, the hypotheses that social psychological stress would be associated with the disaster structure were strongly supported. The relationships between stress and social characteristics were less adequately explained. In general, the synthesized approach to studying disasters was supported. Its expansion and application to other disasters is strongly recommended.