Purpose This article investigates the potential barriers that would be encountered in integrating a crowdsourced crisis data mapping project into Türkiye's disaster management system, exploring how existing institutional structures, communication practices and stakeholder relationships would shape such an initiative. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory, embedded single-case study design is employed, drawing on in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions with 48 participants, including disaster management officials, civil society organizations, open mapping communities, a municipal planning unit and earthquake survivors, complemented by nonparticipatory online observation of a digital volunteer mapping community and field observation in affected districts. Findings The analysis identifies several interconnected barriers: the absence of open data policies, institutional concerns over data security, inadequate volunteer coordination, one-way communication practices and political polarization as a cross-cutting factor undermining collaboration. Research limitations/implications All fieldwork predates the February 6, 2023 earthquakes; later material comes from secondary sources. As no institutionally integrated initiative yet exists in Türkiye, the barriers identified are anticipated rather than observed. Practical implications The article offers concrete, data-grounded recommendations: drawing on the existing volunteer systems of established institutions, using central coordination to agree common data standards during pre-disaster preparedness, addressing open data literacy through targeted institutional training and countering mistrust through transparency. Originality/value This is one of the first comprehensive qualitative studies examining institutional readiness for crowdsourced crisis mapping in Türkiye, incorporating perspectives from all key stakeholder groups.
Purpose Arts-based research has received growing interest and is suggested to be appropriate for sensitive topics or working with vulnerable people. This article explores the use of a multi-arts-based workshop, as an open enquiry approach, to explore refugees' experiences of disasters. This method was co-designed and led with a refugee capacity building programme in London, UK. Design/methodology/approach The method is thought to be novel in disaster research as it uses an open-enquiry approach. The method was intentionally designed for participants to have more control over their engagement in the workshop, including a choice of art form, freedom of interpretation of the research topic, and opting into different formats of data collection including participants' art, supporting blurbs, discussions with the research team, and presentations. Findings The open-ended approach allowed for the quality and range of data collected to provide a comprehensive understanding of refugees' daily lives and experiences of disasters in the United Kingdom, including their access to information, resources, and services. Participants unique choices of engagement, by opting into different forms of data collection, neither obstructed the running of the workshop nor impacted the quality of the findings. Originality/value The design and praxis of this multi-arts-based workshop method is unique as participants were able to focus on topics most relevant to them, whilst controlling how their stories were shared and their level of engagement with the data collection. It is thought that this approach could be replicated, fully or to an extent, for other disaster research and geographical locations.
Purpose This paper aims to reflect on how knowledge about disasters is produced: what is said, by whom and where and through which methodological approaches – and how these processes shape the field. Here we ask: do the current conditions of knowledge production in disaster scholarship make the transformation called for in the Manifesto possible at all? Design/methodology/approach To understand how the knowledge is produced and whether the Manifesto is at the heart of the knowledge production, we took a two-fold approach to evidence finding. First, we did a broad search for the papers that mention Disaster Studies Manifesto, and secondly, we reviewed all papers published in three disaster journals between 2020 and 2024. We examined patterns across three dimensions: discursive concentration, geographical asymmetry and methodological distribution to understand how the knowledge is produced. Findings The findings show that disaster scholarship is structured by a relatively narrow epistemic vocabulary, uneven relations between sites of research and sites of authorship, and a dominance of methodological approaches that prioritise extraction, quantification and limited forms of participation. Whilst critical perspectives are increasingly visible, epistemic inequalities in the field limit the possibility of enacting the principles of the Disaster Studies Manifesto, which risks becoming a token gesture rather than a driver of transformation. Originality/value The paper demonstrates that the production of knowledge in disaster studies remains shaped by disciplinary traditions rooted in positivism, fragmentation and exclusion. These conditions do not simply limit what is studied, but structure how knowledge is produced, legitimised and circulated.
Purpose This perspective paper examines how no-regret thinking (NrT) can support climate-adaptive flood defence planning (FDP) in Vietnam under increasing climate uncertainty. It argues that conventional flood defence approaches remain constrained by short-term planning priorities and proposes a broader resilience-oriented perspective to support long-term infrastructure decision-making. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a conceptual and policy perspective informed by climate adaptation, resilience and flood risk management literature. Drawing on the Vietnamese context, it critically discusses the limitations of conventional FDP and synthesises existing adaptation concepts to develop a no-regret perspective for climate-adaptive FDP. Findings The paper argues that no-regret approaches (NrAs) provide an overarching decision-making philosophy that complements existing adaptation approaches by promoting long-term societal protection, preventative adaptation, integrated planning and intergenerational responsibility. Rather than replacing existing strategies, NrAs offer a common framework for evaluating, prioritising and integrating flood defence investments under conditions of deep climate uncertainty. Research limitations/implications This paper is conceptual in nature and does not include empirical testing or quantitative modelling. Future research may further operationalise NrAs through adaptive planning frameworks, governance analysis and resilience-oriented decision support systems. Practical implications The paper highlights the importance of integrating long-term resilience considerations into FDP, governance, and infrastructure investment decisions under uncertain future climate conditions. Social implications The paper emphasises the societal importance of flood defence infrastructure in protecting communities, reducing long-term vulnerability, and supporting intergenerational resilience under climate uncertainty. Originality/value This paper extends the discussion of NrT into the context of FDP in Vietnam. By positioning NrAs as an overarching planning philosophy rather than a standalone adaptation measure, the paper provides a novel conceptual perspective for supporting more robust, flexible and climate-adaptive infrastructure decision-making in Vietnam and other climate-vulnerable developing countries.
Purpose This study examines how disability welfare organisations in the Noto Peninsula responded to the 2024 earthquake, focussing on operational continuity, adaptive strategies and their contributions to community resilience under conditions of severe disruption. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from 12 disability welfare organisations, including facility-based providers and external support organisations. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis through an iterative, data-driven process to identify key themes. Findings Organisations rapidly resumed core services despite infrastructure disruptions, staffing shortages and economic losses. Some facilities operated designated welfare shelters (DWSs) alongside routine services and adapted staffing and service delivery to changing conditions. Beyond service provision, organisations functioned as local support hubs, assisting communities and supporting recovery efforts. However, business continuity plans (BCPs) often failed under conditions beyond prior assumptions, highlighting the importance of flexible frontline adaptation, staffing support, and integrating shelter management into preparedness planning, while demonstrating the contribution of disability welfare organisations to disability-inclusive community resilience. Originality/value This study provides empirical evidence from Japan's highly institutionalised disability welfare system, demonstrating how community-based disability welfare organisations adapted under severe disruption and functioned as local resilience assets beyond routine service provision.
PurposeEffective multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) are critical for achieving the Sendai Framework target of increasing access to disaster risk information. Recent efforts to establish a framework for evaluating the availability and access to MHEWS have tended to focus on basic infrastructure in various countries, with less focus on the spatial and temporal variability of those systems in delivering alerts across jurisdictions. This study presents an analysis of Oregon’s OR-Alert system to evaluate its MHEWS capability. Design/methodology/approachWe examined 31,940 alerts and 11.1 million messages delivered over 12 months of 2024 issued by 35 county groups, 3 tribal groups and 6 state agencies. We analyzed alert distribution patterns, communication methods, geographic coverage and temporal variations, with a particular interest in assessing system applicability for earthquake early warning (EEW) integration. FindingsOR-Alert demonstrates robust capacity potentially reaching over 2 million reported recipients. Natural hazards comprise 75% of public alerts, delivered primarily through short message service (SMS) (52%), with distinct seasonal and geographic patterns corresponding to regional hazard profiles. Push notification adoption remains very low at 2%, posing substantial barriers for time-sensitive earthquake warnings. Geographic analysis reveals marked differences in system enrollment, with some counties having high participation while some populous regions show less than 10% participation. Practical implicationsThese findings highlight the need for recruitment efforts to address coverage disparities and for enhanced push notification adoption to enable rapid-onset hazard communication, particularly as the Cascadia region seeks to improve its EEW capabilities. Originality/valueThe evaluation of geographic and temporal alerting patterns provides quantitative information about how MHEWS is functioning across a state with varying hazards both in space and time from a centralized platform that creates a single point of contact. Comparisons with census data provide context for the geographic variations in the alerting data, suggesting that infrastructure availability and language use do not significantly influence communication channel selection.
Purpose This article develops a conceptual framework for understanding batik as a culturally grounded medium of disaster mitigation communication, linking hazard knowledge in manuscripts and oral traditions with visual heritage. Design/methodology/approach The study uses a conceptual and interdisciplinary synthesis of literature on disaster communication, local knowledge, manuscripts, oral traditions, batik, visual memory, risk perception and protective action. Findings Batik can be reconceptualized as a symbolic and mnemonic medium for disaster mitigation. Manuscripts and oral traditions provide hazard memory, warning signs, spatial cues and ethical instructions, while batik offers a familiar visual form for circulation. Research limitations/implications The article does not empirically test motif legibility, interpretation, recall or behavioral impact. It provides a basis for future co-design and validation research. Practical implications Batik-based motifs may support disaster education, exhibitions, museums, school learning, selected early warning communication settings and locally grounded awareness campaigns as complements to technical mitigation systems. Social implications The framework supports culturally resonant communication while recognizing that interpretation, trust and legitimacy may vary across groups. Originality/value The article connects disaster communication, local knowledge, manuscript and oral tradition studies and batik as visual heritage within one framework, repositioning batik as communicative infrastructure for mitigation and community resilience.
PurposeThis study examines how Twitter enables citizen self-organization in disasters, revisiting Barton (1963) disaster role typology through the September 19, 2017 Mexico City earthquake. Design/methodology/approachSocial network analysis (SNA) was conducted on Twitter data collected during the first 72 h post-earthquake. Using Python for data mining and Gephi for visualization, we analyzed over 5,000 nodes and their interactions through mentions (@) and hashtags (#). Key metrics included in-degree (relevance proxy), out-degree and modularity to identify emergent groups. FindingsResults reveal a digital “informal mass assault”: citizens displayed strong motivation but lacked clear “role knowledge” (what to do), while possessing high “relational knowledge” (whom to contact). Emergent groups like @Verificado19s became central information hubs, surpassing formal authorities (SINAPROC). The study highlights a disconnect between government-led initiatives (#ERUM) and civil society self-organization (#Verificado19s). Originality/valueThis research updates Barton's framework for the digital age, demonstrating how social media fundamentally alters disaster communication dynamics. It provides actionable insights for integrating emergent online groups into official protocols and fostering bidirectional citizen–government communication.
Purpose Although a plethora of literature about disaster diplomacy is available, there is a lack of research analyzing the competition between two big nations to extend their geopolitical influence with a disaster-affected third nation.Design/methodology/approach In this study, the geopolitical relationship of Nepal with India and China has been examined through the disaster diplomacy perspective, considering the cases of two disasters: 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic.Findings The findings show that both India and China, in the competition for regional and global leadership, have been overtly or covertly attempting to extend their influence in Nepal. Moreover, they have utilized disasters in Nepal as opportunities to develop a positive image through humanitarian aid activities. The cooperation between Nepal, India and China is significant in reducing the impacts in disaster-affected areas.Research limitations/implications Studies operationalizing all key elements of disaster diplomacy using a generalized framework could be avenues of future research across wider geographical regions.Originality/value The research work offers new insights by considering the disaster diplomacy of two big neighboring nations in the disaster-affected third nation. The applied framework could be handy for researchers and scholars to explore further in the study of disaster diplomacy.
Purpose Early life exposure to disaster can impact children's development, even when the disaster is not large scale or destructive. This study explores the long-term lived experiences of youth exposed to chronic, small-scale disasters resulting from human-made hazards. These disasters, and the perspectives of young people, are often overlooked in disaster management.Design/methodology/approach We conducted episodic interviews with 18 young adults (aged 18-30, M = 22.34) who had been exposed since childhood to the consequences of minor induced earthquakes in Groningen, the Netherlands.Findings Thematic analysis identified four main themes: (1) unstable living conditions, (2) management efforts, (3) social responses and (4) meaning making. Participants described growing up in socially and physically unstable environments, where perceived injustices and collective disadvantage fostered ongoing institutional distrust. Some young adults developed long-term mental health struggles related to an additional unstable home environment, in which parents had to raise them under stressful circumstances.Research limitations/implications To learn more about variation in experiences and the impact of an unstable home environment, further research on these disasters should focus on individual and family resilience.Practical implications Effects of disaster management on youth should be monitored to avoid long-term consequences and promote citizenship.Originality/value This study proposes that chronic disaster impact can remain hidden if assessment does not include young people's views on disaster management.
Purpose This paper examines why disaster risk management (DRM) capacity remains difficult to sustain in Lebanon despite repeated crises and proposes an institutional model capable of strengthening preparedness within the constraints of the country's confessional political economy. Design/methodology/approach The study employs an exploratory qualitative design combining document analysis with semi-structured elite interviews. Nine senior practitioners from central government, local government, civil society and emergency services were interviewed across three rounds conducted between December 2024 and April 2026. The analysis examined experiences from the 2020 Beirut Port explosion, the 2023–2024 Lebanon–Israel conflict and the ongoing 2026 war. Findings were developed through an inductive and abductive process informed by hybrid governance theory and Lebanese public utility law. Findings The study finds that recurring weaknesses in Lebanon's DRM system stem from institutional discontinuity. No standing organisation possesses the authority, resources or permanence required to sustain preparedness functions between crises. Preparedness receives limited political attention because confessional incentives favour visible response activities. While institutional learning occurs, it remains largely person-dependent and is rarely embedded within durable structures. The findings support the creation of a hybrid autonomous preparedness institution insulated from confessional capture and supported by international equity participation. Originality/value The paper introduces institutional discontinuity as a mechanism explaining DRM challenges in fragile states and proposes a replicable institutional template for patronage-based and confessional systems facing similar preparedness deficits.
PurposeThis study analyzed qualitative survey responses from people incarcerated in Texas prisons about their experiences with excessive heat-related policies and practices in 2020. The focus of the study is to understand how policies and practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted incarcerated persons' experiences with accessing resources intended to mitigate the risk of heat illness associated with excessive or extreme heat exposure.Design/methodology/approachThe data included surveys from 152 persons incarcerated in Texas prisons in 2020. The analysis focused on qualitative responses to questions about their experiences with excessive heat-related policies and practices regarding access to certain resources (water, ice, showers, air-conditioned respite areas and commissary items). Participant's descriptions of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those experiences were analyzed.FindingsPandemic-related policies and practices such as lockdowns, quarantines and even social distancing requirements severely restricted incarcerated persons' access to resources. Incarcerated people described resenting correctional officers for restricting their ability to protect themselves as well as for not following policies or practices in place to get resources to incarcerated people in the midst of converging disasters (extreme and excessive heat exposure and the COVID-19 pandemic).Originality/valuePolicies and practices related to the management of excessive and extreme heat exposure in the prison environment were incompatible with those used to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19. Interventions such as air-conditioning and improved ventilation, could work to mitigate both the risk of heat-related illness and COVID-19.
PurposeThis study explores perceptions and reactions to earthquake preparedness education, earthquake early warning (EEW) systems and earthquake drill protocols in Mexico, as well as potential strategies to make these earthquake preparedness tools more effective and meaningful.Design/methodology/approachEleven Focus Groups were conducted with 109 students from diverse academic and social backgrounds of the two largest public universities in Mexico. The findings were validated on a broader participant group using questionnaires, focused solely on the drill, administered to two populations at two distinct institutions following the 2025 National Earthquake Drill in Mexico City.FindingsFocus group findings reveal a disconnect between the symbolic nature of institutional evacuation drills and the emotional and relational realities of lived experience. All participants expressed a desire for earthquake preparedness education that goes beyond slogans and rehearsals, one that is continuous, meaningful and responsive to their everyday realities. Survey results reinforced concerns about the lack of emotional and situational realism of the drill and the need to enhance the spontaneity, unpredictability and emotional intensity to better represent a life situation.Originality/valueThe study highlights the importance of recognizing affective and contextual dimensions in disaster preparedness, and suggests ways forward for a more inclusive, locally grounded and youth-centered seismic education. Rather than promoting compliance, the approach to earthquake preparedness should emphasize personal responsibility, dialogue and the co-creation of preparedness practices.
Purpose We introduce science-like knowledge to address gaps in predictive climate disaster systems that fail to capture hyper-local impacts. Conceived as a complementary epistemic infrastructure to formal science, it extends beyond anecdotal social knowledge to include structured, real-time insights generated by communities and circulated through social media. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on conceptual analysis of citizen observations, digital reporting, and grassroots monitoring, we synthesise developments in disaster research and vernacular sensing to demonstrate the epistemic need for alternative knowledge streams. Findings Integrating science-like knowledge improves early-warning precision, situational awareness, and adaptive response. Communities function as epistemic contributors, offering granular data that can verify and contextualise model outputs in data-saturated environments. Research limitations/implications Embedding science-like knowledge within disaster risk governance (DRG) promotes cognitive justice, strengthens local participation, and better aligns preparedness with uneven climate volatility. We propose a five-step translational framework for operational integration. Originality/value Science-like knowledge is conceptualised as a distinct and structurally coherent category of disaster-relevant information that neither replicates scientific method nor collapses into anecdote. Community-generated digital data and vernacular sensing are reframed as critical epistemic infrastructures, particularly in Global South contexts.
PurposeTo examine how indigenous knowledge intersects with formal early warning systems in cyclone-prone Mozambique, and how these interactions shape risk perception, trust and community preparedness within the EW4All agenda.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative case study was conducted in 24 coastal communities. Purposively selected key informants were interviewed, transcripts were translated and thematically analysed, drawing on PADM and SARF to interpret warning uptake.FindingsCommunities interpret dreams, environmental cues and ancestral guidance as legitimate indicators of impending hazards. When these align with scientific alerts and are relayed by trusted leaders, credibility increases and protective actions occur earlier.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are derived from a single district and a qualitative sample, which limits their generalisability. Future research should test hybrid warning approaches comparatively and evaluate behavioural outcomes using mixed methods.Practical implicationsEmbedding local leaders in dissemination pathways, documenting indigenous indicators, and co-producing messages with meteorological services can improve trust, comprehension and timeliness of community responses.Social implicationsRecognising indigenous knowledge promotes inclusion, strengthens last-mile communication and builds locally legitimate systems that better reach vulnerable groups often underserved by purely technical warnings.Originality/valueThe study reframes indigenous knowledge as an operational early warning asset, demonstrating how hybrid systems can enhance anticipatory governance when aligned with EW4All principles.
PurposeThis article critically analyses Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 13.1.1 – “Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population”. It examines some limitations of this indicator and suggests ways to strengthen its policy relevance and inclusivity. Design/methodology/approachDrawing on technical documents produced by the United Nations policy reports, and existing scholarship, the article critically reviews SDG Indicator 13.1.1, emphasising the conflicts and compromises in its development. It analyses its conceptual ambiguities, operational subjectivity and the limited representation of local and marginalised groups. FindingsThe analysis reveals ambiguities in key terms such as “disaster”, “death” and “disaster-affected persons”, which undermine consistency across national reporting and cross-country comparisons. Subjectivity in assessing the impacts of disasters and the absence of benchmarks for SDG Indicator 13.1.1 further complicate interpretation of this indicator. In addition, local communities, marginalised groups and grassroots initiatives remain under-represented in the design and implementation of this indicator, restricting its inclusivity and applicability. Research limitations/implicationsThis article is one of the first critical analyses of SDG Indicator 13.1.1 itself. By highlighting the importance of local knowledge, methods and epistemologies, this article advances political and research agendas in disaster studies. It also proposes some actionable improvements for SDG Indicator 13.1.1, such as clarifying definitions, introducing interpretive guidance and amplifying local voices, in order to better align disaster monitoring with inclusiveness and resilience-building objectives, with strong attention to local communities and vulnerable groups. Originality/valueThis article is one of the first examination of SDG Indicator 13.1.1 itself. By highlighting the importance of local knowledge, methods and epistemologies, this article advances political and research agendas in disaster studies. It also proposes actionable improvements for SDG Indicator 13.1.1 such as clarifying definitions, introducing interpretive guidance and amplifying local voices, in order to better align disaster monitoring with inclusiveness and resilience-building objectives, with a strong attention to local communities and vulnerable groups.
PurposeThis paper examines how the waria (transwomen) community in Indonesia – historically stigmatized and excluded – mobilized social practices and collective action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how the Kebaya Foundation, a transwomen-led organization in Yogyakarta, transformed marginalization into resilience, challenging traditional views of gender minorities as passive disaster victims. Design/methodology/approachA qualitative single case study approach was applied, focusing on the Kebaya Foundation's preparedness and response from 2020 to 2021. Data were gathered through document reviews and semi-structured interviews with ten purposively selected participants, including staff, partners and beneficiaries. Guided by Bourdieu's social practice theory, the data were thematically analyzed to examine how habitus, capital and field shaped community-led disaster practices. FindingsThe study identified three interlinked dynamics – layered vulnerabilities, crisis reflection by community leaders and transformation of social into economic capital – that enabled the Kebaya Foundation to assume three roles: beneficiary, responder and partner. Despite systemic discrimination, the waria community demonstrated solidarity, leadership and adaptive capacity in responding to crisis. Practical implicationsInclusive disaster governance should recognize gender-diverse communities as capable actors. Strengthening social networks and equitable partnerships can enhance their sustained participation in disaster risk reduction. Originality/valueThis paper is among the first in Indonesia to document transwomen-led disaster response in Indonesia, amplifying indigenous perspectives and advancing a call for grounded, inclusive and decolonized disaster scholarship.
PurposeThis study examines how search and rescue (SAR) organisations operate in practice and identifies recurring patterns in SAR exercise evaluations across Aotearoa New Zealand. Design/methodology/approachA qualitative document analysis was conducted on 98 Category 1 search and rescue exercise (SAREx) evaluation reports produced between 2011 and 2025 across New Zealand Police districts. Analysing reports spanning fourteen years allowed the identification of recurring themes and patterns in capability, doctrine use and organisational learning to be identified across exercises. FindingsThe analysis identified persistent system-wide challenges, including inconsistent doctrine application, variability in planning and tasking, information management difficulties, capability asymmetries and uneven organisational learning. Originality/valueThis study provides the first national synthesis of SAREx evaluations and demonstrates how exercise reports can function as a longitudinal evidence base for understanding capability and organisational learning within volunteer-dependent emergency management systems.
PurposeThe Forensic Investigations of Disasters (FORIN) guide provides important approaches for research and extension purposes in order to understand and reduce disaster risks. However, FORIN lacks participatory methods to put people at the center of collective disaster risk analysis. This research developed a participatory methodology for FORIN (Participatory forensic investigations of disasters (PARFORIN)). The FORIN's retrospective longitudinal analysis (FORIN-RLA) was combined with mixed research methods to analyze four main aspects of FORIN: (1) the triggering event(s), (2) population growth, (3) urban and rural land use patterns and (4) institutional and governance elements.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the research team, in partnership with a local university, created a disaster inventory database for the city of Po & ccedil;os de Caldas, Brazil, to characterize triggering events and support the RLA. After analyzing past triggering events and disasters in terms of both time and space and integrating them with urban and rural land-use changes and population growth, the research team selected a neighborhood for field research using surveys and participatory mapping. The field research and extension activity, based on the Freirean approach, engaged 37 participants, including youth and adult education students and the local community.FindingsCommunity participation has not only heightened awareness of local knowledge but also revealed perceptions of risks they face, moving beyond a static understanding of the physical environment. We uncovered practical implications, including the co-occurrence of hazardous and triggering events, the significance of local experiences to comprehend institutional and governance elements, and FORIN's potential for capacity-building, yielding valuable insights for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Although participants identified multi-hazards, especially those associated with dam mining and flooding, some risk drivers (such as deforestation), vulnerabilities (drug trafficking, for instance) and capacity aspects, it was not possible to include all elements of disaster risk on the map as "final product".Originality/valueThis research aligns with international agendas that highlight the role of people-centered approaches and social participation in DRR. By developing the PARFORIN, we highlight the strategic role of combining FORIN with mixed-methods research and social cartography in promoting collaboration between the community and institutions. PARFORIN demonstrates the added value and contributions that emerge when local partners are involved in collective disaster risk analysis.
Purpose-This paper aims to examine the 2025 Tai Po residential fire in Hong Kong to analyze the challenges of disaster risk reduction when hazardous practices are culturally embedded. Rather than reconstructing technical causation, the paper situates bamboo scaffolding within Hong Kong's distinctive urban, historical and political context, where the practice is tied to skilled labor, livelihoods and local identity. Design/methodology/approach-The paper analyzes public debates surrounding the Tai Po fire through critical heritage scholarship and disaster studies frameworks, drawing on comparative insights from prior research on post-fire reconstruction in indigenous communities in Southwest China. Findings-Controversy over bamboo scaffolding cannot be understood through risk denial or heritage attachment but reflects heightened anxieties about identity and autonomy among Hong Kong residents. Comparison with the indigenous case further reveals that resistance emerges when external authorities claim the right to decide how communities should live with risk and impose solutions. Originality/value-This paper identifies contested decisional authority as the primary mechanism driving resistance to culturally embedded risk reduction interventions. By situating disaster governance within questions of cultural autonomy and political legitimacy, it moves beyond heritage-versus-safety binaries and clarifies the limits of purely technical approaches.
