Disaster Food Insecurity in Coastal North Carolina: Closing Information and Coordination Gaps

Area of Science:

• Disaster Management
• Food Security
• Information Systems

Background:

• Disasters significantly increase food insecurity for vulnerable populations, with long-term impacts.
• Frequent hurricanes in North Carolina strain local organizations' resources and information systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify data and information gaps in disaster food insecurity response.
• Assess tools used by organizations for data management and sharing.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews and workshops.
• Involved representatives from 18 organizations in New Hanover and Pender Counties, NC.
• Focused on experiences with data, information access, and communication tools.

Main Results:

• Data is often inaccessible due to formatting, incompleteness, or mismatch with organizational needs.
• Organizations require reliable tools for internal and cross-organizational coordination during and after disasters.
• There is a demand for integrated, user-friendly geospatial information systems for real-time data sharing, especially for smaller nonprofits.

Conclusions:

• Effective disaster food security governance necessitates practical tools for data synthesis and sharing across organizations.
• Investing in integrated information platforms and communication systems enhances coordination and reduces service duplication.
• Accessible data resources are vital for strengthening nonprofit preparedness and response in hurricane-prone regions.