DISASTER CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT STAGES



Disaster Characteristics and Management Stages

Felisha Jones

Disaster Characteristics and Management Stages

Introduction

The recent natural disaster that happened in my community was the tornado that hit Columbus and Dayton, Ohio on May 27th, 2019. The disaster left thousands homeless, killed hundreds, others injured and many in a vulnerable state. The tornado did not only have an impact on human life, but the gas and water lines were also disrupted, massive power outages were observed, businesses and infrastructure were left wrecked completely. The community, however, responded with first-hand massive recovery efforts immediately after the disaster took place.

Characteristics of the Tornadoes

Disaster is defined as an occurrence which is either natural or man-made and causes human suffering and needs that cannot be alleviated without assistance. It disables a community’s ability to respond to an incident with the available resources. Disasters are identified by certain characteristics they hold; the frequency of their occurrence, predictability, preventability, imminence, scope, and a number of causalities and intensity. Disasters like Tornadoes travel miles before they dissipate hence their impact on the community is far more unpredictable than any other disaster. Tornados in Ohio is a frequent occurrence. There were about eighteen tornadoes in Ohio in 2018 according to the National Weather forecast. Tornadoes are usually predictable and warnings are issued to aware people of the consequences that may affect them. Although natural disasters cannot be prevented however certain measures can be taken to reduce the impact disasterCITATION Mar141 \l 1033 (Natural and Man-made Disasters, 2014). Awareness regarding the preventability of damage in the state of Ohio is officially issued, from a health perspective preventive healthcare is also applied. It includes sirens issuing warnings, instructions to stay away from doors and windows and taking refuge in safe places which are identified by the state. Imminence is another feature which implies immediate action to be taken once the warning of the tornado has been issued. The warning for tornadoes means immediate shelter, hence with so many people in place the dangers to health such like chemical and biological threats cannot be eliminated especially when the nuclear facilities are situated just 11 km from the city CITATION DOP15 \l 1033 (DO Prevatt, 2015). In addition to this tornados have a wider scope of the damage, in Ohio tornadoes destruct everything from the infrastructure to the daily life routines. The damage is not only material, but many people are also killed and thousands injured. The tornadoes completely destroy the infrastructures. Many houses and buildings are completely destroyedCITATION Mar141 \l 1033 (Natural and Man-made Disasters, 2014).

Application of Disaster Management Strategies

The disaster management refers to the strategies that involve an effective and comprehensive way to deal with the disasters. This involves planning and recovery strategies from the disaster that has affected them. Such strategies involve prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiative from the relief agencies and disaster management organizations.

Preventive Stage

This involves the preparedness and planning before the tornado actually takes forms. It involves risks mapping such as emergency training, warning systems, plans to overcome the effects of the tornadoes CITATION ByM14 \l 1033 (Natural and Man-made Disasters, 2014). In Columbus Ohio, the Public safety department strategizes and implements actions to limit the damage caused to the communityCITATION Nie28 \l 1033 (Nielson, 2018). This involves controlling and preventing infectious diseases, therapy and averting other potential threats. The preventive stage identifies the vulnerabilities and the resources the community has to cope with the disaster.

Preparedness and Planning stage

Activities that reduce the impact of the tornadoes. It involves special zones that are outside the damaged parameters of infrastructure and vulnerabilityCITATION Nie28 \l 1033 (Nielson, 2018). The emergency management and homeland security in the Columbus Ohio coordinate with other departments and organizations such as Red Cross to analyze and prepare for expected challenges as a result of tornadoes CITATION ByM14 \l 1033 (Natural and Man-made Disasters, 2014). Creating awareness about the impacts of tornadoes. The food, shelter, and rescue operations were managed through the second stage of disaster management.

Response stage

In this stage, the plans are implemented to eliminate and reduce the impact of the tornadoes. This involves vigilance in the implementation of emergency plans such as search and rescue operations in the disrupted infrastructure, first aid, treatment to the injured and displaced people to safer havens. In Ohio, the community also creates help from within themselves providing medical help with the assistance of nurses.

Recovery stage

The community has been actively involved in the returning to routine post the tornado. This refers to the support and grants from the government and that involve restructuring and rebuilding of the communityCITATION Nie28 \l 1033 (Nielson, 2018). Activities following the tornado such as temporary housing, rehabilitation centers, food, and shelter. With the help of grants from the state CITATION ByM14 \l 1033 (Natural and Man-made Disasters, 2014). The long term medical aid for those severely injured are also amongst the essentials of recovery stage of the disaster.

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY DO Prevatt, D. A. (2015). Tornado damage and impacts on nuclear facilities in the United States. J-stage.

Natural and Man-made Disasters. (2014). In M. M. By Mary A. Nies, Community/Public Health Nursing - E-Book: Promoting the Health of Populations (pp. 569-571). Elsevier Health Sciences.

Natural and Man-made Disasters. (2014). In M. M. Mary A. Nies, Community/Public Health Nursing - E-Book: Promoting the Health of Populations (pp. 559-562). Elsevier Health Sciences.

Nielson, M. H. (2018). Are you prepared for a disaster? Nursing Management (Springhouse), 18-23.