@article{cutts_vila_bray_harris_hornsby_goins_mclean_crites_allen_mcmenamin_et al._2024, title={Shifting terrains: Understanding residential contaminants after flood disasters}, volume={907}, ISSN={["1879-1026"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167577}, DOI={10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167577}, abstractNote={Flood disasters can induce the mass transport of soils and sediments. This has the potential to distribute contaminants and present novel combinations to new locations - including residential neighborhoods. Even when soil contaminants cannot be directly attributed to the disaster, data on bacterial and heavy metal(loids) can facilitate an environmentally just recovery by enabling reconstruction decisions that fill data gaps to minimize future exposure. These data-gathering interventions may be especially useful in poor, rural, and racially diverse communities where there is a high probability of exposure to multiple hazards and a potential dependency on the financial resources of disaster aid as a means of reducing chronic exposures to other environmental pollutants. At the same time, entering these post-disasters spaces is ethically complex. To acknowledge this complexity, we pilot a framework for work that gathers social-ecological hazard information while retaining a fair-minded approach to transdisciplinary work. Assembled a transdisciplinary team to recruit participants from 90 households subjected to flooding in the southeastern US. Participating households agreed to interviews to elicit flood experience and environmental health concerns, soil sampling for fecal bacteria (E. coli) and soil sampling for selected heavy metals and metalloids (Pb, As, Cd) at their flooded residence. Soil sampling found a wide range of E. coli concentrations in soil (0.4-1115.7 CFU/ dry gram). Heavy metal(loid)s were detected at most residences (As 97.9 %; Ca 25.5 %; Pb 100 %). Individually, heavy metal(loid) concentrations did not exceed regulatory thresholds. Hazard, risk, and mitigation concerns expressed during interviews reveal that integrated human-nature concepts complicate common understandings of how hazard perceptibility (smell, sight, touch, and information) affects research-action spaces. Qualitative analysis of interviews and field notes revealed that soil-related hazards addressed by our biophysical protocols were less salient than changes with direct causal associations with flooding. We conclude by discussing the potential for the social-ecological hazard information that is fair-minded and transdisciplinary (SHIFT) framework to advance environmentally just approaches to research-action spaces after disasters.}, journal={SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT}, author={Cutts, Bethany B. and Vila, Olivia and Bray, Laura A. and Harris, Angela and Hornsby, Gracie and Goins, Hannah and McLean, Sallie and Crites, Margaret and Allen, Angela and McMenamin, Nathan and et al.}, year={2024}, month={Jan} }
 @article{brune_knollenberg_vila_2023, title={Agritourism resilience during the COVID-19 crisis}, volume={99}, ISSN={["1873-7722"]}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103538}, DOI={10.1016/j.annals.2023.103538}, abstractNote={Resilience is critical to the sustainability of the tourism industry, which was made particularly evident during the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19 impacted all sectors of the tourism industry revealing previously unknown strengths and weaknesses. Through a longitudinal qualitative approach, we identified the evolving challenges and coping strategies of agritourism operations under the COVID-19 crisis in North Carolina, USA. The results indicate that agritourism operations not only withstood the health crisis but also advanced the management of their operation and customer satisfaction through diversification and reorganization strategies. We use chaos theory to show how agritourism operations took advantage of the context of uncertainty to employ practices that ultimately showcased their resilience.}, journal={ANNALS OF TOURISM RESEARCH}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Brune, Sara and Knollenberg, Whitney and Vila, Olivia}, year={2023}, month={Mar} }
 @article{vila_cutts_knollenberg_rivers_2023, title={Environmental justice in disaster recovery: Recognition of the Latinx community by nonprofit leaders}, volume={40}, ISSN={["2212-0963"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.crm.2023.100502}, abstractNote={Nonprofit organizations are important sources of aid and assistance in the aftermath of disasters, directly contributing to disaster recovery efforts in communities and in some cases broader environmental justice objectives. However, there is a need to better align nonprofit organization processes and programs to address the needs of disadvantaged communities. This study examines how leaders of nonprofit organizations navigate and address the needs and experiences of Latinx persons in their community. We draw from 18 semi-structured interviews with leaders of nonprofit organizations involved in disaster recovery in Wilmington, North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018. Interviews focused on the degree that nonprofit leaders involved in disaster recovery recognize the Latinx community, how the process of recognition manifests among these leaders, and how recognition by these leaders is related to procedural and distributional justice. Findings suggest that leaders adopt more sophisticated recognition of disaster recovery needs of the Latinx community when they have direct experience working with Latinx persons, collaborate with individuals who understand the Latinx community, partner with other organizations, or leverage geospatial or other data on disaster impacts and demographics. Data generated in this study underscores the role that recognition can play in promoting progress towards procedural and distributional justice in the disaster recovery context. These findings suggest that assigned leaders of nonprofits can and do function to exacerbate inequities through their disaster recovery services. However, the findings also showcase nonprofit leaders are interested in promoting just outcomes, and one possible route is through greater emphasis on the role of recognition. This work can inform approaches to resilience planning and help leaders of nonprofit organizations understand the needs and experiences of disadvantaged communities, so they can restructure organization policies and programs to address the needs of those who are most vulnerable to environmental hazards.}, journal={CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT}, author={Vila, Olivia and Cutts, Bethany and Knollenberg, Whitney and Rivers, Louie}, year={2023} }
 @article{vila_finnis_koitnurm_stoddart_sarkar_2022, title={Climate Autobiography Timeline: Adapting Timeline Research Methods to the Study of Climate Perceptions}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1948-8335"]}, DOI={10.1175/WCAS-D-21-0150.1}, abstractNote={
Climate perception is a growing area of study in the social sciences, and one which has implications on the tools and strategies we use to communicate climate change risk information. However, the range of climate perception studies remains limited, focused primarily on perceptions of day-to-day weather, sudden-onset severe events, or long-term permanent change. Phenomena situated between these extremes (e.g., annual- to decadal-scale variability) is largely missing from social science of climate research. Whether this is due to limited perception by research participants, limited research attention, or is a reflection of the methods commonly applied to human dimensions of climate research, this gap precludes analysis of the full range of complex climate experiences and their influence on climate perception and understanding. In this paper, we offer a proof of concept for the Climate Autobiography Timeline (CAT), a visual timeline tool developed to assess climate perception while prompting an ordered consideration of time, with the goal of eliciting insights into complex and long-term climate experiences such as low-frequency climate variability. Results are based off a preliminary application of the CAT across focus groups conducted in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province subject to low-frequency climate variability and frequent high-impact weather. Results reveal three key findings 1) weather and climate narratives are commonly anchored to two time periods, potentially obscuring perceptions of variability; 2) narratives focus on socially important weather and climate phenomena; and 3) the social and visual co-construction of weather and climate narratives may yield more holistic representations of local climate knowledge.}, number={3}, journal={WEATHER CLIMATE AND SOCIETY}, author={Vila, Olivia and Finnis, Joel and Koitnurm, Marilyn and Stoddart, Mark C. J. and Sarkar, Atanu}, year={2022}, month={Jul}, pages={893–904} }
 @article{vila_smith_cutts_gyawali_bhattarai_2022, title={Equity in FEMA hazard mitigation assistance programs: The role of state hazard mitigation officers}, volume={136}, ISSN={["1873-6416"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.envsci.2022.07.027}, abstractNote={FEMA provides hundreds of millions of dollars for hazard mitigation projects annually through their Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. HMA funding is most accessible to resource-rich communities leaving historically underserved communities that are often more vulnerable to disasters less able to obtain federal mitigation funding. This research highlights the results of a national survey conducted with 43 State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs), assigned state-level leaders who can have great influence on mitigation equity within their state. The survey explored the role of states and territories in facilitating mitigation equity in FEMA HMA programs using a three-pillar environmental justice framework (recognition, procedural justice, and distributional justice). The results indicate state-level shortcomings, including limited understanding of underserved communities, poor procedures for identifying and engaging with underserved communities, and limited local engagement in state- or territory-sponsored conferences, trainings, meetings, and policy discussions. The results yield insight into some of the underlying processes through which inequities in federal support for mitigation emerge and provide guidance to address shortcomings. These findings have important implications for federal- and state-level policy aiming to promote equity in hazard mitigation. Specifically, they point to the need for assessments of the needs, values, and priorities of low-capacity communities, identification and outreach strategies tailored to those communities, and increased financial and technical assistance for equity-focused actions. This study underscores the value of environmental justice research in decision-making associated with multi- billion- dollar federal grant programs. • SHMO’s recognition of low-capacity communities is relatively limited. • Engagement processes are not tailored to the qualities of those communities. • Assistance for recognition-based activities is necessary for equitable outcomes.}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY}, author={Vila, Olivia and Smith, Gavin and Cutts, Bethany and Gyawali, Samata and Bhattarai, Samiksha}, year={2022}, month={Oct}, pages={632–641} }
 @article{smith_vila_2022, title={Governors and Hazard Mitigation Grants Management: Observations of State and Local Officials}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1527-6996"]}, DOI={10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000587}, abstractNote={This paper describes hazard mitigation grants management activities undertaken by governors, an area that remains understudied. Governors play important roles in other grants management activities, and these actions have the potential to improve hazard mitigation shortcomings. Findings were derived from two projects: (1) a national survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) that explored their perceptions of the role of governors in the implementation of federal hazard mitigation programs and policies, and (2) semistructured interviews with individuals who were involved in the implementation of innovative local hazard mitigation grant programs. SHMO survey responses indicate limited engagement in several activities related to FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants. The results of the semistructured interviews show that some governors play important roles in hazard mitigation grants management activities, including facilitating partnerships and governance strategies, guiding state hazard mitigation priorities, and negotiating and securing hazard mitigation funding. Further research is needed to understand why governors assume active or passive roles in hazard mitigation grants management activities.}, number={4}, journal={NATURAL HAZARDS REVIEW}, author={Smith, Gavin and Vila, Olivia}, year={2022}, month={Nov} }
 @article{smith_saunders_vila_gyawali_bhattarai_lawdley_2021, title={A comparative analysis of hazard-prone housing acquisition programs in US and New Zealand communities}, ISSN={["2190-6491"]}, DOI={10.1007/s13412-021-00689-y}, abstractNote={This article describes the preliminary results of an international comparative assessment of hazard-prone housing acquisition programs (buyouts) undertaken in six US and New Zealand communities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with government officials and consultants tasked with administering buyout programs following flood, debris flow, and earthquake-based disasters. Key issues analyzed include local capacity, public participation, planning and design, program complexity, funding and financial management, and lesson drawing. The findings are timely given the rise in disaster-related losses, buyouts are increasingly cited as a strategy to reduce natural hazard risk and advance climate change adaptation, and national buyout programs are evolving in both countries to tackle the challenges associated with this complex process.}, journal={JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND SCIENCES}, author={Smith, Gavin and Saunders, Wendy and Vila, Olivia and Gyawali, Samata and Bhattarai, Samiksha and Lawdley, Eliza}, year={2021}, month={Apr} }
 @article{smith_vila_2020, title={A National Evaluation of State and Territory Roles in Hazard Mitigation: Building Local Capacity to Implement FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants}, volume={12}, ISSN={["2071-1050"]}, DOI={10.3390/su122310013}, abstractNote={This article describes the findings of a national survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) in U.S. states and territories in order to gain a greater understanding of the roles that they play in assisting local governments to build the capacity required to successfully develop and implement Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-funded Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, an important but understudied aspect of hazard mitigation governance. The research questions focus on: (1) How states and territories enable local governments to develop and implement HMA grants and (2) SHMOs’ opinions regarding their perceived capacity and effectiveness in assisting local governments to develop and implement HMA grants. Results show that while states and territories are relatively well-equipped to perform general administrative duties required by FEMA, SHMOs expressed wide variation in their capacity to assist local governments to develop and implement HMA grants. This was particularly evident with regard to the delivery of specific technical assistance measures required to develop HMA grants. Survey responses also highlight modest levels of participation in FEMA-designed efforts to delegate responsibility to states and territories and low levels of participation in programs that offer pre-application funding to local governments to help them develop HMA grant applications. These findings should concern FEMA as the agency embarks on the implementation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, an ambitious pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant initiative.}, number={23}, journal={SUSTAINABILITY}, author={Smith, Gavin and Vila, Olivia}, year={2020}, month={Dec} }