A satellite image of Hurricane Helene approaching Florida. Photo courtesy of US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shared via ednc.org.
In order for this project to reach its full potential and truly be impactful, the researcher has identified the following readings and resources related to the role that public libraries play in times of natural disasters and crisis. Together, they serve as a relevant way to gain insight from the wisdom on this topic that is already shared across the field of library and information science.
3.1 Readings
In the following, the researcher shares four readings that reflect on the promising practices of libraries facing similar situations to that of the Polk County Public Libraries over the last quarter. These stories are most influential, because they have been published within the past five years - indicating the increased responsibilities of libraries to serve their respective communities during the most stressful of times. Guidance from these libraries considers international and national library settings and their response to emergency situations like flooding after hurricanes and global pandemics.
Šaparnienė, D., Kulikauskienė, K., Aleksandravičiūtė, N., & Miežinienė, V. (2024). Challenges in Managing Public Library Services Aimed at Ensuring the Well-being of Society in the Context of Emergency Situations. Social Welfare Interdisciplinary Approach, 14, 115–133. https://doi.org/10.15388/SW.2024.14.8
The study in this paper analyzes libraries located in Kaunas and Šiauliai counties in Lithuania. Questions proposed by the research team included, "What challenges can be identified in managing public library services in emergencies?", "Are public libraries resilient in emergency situations?," and "What are the main enabling and limiting factors influencing the management of public library services to ensure public welfare in such situations?" (Šaparnienė, 2024). The research team employed a mixed methods approach and included the results from both quantitative and qualitative methods in their survey of library managers and their staff. In their analysis, the team reflected on the library's role in times of crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, immigration, threat of war, and other societal concerns (Šaparnienė, 2024). The study summarized its findings by strongly recommending public libraries have a service plan in place that they may adapt to during times of crisis. "During emergencies, public libraries need to develop the ability to anticipate, adapt and recover by creating new service management options. Sustainability, survival and resilience, and the ability to operate in the face of uncertainty – these challenges are becoming central to every organization today." (Šaparnienė, 2024).
Wahler, E. A., Spuller, R., Ressler, J., Bolan, K., & Burnard, N. (2022). Changing Public Library Staff and Patron Needs Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Library Administration, 62(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2021.2006985
In "Changing Public Library Staff and Patron Needs Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic," the authors reflect on the changes seen in public libraries following the pandemic in 2020. The article considers the ways in which libraries have been prompted to shift their operations and services to meet the needs of their communities in times of crisis both in the moment in anticipation of similar events going forward. The study highlights that libraries were "deemed “essential community organizations” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, public libraries now serve in many crucial disaster-related roles including those of sanctuary or safe space, incident command center, internet/computer hub, provider of emergency public services (e.g., short-term shelter, food and counseling services, etc.), ad hoc school, recorder to document and archive events, and a variety of other important responsibilities" (Wahler, 2022). It included surveys from both library staff and patrons relating to the impact of the pandemic and how their respective needs / response to needs of the community have changed as a result. The analyzed data from library patrons voiced themes of activity changes due to the pandemic, isolation, job changes/problems, problems using the library, parenting strain, financial strain, problems accessing goods/services, mental health, using the library differently, and more digital needs. Data gathered from library staff recognized less patron interaction, fear, increased need for tech assistance, curbside services, and COVID restriction enforcement. At the time that this study was published, the libraries surveyed had just started to reopen and return back to full operating status. The authors commended public libraries for stepping up and adapting quickly during that time and recognized the "prevalence of pandemic distress and financial crises rising nationally in the shadow of the virus, and that public libraries across the U.S. will soon be at the forefront of a new generation of community needs" (Wahler, 2022).
Reading 3: "Disaster Planning and Management During Flooding"
Nelsen, K. (2022). Disaster Planning and Management during Flooding. Music Reference Services Quarterly, 25(2/3), 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10588167.2022.2073100
Ghorbanzadeh, M., Ozguven, E. E., Tenney, C. S., Leonarczyk, Z., Jones, F. R., & Mardis, M. A. (2021). Natural Disaster Accessibility of Small and Rural Libraries in Northwest Florida. Public Library Quarterly, 40(4), 310–329. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2020.1772027
3.2 Resources
The following resources have been identified by the researcher for their specific relevance to emergency and disaster relief aid. Additionally, these resources were instrumental in getting information out to those in Polk County during Hurricane Helene.
The researcher also recognizes that these resources are all digital ways in which the population was able to receive information. In the days and weeks following the storm, county residents relied on information by word of mouth or physical signage that was handwritten and posted. By the time the old fashioned game of telephone did share information about resources, emergency shelters, and options for water and meals, it was received too late or was by then inaccurate. Most of the population in the county were without power for at least two weeks. There is an obvious need to provide the community with accurate and current information when cell phone towers, internet connectivity, and power is impossible or entirely limited, which reaffirms the researcher's project and calls libraries into action during times of natural disaster and crisis.
Resource 1: FEMA Disaster Assistance
The FEMA website is an official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It headlines current disasters receiving aid across the nation, including Hurricane Helene and the wildfires in California. Information provided was specific to those residing in areas affected by these natural disasters. The site is seemingly overall user-friendly with options to apply for assistance, check the status of disaster applications, offers answers to commonly asked questions, provides information to assist readers in preparing for disasters, and shares links to featured news. The website also welcomes the option to be viewed in a variety of other languages.
The overall objective of the website is to assist users in filing for disaster aid. It was the primary resource available for assistance funds, making the information shared through the website accurate and authoritative. The information on this website is specific to the resource, as there were not other credible forms of aid provided through the government.
For many in Polk County, simply the idea of applying online caused anxiety, as many of the population do not regularly interact with technology on this level. In an attempt to gain insight into the user's experience, the researcher attempted to file for aid at the time of reviewing this resource. The application button on the FEMA website linked to disasterassistance.gov, where the user was then required to click another "apply" button. Next, the user was prompted to enter their zip code, indicating their residence in the affected area. The site offered "Tropical Storm Helene" on the next selection page. Progressing through the next several pages of the application was fairly simple, although the descriptions listed on the "What assistance do you need?" page were confusing and incredibly vague. When community members sought to apply for aid at the time of the disaster, it was strongly recommended that only FEMA representatives walk them through this application process. FEMA representatives were brought to Western North Carolina to create pop-up locations, such as the station available at the Polk County Public Libraries, in the weeks following the storm. As of February, 2025, pop-up stations to apply for FEMA disaster aid are still rotating regularly around Polk and surrounding counties.
Resource 2: ReadyNC.gov
The website, readync.gov is a resource aimed at supporting the state of North Carolina. It is a state government website that is updated regularly and serves to help North Carolinians plan, prepare, and stay informed with emergency information and resources. Information on the website includes current weather conditions, evacuation orders and routes, road conditions, power outages, shelters, disaster assistance, and guides on hurricanes and nuclear emergencies. Readync.gov shares links related to other North Carolina hazards too. Topics like, drought, earthquake, extreme heat, floods, chemicals, biological hazards, landslides, public health, thunderstorms, tornadoes, cyber hazards, tsunamis, explosions, wild fires, and winter storms have specific information to assist North Carolina residents in answering questions, explaining the nature of the hazard and likelihood of their threat. While the website did not include content specifically for rural areas of North Carolina, it was evidenced in other ways. For example, disaster preparedness information for senior citizens, pets, businesses, churches/houses of worship, and setting up an emergency kit prior to a disaster was shared - which is all relevant to the population residing in Polk County. The website is informative, the content is mostly unique, and updated regularly. Of the resources selected, this offers the most extensive disaster preparedness content and could be easily translated in a variety of geographic settings, but especially the rural areas of Southern Appalachia.
Resource 3: Emergency Information page on polknc.gov
The Emergency Information page on the polknc.gov website is Polk County, North Carolina's main source of passing along updates for Hurricane Helene. It is provided to an audience of those specifically residing in the rural communities in Polk County, and therefore inclusive of the population that the researcher is focusing on in this project. It links to many outside resources including small business loans, well disinfection kits, FEMA disaster relief efforts specifically in Polk County, debris removal, and hurricane related disaster supplemental nutritional assistance. The information on this website is not unique, but it does share all of these resources in one place - which is unique for residents. The website, now, is stable with information that is accurate and current. In the days and weeks following the storm, the website seemed to have quite a bit of information that conflicted with other information outlets that were accessible.
Resource 4: Everbridge
Everbridge is the emergency alert program used by Polk County local government and the cities that it encompasses. Outside of emergency alerts, it is also used to alert residents of road closures, water advisories, parade or celebrations, local government office delays and closures, trash pick-up notices, etc. According to the website, Everbridge is able to deliver time-sensitive messages to mobile, home, and business phones, email addresses, and text messages. This is an opt-in resource and does require online registration to initially sign up for the alerts. For this system to work effectively, power, cell reception, or internet connectivity must be available and participants should have already signed up for the alerts. At the moment, this resource was employed, but entirely limited and ineffective. Compared to other resources reviewed, Everbridge is not inclusive in serving a rural population with limited connectivity and overall digital literacy.
References:
EdNC. (2024). Hurricane Helene: Updates from the storm and ongoing closures of schools and community colleges. photograph. Retrieved February 16, 2025, from https://www.ednc.org/09-24-2024-hurricane-helene-updates-from-the-storm-and-ongoing-closures-of-schools-and-community-colleges/.
Ghorbanzadeh, M., Ozguven, E. E., Tenney, C. S., Leonarczyk, Z., Jones, F. R., & Mardis, M. A. (2021). Natural Disaster Accessibility of Small and Rural Libraries in Northwest Florida. Public Library Quarterly, 40(4), 310–329. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2020.1772027
Hurricane Helene Updates. Polk County. (n.d.). https://www.polknc.gov/emergency_management_fire_marshal/hurricane_helene_emergency_information/index.php
Helene Information and Resources. Ready NC. (n.d.). https://www.readync.gov/
Member Portal. Everbridge. (n.d.). https://member.everbridge.net/index/565565588504592
Nelsen, K. (2022). Disaster Planning and Management during Flooding. Music Reference Services Quarterly, 25(2/3), 70–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10588167.2022.2073100
Šaparnienė, D., Kulikauskienė, K., Aleksandravičiūtė, N., & Miežinienė, V. (2024). Challenges in Managing Public Library Services Aimed at Ensuring the Well-being of Society in the Context of Emergency Situations. Social Welfare Interdisciplinary Approach, 14, 115–133. https://doi.org/10.15388/SW.2024.14.8
Wahler, E. A., Spuller, R., Ressler, J., Bolan, K., & Burnard, N. (2022). Changing Public Library Staff and Patron Needs Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Library Administration, 62(1), 47–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2021.2006985