The February 2021 Winter Storm and its impact on Texas infrastructure: Lessons for communities, emergency managers, and first responders

IF 1.9 Q3 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy Pub Date : 2023-09-15 DOI:10.1002/rhc3.12282

Melvina Chand, David McEntire

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Abstract This article explores why Texas infrastructure failed during the February 2021 winter storm and discusses the rippling effects it had on governments, emergency managers, first responders, and the public. A qualitative approach was used for this study and was based primarily on interviews that were conducted with 29 individuals to understand the nature of the disaster and discover subsequent actions that took place. Research also incorporated news articles that discussed firsthand accounts taken from members of the public along with government documents that evaluated the impact and response to the disaster. The research discusses ERCOT's efforts to keep infrastructure operational for the public and reveals that emergency managers and first responders were left with insufficient information and resources while Texas was under a state of emergency. The article conveys what was done at the local, state, and federal levels and it also highlights successes and failures of the response. The article offers insight on lessons learned about infrastructure and provides recommendations to mitigate and prepare for complex disaster situations that are likely occur in the future.

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2021年2月的冬季风暴及其对德克萨斯州基础设施的影响:对社区、应急管理人员和急救人员的教训

本文探讨了德克萨斯州基础设施在2021年2月冬季风暴期间失败的原因，并讨论了它对政府、应急管理人员、急救人员和公众的连锁反应。本研究采用了定性方法，主要基于对29人进行的访谈，以了解灾难的性质并发现随后发生的行动。研究还纳入了新闻报道，讨论了来自公众的第一手资料，以及评估灾难影响和应对措施的政府文件。该研究讨论了ERCOT为保持基础设施为公众运营所做的努力，并揭示了在德克萨斯州处于紧急状态时，应急管理人员和第一响应者没有足够的信息和资源。本文介绍了在地方、州和联邦各级所做的工作，并强调了应对措施的成功和失败。本文提供了有关基础设施的经验教训的见解，并提供了减轻和准备未来可能发生的复杂灾害情况的建议。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION-

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

8.60%

发文量

期刊介绍： Scholarship on risk, hazards, and crises (emergencies, disasters, or public policy/organizational crises) has developed into mature and distinct fields of inquiry. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy (RHCPP) addresses the governance implications of the important questions raised for the respective fields. The relationships between risk, hazards, and crisis raise fundamental questions with broad social science and policy implications. During unstable situations of acute or chronic danger and substantial uncertainty (i.e. a crisis), important and deeply rooted societal institutions, norms, and values come into play. The purpose of RHCPP is to provide a forum for research and commentary that examines societies’ understanding of and measures to address risk,hazards, and crises, how public policies do and should address these concerns, and to what effect. The journal is explicitly designed to encourage a broad range of perspectives by integrating work from a variety of disciplines. The journal will look at social science theory and policy design across the spectrum of risks and crises — including natural and technological hazards, public health crises, terrorism, and societal and environmental disasters. Papers will analyze the ways societies deal with both unpredictable and predictable events as public policy questions, which include topics such as crisis governance, loss and liability, emergency response, agenda setting, and the social and cultural contexts in which hazards, risks and crises are perceived and defined. Risk, Hazards & Crisis in Public Policy invites dialogue and is open to new approaches. We seek scholarly work that combines academic quality with practical relevance. We especially welcome authors writing on the governance of risk and crises to submit their manuscripts.