DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Presented By: James Brian

Definitions
Disaster, as defined by the United Nations, is a serious
disruption of the functioning of a community or society,
which involves widespread human, material, economic or
environmental impacts that exceed the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources.
Disaster Management can be defined as the organization and
management of resources and responsibilities for dealing
with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular
preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the
impact of disasters.
Key components
Components of a Disaster
of Disaster Management Information
Management
System would be a database of:
• Hazard Assessment Mapping
• Vulnerability Assessment
• Demographic Distribution
• Infrastructure, Lifelines and Critical Facilities
• Logistics and Transportation Routes
• Human and Material Response Resources
• Communication Facilities
 Types of Disasters
Natural Disasters
According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red
Crescent Societies Natural Disasters are naturally occurring
physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events
that have immediate impacts on human health and secondary
impacts causing further death and suffering. These disasters can be:
• Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic
Activity)
• Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and Floods)
• Climatological (e.g. Extreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)
• Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges)
• Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues)
Man-Made Disasters
Man-Made Disasters as viewed by the International Federation
of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies are events that are
caused by humans which occur in or close to human
settlements often caused as a results of Environmental or
Technological Emergencies. These can include:
• Environmental Degradation
• Pollution
• Accidents (e.g. Industrial, Technological and Transport usually
involving the production, use or transport of hazardous
materials)
Complex Emergencies
Some disasters can result from multiple hazards, or, more
often, to a complex combination of both natural and man-
made causes which involve a break-down of authority,
looting and attacks on strategic installations, including
conflict situations and war. These can include:
Food Insecurity
Epidemics
Armed Conflicts
Displaced Populations
According to ICRC these Complex Emergencies are typically
characterized by:
Extensive Violence
Displacements of Populations
Loss of Life
Widespread Damage to both Societies and Economies
Need for Large-scale, Humanitarian Assistance across Multiple
Agencies
Political and Military Constraints which impact or prevent
Humanitarian Assistance
Increased Security Risks for Humanitarian Relief Workers
A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that has
Pandemic Emergencies

spread across a large region, which can occur to the

human population or animal population and may affect
health and disrupt services leading to economic and social
costs. It may be an unusual or unexpected increase in the
number of cases of an infectious disease which already
exists in a certain region or population or can also refer to
the appearance of a significant number of cases of an
infectious disease in a region or population that is usually
free from that disease.
Pandemic Emergencies may occur as a consequence of natural
or man-made disasters. These have included the following
epidemics:
Ebola
Zika
Avian Flu
Cholera
Dengue Fever
Malaria
Yellow Fever
Corona virus Disease (COVID-19)
 Effects of Disasters
Death
Severe injuries requiring extensive treatment
Increase risk of communicable diseases and epidemics
outbreak
Excess non-communicable diseases mortality
Mental health (disaster syndrome)
The destruction of the health care infrastructure,
Damage water supply and basic sanitation
Food shortage and Malnutrition
Population movement and migration
 Disaster Management Cycle
Principles of disaster management (Grab and Eng, 1995)
Prevent the occurrence of the disaster whenever possible.
Minimize the number of casualties if the disaster cannot be
prevented.
Prevent further casualties from occurring after the initial impact
of the disaster.
Rescue the victims.
Provide first aid
Evacuate the injured to medical facilities.
Provide definitive medical care.
Promote reconstruction of lives.
 Steps
Emergency management consists of five phases:
Prevention - Prevention was recently added to the phases of
emergency management. It focuses on preventing the
human hazard, primarily from potential natural disasters
or terrorist attacks. Preventive measures are taken,
designed to provide permanent protection from disasters.
Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters, can be
prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be
mitigated with good evacuation plans, environmental
planning and design standards.
Mitigation – Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate
or reduce the impacts and risks of hazards through proactive
measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.
In earthquake prone areas, these preventive measures might
include structural changes such as the installation of an
earthquake valve to instantly shut off the natural gas supply,
seismic retrofits of property, and the securing of items inside a
building. The latter may include the mounting of furniture,
refrigerators, water heaters and breakables to the walls, and the
addition of cabinet latches. In flood prone areas, houses can be
built on poles/stilts.
Preparedness – Preparedness focuses on preparing
equipment and procedures for use when a disaster occurs.
These equipment and procedures can be used to reduce
vulnerability to disaster, to mitigate the impacts of a
disaster or to respond more efficiently in an emergency.
Conduct disaster risk assessments
Integrate broader social and environmental issues into
business strategies and operations
Enact measures and systems that reduce risks
Develop plans for response and recovery
Disaster risk management (DRM) is a systematic application
of management policies, procedures and practices to the
tasks of identifying, analyzing, evaluating, treating and
monitoring risk. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) entails
measures to curb disaster losses by addressing hazards and
people’s vulnerability to them.

Disaster risk reduction is about modifying hazards, reducing

vulnerability, increasing capacity.
Response - Disaster response refers to actions taken during and
immediately after a disaster to ensure that its effects are
minimized, and that people affected are given immediate relief and
support. It is the coordinated process of supporting disaster-
affected communities in reconstruction of physical infrastructure
and restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical well-
being.

These include providing food, water, shelter, and medical aid,

removing people from danger, among other outreach efforts. This
includes re-building houses and businesses, and providing medical
aid and counseling, among other efforts.
Recovery - The recovery phase starts after the immediate
threat to human life has subsided. The immediate goal of
the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to
normalcy as quickly as possible.
During reconstruction it is recommended to consider the
location or construction material of the property.
ROLE OF NURSE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT
MITIGATION PHASE
Measures designed either to prevent hazards from causing
emergency or to lessen the likely effects of emergencies.
Community Assessment: Requires a knowledge base of
community resources (e.g., emergency services, hospitals,
and clinics), community health personnel, community
government officials, and local industry.
A structured and logical approach to the identification and
management of risks will assist communities to minimize
the likelihood or impact of disasters.
 Risk Management
Identify Risk
Analyze and Evaluate Risk
Treat Risk
Monitor Risk
 Assessment
Risk assessment and analysis
Previous disaster
Local climate conducive to disaster formation.
The magnitude
The coping strategies of the locals
Current community disaster plan
Health personnel available
Health Facilities available
Local agencies and organizations.
Diagnose Community Disaster Threats
Determine actual and potential disaster threats
Preventive measures is being taken care of
Are there collaborative activities being undertaken
Are the people aware about the disaster?
Community preparedness
 Diagnosis
Diagnose community disaster threats.
Determine the actual and potential disaster threats.
Effectiveness of Community based disaster plan
Community awareness
Community participation
 Risk Reduction
Avoid the risk
Reduce the likelihood of the occurrence.
Reduce the consequences.
Accept/Retain the risk.
 ROLE OF A NURSE IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Objectives:-
To ensure the appropriate system procedures & resources
are in place to provide prompt effective assistance to
disaster victims, thus facilitating relief measure &
rehabilitation services.
 PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS:

Capacity Building
Readiness to work in the multidisciplinary team
Knowledge about community
Types of disaster and its management
Certified first aider and CPR
Knowledge about Policies and protocols
Communication skill
 PROFESSIONAL PREPAREDNESS:
Prepared disaster preparedness written plan
Control room
Rapid Response Team
License and health resources
Personal equipment, such as a stethoscope, a flashlight and extra
batteries, Cash, Warm clothing and a heavy jacket (or weather-
appropriate clothing), Record-keeping materials,
Pocket-sized reference books
Disaster management committee
Information and communication
Use of personal protective devices
PROFESSIONAL PREPAREDNESS…
Disaster beds
Logistic support system
Training and drills.
Unity of command with mobile van
Standard operating protocol
Activation of disaster management plans:
Develop a standard operating procedure
Reception area-Disaster control room.
Triage system
Documentation at control room
Public relation
Crowd management
 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

A prepared community is one which has developed

effective emergency and disaster management
arrangements at the local level, resulting in:

 - Alert, informed and active community which

 - Supports its voluntary organizations.
 - Active and involved local government.
 - Agreed and coordinated arrangement
 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

Education
First aid program
Making each home to store
Emergency telephone numbers
Battery operated radio
Flash light
First aid kit
Three day supply of water
Medical information &family physician detail
Persons to be notified in emergency
 ROLE OF A NURSE IN DISASTER IMPACT AND
RESPONSE
“Actions taken in anticipation of, during and immediately after impact
to ensure that its effects are minimized and that people are given
immediate relief and support”.
A set of principles which provide a framework for managing any event
include;
 Command
 Control
 Coordination
 Communication
 Clinical Management
 Continuity
 Capability
NURSES’ TASK IN DISASTERS IMPACT

Determine magnitude of the event

Define health needs of the affected groups
Establish priorities
Identify actual and potential public health problems
Determine resources needed to respond
Collaborate with other professional disciplines,
governmental and non-governmental agencies
 NURSES’ TASK IN DISASTERS
IMPACT
Maintain a unified chain of command
Communication
Response to alert:-
Green :- Additional manpower, less severe, Sudden
Amber:- Large number of casualties
Red: - Major disaster.
Information to supervisor, prepared mobile van
Be in multidisciplinary team; Search , rescue & First Aid
Distribution of work / delegation of responsibilities.
 IMPLEMENTATION

Field care
Triaging and tagging the victim
Care for injured persons
Referral services
Arranging for physical facilities for the victim.
Effective communication
 TRIAGE: THE BEST STRATEGY
French verb “trier” means to sort. Assigns priorities when
resources limited
Triage (Categorizing); Triage consists of rapidly
classifying the injured on the basis of their severity of
injuries and likelihood of their survival with prompt
medical interventions.
Red - high priority
Yellow - medium priority
Green – ambulatory
Black – dead
 Advantages of Triage
Helps to bring order and organization to a chaotic scene.
It identifies and provides care to those who are in greatest
need
Helps make the difficult decisions easier
Assure that resources are used in the most effective
manner
 Role of a nurse
Immediate post disaster intervention:-
Establish safety.
Medical Treatment & Nursing Care as Per Need
Utilization of Available Resources
Psychological Support
Life Saving Measures , First Aid
Evacuation & Supply - Shelter, Food, Water, Medicine, Communication
Maintaining Public Moral
Voluntary Reception, Relatives Waiting Areas
Management of Infection Control
Re-riving post disaster stress.
Encourage ventilation.
Establishing outreach program to provide community support.
Referral services
 MENTAL WELLNESS
Psychiatric disorders:- Acute stress reaction; Post
Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD); Adjustment
disorders; Depressive disorders; Acute psychosis;
Dissociative disorders; Anxiety disorders; Suicides;
Personality changes
In any major disaster, people want to know where their
loved ones are. In case of loss, people need to mourn:
 Give them space,
 Find family friends or local healers to encourage and support them

 Most are back to normal within 2 weeks

 About1% to 3%, may need additional help

 EMOTIONAL FIRST AID
Crises intervention
Establish contact
Taking care of physical needs
Communicate with them
Use of drug like sedatives
Supervision
Ventilation
Information meeting
Re-riving (encouraged to talk about disaster)
EMOTIONAL FIRST AID…
Managing social behavior
Little attention is paid to the children. Listen attentively to children without
denying their feelings. Give easy-to-understand answers to their questions. In
the shelter, create an environment in which children can feel safe and secure
(e.g. play area)
Restoration of the pre –disaster condition
Surveillance and prevention of epidemic outbreak
Water supply
Food supply and safety
Control of vectors
Care of survivors,
Vaccination
Counseling and Behavior modification
 REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION PHASE
Reconstruction
Setting up of shelter
Health, food, and facilities in the campus
Education
Training of people/students/volunteers
 Shelter Management Plans
Nurse can act as shelter managers
Listen to the victims
Encourage victims to overcome the crisis
Provide the basic resources. like food, water etc.
Provide compassion and dignity to the victim.
Community cleanup efforts
Teaching Proper Hygiene
Alert for Environmental Health Hazards
Home Visits
Follow up care
EVALUATION OF NURSES’ ROLES IN DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Equipment Review
Debriefing
Review of Plans
Documentation
Education and Training
Rehabilitation
Restoration Function
Safety Assessment
Emotional Impact
Recovery Process
Research Opportunities
 CORE COMPETENCIES IN DISASTER NURSING
TRAINING

Ethical and legal issues, and decision making;

Care principles;
Nursing care;
Needs assessment and planning;
Safety and security;
Communication and interpersonal relationships;
Public health; and
Health care systems and policies in emergency situations