Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of disaster response in the United States is a real phenomenon through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, and will delve into why the military has been used less as a support to civilian authorities and more as first responders. One of the key theories used as explanation is late modernity, which focuses on risk aversion and maintaining security. By focusing on policing the streets after a natural disaster, reporting on looting and crime, and keeping citizens in a controlled environment, our expectations after a natural disaster strikes have gone from lending a helping hand to ensuring surveillance and uncertainty about crime are the predominant focus.
","abstract_html":"<p>Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of disaster response in the United States is a real phenomenon through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, and will delve into why the military has been used less as a support to civilian authorities and more as first responders. One of the key theories used as explanation is late modernity, which focuses on risk aversion and maintaining security. By focusing on policing the streets after a natural disaster, reporting on looting and crime, and keeping citizens in a controlled environment, our expectations after a natural disaster strikes have gone from lending a helping hand to ensuring surveillance and uncertainty about crime are the predominant focus. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Farmer, Ashley Katherine"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"Justice Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2011,"date_issued":"2011-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2011-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z","subjects":["Disaster Response","Late Modernity","Militarization","Criminology and Criminal Justice"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2011 Ashley Katherine Farmer"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/34","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Farmer, Ashley Katherine"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Justice Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Disaster Response","Late Modernity","Militarization","Criminology and Criminal Justice"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2011 Ashley Katherine Farmer"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/34"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of disaster response in the United States is a real phenomenon through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, and will delve into why the military has been used less as a support to civilian authorities and more as first responders. One of the key theories used as explanation is late modernity, which focuses on risk aversion and maintaining security. By focusing on policing the streets after a natural disaster, reporting on looting and crime, and keeping citizens in a controlled environment, our expectations after a natural disaster strikes have gone from lending a helping hand to ensuring surveillance and uncertainty about crime are the predominant focus.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Call To Arms: The Militarization of Natural Disasters in the United States"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Farmer, Ashley Katherine"],"dc:description.abstract":["Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of disaster response in the United States is a real phenomenon through a case study of Hurricane Katrina, and will delve into why the military has been used less as a support to civilian authorities and more as first responders. One of the key theories used as explanation is late modernity, which focuses on risk aversion and maintaining security. By focusing on policing the streets after a natural disaster, reporting on looting and crime, and keeping citizens in a controlled environment, our expectations after a natural disaster strikes have gone from lending a helping hand to ensuring surveillance and uncertainty about crime are the predominant focus.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/34"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2011 Ashley Katherine Farmer"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Disaster Response","Late Modernity","Militarization","Criminology and Criminal Justice"],"dc:title":["A Call To Arms: The Militarization of Natural Disasters in the United States"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Justice Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:13Z"}