Exploratory Study of Preliminary Damage Assessments in Northern Illinois

Abstract

Preliminary damage assessments are conducted as a requirement for presidential disaster declarations. Historically the process of conducting damage assessments has been ignored by disaster literature. The implications of damage assessments affect how a community recover from a disaster. This paper uses qualitative methods to examine the damage assessment process in two counties in Illinois following the floods of 2013. This exploratory study examines many aspects of damage assessments including training, team composition, methods of conduct, and uses of data. The findings from this study aim to provide more insight into this topic, opportunities for future research, as well as best practices for practitioners.