ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4189-3768
Date of Award
Spring 2025
Language
English
Embargo Period
4-30-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
College/School/Department
College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
Program
Information Science
First Advisor
Brandon Behlendorf
Second Advisor
Brian Nussbaum
Third Advisor
Eric Best
Committee Members
Brandon, Behlendorf, Brian Nussbaum, Eric Best
Keywords
Response time, EMS, Fire, Police, Public Safety Agency, Emergency Services, Disparities, Factors, Socio-economic Status, SES, Neighborhood Disadvantage, Urban.
Subject Categories
Emergency and Disaster Management | Infrastructure | Library and Information Science
Abstract
This study comprehensively analyzes the determinants of disparities in emergency response times for EMS, Fire, and Police agencies in San Francisco from 2021 to 2023, utilizing a multilevel modeling framework and publicly accessible data. Contrary to a primary reliance on structural neighborhood factors, this research reveals that while neighborhood disadvantage statistically significantly interacts with agency type to influence response times, its direct effect is weak and not uniformly consistent across services. Specifically, the analysis demonstrates that variance in call response times across neighborhoods is minimal (Intraclass Correlation Coefficients < 0.02), the effects of disadvantage are agency-specific (null effects for Police and Fire), and even when significant (for EMS calls only), response times are faster in more disadvantaged neighborhoods. These findings challenge the existing literature on emergency response times and highlight the need for tailored policy interventions that consider both neighborhood context and agency-specific operations to promote equitable emergency response.
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Ottah, Alice N., "Socio-economic and Infrastructural Determinants of Response Time Disparities across Emergency Service Agencies" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present). 192.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etd/192
Included in
Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Infrastructure Commons, Library and Information Science Commons
