Research Problem:

The perception of risk and response to risk information are influenced by many factors including: age, class, gender, and culture. These factors impact access to and use of emergency communications related to hazard events. Cultural elements can present barriers to the flow of warning and response information in times of emergencies and place some groups at disproportionate risk (see Gladwin and Peacock 1997). This proposal seeks support for a pilot study to address these cultural influences by examining a wildfire event threatening members of Pacific Northwest Tribes or other underrepresented populations (including migrant farm-workers or forest-workers). This work will build an understanding of how wildfire impacts low-income or distressed communities and increase the effectiveness of wildfire mitigation and community fire planning programs.

Research Questions:

Together the following questions will assess the effectiveness of recent wildfire mitigation programs, such as the National Fire Plan, FEMA PDM program, FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, etc., in reducing losses to socially vulnerable communities in Oregon and Washington.

• Are response and recovery efforts during (and after) a wildfire designed and implemented in a way that considers the cultural perspectives and social needs of the community?
• Is there evidence of past mitigation programs that addressed cultural and social issues and influenced successes or challenges in responding to the wildfire?
• Are losses to life, property, natural or cultural resources resulting from the wildfire event influenced by poverty or geographic isolation?

In this study we address vulnerability as a measure of the ability to weather, resist, and recover from the impacts of a hazard (Mileti, 1999). Social vulnerability considers the characteristics of a population, which makes it more or less susceptible to the impacts of a hazard occurrence. These characteristics relate to social inequities, lack of access to resources, lack of access to political representation, social networks, and beliefs and customs (Cutter et al. 2003, Cutter 2001, Tierney et al. 2001). Both the vulnerability and the perception of risk are influenced by a number of factors including: past experience, frequency of hazard occurrence, cultural factors, and the credibility of the information disseminated (Burton et al. 1993). Cultural factors and their relationship to vulnerability will be explored in an effort to learn how communities with significant cultural roots and/or social needs (related to poverty) can become more successful in reducing losses from wildfire and other natural hazards. Immediately studying the effects of a wildfire event affecting an underserved population will provide an opportunity to examine the role of culture and/or social needs (poverty, disability, etc.) in minimizing losses to disaster.