Phases Of Disaster Response

Phases of Disaster Response

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Phases of Disaster Response

The pre-disaster phase;

Terror and uncertainty identify this phase as for the experiences or emotions involved during this stage, It is solely dependant on the severity of the loss that has occurred. When something a person holds dear to them is in danger, this feeling of not being able to protect it or them, explains the sense of vulnerability, unexpected catastrophes, lack of defense or a sense of not being able to control. These are the disasters which come without warning, but the disasters that come with a warning can merely be defined through the cause of culpability or blame. These disasters can occur at any time or might take months.

The hero phase;

This phase can only be defined as the phase of complete adrenaline rush in which the response is too quick that it becomes hard to analyze or foresee the future results. When something you hold immensely dear to you is under attacked and is about to be gone forever, this phase allows the human capability to stimulate advance engagement with the scenario through the sense of altruism, and adrenaline stimulated rescue. During this process, there is a high chance that the human capability to assess risk may get impaired, and the next stage may come fast after that.

The honeymoon phase;

What is characterized through a theatrical shift in sentiments can be identified as the honeymoon phase which exhibits community bonding, readily assistance, optimism, etc.? People come through for one another during a disaster and try to engage with the affected by consolidating them that everything will return to normal. This stage of communal bonding addresses numerous opportunities that are available for associations and contributors to bond with the affected group of people or an individual. It mostly lasts quite long, typically weeks, and builds strong stakeholders relationship. This is what is famously known as the honeymoon phase. The availability of assistance which is required during a disaster is explained through the characterization of this phase. People come closer during this stage as they know the criticality of the situation which has occurred.

The disillusionment phase;

There is not much difference between the honeymoon phase and the disillusionment phase, as communities even in this phase, come together as one to assist during a disaster as they realize the extent or severity of mishap which occurred. After the injury or disaster has taken a toll, the pressure and unenthusiastic reactions kick in, and it takes the person towards physical tiredness and substance maltreatment. This feeling stuck between requirement and support leads to the sense of desertion. After the event has ended, most people may return to their normal lives but would understand the increased demand for services required to support the disaster effects. This phase can be triggered after a while or most probably during the anniversary of the disaster.

The reconstruction phase;

Lastly, this phase of reconstruction elaborates the overall sentiment of recuperation. The losses are continually grieved from time to time, but the community begins to assume the accountability for reconstructing their lives while adjusting to the new and “usual” selves. The disillusionment phase might be triggered at the anniversary of the disaster, but the reconstruction phase occurs somewhere around that time and might continue beyond that. During some disastrous events, the reconstruction phase may last for years. After this phase, people are welcome to open new chapters in their lives while thinking about the past ones but not to let those reflect on their present situations (Ebrahim et al. 2019).

Summary

In case of a fire emergency, the community response to this particular disaster would include the two psychological stages identified as the heroic phase and the honeymoon phase. The heroic phase would occur during the accident when the fire breaks out. It would involve a high level of adrenaline-induced rescue efforts made by people in the surroundings or the ones physically involved in the accident. It might even damage the impairment of some people during there efforts to rescue. Then after the disaster has surpassed, then kicks in the honeymoon phase which gets characterized as the phase in which people come together through a community bonding after the disaster has occurred. The feeling of optimism and the building of rapport with people and groups provide the affected with a chance to move on from the regretful feelings attached to the disaster. This stage usually lasts for a few weeks.

The selected phases are appropriate to describe the observed behaviors of the people because that is what the stages involved and the accident describes involve these stages particularly. The role of cultural competence during these phases of disaster response create much awareness about the loss. It would affect the actions of behavioral health professionals as psychological first aid (PFA) gets provided (McCabe et al. 2014). This role is available for both professional and lay participants and also involves all hazard preparedness mandate. The principles and comprehensive learning domains involve an ideological orientation to which the ones affected in the disaster are confronted to or assisted. The apparent behavior facilitates the intent assessment of proficiencies. It allows the PFA to be culturally and emotionally sensitive about the loss or damage that has occurred to the affected from the disaster. It helps them facilitate through a more proper angle so that functionality and resilience can be emphasized.

References

Ebrahim, F., Naeem, M., Schmit, B. P., Sydnor, R., Townes, D., Rohling, N., & Clouse, J. H. (2019). Disaster Response. In Radiology in Global Health (pp. 309-329). Springer, Cham.

McCabe, O. L., Everly Jr, G. S., Brown, L. M., Wendelboe, A. M., Abd Hamid, N. H., Tallchief, V. L., & Links, J. M. (2014). Psychological first aid: A consensus-derived, empirically supported, competency-based training model. American journal of public health, 104(4), 621-628.