Disruption and stress in an Alaskan fishing community: initial and continuing impacts of the Exxon Valdez oil spill

The study of technological disasters has been characterized by conceptual am biguity and non-ecological considerations of community vulnerability. This re search employs an ecological-symbolic theoretical approach that identifies nat ural resource communities as particularly vulnerable to disasters that contaminate biophysical resources. A longitudinal panel study, including a control community, provides data on disruption and stress experienced by res idents of a small fishing community in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The analysis reveals a continuing pattern of stress and disruptions some 18 months following the spill. The report concludes with a discussion of the specific long- term patterns observed.

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