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I am interested in seeing how social ties and networks have been used to cope with (un)natural disasters. My research focus on places under disasters conditions such as Puerto Rico after hurricane Maria, in which social ties have made the difference between life and death. Furthermore, “natural” disaster has been used to approved austerity measures and unjust policies to impoverished communities like in New Orleans after Katrina. These policies were not new, as they are rooted in structures of power to preserve the status quo. Yet, people have resisted, “through a network of branches, cultures, and geographies” that has stimulated a reflective process of looking within for solutions rather than outside. As often this outside solutions are not only detached from community’s reality but can perpetuate social injustices and inequalities.

McKittrick, K., & Woods, C. A. (Eds.). (2007). Black geographies and the politics of place. South End Press.

Bullard, R. D., & Wright, B. (Eds.). (2009). Race, place, and environmental justice after Hurricane Katrina: Struggles to reclaim, rebuild, and revitalize New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Westview Press.

Emergency response isn't directly addressed as much as ongoing access to care. 

"Third, additional studies are needed of interventions that aim to prevent or reduce symptoms of mental illness among disaster victims (42, 49). Although some interventions have been deemed efficacious in randomized controlled studies, effectiveness studies are needed to evaluate how well interventions work in the general population with practicing clinicians (38) and how well they prevent or reduce comorbid depression and substance use disorders..."

"The disaster context introduces additional methodological challenges, over and above the challenges that affect all studies of mental health, in four key areas: defining the target population, obtaining a representative sample of affected persons from this population, implementing an appropriate study design, and measuring key constructs"

"Psychological first aid (PFA) has become the preferred post-disaster intervention, with three goals: Secure survivors’ safety and basic necessities (e.g., food, medical supplies, shelter), which promotes adaptive coping and problem solving; reduce acute stress by addressing post-disaster stressors and providing strategies that may limit stress reactions; and help victims obtain additional resources that may help them cope and regain feelings of control."

Since I've-Been-Violated was the only one I could figure out, I have a detailed description:

The app starts with a registration page asking for name, phone number, and email. It also asks for access to the camera. The next page is a terms of use defining the contract you are entering when downloading and registering for the app. The information page has instructions:

1. Begin to tell your story by following the on-screen instructions. The Red Button will start and stop the video recording. You have the option to record an individual video is needed. There wil be three separate screens, each prompting you on what to say.
2. An encrypted record of you story is created and stored for future retrieval (through the proper channels) on our offline storage servers. NO video will be available directly to you or anyone else.
3. When and if you are ready to tell your story to the appropriate authorities, the app will bolster your credibility by giving these authorities access to evidence that you recorded approximately contemporaneously with the incident.
4. Please consider getting help from the appropriate medical authorities.

The interface is simple with a button to start the log, the info button, and the personal info icon (wich you can update)

The app has several partners, such as the Medical University of South Carolina, the Student Doctor Network, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital.