This article explores the multiplex relationships among organizations within the context of emergency management. It examines the role of friendship networks and disaster preparedness networks in predicting sustainable collaborative disaster response networks. Furthermore, it examines the impact of emergency management systems on network building and sustainability. This article applies inferential network analysis methods in analyzing relationships among emergency management networks and examines the predictive power of preestablished network arrangements. This research suggests that friendship networks are important for encouraging organizations to be involved in disaster preparedness networks. Yet it is the collaboration ties during disaster preparedness that influence the formation of collaborations during disaster response. Structural attributes of emergency management systems have impacts on the development of multiplex relationships among organizations within various networks. These findings not only contribute to developing sustainable emergency management networks but also provide insights for building collaborative networks in a broader context.

The networked governance performance in emergency management is dependent on structural, spatial, and temporal issues embedded into interorganizational relationships. Network sustainability is one of such issues that requires due attention by scholars and practitioners in the field. This article examines how network sustainability, namely, the extent to which network relationships are maintained and nurtured over time, is affected by interdependent network relationships, network complexity, and information-communication technology (ICT) utilization at the local level. Based on 118 responses from a self-administered survey distributed to four county-based metropolitan regions in the state of Florida, this study provides a multiple linear regression analysis. Using UCINET social network analysis software, additional analysis of the network structure and relationships in the four counties is provided for further insight. The findings suggest positive and statistically significant relationships between network relationships and information-communication technology utilization and that there is no statistically significant impact of network complexity as well as control variables such as sector type, number of full-time employees, and yearly budget. The network analysis suggests different patterns between friendship and advice networks during the preparedness and response phases of an emergency. This study contributes to the literature on networked governance applied to the field of emergency management.

This manuscript investigates the multifaceted concept of urban resilience amidst escalating urbanization and environmental challenges. The study identifies and examines key problems across environmental, infrastructural, economic, human, social, and institutional dimensions of urban resilience through a systematic review of literature and consultations with experts in the field. Emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration and community involvement, the research underscores the necessity for innovative approaches to bolster urban resilience. By shedding light on the intricate dynamics of urban challenges, the study advocates for sustainable urban development strategies that prioritize resilience-building. Insights from the study pave the way for future research endeavors aimed at addressing urban complexities and fostering resilient urban environments that can withstand and adapt to external and internal disturbances effectively.

The wide use of networks warrants a closer examination of network research in public administration. This article focuses on the methodological issues of network research and examines how social network analysis has been used and can be used to advance network research in public administration. Through a content analysis of 81 network articles, we found that the topics examined through network analysis have become more diverse in recent years. Yet relatively few articles have examined the intersection of policy networks, governance networks, and collaborative networks. The field needs more mixed-methods research designs and more research on the substructures of networks and multilevel networks.

Effective communication and coordination are crucial aspects of emergency management. This study examines how organizational representatives perceive information communication technologies (ICTs) in communication and coordination with other organizations. Furthermore, it investigates whether the centrality of organizations in emergency management networks relates to ICT utilization. We found that although many central organizations in emergency preparedness networks have high levels of ICT utilization, ICTs are underused by central organizations in friendship networks and emergency response networks. An organization’s level of ICT utilization needs to match its organizational goal, mission, structure, ICT capacity, and the role that it plays within emergency management networks.