The Analytical Framework for Analyzing Disaster - Essay Example

Analytical framework for analyzing disaster Disaster is a sudden natural or anthropogenic event that results into economic loss, damage to property, and loss of life. It is not just a big emergency, but distinct and unique. We usually make a mistake of viewing a disaster in a retrospect manner. Disaster is tragic and disrupts the usual routine of life resulting into suffering and death. Some of the examples of disasters include tsunami, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes and pandemics among others. According to David Edgington in his book, Reconstructing Kobe, he classifies disasters into various categories depending on their origin. Some of those classification include; natural disaster, socio-natural disaster, anthropogenic disaster, biological disaster, physical disaster, mechanical disaster and psychological disaster. This paper however seeks to discuss: the pre-existing situation in the disaster areas, the characteristics of the disaster, the efforts made by the government and non-government organizations to facilitate disaster recovery, and the attitudes of the local community and their relationships with the government. The pre-existing situation in the disaster area Up to early 1970s, the actions of the disaster professionals were generally limited to the aftermath of disaster and disaster responses. They never looked at efforts or activities in disaster prone areas that could limit the possibility of disaster occurring in such places. However, the disaster strategies changed following the 1985 earthquake in Mexico. The general assembly of the United Nations launched the international decade of natural disaster reduction with the aim of implementing the mitigation programs of disaster. The pre-existing situations in the disaster areas are characterized by fundamental aspects of disaster management, i.e. disaster preparedness, disaster mitigation and disaster response. The fundamental aspects of disaster management should be implemented in the regions prone to disaster or with the probability of disaster occurring. The pre-existing situation should therefore encompass disaster mitigation strategies, the efforts that are designed to lessen or prevent the impact of the agents of disaster. These efforts are referred to counter measures and include things like disaster awareness, education, insurance and building codes. Another pre-existing situation in a disaster prone area is the disaster preparedness strategies. These are plans of action to be undertaken if the disaster occurs. They include obtaining emergency supplies, establishing emergency operation centers, and developing warning, evacuation and logistic procedures. On the other hand, some other aspects of the disaster aftermath should also be put in place as a measure of preparation for any emergency. Disaster response strategy and solutions should be defined earlier. Measures of rehabilitation and reconstruction should also be elements that pre-exist in any disaster prone area. An early alarm warning system should also be installed in these areas to alert people of any probability of disaster taking course. Other pre-existing situations in the disaster areas are the mechanisms of managing disaster and identifying the likelihood of disaster occurrence. Risk accumulation model was established to determine how a disaster is likely to result. It begins with urbanization and modification of structures and modes of living. This proceeds to poor environment management that accumulates risks and hazards. If there are no quick solutions taken, then a disaster is likely to take effect and impact on the life of the people around and their property. Some of the effects and risks that may be seen in the disaster prone areas are; communicable diseases, displacement of population, climate change, shortage of food, water shortage and sanitation issues, mental health concerns, and damage to health facilities and sewerage system. Characteristics of disaster According to Edgington, disaster is characterized by a sudden tragedy and harm to people and damage to property. The characteristics of disaster may not be common with all of them, but generally any particular disaster exhibit some or all of them. Disasters are unusual incidents. This becomes a problem because people only learn to cope with things that are usual and becomes routine. Disaster however do not occur all the time, in fat they take place when least expected hence they are distinct from emergency due to their tragedy and uncertainty. Another disaster characteristic is the failure of communication. At least in an emergency, communication may still work. Communication may fail in ways such as collapse of the dispatch center, repeater off the air, equipment failure and destruction of tower among others. Frequency overuse, battery failures, passing partial or incorrect information, failure to reach certain individuals and misunderstanding the presented information are some of the ways in which communication fails as a result of disaster occurring. Disasters are also characterized by uncertainty. Disaster occurs when they are least expected. When an unusual event occurs compounded by failure in communication, no one is likely to realize the full extent of how it happens. It is also a characteristic of disaster occurrence that the worst hit regions are usually responded to last. Those areas least affected shout for help loudest because of the still operational communication channels, while the worst affected areas do not make a sound due to the possibility of the loss of all communication channels. Hence they end up being assisted last. There is also lack of information because of the widespread of the disaster which affects everything. This brings a terrific need to find out roads that are still intact and those out, the destroyed vital services and the ones that can possibility be repaired, the locations of the greatest evacuees and casualties and the buildings that are still intact to be used as recovery points. Similarly, disaster is also characterized by misinformation. It is extremely easy during a disaster for rumors and mistakes to be asserted as facts. In a situation where enormous information is required, it is very easy for the wrong information to be slip in and get absorbed. This is common when handling a disaster. A major concern that characterizes disasters is the loss of life. People lose their lives in disaster incidence. Although the services of emergency deal with demise on weekly or daily basis, the steep number of deaths may have a traumatic and profound impact on both the affected and responders. Responders usually have complications with switching gears in cases where they are faced with parts of the body and multiple casualties. The services of emergency as well as those of the government are affected equally. Hospitals and health centers are mostly affected. The contents of the hospital buildings are usually disrupted when disaster occurs because they are the first to feel the impact of the disaster. If disaster takes place in a health facility, then the staff may be unable to get from or to the hospital and hence little help can be accorded to them. Hospitals are expensive to replace and are therefore likely to be kept longer than any average building, hence they are very fragile. Other characteristics of a disaster are associated with things getting worst and strained after a disaster occurrence. Efforts of governments and non-state organizations to facilitate recovery According to Edgington, the governments and non-governmental organizations make various attempts to facilitate disaster recovery. Some of the general efforts include defining rehabilitation and reconstruction strategies and measures. Governments however have come up with a general framework for disaster preparedness to aid in facilitating disaster recovery. This framework include different activities at various stages such as: evaluation of the risk and mapping the risk areas; laying down health and disaster standards to be adopted by the public; enforcing the laid regulations, health policies and legislation on disaster; organizing information and communication to support disaster recovery such as transport and evacuation system and communication network; Setting up warning systems and alarms to alert people; setting up responses and coordination mechanisms via integrating the stakeholders and multi-sector activities; ensuring the availability of resources such as finances, water, food, drugs and emergency relief items to help the victims; developing disaster awareness and education program through community participation and developing curricula on disaster; coordinating information with the media to educate people; and organize simulation exercises that can test the mechanisms of responses set to be used in and actual disaster and adjustments made where necessary. Local community attitudes and relationships with governments The attitude of the community and their relationship with the government is dependent on their participation in risk preparedness and disaster management. Community participation and involvement is vital in disaster management and preparedness because it gives the community an idea that they are involved and that it is their responsibility to take care of the things happening in their community and to their neighbors. The attitude and relationship of the community with the governments is enhanced when community risk assessment is carried out to prevent an ample picture of the main hazards that face the community. This assessment of risks should be made all inclusive, findings of the risk assessment is then communicated to all the interested parties, the hazard should then be monitored and the capacity and skills to carry out community risk assessment is maintained through training and support. This enhances the attitude and relationship of the community and government. Works Cited Edgington, David. Reconstructing Kobe the Geography of Crisis and Opportunity, New York: McGraw-Hill. 2010. Print. Read More