Disaster Management - SUMMARY
Disaster Management - SUMMARY
The combination of hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative
consequences of risk results in disaster [3].
1) Types of Disaster
1. Natural Disasters
2. Man-Made Disasters
Environmental Degradation
Pollution
Accidents (e.g. Industrial, Technological and Transport usually involving the
production, use or transport of hazardous materials)
3. Complex Emergencies
Some disasters can result from multiple hazards, or, more often, to a complex
combination of both Natural and Man-made causes which involve a break-down of
authority, looting and attacks on strategic installations, including conflict situations and
war. These can include
Food Insecurity
Epidemics
Armed Conflicts
Displaced Populations
According to ICRC these Complex Emergencies are typically characterized by [6]:
Extensive Violence
Displacements of Populations
Loss of Life
Widespread Damage to both Societies and Economies
Need for Large-scale, Humanitarian Assistance across Multiple Agencies
Political and Military Constraints which impact or prevent Humanitarian Assistance
Increased Security Risks for Humanitarian Relief Workers.
4. Pandemic Emergencies
Pan- All;demos-People. is an epidemic of infectious disease that has spread across a large
region, which can occur to the human population or animal population and may affect
health, disrupts services leading to economic and social costs. Pandemic Emergencies may
occur as a consequence of Natural or Man-Made Disasters. These have included the
following Epidemics:
Ebola
Zika
Avian Flu
Cholera
Dengue Fever
Malaria
Yellow Fever
The International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) defines disaster
management as the organisation and management of resources and responsibilities for
dealing with all the humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response
and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.
WCPT similarly highlight that while not all disasters can be prevented, good risk management,
evacuation plans, environmental planning and design standards can reduce risk of loss of life
and injury mitigation.
The HYOGO Framework was one such Global Plan for natural Disaster Risk Reduction, which
was adopted in 2005 as a 10 year Global Plan, signed by agreement with 168 Governments
which offered guiding principles, priorities for action, and practical means for achieving
disaster resilience for vulnerable communities.
2. Disaster Preparedness
The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, professional response
and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate,
respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard
events or conditions"
According to ICRC, Disaster Preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce
the effects of disasters, be they Natural or Man-made. This is achieved through research and
planning in order to try to predict areas or regions that may be at risk of disaster and where
possible prevent these from occurring and/or reduce the impact those disasters on the
vulnerable populations that may be affected so they can effectively cope. Disaster
preparedness activities embedded with risk reduction measures can prevent disaster
situations and also result in saving maximum lives and livelihoods during any disaster situation,
enabling the affected population to get back to normalcy within a short time period [3].
Minimisation of loss of life and damage to property through facilitation of effective disaster
response and rehabilitation services when required. Preparedness is the main way of reducing
the impact of disasters. Community-based preparedness and management should be a high
priority in physical therapy practice management
Rescue
Relocation
Provision Food and Water
Provision Emergency Health Care
Prevention of Disease and Disability
Repairing Vital Services e.g. Telecommunications, Transport
Provision Temporary Shelter
4. Disaster Recovery
Vulnerability of communities often continues for long after the initial crisis is over. Disaster
Recovery refers to those programmes which go beyond the provision of immediate relief to
assist those who have suffered the full impact of a disaster and include the following
activities [3] [10]: