Developing a Digital Disaster Documents System for essential documents: Perspectives of decision-makers in disaster and emergency management in Canada

Despite a growing recognition in the literature concerning the intricate relationship between innovation as an adaptive measure to effectively achieve the overarching objectives of disaster risk reduction and resilience, limited studies have examined how social innovation can be tailored to the local context. This study fills this gap by examining decision-makers' perspectives on the Digital Disaster Documents System (D3S), which digitizes vital documents for disaster response and recovery. A web-based survey was completed by 21 decision-makers across Canada, analyzing their responses using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Overall, decision-makers exhibit a positive attitude toward the innovation of D3S as a means to enhance disaster preparedness. Moreover, their constructive feedback on various aspects (content, organization, and storage) of the D3S paves the way for necessary adjustments and enhancements tailored to local needs. This research underscores the necessity for social innovations in emergency and disaster preparedness, especially in ways that are inclusive and equitable.