Papers by Amer Hamad Issa Abukhalaf
Qeios, 2024
The real estate market in the US has historically been shaped by social systems that influence ec... more The real estate market in the US has historically been shaped by social systems that influence economic foundations, political environments, and social norms, leading to socioeconomic inequality and segregation. Social vulnerabilities, rooted in these systems, result in unequal risk distributions across communities, particularly during disasters. Many case studies have highlighted how marginalized communities suffer disproportionately due to poor housing conditions. This disparity is compounded by historical policies such as the Indian Removal Act, Jim Crow Laws, and the Home Owners' Loan Corporation mapping system, which entrenched housing inequities. Addressing these vulnerabilities requires comprehensive housing policies, community-based initiatives, and interdisciplinary approaches that focus on equitable access to resources, improved housing quality, and resilience against natural hazards. By tackling the root causes of social inequalities, policymakers can foster more inclusive, sustainable, and healthy living environments, mitigating the impacts of disasters on vulnerable populations.
Qeios, Apr 17, 2023
Although literature regarding hurricanes and human behavior has been growing, there is generally ... more Although literature regarding hurricanes and human behavior has been growing, there is generally a paucity of research that considers comprehensive behavioral models in a severe weather hazards context, and the question of "why do some people choose to take hurricane preparedness actions, while others do not?" remains answered only in part. With regard to explaining and predicting human behaviors, it is common in disaster studies to use generic models developed for other purposes in another field. Not having a specific model built for a particular set of protective behaviors is problematic as it overlooks many critical factors that influence people's intention to prepare for hurricanes. Consequently, the recommendations built on such incomplete models should also be questioned. This paper introduces a new comprehensive behavioral model, The Protective Behavior Model (PBM), which explains why people choose to engage in hurricane preparedness behaviors using constructs from 23 different theories in human behavior. After the PBM was initially constructed based on the review of critical literature, a Subject Matter Expert's Validation was conducted, where five expert scholars in the field agreed to review the model and make recommendations to improve it. The review process was done through multiple rounds of comments and alteration of the model until the experts were satisfied with the final model.
Qeios
Although literature regarding hurricanes and human behavior has been growing, there is generally ... more Although literature regarding hurricanes and human behavior has been growing, there is generally a paucity of research that considers comprehensive behavioral models in a severe weather hazards context, and the question of “why do some people choose to take hurricane preparedness actions, while others do not?” remains answered only in part. With regard to explaining and predicting human behaviors, it is common in disaster studies to use generic models developed for other purposes in another field. Not having a specific model built for a particular set of protective behaviors is problematic as it overlooks many critical factors that influence people’s intention to prepare for hurricanes. Consequently, the recommendations built on such incomplete models should also be questioned. This paper introduces a new comprehensive behavioral model, The Protective Behavior Model (PBM), which explains why people choose to engage in hurricane preparedness behaviors using constructs from 23 differe...
As many studies show that college students are ill-prepared for hurricanes, it is critical to fur... more As many studies show that college students are ill-prepared for hurricanes, it is critical to further study how to engage college students to be better prepared. Our study examined this by answering one main research question "What encourages college students to take hurricane preparedness action?" A quantitative approach was used in this study's data collection and analysis, and 578 students from five universities and community colleges in Florida participated in our study. We designed an online questionnaire based on three main protective behaviors (preparing an emergency supply kit, an evacuation plan, and a communication plan) and six behavioral constructs (threat possibility, threat severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, subjective social norms, and sense of responsibility). Based on our multi-linear and logistic regression models, risk perception had a statistically insignificant impact on students’ intentions to take hurricane protective behaviors. Similarl...
Qeios, 2023
A major characteristic of U.S. college towns is the continuous influx of migrants who come to stu... more A major characteristic of U.S. college towns is the continuous influx of migrants who come to study and work under a visa. Unfortunately, these groups are underrepresented in pandemic and disaster studies. Migrants can be more vulnerable in the face of pandemics due to the limited access to resources, cultural differences, and social discrimination. The main goal of our study is to help close this research gap by answering the following research questions: How did the COVID-19 outbreak impact the wellbeing of migrants in Gainesville, Florida? And how did the changes in visa regulations and deportation threats during the COVID-19 outbreak affect the anxiety and depression levels among migrants in Gainesville, Florida? The data was collected through a mixed-methods approach. This involved semi-structured interviews with eleven migrants from Gainesville. Following the interviews, we conducted a cross-sectional survey based on previously validated depression and anxiety questionnaire tools (PHQ-9 and GAD-7), and it was completed by 165 migrants from Gainesville. Three main themes resulted from the qualitative analysis of the interviews; 1) Emotional struggles and socioeconomic challenges, 2) Discrimination and lack of government and institutional support, and 3) Communication challenges. Simultaneously, due to the visa changes, the survey sample had mild to moderate depression and anxiety levels on average based on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. Our findings offer practical policy insights which can help in developing effective and equitable pandemic and disaster risk-reduction strategies.
I appreciate the intention to contribute to the disaster studies; however, the methodology is mis... more I appreciate the intention to contribute to the disaster studies; however, the methodology is missing a lot of details, and the discussion should go more in-depth as it seems very light. The topic is not new, and many studies have been conducted on that topic, so I don't know why there are only 32 papers cited in the references. Check the following papers; you might find them helpful to extend the discussion part of your paper.
The paper is under a peer-review process at the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction
Journal of American College Health, Feb 7, 2023
Academia letters, Apr 5, 2022
When it comes to emergency preparedness, universities and colleges understand the importance of h... more When it comes to emergency preparedness, universities and colleges understand the importance of having policies, protocols and procedures in place to minimize damage, prevent tragedies and ensure a safe environment for staff and students who work and live on campus. Campus emergency planning is a complex process due to the enormous number of existing and potential threats. Universities and colleges around the country must plan to deal with different kinds of emergencies, ranging from natural hazards, such as hurricanes and pandemics, to man-made disasters, such as active shooters. Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2022). Whether it's a hurricane, an active shooter, or a pandemic, we must reconsider campus emergency planning. Science X. Retrieved from https://sciencex.com/news/2022-01-hurricane-shooter-pandemic-reconsider-campus.html. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24811.21287
Academia Letters, 2021
The United States is the world’s leader in overconsumption; while the United States population is... more The United States is the world’s leader in overconsumption; while the United States population is less than 5% of the world’s population, it accounts for 33% of the world’s consumption (Grauerholz, Bubriski-McKenzie, 2012). More than 250 million tons of solid waste is generated annually in the U.S., and with a waste landfill rate of 65%, the country should find a fast solution to deal with its two thousand landfills which are running out of space in less than 20 years. The problem is more severe in the Northeast states, like New Jersey; a combination of high-density of people and lack-of-space, which puts these states in a real battle with time. Additionally, when it comes to recycling; the U.S is not recycling its own solid waste; more than half of U.S solid waste is sold to China to be cycled there (Seeberger, Grandhi, Kim, Mase, Reponen, Ho, Chen, 2016). (Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2021). “Bridging the Gap: U.S Waste Management System”. ResearchGate. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16254.31040)
Until recently, concrete was viewed as a strong motive in creating civilizations throughout histo... more Until recently, concrete was viewed as a strong motive in creating civilizations throughout history, and an enabler for their economic and social growth. However, when the environmental movements started in the 1960s to warn the world about air pollution caused by modern industries, the image of concrete changed in eyes of the public, and it got the reputation of being evil to the environment. (Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2021). “Bridging the Gap: Dirty Secrets of the Concrete Industry”. ResearchGate. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.15415.44967)
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Papers by Amer Hamad Issa Abukhalaf
APA Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2018). Revising Institutional Disasters Response Strategies in the U.S: Hurricane Katrina Case Study. Ashland University. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29991.01447
(Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2019). “Bridging the Gap: Dirty Secrets of the Concrete Industry”. ResearchGate. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.15415.44967)
(Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2021). Legal disputes in Sustainable Construction. Research Gate. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.27526.50243)
(Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2021). Considering the moment effect on the bolts' circular distribution in the End-plate connection. ResearchGate. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20094.72002)
Find the original article at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351435824_Considering_the_moment_effect_on_the_bolts'_circular_distribution_in_the_End-plate_connection
APA Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2016). Investigating High Employee Turnover Rate in Structural Engineering Sectors. ResearchGate. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16123.59685
APA Citation: Abukhalaf, A. H. I. (2016). Studying Local Businesses Survival Strategies: BBTS-USA Case Study. ResearchGate. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36256.25601