Trends in Economics TE TE Volume 1, Issue 1 Apr. 2014 PP. 24-34 http://www.vkingpub.com/journal/te/ © American V-King Scientific Publishing 24 Assessing the Impact of Media and Feedback System in the Management of Disaster in Nigeria Aronu, F. I. 1 , Ebeze, V. U. 2 , Aronu, C. O. *3 1, 2 Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 3 Department of Statistics, Anambra State University, Uli Campus, Nigeria 1 aronuify2010@yahoo.com; 2 ebezevu@yahoo.com; *3 amaro4baya@yahoo.com Abstract- This study assessed the impact of media and feedback system in the management of disasters in Nigeria. Also examined was the indispensable and crucial interface between the Media of Communication and disaster management. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of Media and feedback system in the management of the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria. The statistical tools employed in this study include the Quade F test statistic, bar chart analysis and pie chart analysis. The research design adopted in this study was cross-sectional study design. The study covers four communities affected by the 2012 flooding in Anambra East- Local Government Area in Anambra State-Nigeria. The result of the analysis revealed that the use of Mass and Personal media have no significant contribution in the 2012 disaster management, since the Quade F statistic measure was obtained as 1.09 and a p-value of 0.38 which falls on the acceptance region of the hypothesis assuming a 95% confidence level. Also, it was observed that the feedback system during the disaster has no significant contribution in 2012 disaster management since the Quade F statistic measure was obtained as 1.13 and a p-value of 0.39, which falls on the acceptance region of the hypothesis assuming a 95% confidence level. Keywords- Media; Feedback System; Disaster; Communication; Communities I. INTRODUCTION The rising spate of disasters around the world especially in developing nations has increasingly become a major cause for concern. [1], noted that natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and hurricanes can wipe out years of urban development by destroying infrastructure and housing and by injuring or killing thousands of people. Agreeing, [8] emphasized that Disasters are clearly a development problem. [12], revealed that in 2011, the disaster that made the highest number of victims was the flood that affected China which caused 67.9 million victims. According to him, 66.8% of global hydrological disaster victims were from floods in the same year. Also, in 2012, Pakistan witnessed the loss of lives and livelihoods from the deadliest flooding in decades. Notwithstanding the grave damages so far occasioned by flood disasters in different parts of the world, there are further indications that the worst days are ahead. Nigeria is widely recognized to be vulnerable to climate change having signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC); therefore the development of local awareness, knowledge and expertise to improve the nation’s disaster management system is imperative. Further, since improved disaster management is a major issue in the developmental drive of any nation, the role of the media of communication in educating the general public on the causes, effects and prevention of these hazards which constitute threats to environmental sustainability should not be overemphasized. This need for this study arose in the wake of complains by communities affected during the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria decrying the perceived unsatisfactory management of that disaster. Hence, assessing the impact of the mass media channels employed in dissemination of warning messages and the feedback system during the 2012 flood disaster in Nigeria becomes a sine qua non. II. LITERATURE REVIEW The growing trend of flooding in Nigeria has implication for national sustainability because floods irrespective of causal factors are associated with diverse externalities such as mortality, loss of income, homes, farmlands, social networks and livelihoods [2]. To mitigate disasters, many countries around the world are known to have enhanced their disaster management systems through communication. Obviously, scholars of communication and other disciplines have identified mass media and communication in general as important socializing agents that serve the purpose of extending public education and promoting innovation in agriculture, health and population control in the course of developing any society. When there is threat of disaster, the media likely assumes two different yet related roles by reporting the event itself and sensitizing the public to act in certain ways. Ideally, the media coordinates the affairs of disaster management partners such as government officials, relief organizations and the public by issuing warnings and ensuring unabridged flow of communication. The print and electronic media are considered powerful actors in many societies. However, these media forms are inherently elitist in nature and are limited in developing countries were illiteracy and dearth of infrastructure is endemic. [8] Identifies Communication Infrastructure as very essential in disaster management and warned that this could pose a serious problem during a disaster. [6], defined the channels of communication as the methods by which outreach messages are distributed to the audience. According to him, channels may include the media (TV and radio, billboards, the internet, mobile phones, etc.), social service providers, schools, churches, and other community organizations that work with community members on a daily basis and selecting an appropriate and trusted channel helps ensure that the intended audience will receive the message. In their own contribution, [12] suggests that communication can initiate, stimulate and sustain the development process when carefully evolved and applied.