DISASTER MANAGEMENT CONTINUUM

Four key characteristics of disaster

● Onset
o Can be sudden or without warning
o Determines time needed to implement preparedness plans
● Duration
o The time the disaster starts to the time the immediate crisis has passed
● Scope or Magnitude
o Involves the geographic area or region that is affected by the disaster
● Impact
o The extent to which the population or community infrastructure has been affected

Disaster Management
● The cycle of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a disaster
● Goals
o Reduce, or avoid, losses from hazards
o Assure prompt assistance to victims
o Achieve rapid and effective recovery
● Disaster management cycle
o Illustrates the ongoing process by which governments, businesses, and civil society plan for and reduce
the impact of disasters, react during and immediately following a disaster, and take steps to recover
after a disaster has occurred.
o Sum total of all activities, programs and measures which can be taken up before, during and after a
disaster with the purpose to avoid a disaster, reduce its impact or recover from its losses
● Before a disaster (pre-disaster)
o Pre-disaster activities which are taken to reduce human and property losses caused by a potential
hazard.
o Risk reduction measures
o Mitigation and preparedness activities
o Examples
▪ Carrying out awareness campaigns
▪ Strengthening the existing weak structures
▪ Preparation of the disaster management plans at household and community level
o During a disaster (disaster occurrence).
▪ Include initiatives taken to ensure that the needs and provisions of victims are met and suffering
is minimized
▪ Emergency response activities
o After a disaster (post-disaster)
▪ Initiatives taken in response to a disaster with a purpose to achieve early recovery and
rehabilitation of affected communities, immediately after a disaster strikes
▪ Response and recovery activities
Four Phases of Disaster Management Cycle

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● Preparedness
o Proactive planning efforts designed to structure the disaster response before its occurrence.
o Disaster planning assesses the risk for a given disaster to occur and evaluates its potential damage.
o Planning how to respond
o Examples: preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training; warning systems; vulnerability analyses
● Mitigation
o Attempts to limit a disaster’s impact on human health and community function by taking measures to
limit the amount of damage, disability, or loss of life that may occur.
o Minimizing the effects of disaster
o Examples: building codes and zoning; public education
● Response
o The actual implementation of the disaster plan focusing on saving lives, providing first aid, minimizing
and restoring damaged systems such as communications and transportation, and providing care and
basic life requirements to victims.
o Efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster.
o Examples: search and rescue; emergency relief.
● Recovery
o Returning the community to normal.
o Focus on stabilizing and returning the community to its pre-impact status. This can range from
rebuilding damaged buildings and repairing infrastructure to relocating populations and instituting
mental health interventions.
o Examples: temporary housing; grants; medical care.
● Evaluation
 o Involves evaluating the response efforts to the disaster in order to better plan and prepare for future
disasters.

DISASTER MITIGATION
● Mitigation activities actually eliminate or reduce the probability of disaster occurrence, or reduce the effects of
unavoidable disasters.
● Mitigation measures
o Building codes
o Vulnerability analyses updates
o Zoning and land use management
o Building use regulations and safety codes
o Preventive health care
o Public education
● Factors affecting disaster mitigation
o Incorporation of appropriate measures in national and regional development planning
o Availability of information on hazards, emergency risks, and the countermeasures to be taken.

Disaster Risk Assessment and Analysis

● Risks
o Measure of the expected losses due to a hazard event occurring in a given area over a specific time
period
o Function of the probability of particular hazardous event and the losses it would cause
o Factors affecting level of risk:
▪ Nature of the hazard
▪ Vulnerability of the elements which are affected
▪ Economic value of those elements.

● Risk Assessment
o A process to determine the nature and extent of such risk, by analyzing hazards and evaluating existing
conditions of vulnerability that together could potentially harm exposed people, property, services,
livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.
o A comprehensive risk assessment not only evaluates the magnitude and likelihood of potential losses
but also provides full understanding of the causes and impact of those losses.
o Is an integral part of decision and policy-making processes and requires close collaboration among
various parts of society.
● Steps (UN Development Program, 2010)
o Understanding of the current situation, needs and gaps to assess what already exists, avoid duplication
of efforts, and build on existing information and capacities.
▪ This is done through a systematic inventory and evaluation of existing risk assessment studies,
available data and information, and current institutional framework and capabilities
o Hazard assessment/ identification
▪ To identify the nature, location, intensity and likelihood of major hazards prevailing in a
community or society
o Exposure assessment
▪ To identify population and assets at risk and delineate disaster prone areas
o Vulnerability analysis
 ▪ To determine the capacity (or lack of it) of elements at risk to withstand the given hazard
scenarios
o Loss/impact analysis
▪ To estimate potential losses of exposed population, property, services, livelihoods and
environment, and assess their potential impacts on society
o Risk profiling and evaluation
▪ To identify cost-effective risk reduction options in terms of the socio-economic concerns of a
society and its capacity for risk reduction
o Formulation or revision of DRR strategies and action plans
▪ Must include setting priorities, allocating resources (financial or human) and initiating DRR
programs
● Disaster Risk Management
o Includes all measures which reduce disaster related losses of life, property or assets by either reducing
the hazard or vulnerability of the elements at risk.
● Hazard Identification
o Basic step in risk assessment
o The process of studying the nature of hazards determining its essential features (degree of severity,
duration, extent, impact on the area) and their relationship
o Systematic use of all available information to determine which types of hazards might affect a
community, along with their driving forces and typical effects
o Steps:
▪ Identification of the Type of Hazard
● The first stage in hazard analysis
● Depending on the types of hazards identified, the process may need to be continued on
a separate basis for each type of hazard or group of hazard types.
● Earthquakes, for example, require different instruments and specializations for analysis
than e.g. landslides or floods.
▪ Frequency:
● Aims at finding the seasonality of the occurrence of hazards like how frequent and in
which seasons which kind of hazards are expected
▪ Risk and Coverage:
● Identification and characterization of hazard prone locations
● Identification and determination of the probabilities of occurrence on an ordinal scale
(high – medium – low)

▪ Magnitude:
● Estimate or calculate the scale (strength, magnitude) of the hazardous event (using
ordinal scale)
▪ Causes of the Hazards:
● Identify the factors influencing the hazards
o Climatic change
o Environmental destruction
o Resource degradation
o Major infrastructural facilities such as dams
▪ Likelihood of new hazards emerging
● Investigate possible reasons for new hazards due to the following factors:
 o Natural factors - changes in the pattern of weather leading to new hazards like
drought, frequent and extreme flood events.
o Economic - Fluctuations in the value of currency affecting livelihoods, trade
related policy changes, loss of raw materials, industrial damages and
destruction.
o Social and political trends - Changes in policies, Re-locations of people, Conflicts.
o Industrial hazards - chemical accidents, poisoning.
o New forms of epidemics and diseases - Bird Flu, AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, Ebola
● Vulnerability Analysis/ Assessment
o Vulnerability
▪ The extent to which a community, structure, services or geographic area is likely to be damaged
or disrupted by the impact of particular hazard, on account of their nature, construction and
proximity to hazardous terrains or a disaster prone area
▪ Categories of vulnerability
● Physical Vulnerability
o Whom and what may be damaged or destroyed by the hazard
o Based on the physical condition of people and elements at risk (buildings,
infrastructure etc.) and their proximity, location and nature of the hazard.
o Relates to the technical capability of building and structures to resist the forces
acting upon them during a hazard event.
● Socioeconomic Vulnerability
o The socioeconomic conditions of the people that will determine the intensity of
the impact.
o Vulnerability assessment
▪ Estimation of scale and severity hazards may have on the people, property, environment, and
economy of a community.

Disaster Mitigation Strategies

● Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)
o A global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts between 2005 and 2015
o Adopted in 2005 at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
o Goal: substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 - in lives, and in the social, economic, and
environmental assets of communities and countries.
o Five priorities for action
▪ Ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a national and a local priority with a strong
institutional basis for implementation
▪ Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning
▪ Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels
▪ Reduce the underlying risk factors
▪ Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels
● Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)
o 2015-2030
o Adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, on March 18,
2015.
o Expected Outcome
 ▪ The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the
economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses,
communities and countries
o Goal
▪ Prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and
inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental,
technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and
vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen
resilience
o Priorities:
▪ Understanding Disaster Risk
▪ Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to Manage Disaster Risk.
▪ Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience.
▪ Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response to “Build Back Better” in recovery,
rehabilitation and reconstruction

Disaster Mitigation Measures

● Physical Planning Measures
o Decentralization of elements at risk
o Control of population density
o Design of services and roads
o Land use regulation
● Economic Measures
o Diversification of economic activity
o Economic incentives (grants loans, taxes)
o Insurance
● Management and Institutional Measures
o Education and training
o Research
o Technical expertise
● Societal Measures
o Public information campaigns
o Education
o De-sensationalize hazards
o Community involvement
o Drills
● Engineering and Construction Measures
o There are two types:
▪ Stronger individual structures
▪ Hazard control structures (flood control, levees, dams)

Roles of the Nurse in Disaster Mitigation

● Risk assessment and analysis
o Previous disasters
o Local climate conducive to disaster formation
 o The magnitude
o The coping strategies of the locals
o Current community disaster plan
o Health personnel available
o Health Facilities available
o Local agencies and organizations.
● Diagnosis
o Diagnose Community Disaster Threats
▪ Determine actual and potential disaster threats
▪ Preventive measures is been taken care of
▪ Is there collaborative activities are undertaken
▪ Are the people aware
o Community preparedness
o Effectiveness of Community based disaster plan
o Community awareness
o Community participation
● Risk reduction
o Avoid the risk
o Reduce the likelihood of the occurrence.
o Reduce the consequences.
o Accept/Retain the risk.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Disaster Preparedness
● Measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters
● It involves predicting and—where possible—preventing disasters, mitigating their impact on vulnerable
populations, and responding to and effectively coping with their consequences.
● Objectives
o Increasing the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of disaster emergency response mechanisms at the
community and national level.
o This includes:
 ▪ the development and regular testing of warning systems (linked to forecasting systems) and
plans for evacuation or other measures to be taken during a disaster alert period to minimize
potential loss of life and physical damage
▪ the education and training of officials and the population at risk
▪ the training of first-aid and emergency response teams
▪ the establishment of emergency response policies, standards, organizational arrangements and
operational plans to be followed after a disaster
o Strengthening community-based disaster preparedness.
o This could include:
▪ Educating, preparing and supporting local populations and communities in their everyday efforts
to reduce risks
▪ Preparing own local response mechanisms to address disaster emergency situations
o Developing activities that are useful for both addressing everyday risks that communities face and for
responding to disaster situations
● Personal preparedness
o A person’s or a household’s preparedness for handling a certain type of event.
● Organizational preparedness
o Preparedness of response organization for helping people
o A company or organization’s own preparedness for dealing with disasters, emergencies or economic
crises.
● Society preparedness
o National disaster preparedness
▪ A nation’s ability to handle a major disaster
o Local disaster preparedness
▪ Regional scale
▪ A measure of how the region, e.g. a county or a municipality, is organized to ensure the safety
and security of its inhabitants in case of accidents.

Disaster Preparedness Components

● Hazard, risk and vulnerability assessments

o Basis for planning and implementation of disaster preparedness measures
o This assessment should:
▪ Identify the characteristics, frequency and potential severity of the hazards a community faces
▪ Identify the particular geographical areas and communities that are most susceptible and
vulnerable to those hazards
▪ Identify the main sectors of a community (population, infrastructure, housing, services, etc.)
that would be affected by a specific type of hazard and anticipate how they might be affected
 ▪ Assess the ability of those sectors to withstand and cope with the effects of hazardous
phenomena
● Response mechanisms and strategies
o There are many preparedness mechanisms and strategies that will strengthen and increase the
effectiveness of an emergency response.
o These include development or formation of:
▪ Evacuation procedures (including how to disseminate these procedures to the public)
▪ Search and rescue teams (including plans for training them)
▪ Assessment teams (including plans for training them)
▪ An assessment process and information priorities for an emergency response
▪ Measures to activate special installations, such as emergency or mobile hospital facilities
▪ Procedures for activating distribution systems
▪ Preparations for emergency reception centers and shelters
▪ Procedures for activating emergency programs for airports, harbors and land transport
▪ Preparations for storing or making arrangements for rapid acquisition of emergency relief
supplies and equipment
● Preparedness planning

o Can identify
▪ Emergency shelter sites
▪ Plan and publicize evacuation routes
▪ Identify emergency water sources
▪ Determine chains of command and communication procedures
▪ Train response personnel and educate people about what to do in case of an emergency
o Involves the following:
▪ Identifying organizational resources
▪ Determining roles and responsibilities
▪ Developing policies and procedures
▪ Planning preparedness activities aimed at ensuring timely disaster preparation and effective
emergency response.
o Aim: to identify assignments and specific activities covering organizational and technical issues to ensure
that response systems function successfully in the event of a disaster

● Coordination
o National plans should be coordinated with the plans and intentions of other agencies and organizations.
o Effective disaster response requires mutual trust and coordination of efforts and resources
o Agencies and people involved in emergency response
▪ Affected local population
▪ Local community based organizations
▪ Civil Defense and government emergency structures
▪ Fire brigades
▪ Health departments and clinics
▪ NGOs
o Agencies can clearly divide responsibility for different operations and plan their actions
● Information management
o Relevant information needed for disaster preparedness:
▪ Pre-disasters: hazard and early warning information
▪ During disasters: disaster needs assessment
▪ Post-disasters: progress of post-disaster recovery
o Requires to pre-determine what information are needed, how it will be collected, who will collect it,
who will analyze it and how it will be integrated into a timely decision-making process
● Early warning systems
 o To detect, forecast, and when necessary, issue alerts related to impending hazard events
o Needs to be supported by information about the actual and potential risks that a hazard poses, as well
as the measures people can take to prepare for and mitigate its adverse impacts.
o Needs to be communicated in such a way that facilitates decision-making and timely action of response
organizations and vulnerable groups (Maskrey 1997).
o Sources of EWS
▪ Meteorological offices
▪ Ministries of Health (for example, disease outbreaks)
▪ Agriculture (for example, crop forecasts)
▪ Local and indigenous source
▪ Media sources and Internet
● Resource mobilization
o Development of strategies, agreements and procedures for mobilizing and acquiring emergency funds,
supplies and equipment in the event of a disaster
o These strategies must be included in the plan
● Public education, training and rehearsals
o Supports disaster preparedness
o Includes:
▪ Public education campaigns
▪ Training of response teams and rehearsals of emergency response scenarios
▪ Education of those who may be threatened by a disaster
o Aim: to promote an informed, alert and self-reliant community, capable of playing its full part in
support of and in cooperation with government officials and others responsible for disaster
management activities.
o Rehearsals or drills
▪ Expose gaps
▪ Must be systemwide and engage as many of the disaster response players as possible
▪ Keep the plans fresh, during extended periods of time when no disaster strikes

● Community-based disaster preparedness

o Process that seeks to develop and implement a locally appropriate and locally "owned" strategy for
disaster preparedness and risk reduction