Publication

Abstract : Abstract Although local emergency management agencies are increasingly using various technologies to improve disaster management, little research provides an understanding of the linkages between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use and independent IT departments. Using a survey of local emergency managers in the United States of America, this study focuses on the relationship between the presence of an independent IT department within an emergency management agency and their adoption of three types of ICTs – emergency operations, risk communication, and social media technologies. The findings indicate that emergency management agencies are more likely to use all three types of ICTs when an independent IT department exists in-house. On the other hand, challenges of the ever changing ICTs are alleviated when there is no designated IT department. Implications for practice with regards to reducing barriers to ICT use for emergency management are discussed.