Research & Policy
From Experience to Evidence to Change.
The Disaster Voices Institute conducts and translates research designed to close the gap between what disaster communities experience and what disaster policy requires.
Our work is rigorous, independent, and grounded in the voices of the people most affected.
Evidence that belongs to communities, and the policymakers who serve them.
Our Policy Priorities
We push for stronger accountability and enforcement mechanisms that ensure compliance, impose meaningful consequences for breaches, and build a culture of safety across all industries.
Accountability and Enforcement
Rail and Industrial Safety Reform
We are committed to reforming rail and industrial safety frameworks to reduce harm, strengthen accountability, and ensure every worker returns home safely.
Mandatory Health Monitoring
We advocate for mandatory health monitoring programs that proactively identify occupational risks, protect long-term worker wellbeing, and hold employers accountable for safe working conditions.
Community Inclusion in Policymaking
We champion the meaningful inclusion of communities in policymaking processes, ensuring those most affected by industrial and rail operations have a genuine voice in decisions that shape their safety and future.
“Since the train derailment in my town, I have been deeply committed to conducting effective research through community engaged sciences, with the goal to make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by environmental challenges.”
— Misti Allison, Founder
Disaster Voices Institute