I. Understanding Disaster: Definitions and Concepts
This lecture aims to provide a detailed understanding of disaster management and vulnerability, covering essential concepts, the disaster management cycle, and the critical role of nurses.
Literal Meaning and Impact
The literal meaning of "disaster" is destruction or the production/arising of a disturbance. These events severely disrupt normal life.
Official Definitions of Disaster
UN Definition
The United Nations defines a disaster as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society. This disruption involves widespread human, material, economic, or environmental impacts. A key criterion is that these impacts exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. During a disaster, the community's normal functions are completely disturbed.
IFRC Definition
According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC), a disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people.
Causes of Disaster
Disaster results from the combination of hazard and vulnerability, along with the inability to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk. When these factors align, and a person lacks the ability to adopt precautionary measures or remove negative effects of risk, destruction becomes 100% certain.
II. Disaster Management: Principles and Purpose
Management as a Process
Management is a process involving planning, setting goals and objectives, implementation, and evaluating whether those objectives are achieved, all while considering available resources.
Definition and Core Purpose of Disaster Management
Disaster management is a process or action aimed at keeping oneself and surrounding people safe from threats. Its fundamental purpose is to reduce or avoid potential losses from hazards. It involves determining the plan of action and methodologies required when life is in danger, enabling people to emerge from those threats. Disaster management also ensures appropriate assistance to disaster victims and seeks to achieve rapid and effective recovery. It encompasses the process of how we prepare for, respond to, and learn from the effects of major failure. Learning is crucial, especially if plans fail and damage occurs.
Origins of Disasters
Disasters can be caused by nature or have a human origin (man-made).
III. Vulnerabilities Contributing to Disaster Risk
Defining Vulnerability
Vulnerabilities refer to practices or actions that move individuals or communities towards danger and increase the likelihood of incidents/accidents.
Key Examples of Vulnerabilities
- Poor Construction Practices: Using low-quality material in construction makes structures unable to withstand risks, leading to severe impacts on people.
- Poor Human and Animal Health: Failure to properly care for the health of humans and animals can cause diseases to spread between them, disturbing the environment.
- Poor Transport and Communication Infrastructure: Inadequate transport and communication systems make communities susceptible to accidents.
- Fragile Natural Environment: Neglecting the natural environment and cleanliness leads to filth, which causes diseases to spread, thus disturbing the whole environment.
- Poverty (Poor Inhabitant Prone Areas): Poverty is a significant factor, often resulting in a lack of food and clean water, which can give birth to various social evils and severely affect the environment.
IV. Types of Disasters
The main types of disasters discussed are Natural and Man-made, although Complex Emergencies and Pandemic Emergencies are also mentioned.
Natural Disasters
These include phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunamis, windstorms, floods, and landsliding.
Man-made Disasters
These are disasters or accidents caused by human activity. Examples include bomb blasting and the use of nuclear weapons.
V. The Disaster Management Cycle and its Phases
Overview of the Cycle
The Disaster Management Cycle is an ongoing process used by Government, Businesses, and Civil Society to plan, reduce impact, react during/immediately after an event, and recover. Managing the cycle properly ensures greater preparedness, better warning, and reduced vulnerability, potentially preventing disaster during the next iteration. A complete cycle helps shape public policies and plans to either modify the causes of disaster or mitigate their effects on people, property, and infrastructure.
Five Phases of Disaster Management
- Mitigation: This phase aims to reduce the effects and impacts of the coming calamity. It involves informing and warning communities/societies in risk zones and asking them to move out of the area.
- Preparedness: This phase involves proper planning of the response that should be activated immediately if an incident occurs. Activities include preparedness plans, emergency exercises, training, and warning systems.
- Disaster (Incident): The phase where the accident or calamity occurs.
- Response: Efforts made after the disaster to minimize the hazard created. This includes search and rescue and emergency relief. The goal is to rescue the victims from the affected area.
- Recovery: The phase focused on returning the community to normal. It involves removing disturbances, reconstructing affected properties/infrastructure, and restoring the victims' daily lives.
VI. Disaster Planning and Preparedness Strategies
ICRC Definition of Disaster Preparedness
Disaster preparedness, according to the IFRC, refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effect of disasters (natural or man-made). Preparedness activities, when combined with risk reduction measures, can prevent disaster situations, save maximum lives and livelihoods, and enable the affected population to return to normalcy quickly.
Strategies by Disaster Management Professionals
Disaster Management Professionals implement specific strategies to protect vulnerable communities and limit hazards:
- Raising Awareness: Educating people about potential hazards and how they can address or protect themselves from them.
- Public Education: Teaching the public how to properly prepare for various types of disasters.
- Prediction and Warning Systems: Installing and strengthening systems that can predict incoming dangers and warn the population.
Preparedness Planning Components
Effective disaster preparedness planning ensures a fast, effective response and prevents duplicated efforts. Key planning activities include:
- Identifying Organizational Resources: Knowing the capabilities and resources available for rescue and support operations.
- Designating Roles and Responsibilities: Assigning specific duties to volunteers.
- Creating Procedures and Policies: Establishing systematic rules and regulations for rescue operations.
- Organizing Activities: Holding activities designed to improve disaster readiness.
- Building Capacity: Preparing and arranging volunteers and disaster management teams to ensure a more effective response.
Specific Arrangements in Disaster Plans
Specific arrangements covered in the plan include:
- Emergency shelter sites (for victims)
- Evacuation routes
- Emergency energy and water resources
- Chain of command
- Training programs
- Communication procedures
- Emergency supply distribution and stockpiles
VII. Levels of Disaster: FEMA Classification
Classification Criteria
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) classifies disasters into three activation levels—Level One, Two, and Three. This classification is based on the incident's severity, size, location, and its actual or potential impact on public health, welfare, and infrastructure. The disaster response plan is activated upon the declaration of a federal emergency.
FEMA Activation Levels
| Level | Classification & Severity | Resources & Staffing | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | Massive Disaster. Results in significant damage. | Triggers a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Requires involvement of Federal, Regional, and National resources. Requires full staffing and all Emergency Support Functions activated. | Multi-structural fires, major explosion, major hazardous material release, major earthquake, or terrorism incident. |
| Two | Moderate Disaster. Less severe than Level One. | Likely results in a Presidential Declaration of an Emergency and require moderate federal assistance. Requires mid-level staffing and most, but not all, Emergency Support Functions. | Severe flooding or multi-fatality incidents. |
| Three | Minor Disaster. Results in minimal damage. | Could still result in a Presidential Declaration of an Emergency. Requires moderate staff with only specific Emergency Support Functions. | Small fires, localized power failures, plumbing failure/water leak, normal fire and police calls. |
VIII. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of Pakistan
Core Function
The NDMA of Pakistan serves as the implementing, coordinating, and monitoring body for disaster management.
Specific Responsibilities of NDMA
- Preparing the National Plan (for approval by the National Commission).
- Implementing, coordinating, and monitoring the execution of National Policy.
- Laying down guidelines for Disaster Management Plans to be prepared by various ministries, departments, and provincial authorities.
- Providing necessary technical assistance to provincial governments and authorities for preparing their plans.
- Coordinating the response during any threatening disaster situation or actual disaster.
IX. Role of a Nurse in Disaster Management
Importance of Nurse Preparedness
The nurse's role requires being personally and professionally prepared for disaster events.
Nurse's Role During Planning and Preparedness Phase
During the Planning and Preparedness Phase, nurses:
- Identify the type of disaster that might occur in the local community.
- Organize a disaster plan tailored for different situations.
- Arrange simulated skills testing to evaluate the plan's effectiveness.
- Determine the need for education or updating necessary skills of participants.
- Actively participate in the planning, implementing, and evaluating phases of community disaster preparedness.
Nurse's Role During an Actual Disaster
During a Disaster, the nurse becomes actively involved in providing proper nursing care to the affected community. They also:
- Determine the magnitude of the event.
- Define the health needs of the affected group.
- Establish priorities and objectives.
- Identify the actual and potential public health problem.