SUSTAINING NETWORKS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT : A Study of Counties in the United States

The increasing scope and severity of disasters has led to the wide adoption of collaborative practices through networks in the field of emergency management. Networks are most effective when they can be sustained over time. This study develops a model of the factors that influence network sustainability in emergency management. Using data from a national survey of county emergency managers in the United States, the study finds that convergence of organizational goals, utilization of information and communication technology, and, most important, interorganizational trust are all significant influences on network sustainability in emergency management. The results indicate the significant role of trust-building among emergency managers in sustaining an emergency management network.