Gdovicak, Jason

Abstract

Jason Gdovicak, Chief of the Glen Haven Volunteer Fire Department, recounts his memories of the 2013 flood from the perspective of a local disaster management and human safety specialist. Recalling surprise, fear, and exhaustion, Gdovicak highlights the difficulties faced due to isolation, communication issues, and limited resources. Overall, he is thankful that no lives were lost locally, and is optimistic about recovering from the disaster with time. He notes the helpfulness of volunteers and state and federal agencies, but laments the inability to communicate directly with these helping hands. The small size of the community of Glen Haven produced limited local resources; however, the tight-knit community banded together during and after the flood, demonstrating that there are pros and cons to disaster management in small communities.