| This research attempts to fill a gap in the area of natural hazards and economic geography fields. It examines business response to disaster by analyzing data from 41 surveys and 28 interviews. The study area was an industrial district immediately north of the Tar River, where it passes through Greenville, North Carolina. This area was chosen because of the extensive flooding that was reported there after Hurricane Floyd struck the state in September, 1999. The participants were limited to those firms that do not market to individuals or households. The bulk of participants were manufacturers, wholesalers, and transportation and warehouse operators. Employment levels at the participating establishments ranged from fewer than ten to over 1000. Limited response to some questions reduced the number of variables available for analysis. Nonetheless, results of this research indicate that the immediate disruptive impacts to firms after Hurricane Floyd included impassable roads and the limited availability of management and staff. Furthermore, setbacks of longer duration occurred if buildings, inventory, or equipment were extensively damaged. In addition, the interviews demonstrated that the sophistication of the firm's disaster-response strategy is linked to the levels of management at the firm. Those firms with more levels of management tended to develop more elaborate disaster-response strategies. These often included complex activities to assist displaced employees with their survival issues. |
