ABSTRACT
Previous chapters discussed the impact of cultural norms on choices and ultimately risk from emergencies and disasters. This chapter will begin the consideration of how communities-both traditional and virtualimpact how people engage and participate in disaster processes that range from personal preparedness and risk reduction to large-scale needs from government and other industry providers. This is particularly relevant as the scope and behaviors of communities are changing from geographically based to virtual based. For example, an individual with a unique passion for a particular hobby (e.g., underwater basket weaving) might be in the extreme minority in one limited geographic area (e.g., home city), but when connected into a broader, virtual community, the presence and connectivity around this particular hobby would be magnified greatly.
