BIO

I am in the final year of my Bachelors in both Russian and East European Studies & Political Science at FSU. I am pursuing undergraduate certificates in Emergency Management and Homeland Security and U.S Intelligence Studies. At FSU, I have had the opportunity to conduct two research projects focused on collaboration and disaster resilience. Outside of university, I am an intern at Walton County Emergency Management where I have gained real-world experience and insight into emergency management planning. When I graduate, I hope to use my research and passion for public service to pursue a federal career in intelligence.

Resilience in Dual Disasters: Florida's Hurricane Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Amid COVID-19

Abstract

This research presents a qualitative analysis to understand the challenges of dual disasters
and the resulting coping strategies in Florida's coastal communities. Coastal communities in
Florida faced the challenge of mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of an active
hurricane season in 2020 and 2021. Combining the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricane
vulnerability requires re-evaluating disaster response, planning, and recovery scenarios. There is
little examination and research on the effects of dual disaster vulnerability. As a result, it is
critical to investigate this further through first-hand accounts and interviews. Using these
interviews, we evaluate the challenges faced from the perspectives of parties across federal, state,
and local government agencies in Florida and nonprofits involved in emergency management.
Our results indicate that the primary challenges were navigating sheltering and COVID-19
prevention, insufficient financial resources and supplies, inadequate ICT information and
communication technology, and unclear responsibility in multi-agency collaboration. Strategies
for emergency management entities to address these dual disaster challenges are discussed. This
research aims to assist local governments in finding an effective way to address disasters and
emergencies that cause vulnerability in the provision of public services regionally.

Keywords: preparedness, resilience, disaster, hurricane, COVID-19