Mitch Stimers
Cloud County Community College, Natural and Physical Sciences, Department Member
- Natural Hazards, Natural hazards and disasters, especially vulnerability analysis, Risk and Vulnerability - Natural Hazards, Tornadoes, Climate Change, Noam Chomsky, and 27 moreMeteorology, World Regional Geography, Geography, Environmental Geography, Joplin Tornado, Tornado Impact, Natural Disasters, Tornado Warnings, Invasive species ecology, Emergency Medicine, Biological invasions, Invasive Species, Spatial Modeling, Natural Hazards and Risk Research, Natural hazards and human response, Natural Hazards and Risks, Species invasions, Early Warning System, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Cartography, Vegetation Ecology, Human Geography, Risk and Vulnerability, Natural Resources, Disaster Culture, Environmental Sustainability, and Cultural Geographyedit
Given the recognition that not only physical processes, but also social, political, and economic aspects of hazards determine vulnerability to and impact of an event, a classification system that addresses those factors is needed. Current... more
Given the recognition that not only physical processes, but also social, political, and economic aspects of hazards determine vulnerability to and impact of an event, a classification system that addresses those factors is needed. Current classifications for natural disasters, such as the Fujita Scale for tornadoes and the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, focus on the physical properties of the event, not the impact on a community. Pre-event vulnerability to a natural hazard is determined by factors such as age, race, income, gender, infrastructure, density of the built environment and health of the industrial base. The behavior of residents in the community, construction quality of shelters, and warning system effectiveness also affect vulnerability. If vulnerability is influenced by such factors, post-event impact should be, at least in part, as well. The goal of this research was to develop the Tornado Impact-Community Vulnerability Index (TICV) that utilizes variables such as the number of persons killed, economic impacts, and social vulnerability to describe to the level of impact a tornado event has on community. As tornadoes that strike unpopulated areas are often difficult to classify, even in the traditional sense, the TICV will take into consideration only events that strike communities defined as " places " according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By assigning a rating to the impact, this index will allow the severity of the storm to be understood in terms of its effect on a specific community and hence its impact, rather than in terms of its physical strength.
Research Interests: Geography, Urban Geography, Environmental Geography, Economic Geography, Community Resilience, and 11 moreDisaster Studies, Resilience, Community Development, Risk and Vulnerability, Risk and Vulnerability - Natural Hazards, Vulnerability, Social vulnerability, Natural Disasters, Disasters, Scales, and Tornadoes
Immediately following the May 2011 tornado, the city of Joplin, Missouri, initiated recovery efforts to rebuild the part of the community devastated by this event. In doing so, city officials introduced two new safety measures and... more
Immediately following the May 2011 tornado, the city of Joplin, Missouri, initiated recovery efforts to rebuild the part of the community devastated by this event. In doing so, city officials introduced two new safety measures and recommended several others. The main objective of this paper is to explore the tornado survivors’ compliance with the safety features recommended by the Joplin city authorities. Face-to-face interviews, as well as other methods, were used to survey respondents who were living within the tornado path (damage zones) at the time of the tornado. Results showed that 43 percent of all respondents implemented at least one recommended tornado measure in rebuild or repair their destroyed/damaged homes. Further, it was found that three variables considered here--- rebuild or repair, damage zone category, and perceived tornado risk---were all significant contributors to a homeowner’s decision to implement recommended tornado safety measures. The paper concludes with a recommendation for expanding tornado safety education among the respondents. Keywords: May 2011 tornado, Joplin, Missouri, tornado safety measures, recovery and reconstruction.
Research Interests: Geography, Disaster Studies, Disaster risk management, Hazards (Disaster Studies), Risk and Vulnerability, and 11 moreNatural Hazards, Disaster Management, Vulnerability, Natural Disasters, Safety, Risk Analysis, Natural hazards and human response, Natural Hazards and Risks, Tornadoes, Natural Disasters Reduction, and Joplin Tornado
Joplin, a city in the southwest corner of Missouri, United States, suffered an EF-5 tornado in the late afternoon of 22 May 2011. This event, which claimed the lives of 162 people, represents the deadliest single tornado to strike the US... more
Joplin, a city in the southwest corner of Missouri, United States, suffered an EF-5 tornado in the late afternoon of 22 May 2011. This event, which claimed the lives of 162 people, represents the deadliest single tornado to strike the US since modern record-keeping began in 1950. This study examines the factors associated with responses to tornado warnings. Based on a post- tornado survey of survivors in Joplin, it reveals that tornado warnings were adequate and timely. Multivariate logistic regression identified four statistically significant determinants of compliance with tornado warnings: number of warning sources, whether respondents were at home when the tornado struck, past tornado experience, and gender. The findings suggest several recommendations, the implementation of which will further improve responses to tornado warnings.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Geography, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Sustainable agriculture, and 11 moreSustainable Development, Community Based Natural Resources Management, Triple Bottom Line, Agriculture, Sustainable Energy, Environmental Sustainability, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, Geosciences, Natural Resources Management, and United Nations Environment Programme
On 22 May 2011, a massive tornado tore through a densely populated section of Joplin, Missouri, killing 162 people. The EF5 tornado was the deadliest single tornado to occur in the United States since modern record keeping began in 1950,... more
On 22 May 2011, a massive tornado tore through a densely populated section of Joplin, Missouri, killing 162 people. The EF5 tornado was the deadliest single tornado to occur in the United States since modern record keeping began in 1950, surpassing the tornado of 8 June 1953, which claimed 116 lives in Flint, Michigan. The Joplin tornado death toll was also far higher than the average annual number of deaths caused by tornadoes in the United States between 2000 and 2011. This study analyzed Joplin deaths by damage zone and place of death. Tabular data collected primarily from secondary sources revealed the number of deaths and death rates differ significantly by zone of destruction. The central zone (labeled as ‘‘catastrophic’’) had the most deaths, with the number decreasing systematically in both directions from the center of that zone. The results of this study further show that more people died in nonresidential buildings in Joplin than is usual in a U.S. tornado event, calling into question how well such structures protect occupants. Finally, the lack of basements in residential and other structures most likely contributed greatly to the high death toll, although the degree remains uncertain. Several recommendations are offered to reduce future U.S. tornado fatalities.
Research Interests: Geography, Human Geography, Spatial Analysis, Disaster Studies, Risk and Vulnerability, and 14 moreNatural Hazards, Spatial Statistics, Natural Disasters, Natural disaster management, Natural hazards and disasters, especially vulnerability analysis, Geosciences, Gender and Natural Disasters, Natural hazards and human response, Natural Hazards and Risks, Disaster Culture, Tornadoes, Natural Disasters Reduction, Joplin Tornado, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
On the evening of 22 May 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore a path six miles long across Joplin, Missouri, USA, killing 162 people as it passed through the heart of the city. This tornado stands as the deadliest single tornado to hit the United... more
On the evening of 22 May 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore a path six miles long across Joplin, Missouri, USA, killing 162 people as it passed through the heart of the city. This tornado stands as the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States since modern recordkeeping began in 1950, surpassing the tornado of 8 June 1953 that claimed 116 lives in Flint, Michigan. The record number of deaths caused by the single tornado in Joplin was far higher than the average annual number of US tornado deaths over the last three decades. This study explores the reasons for the high number of fatalities caused by the 2011 Joplin tornado. Questionnaire surveys administered among tornado survivors and informal discussions with emergency management personnel and others suggest that five reasons are associated with the high number of tornado fatalities experienced in Joplin: (1) the sheer magnitude of this event; (2) its path through commercial and densely populated residential areas; (3) the relatively large size of damage area; (4) the physical character- istics of affected homes in Joplin; and (5) the fact that some residents ignored tornado warnings. Several recommendations are offered, the implementation of which should reduce future tornado fatalities not only in Joplin, but elsewhere in the United States.
Research Interests: Natural Hazards, Risk and Vulnerability - Natural Hazards, Natural Disasters, Natural disaster management, Natural hazards and disasters, especially vulnerability analysis, and 10 moreGender and Natural Disasters, Early Warning System, Natural hazards and human response, Tornadoes, Natural Hazard and Disaster Risk Management, Natural Disasters Reduction, Joplin Tornado, Tornado Impact, Tornado Warnings, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Ten years ago this fall an F3 tornado tore a path straight through the heart of a small northern Wisconsin town. I grew up a few cities over, and spent many weekends at the Army Reserve unit in Ladysmith, and to me, it sure seemed like... more
Ten years ago this fall an F3 tornado tore a path straight through the heart of a small northern Wisconsin town. I grew up a few cities over, and spent many weekends at the Army Reserve unit in Ladysmith, and to me, it sure seemed like the event would impact the community deeply. But just how to describe the level of impact?
Research Interests: Geography, Human Geography, Community Resilience, Disaster Studies, Disaster risk management, and 13 moreRisk and Vulnerability, Natural Hazards, Spatial Statistics, Disaster Management, Risk and Vulnerability - Natural Hazards, Vulnerability, Natural hazards and disasters, especially vulnerability analysis, Geosciences, Disaster risk reduction, Participatory Decision Making, Disaster Culture, Tornadoes, and Natural Hazard and Disaster Risk Management
"A massive tornado that tore a 6-mile path across southwestern Missouri killed 162 people as it raged through the heart of Joplin on the evening of 22 May 2011. This EF5 tornado, which at its zenith was three-quarters of a mile wide,... more
"A massive tornado that tore a 6-mile path across southwestern Missouri killed 162 people as it raged through the heart of Joplin on the evening of 22 May 2011. This EF5 tornado, which at its zenith was three-quarters of a mile wide, levelled much of the city’s south side, and completely flattened some neighbourhoods, with leaves stripped from trees, the landscape took on an apocalyptic aura.
The Joplin event stands as the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States since modern record-keeping began in 1950, surpassing the 8 June 1953 tornado that claimed 116 lives in Flint, MI (Mustain 2011). In contrast to the horrific new record, 45 tornado fatalities were recorded in the United States during all of 2010, and just 21 stemmed from the 2009 calendar year. Average annual tornado deaths in the country were 55 for the period 2000-2010, but if the 554 deaths caused by 2011 tornadoes are added, the figure increases to 63.5. The record number of deaths caused by the single tornado in Joplin, MO, was far higher than the average number of yearly tornado deaths caused in the United States during the both time periods (i.e., 2000-2010 and 2000-2011). This study explores the reasons for the unexpectedly high number of fatalities caused by the 2011 Joplin, MO, tornado. This was accomplished by examining the nature and extent of warnings residents of Joplin, MO, received prior to the tornado touchdown and how they responded to these warnings."
The Joplin event stands as the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States since modern record-keeping began in 1950, surpassing the 8 June 1953 tornado that claimed 116 lives in Flint, MI (Mustain 2011). In contrast to the horrific new record, 45 tornado fatalities were recorded in the United States during all of 2010, and just 21 stemmed from the 2009 calendar year. Average annual tornado deaths in the country were 55 for the period 2000-2010, but if the 554 deaths caused by 2011 tornadoes are added, the figure increases to 63.5. The record number of deaths caused by the single tornado in Joplin, MO, was far higher than the average number of yearly tornado deaths caused in the United States during the both time periods (i.e., 2000-2010 and 2000-2011). This study explores the reasons for the unexpectedly high number of fatalities caused by the 2011 Joplin, MO, tornado. This was accomplished by examining the nature and extent of warnings residents of Joplin, MO, received prior to the tornado touchdown and how they responded to these warnings."
Research Interests:
"Given the recent recognition that not only physical processes, but social, political, and economic aspects of hazards that determine vulnerability and impact of an event, the next logical step would seem to be the development of... more
"Given the recent recognition that not only physical processes, but social, political, and economic aspects of hazards that determine vulnerability and impact of an event, the next logical step would seem to be the development of classification systems that address those factors.
Classifications for natural disasters, such as the Fujita Scale for tornadoes and the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, focus on the physical properties of the event, not the impact on a community. Pre-event vulnerability to a natural hazard is determined by many factors, such as age, race, income, and gender. The behavior of residents in the community, construction quality of shelters, and warning system effectiveness also affect vulnerability. If pre-event vulnerability is to be determined by such factors, post-event impact should, at least in part, be as well.
The goal of this research is to develop the Tornado-Community Vulnerability-Impact Index (TCVII) that utilizes variables such as the number of persons killed, economic impacts, and social vulnerability to describe to what level a tornado event has impacted a community. As tornadoes that strike rural areas are often difficult to classify, even in the traditional sense, the TCVII will take into consideration only events that strike communities with defined political boundaries, or “places” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
By assigning a rating to the impact, this index will allow the severity of the storm to be understood in terms of its affect on a specific community, rather than an absolute rating that gives only a broad, general indication of its physical strength, and hence its impact."
Classifications for natural disasters, such as the Fujita Scale for tornadoes and the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, focus on the physical properties of the event, not the impact on a community. Pre-event vulnerability to a natural hazard is determined by many factors, such as age, race, income, and gender. The behavior of residents in the community, construction quality of shelters, and warning system effectiveness also affect vulnerability. If pre-event vulnerability is to be determined by such factors, post-event impact should, at least in part, be as well.
The goal of this research is to develop the Tornado-Community Vulnerability-Impact Index (TCVII) that utilizes variables such as the number of persons killed, economic impacts, and social vulnerability to describe to what level a tornado event has impacted a community. As tornadoes that strike rural areas are often difficult to classify, even in the traditional sense, the TCVII will take into consideration only events that strike communities with defined political boundaries, or “places” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
By assigning a rating to the impact, this index will allow the severity of the storm to be understood in terms of its affect on a specific community, rather than an absolute rating that gives only a broad, general indication of its physical strength, and hence its impact."
Research Interests:
"Tornadoes are deadly storms that can cause a great deal of destruction in the communities they strike. Although warning systems have been improved upon in recent years, tornadoes still pose a serious threat to property, and more... more
"Tornadoes are deadly storms that can cause a great deal of destruction in the communities they strike. Although warning systems have been improved upon in recent years, tornadoes still pose a serious threat to property, and more seriously, human life. The location of emergency warning sirens is an important factor in reducing vulnerability and providing people the necessary lead- time to take shelter when a tornado is approaching. Hammer and Schmidlin (2002) noted that 37 percent of the people in the last 21km of the path of the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma City tornado received their warning from emergency sirens.
The geographical area covered by a siren network is of great interest to the natural hazard community, as proper placement can maximize the area covered and greatly reduce the chance of being injured or killed by a tornado (Brown et al. 2002; Grazulis et al. 1998; Hammer and Schmidlin 2002). This paper will examine some of the geographical and population-driven considerations through an analysis of the siren networks of two counties, Riley and Wabaunsee, in northeastern Kansas."
The geographical area covered by a siren network is of great interest to the natural hazard community, as proper placement can maximize the area covered and greatly reduce the chance of being injured or killed by a tornado (Brown et al. 2002; Grazulis et al. 1998; Hammer and Schmidlin 2002). This paper will examine some of the geographical and population-driven considerations through an analysis of the siren networks of two counties, Riley and Wabaunsee, in northeastern Kansas."
Research Interests:
On May 4, 2007, a 1.5 mile wide Category F-5 tornado, with winds estimated at 205 miles per hour, destroyed 95% of the southwestern Kansas town of Greensburg. Utilizing data collected from in-person and telephone surveys of 63 Greensburg... more
On May 4, 2007, a 1.5 mile wide Category F-5 tornado, with winds estimated at 205 miles per hour, destroyed 95% of the southwestern Kansas town of Greensburg. Utilizing data collected from in-person and telephone surveys of 63 Greensburg tornado survivors, this paper investigates the emergency responses undertaken in the aftermath of this extreme event. Specifically this paper examines the search and rescue operations, emergency supplies and medical care (including mental health counseling), debris removal, and the provision of temporary shelter for tornado victims. Given the extent of the tornado’s destruction of commercial and residential buildings in Greensburg, information on the prospect of rebuilding was also collected from victims and other relevant private and public agencies, and individuals. Analysis of the survey data reveals that overwhelming majority of the respondents expressed their satisfaction with the emergency responses. But most of them maintain that rebuilding and reconstruction of Greensburg is progressing slowly, which may hurt its recovery. Another potential barrier for recovery is the plan of the city government to turn Greensburg into Green Town.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
"Capital vices, or cardinal sins, have been discussed and debated since at least the 4th century, when Evagrius Ponticus, a Roman born monk who relished praise from his peers and married women, first wrote of the eight evil thoughts from... more
"Capital vices, or cardinal sins, have been discussed and debated since at least the 4th century, when Evagrius Ponticus, a Roman born monk who relished praise from his peers and married women, first wrote of the eight evil thoughts from which all sinful behavior was based. These evil thoughts - gluttony, fornication, avarice, sorry, anger, discouragement, vainglory, and pride - were later revised in the 6th century by Pope Gregory I to constitute the seven deadly sins: Luxuria (Lust), Gula (Gluttony), Avaritia (Greed), Acedia (Sloth), Ira (Wrath), Invidia (Envy), and Superbia (Pride). From the 14th century onwards, the deadly sins have been popularized by texts, including Dante Alaghieri’s 14th century masterpiece The Divine Comedy (Alagherii, 2010), and they have continued to be a prominent focus in contemporary art, music, television, film, comic books and, most recently, video games.
The authors undertook the task of statistically representing the seven deadly sins at the county level wi- thin the Midwest region of the United States to determine what, if any, spatial coincidence occurred. Each of the seven deadly sins was given separate treatment based on sociological and economic characteristics and available data. Pride, the “greatest" and “root" of all sins, was determined to be the aggregation of each sin and represents the total sinfulness of a given county or region."
The authors undertook the task of statistically representing the seven deadly sins at the county level wi- thin the Midwest region of the United States to determine what, if any, spatial coincidence occurred. Each of the seven deadly sins was given separate treatment based on sociological and economic characteristics and available data. Pride, the “greatest" and “root" of all sins, was determined to be the aggregation of each sin and represents the total sinfulness of a given county or region."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The introduction of non-native species has been one of the most damaging human impacts on specific ecosystems and the environment in general. Invasive species, such as the Zebra Mussel (Dreisenna polymorpha), are often introduced into an... more
The introduction of non-native species has been one of the most damaging human impacts on specific ecosystems and the environment in general. Invasive species, such as the Zebra Mussel (Dreisenna polymorpha), are often introduced into an ecosystem inadvertently, but with negative and far-reaching effects on native species. D. polymorpha, since its introduction, has exhibited a devastating propensity for altering the trophic state of lakes and rivers, and has rapidly populated many waterbodies throughout North America. Two rules added to a genetic algorithm rule-set prediction (GARP) model reflect the temporal dimension and the spatial extent of spread. Utilizing GARP, TableCurve, and GIS, I modeled several possible scenarios. Results of the models illustrate the potential for D. polymorpha to continue spreading deeper into the United States as well as the difficulty in predicting the spread of an invasive species.
Research Interests:
"Healthcare in rural areas is an important topic of study; quality healthcare is a need of all people, both rural and urban. Proper first-response care and the transportation of trauma victims to emergency hospitals are extremely... more
"Healthcare in rural areas is an important topic of study; quality healthcare is a need of all people, both rural and urban. Proper first-response care and the transportation of trauma victims to emergency hospitals are extremely important for the victim’s chances of survival. Physician quality and availability, as well as availability of services are also important concerns in rural areas.
Based on health research literature, this paper provides a review of concerns and status of the quality of emergency service personnel; transport issues, such as response time and instances of inappropriate transport; and the quality and availability of trained personnel at the receiving hospital. Current literature concerning issues related to healthcare in rural areas is reviewed below, with an emphasis on rural-urban differences. Topics examined include the types of trauma that are more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas and how these types of trauma are handled by emergency service personnel. Specific medical conditions such as myocardial infarctions and strokes also are examined, as well as healthcare issues related to children and adolescents.
The review concludes by examining issues related to hospital quality, financial viability, and implementation of new technologies in rural areas. The major goal of this paper is to cover the broad spectrum of healthcare as a rural resource, and note the challenges facing rural areas."
Based on health research literature, this paper provides a review of concerns and status of the quality of emergency service personnel; transport issues, such as response time and instances of inappropriate transport; and the quality and availability of trained personnel at the receiving hospital. Current literature concerning issues related to healthcare in rural areas is reviewed below, with an emphasis on rural-urban differences. Topics examined include the types of trauma that are more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban areas and how these types of trauma are handled by emergency service personnel. Specific medical conditions such as myocardial infarctions and strokes also are examined, as well as healthcare issues related to children and adolescents.
The review concludes by examining issues related to hospital quality, financial viability, and implementation of new technologies in rural areas. The major goal of this paper is to cover the broad spectrum of healthcare as a rural resource, and note the challenges facing rural areas."
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Tornadoes are deadly storms that can cause a great deal of destruction in the communities they strike. Although warning systems have been improved upon in recent years, tornadoes still pose a serious threat to property, and more... more
Tornadoes are deadly storms that can cause a great deal of destruction in the communities they strike. Although warning systems have been improved upon in recent years, tornadoes still pose a serious threat to property, and more seriously, human life. The location of emergency warning sirens is an important factor in reducing vulnerability and providing people the necessary lead-time to take shelter when a tornado is approaching. Hammer and Schmidlin (2002) noted that 37 percent of the people in the last 21 km of the path of the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma City tornado received their warning from emergency sirens. The geographical area covered by a siren network is of great interest to the natural hazard community, as proper placement can maximize the area covered and greatly reduce the chance of being injured or killed by a tornado (Brown et al., 2002; Grazulis et al., 1998; Hammer and Schmidlin, 2002). This paper examines some of the geographical and population-driven considerations through an analysis of the siren networks of two counties, Riley and Wabaunsee, in northeastern Kansas.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
In a military context, the collection, analysis, and use of geographic data can provide leaders with timely and accurate information on which to base decisions. GIS systems are used to store, manipulate, analyze, and manage all types of... more
In a military context, the collection, analysis, and use of geographic data can provide leaders with timely and accurate information on which to base decisions. GIS systems are used to store, manipulate, analyze, and manage all types of geodata, and are widely used by many military organizations in military decision making processes (MDMPs). Apart from accuracy, usage of GIS in MDMPs has provided many advantages, becoming a powerful and popular tool in the militaries of developed countries. However, even though GIS is a sophisticated tool in MDMP, the Sri Lankan Army has not employed widespread use of these systems. Tactical operations in which covert movement is paramount to success depend on high quality data and information concerning enemy positions, as was the case in the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009). A case study of base siting using GIS is explored here; in this research we attempt to introduce GIS as a powerful tool in MDMPs in the Sri Lankan military. Sri Lanka is a developing country that suffered from a terrorist war for more than 30 years. All decision making and data gathering was done manually, spending more money and man power that was realistically necessary. This research is focused on providing solid evidence for the use of GIS techniques in MDMPs, which can partially supplant slower, less reliable human-based decision making processes. In selecting a suitable permanent or temporary military operation base in enemy territory, all parameters need to be evaluated accurately. Injecting logical and statistical data, thus more automated processes into command-level decisions, will minimize errors in MDMPs. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is utilized to structure commander's perceptions of important selection criteria, and optimal base selection procedures are described.