title: Federal Emergency Management Agency Response in Rural Appalachia: A Tale of Miscommunication, Unrealistic Expectations, and "Hurt, Hurt, Hurt".
abstract: In spring of 2012, rural southeastern Kentucky was impacted by torrential storms and flooding that activated federal disaster response through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This qualitative research study examines the experience of community members affected by the Kentucky floods of 2012 (N=9) and describes their interactions with FEMA representatives, in their own voice, thereby giving insight into gaps in rural disaster response. The principal investigator spent 6 weeks living in the community and conducted open-ended interviews. Narratives were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a phenomenological approach.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Knoxville, 1200 Volunteer Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37396, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Oppizzi
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee College of Nursing, Knoxville, Signal Mountain, TN 37377, USA. Electronic address: ssperaw@utk.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Speraw
mesh_terms: D062309:Community Integration; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000191:economics*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Appalachia; Disaster; Emergency management; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); Interprofessional collaboration; Phenomenology; Policy; Rural