Abstract
In this research, we identified how political beliefs impact emergency manager’s perception of COVID-19 severity and risk. Specifically, we gathered data from people with a broad range of roles in emergency management including healthcare, mitigation, response, fire, rescue, and other areas. We asked respondents their beliefs about the severity of COVID-19, their belief in health conspiracy theories, and the public health measures associated with COVID-19 response. Quantitative results showed political affiliation was a predictor for belief in health conspiracies, as well as beliefs about social distancing as a proper mitigation measure for the spread of COVID-19, and that age and years in emergency management were not significant predictors for beliefs in health conspiracies. Qualitative results included several main themes, including frustration about the politicization of COVID-19 response and mitigation efforts, challenges in PPE (personal protective equipment) procurement, tension between public health and emergency management, misinformation about COVID-19, and lack of leadership at the federal level. These findings fill a gap in the literature regarding how political beliefs shape risk, trust, decision-making, and collaboration within emergency management.
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Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest for this research and paper.
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Supplementary Material
This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2021-0072).
© 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- Strategic Planning in Emergency Management: Highlighting the Critical Role (and Impacts) of the Planning Process
- Critical Review of National Flood Policy Outcomes
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Applications and Integration into Hazard Mitigation Planning
- Climate-Related Vulnerability Assessment Toward Disaster Risk Reduction: Insight from Pakistan
- An Exploration of Local Emergency Management Program Accreditation Pursuit
- Politicization of COVID-19 and Conspiratorial Beliefs Among Emergency & Public Health Officials
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- Strategic Planning in Emergency Management: Highlighting the Critical Role (and Impacts) of the Planning Process
- Critical Review of National Flood Policy Outcomes
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Applications and Integration into Hazard Mitigation Planning
- Climate-Related Vulnerability Assessment Toward Disaster Risk Reduction: Insight from Pakistan
- An Exploration of Local Emergency Management Program Accreditation Pursuit
- Politicization of COVID-19 and Conspiratorial Beliefs Among Emergency & Public Health Officials