After the flood, standing water in the Longley neighborhood was a breeding ground for mosquitos and a health hazard. Residents were advised to stay away from the water, and to either boil their drinking water or use bottled water. Unfortunately, word of mouth is that compliance with these recommendations was low—perhaps in part because of poor community relations with police officers and other local officials.
An emergent behavioral study could provide information about how to better help this community during an emergency by measuring compliance and investigating how community members obtained water.
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My family has been doing our part to try to help. Our house wasn’t damaged, thankfully. My cousin’s house was flooded, so she and her kids are living here for now. She could go to a shelter, but my wife and I wouldn’t let her do that—they’re family, and we need to care of them.
My wife has been making food for people who don’t have power—actually there’s a whole group of women on our block making food and taking it over to people who need it.
We’ve also been checking up on our elderly neighbors. The police have been by to check up on people too. Everyone’s doing their part.
Ed Kowalski Cunningham
Police Guy Riverbend City LongName Society