Increasing the Resiliency of High-Risk Populations
o Contexts of vulnerability formation
o Risk perception
o Mitigation in rental housing
o Targeted mitigation marketing
o Vulnerability mapping
o Addressing root causes in high-risk groups

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Improving Evacuation Decisions at all Levels
o Costs of evacuation
o Process of household evacuation decision-making
o Incorporation of research into practice
o Preventing shadow evacuation
o Evacuation in minority communities
The LSSR is prepared to organize and conduct a variety of ‘quick response’ immediate post-event investigations, e.g.

Organizational Issues
o Assess adequacy and appropriateness of available response assets during the immediate post-landfall period, examining hurricane damage, recovery needs, and other impact data in context of pre-landfall vulnerability assessments
o Observe affected Emergency Operations Centers to evaluate immediate organizational response to the event

Evacuation Issues
o Use interviews, focus groups and questionnaires to evaluate the individual, organizational, and structural factors that facilitate or impede evacuation
o Interview displaced families post-hurricane to understand the factors that affect their sheltering options and choices
o Assess return behavior of evacuees while their memories are fresh through interviews at checkpoints and through random-digit-dialing telephone surveys
o Estimate evacuation costs with greater precision and comprehensiveness, using survey and administrative data to specify costs by type and to whom (households, NGOs, businesses, and governments at local, state and federal levels) they accrue.

Public Health and Safety Issues
o Evaluate medical needs, availability of medical services, care for event-related and non-event related acute illnesses and injuries, and chronic conditions
o Conduct telephone surveys to evaluate psychological symptoms in the hurricane’s immediate aftermath, determine the need for mental health services, and make recommendations for appropriate resource allocation
o Rapidly obtain population-based estimates of needs, location and availability of sites for medical treatment, counseling, food and water, household supplies, etc.
o Use multiple methodologies to specify factors that effect individuals’ level of psychological resiliency, immediate responses, and longer-term consequences
o Determine the incidence and severity of looting by screening of duplicate and unsubstantiated reports and analysis of credible ones.

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Who funds the research of the LSSR?
LSSR research activities are supported by a variety of grants from and contracts with institutions and organizations external to Florida International University. Examples include:
· American Red Cross
· Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
· Federal Emergency Management Agency
· Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research
· Florida Department of Children and Families
· Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management
· Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Development
· FIU Division of Sponsored Research and Training
· FIU Foundation
· Health Foundation of South Florida
· Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center
· National Science Foundation
· National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
· U.S. Agency for International Development
· U.S. Department Health and Human Services
· U.S. Department of Justice

How are the research findings disseminated?
The LSSR distributes research findings through publications, including books, monographs, conference proceedings, project reports, and articles in professional journals. Books produced by LSSR faculty may be ordered by phone or on-line (Books and Publications). Selected other publications can be downloaded as PDF files. Those interested in obtaining publications other than books or PDF documents should contact the LSSR directly regarding availability and cost. Other means of dissemination of research findings are presentations at public meetings and professional conferences.

Does the LSSR engage in any activities in addition to research?
The LSSR engages in outreach and education efforts of the FIU International Hurricane Research Center. Faculty and staff participate in community partnerships that are relevant for LSSR research interests, including committees and initiatives of the Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management Local Mitigation Strategy. They collaborate with sponsoring agencies, such as FEMA in the development of course materials, and with faculty within the larger university to develop cross-disciplinary programs such as those which address Sustainable Communities.