Introduction
Disaster management is a complex activity which includes pre and post disaster activities. Pre disaster activities are those of mitigation and preparedness, post disaster activities are those of response and recovery (Clary 1985; Prater & Lindell 2000; Haddow, Bullock and Coppola et al., 2008). Taken together these activities are referred, by emergency management practitioners and scholars, as (a four phases) the comprehensive emergency management cycle which comprises four phases (mitigation preparedness, response and recovery). In a time-ordered frame, each phase follows the previous, and each phase do not deplete its core functions once the main activities are accomplished. For example, while working in a response phase, organizations …show more content…
It is conceived as a short-term phase, mostly looking at the immediate response (Sutton et al., 2006). The main objective of disaster preparedness is to allow the overall emergency system to perform a continuous assessment of response structures and system in general, plan for response readiness, training for first responders in order to provide quickly assistance, and train communities to be ready to face emergencies (FEMA). Disaster preparedness is the fundamental phase that can potentially save lives and allows communities to better understand disasters (Gillespie et al, 1987; Klonglan et al., 1973). Disaster preparedness embraces a broad spectrum of activities that span from risk assessment; the development of response strategies; education planning (Keeney, 2004). It also requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders: governmental agencies at all levels of government, private sector and voluntary organizations. An increasing interest is placed upon the role that communities play in this phase: citizens play a critical role in endeavoring disaster preparedness activities; moreover, preparedness activities are essential to strengthen local realities by supporting community-based activities (Keeney, …show more content…
Response activities are generally drawn and implemented from preparedness actions and plans. Public agencies, in collaboration with other entities, typically carry out warning and evacuation activities; perform search and rescue missions; assess the damage and the extent of impacts on communities; estimate the overall need of the affected communities in order to meet their necessities. Most important services provided in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is the mental health support (or disaster mental health) and the provision of livelihoods (food and hygiene). Whereas national governments lack of resources, a substantial help come from humanitarian organizations. It is not uncommon that large disasters affect the poorest countries in the world. A notable example of intervention by an international NGO is the IFRC system. The IFRC deploys on the field the so-called Emergency Response Units (ERU), a standardized and modular package of personnel and equipment ready to be deployed in a disaster area on short notice. ERUs can be called upon in emergency situations, when local facilities are unable to cope and when the IFRC delegation or the national Red Cross or Red Crescent societies in the concerned country cannot respond alone. Different types of ERU are deployed depending on the
Disaster management is a complex activity which includes pre and post disaster activities. Pre disaster activities are those of mitigation and preparedness, post disaster activities are those of response and recovery (Clary 1985; Prater & Lindell 2000; Haddow, Bullock and Coppola et al., 2008). Taken together these activities are referred, by emergency management practitioners and scholars, as (a four phases) the comprehensive emergency management cycle which comprises four phases (mitigation preparedness, response and recovery). In a time-ordered frame, each phase follows the previous, and each phase do not deplete its core functions once the main activities are accomplished. For example, while working in a response phase, organizations …show more content…
It is conceived as a short-term phase, mostly looking at the immediate response (Sutton et al., 2006). The main objective of disaster preparedness is to allow the overall emergency system to perform a continuous assessment of response structures and system in general, plan for response readiness, training for first responders in order to provide quickly assistance, and train communities to be ready to face emergencies (FEMA). Disaster preparedness is the fundamental phase that can potentially save lives and allows communities to better understand disasters (Gillespie et al, 1987; Klonglan et al., 1973). Disaster preparedness embraces a broad spectrum of activities that span from risk assessment; the development of response strategies; education planning (Keeney, 2004). It also requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders: governmental agencies at all levels of government, private sector and voluntary organizations. An increasing interest is placed upon the role that communities play in this phase: citizens play a critical role in endeavoring disaster preparedness activities; moreover, preparedness activities are essential to strengthen local realities by supporting community-based activities (Keeney, …show more content…
Response activities are generally drawn and implemented from preparedness actions and plans. Public agencies, in collaboration with other entities, typically carry out warning and evacuation activities; perform search and rescue missions; assess the damage and the extent of impacts on communities; estimate the overall need of the affected communities in order to meet their necessities. Most important services provided in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is the mental health support (or disaster mental health) and the provision of livelihoods (food and hygiene). Whereas national governments lack of resources, a substantial help come from humanitarian organizations. It is not uncommon that large disasters affect the poorest countries in the world. A notable example of intervention by an international NGO is the IFRC system. The IFRC deploys on the field the so-called Emergency Response Units (ERU), a standardized and modular package of personnel and equipment ready to be deployed in a disaster area on short notice. ERUs can be called upon in emergency situations, when local facilities are unable to cope and when the IFRC delegation or the national Red Cross or Red Crescent societies in the concerned country cannot respond alone. Different types of ERU are deployed depending on the