Mitigation
The fi rst phase of the disaster cycle is mitigation, which consists of the steps taken to minimize the effects of future disasters. The mitigation phase differs from the planning phase in that the mitigation phase is focused less on the medical or humanitarian response to a disaster and more on pro-tecting physical structures and economic development.
The effectiveness of the mitigation phase is dependent on an accurate assessment of the kind of disasters most likely to affect the community.
This continued threat analysis must include the following:
Examination of prior disasters to look for steps that can be taken to
• minimize the negative outcome of future disasters Analysis of emerging threats
•
New buildings or skyscrapers
•
New industrial or chemical plants
• New rail lines, airports, seaports, or highways
•
Security vulnerabilities at potential terrorist targets
•
Some examples of mitigation include the following:
Governmental
•
Building codes in an earthquake-prone area
• Zoning laws to prevent building in an area prone to fl ooding
• Personal
•
Flood insurance to minimize economic impact of a disaster
• Fastening down a heavy bookcase so it doesn’t fall and cause injury
• during an earthquake
Planning
The next phase of the disaster cycle is planning and preparation. It includes logistical planning as well as exercises necessary to effectively respond to a disaster.
The overall goal of the planning phase is to prepare the emergency response agencies and the population to minimize the loss of life and the societal impact of a disaster.
The planning phase can be divided into two different categories: general planning and event-specifi c planning.
General planning
This occurs throughout the interdisaster period and involves establishing an emergency operations plan (EOP).
Planning for communications during a disaster
• Training fi rst responders
• Stockpiling food and supplies
•
Round-table exercises
•
Establishing mutual aid agreements
• Planning for interagency coordination at local, state, and national levels
•
Providing information to the public about personal readiness, including
•
information on home disaster kits
PHASES OF THE DISASTER CYCLE
23
Event-specifi c planning
This constitutes the efforts of preparing for a specifi c event, once an immi-nent threat has been identifi ed.
Making public announcements
•
Preparing evacuation routes
• Organizing shelters
•
Providing information to the public about what steps they should take
•
to ensure their safety Response
The response phase constitutes the immediate efforts to prevent the loss of life both during and after a disaster. The success of this phase relies heavily on preparations made during the planning phase. The disaster response will include the following:
Alerting the public and activating the community EOP
• Providing emergency medical care as well as safety and security
•
Search and rescue
•
Fire protection efforts
• Evacuation and providing emergency shelters
•
Suspending nonessential operations as needed to support disaster
•
response efforts
In addition to preventing the loss of life, another goal of the response phase is to minimize the economic and societal impact of the disaster by providing basic needs to disaster victims until more comprehensive, long-term solutions can be identifi ed.
The initial response will be lead by local fi rst responders and community volunteers. Depending on the scope of the disaster, this may later be aug-mented by state and federal agencies as well as national and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
Recovery
The recovery phase begins shortly after the disaster has started. It con-sists of rebuilding the affected area back into a functioning community.
Depending on the scope and nature of a given disaster, this will require the efforts of both emergency response agencies as well as public resources.
This cooperation between the community and aid agencies will be nec-essary in order to
Re-establish basic utilities such as electricity and water
•
Rebuild the physical infrastructure
• Return displaced people back to their homes
• Return civil services such as police and health care to their pre-disaster
• roles
Return commerce to the affected area
•
The recovery phase can be divided into two parts:
Short term recovery:
• re-establishing vital needs such as food, shelter, and emergency medical treatment. This part overlaps with the response phase.
Long term recovery:
• return to normalcy. This part may last for months to years. It can sometimes result in the complete redevelopment of an
CHAPTER 3
The disaster cycle 24
area, which is why it is an advantageous time to consider implementing new mitigation measures.
In addition to physical, medical, and economic recovery, special attention must be given to groups within the population who may have greater dif-fi culty coping with a disaster. Such groups include the following:
Individuals with psychiatric illnesses
• Young children
•
The elderly
•
Residents of university dorms or skilled nursing facilities
• First responders who may suffer from acute stress reaction or
post-• traumatic stress disorder
The recovery phase deserves emphasis. Most disaster plans focus on the response phase, with less attention and less funding for the recovery phase, despite the fact that this is frequently the longest and most expen-sive part of the disaster cycle.
Conclusion
While it may be helpful to think of four discrete phases when planning for a disaster, the reality is that these phases often have a signifi cant amount of overlap. In fact, different areas of a disaster zone can be in different phases despite the fact that they are dealing with the same disaster event.
In summary, the disaster cycle is helpful to consider when planning for a disaster, but the phases cannot be thought of too rigidly as they often coincide.
Suggested readings
Ciottone G (2006). Introduction to disaster medicine. In Ciottone G, ed. Disaster Medicine.
Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, pp. 3–6.
Federal Emergency Management Agency. IS-1 Emergency Manager: An orientation to the position.
FEMA independent study program. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from http://training.fema.gov/
EMIWeb/IS/is1.asp.
Hogan DE, Burstein JL (2007). Basic perspectives on disaster, In Hogan DE, Burstein JL, Disaster Medicine, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp. 1–11.
Nogi EK, Kelen GD (2004). Disaster medical services, In Tintinalli JE, ed. Emergency Medicine:
A Comprehensive Study Guide, 6th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 27–35.
Schultz C, Koenig K, Noji E (2006). Disaster preparedness. In Marx J, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine Concepts and Clinical Practice, 6th ed. Vol. 3. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, pp. 3010–3021.
Warfi eld C. The disaster management cycle. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from http://www.gdrc.org/
uem/disasters/1-dm_cycle.html