Embracing complexity: Integrating the CADEM Framework into disaster and emergency management practice.

Area of Science:

• Disaster Management
• Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS)
• Emergency Response

Background:

• Traditional hierarchical disaster and emergency management (DEM) models struggle with increasing disaster complexity and unpredictability.
• A need exists for more adaptive and networked approaches to enhance coordination and resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and explore the Complex Adaptive Disaster and Emergency Management (CADEM) Framework.
• To integrate Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) thinking into disaster and emergency management.
• To examine the theoretical foundations, elements, and applications of CADEM.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory.
• Integration of CAS principles into a novel framework (CADEM).
• Analysis of CADEM's application across preparedness, response, recovery, and policy.

Main Results:

• CADEM enables decentralization, emergent collaboration, feedback loops, and diverse knowledge systems.
• The framework enhances adaptability, coordination, and resilience in DEM.
• CADEM offers practical applications for various stages of disaster management.

Conclusions:

• The CADEM Framework provides a robust mechanism for modern disaster and emergency management.
• CADEM facilitates a shift towards more adaptive and networked DEM strategies.
• Further research and policy development are needed to fully leverage CADEM's potential.