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Mud and tears: The human face of disaster – A case study of the Queensland floods, January 2011

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2015

Charmine E J Härtel  and
Greg M Latemore
Charmine E J Härtel
Affiliation:
UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Greg M Latemore
Affiliation:
UQ Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Abstract

January 2011 visited on Queensland Australia floods of proportions many thought could not have occurred again, following disaster management planning taken after the historic floods of the 1800s and 1974. This paper presents some reflections on this natural disaster, which affected many members of the ANZAM community and left a permanent mark on those directly affected and those who watched as the waters washed away lives, memories and many of the things that give people a sense of place. Amongst tragedy came stories of generosity of human spirit as well as the occasional case of greed and callousness. When all was over, however, there was no doubt about the human side of disaster management. Through two case studies of a family-owned business and a large organization impacted by the flood in Brisbane, we highlight some lessons for disaster management and propose some strategies for building social capital in times of disaster.

Keywords

Queensland floodsdisaster managementdisaster epidemiologysocial capitalorganizational resilience
Type
Managing for the Human Spirit – ANZAM Members Reflect on the Christchurch earthquake and Queensland floods
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 17 , Issue 6: 25th ANZAM Anniversary Edition Remembering 2011: Managing for the Human Spirit , November 2011 , pp. 864 - 872
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2011

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