Importance of Communication Technology in Disaster Management - Coursework Example

Introduction For a long time, role of communication technology has been applauded as an integral to the disaster management system (Gow, 2008). However, the application of communication technology in required in the four phases of the catastrophe management; it has been mostly applied in the recovery phase of the disaster management, mitigation, preparedness and response aspect of the disaster management (Gow, 2008). The current emerging communication and information technologies have led to greater possibilities of the integration of different communication system with disaster management. The interoperability of the various communication systems including mobile phones, email, internet, fax, television and radio has progressively become functional. This has resulted to the possibilities for application of communication technologies in the prevention and mitigation of disaster more frequent. There are together practical and social aspects to the application of communication and technology for disaster management (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). The efficiency of the application of these technologies for disaster management mostly depends on their suitability for the communal and cost-effective context in which the technology is applied (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). Health sectors have always relied on technologies in delivering its services. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) (2004), they form the foundation of the service to prevent, diagnose and treat illness. Information communication technologies are the only one kind of the cosmic assortment of technologies that may be of great importance to the health sector. Phillip (2012) applauds that given the best policies, organization resources and institutions, ICT can be a powerful tool ICT in the hands of health workers in improving service delivery in the sector. Advances in information and computer technology have led to accurate diagnosis of individual health risk. It enables better basic physiologic and pathologic process; revolutionize diagnosis through new imaging and scanning technology. For the reason of this study, ICT is defined as a tool that facilitates communication and the processing and transmission of information and sharing of knowledge through electronic means. Stephenson & Peter (2007) define this as a sudden overwhelming and unforeseen event. Disaster has varied impacts on household and economic level in general. Examples of disaster include earthquake, fire outbreak among others (Gow, 2008). Disaster management, therefore, refers to the organization and administration of resources and responsibilities for dealing with the humanitarian aspect of emergency more especially the attentiveness, rejoinder and improvement in order to lessen the effect of the disaster (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). However, there are no single definitions that can capture full scope of the disaster; Solitary of the used measures is the numeral of populace killed or pretentious by the said disaster. People will always consider the impact of the disaster on the economic, health and social impact of the disaster before they could describe its scope. In this paper, we discuss the emergence role of communication technologies in mitigation, response, preparedness and recovery phase of disaster management, highlighting emerging challenges in applying these technologies, the leadership style required and solution in full integration of technology in disaster management (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). Classification of disaster management Disasters are classified into two major categories and include those caused by natural forces and ones caused by act of human beings (Arup, 2013). Natural disasters include weather phenomena like tropical storms, extreme heat extreme cold in the area. Disaster caused by human activities include road accident, industrial accidents collapse buildings among others. Disasters like famine and global climate change could be considered as slow-onset disaster that can be managed since they occur at specific time interval (Arup, 2013). In actual sense, there is very little if any what human beings can do concern weather-related disasters, but they are able to reduce the impact of weather events in society (Gow, 2008). There are early warnings that can act as indicators to human being concerning the disaster occurrence. World in general has witnessed several terrible disasters like the Katrina and Orleans floods. Most of which include networks, which held society together like roads, electricity networks, and other social services, flood (White House, 2006). In Kenya the bloody killing at Westgate, post-election violence among others are some of the current world disasters caused by human act and nature. All these resulted due to communication breakdown within and among government operators. Lack of the interoperability of communications gadgets presented a big problem in trying to rescue the victims (White House, 2006). The damage by Katrina increased drastically due to technological communication failure that caused destruction and death in several affected areas. The initial respondents were not smart enough to coordinate search and rescue operations more efficiently without communications to guide the operating team in locating assistance requesting. The assistance from other states was not timely in delivering their services, and lack of proper communication caused the delay (Arup, 2013). . Infrastructure problems limited communication in all sectors, inefficient communication equipments; interoperability is some of the major causes of the communication break down in Katrina catastrophe. Inaccessibility of critical communications assets by governments, organizations and rescue team increased and could not dispute media reports and by any chance, interfere with their efforts (White House, 2006). In the case of the Westgate attack, there was completely lack of intelligence, which the rescue team could work on hence massive disaster happened. In Katrina flood, proper response effort could not be assembled together to communicate and disseminate proper information concerning the Katrina (White House, 2006). Application of communication technology in disaster mitigation Emergency Management Australia (2011) states that the improvement in the world observation system and telemetry related with information relay from sensing technologies as stream gauging to stations which have greatly improved the potential of communication technologies in disaster mitigations not only in hospitals but in other sectors. Areas which are vulnerable to flooding need remote sensed images which can be used to generate the digital terrain models for the simulation of potentially dangerous conditions and identification of other vulnerable areas. During and after occasion, mapping of sequential inundation phase is possible; it includes the period, depth of inundation, affected areas and the direction of the current. It has been proved that by using satellites, data for flood mappings becomes economically advantageous with respect to ground survey for areas larger than a couple of ten square kilometers (Carter, 2001). Information technology application is also possible for mitigating the impact of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, forest fire and drought management. If, for example, Asia region, that is in Indonesian archipelago, remote sensing need to be used to monitor and detect the areas vulnerable for forest fires and real time basis (Myoungjin, 2005). The sizzling sports generated by vaguely sensed descriptions attached with real-time meteorological clarification give a drought directory that can be used in narrowing down areas susceptible to jungle fires and where fire deterrence and restraint resources are required to be mobilized. Some of the worst experiences in 1997-1998 indicate that the effectiveness of these system mostly depend on the institutional arrangement that are put in place by the administration to receive these early warnings and take necessary actions to prevent and mitigate the impacts of the catastrophic (Management Advisory Board and Management Improvement Advisory Committee, 2006). The improvement in telemetry related with the sea and ambiance surveillance systems has also contributed to the upgrading in climate prediction useful for disaster management. The El Nino of 1997-1998 was predicted more accurately with several months lead-time (White House, 2006). . Nonetheless, without a local, national capability to slim down these forecasts to neighboring level and make them exploitable for specific actions, the attempts will not be useful in disaster management and will not benefits the local (White House, 2006). The recent improvement has increased the potential for application of the communiqué technologies in catastrophe alleviation; most of it has stagnated in the mechanical and technical realm (Arup, 2013). Discussions are underway in the scientific community in Southeast Asia as well as in Ganga to share the real data of hydro metrological to help in flood mitigation in those areas. In order to ensure total societal benefits, must scientific dialogue and incorporate this subjects to other disciplines. It will also call for further integration of advanced technology with more conventional technologist that is used currently (Arup, 2013). Application of communication and technology in the disaster preparedness Preparedness of the networks that link emergency and procedure centers, crisis broadcasting systems and vanguard emergency communities can be recognized using technologies. The networks can be used to instruct communities about disaster preparedness, track forthcoming hazards, alert establishment and caution people on the likelihood of the occurrence and effect (Management Advisory Board and Management Improvement Advisory Committee, 2006). The Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) in Bangladesh, which is in cooperation managed by the administration and the Red Crescent Society is one of the most successful preparedness programs in the whole world. The CPP works an extensive system of radio communication facilities in the coastal are linked to its communication center. The technology is a composition of HF and VHF radios, which cover the high, risk cyclone Zones. The CPP is one of the best examples of how the use of communication expertise in the disaster can be made more effectual by preparing a suitable social and artistic background in which the technology will be applied. It is a well-planned warning system with equal emphasis on both social and technical components that ensures that in case of n emergency; failure in one point does not affect or lead to complete breakdown of the whole system (Phillip, 2012). Application of communication technology in response and recovery Effective communication forms a linkage between emergency operation center, broadcasting systems, front-line responders and the communities affected (Smith, 2011). For assessing damages, communication linkages is very essential in data collection and information on supplies among other possessions; coordinating liberate and relief actions; accounting for lost people and inspiring public, political and in institutional response is necessary. It is very crucial that communication infrastructure in a disaster prone area is resilient. There is a need to consolidate sources of information that reaches the public with well-coordinated team who select only necessary information that encourages people at that point of disaster (Phillip, 2012). In the case of Gujarat earthquake, a number of private websites sprung up (Healy & Sharman, 2006). That is, State websites were not the only source of information, and many people were ready and willing to help. One of the best pointers that show that the new communication technologies are competent of altering the nature of disaster communiqué networks from being predictable command control type to a one, which is highly decentralized, and to some extend multi-node network (Phillip, 2012). In future, areas where new web-based technologies have percolated, this has the potential of redefining the role of government in the disaster management both in hospital set up and other areas. In a manner, this is in consonance with the rising recognition of the significance of the community based disaster management (Gow, 2008). Conceptual framework Dependent variable Independent variable From the figure above, it has captured the relationship between communication technology and the three phases of disaster management, which include disaster mitigation, disaster preparedness and disaster response and recovery (Carter, 2001). Challenges of using information technology communication in disaster management The efficient use of emerging communication technologies can only be found if they form part of a reverberation based on a well-established basic principles. Being short of emphasis on downstream conclusion has led to less than most favorable show of flood forecasting and warning in Bangladesh. Although the quality of flood forecasts and warnings was superb, its application on the ground has been relatively poor (Phillip, 2012). This is due to the fact that the majority people potentially exaggerated by the floods do not have either access to the forecast or do not understand them. Currently, the flood forecasting and warning center in Bangladesh is undertaking and end to end the review of its dissemination in the pilot location. This is a practical scenario where there is an effective application of new technology and such rests on their well thought strategic application in sound early warnings system (Wuebbles et al., 2006). In previous years, the application of communiqué technologies has been marred with sectorial isolation. On the other the hand, communication and information system in most of the Asian countries forecast the actions of water capital but do not look into its probable application in public health (Esplin, 2000). Overcoming communication and language barrier Though new technologies have eased the communication and distribution of information, language barrier is one of the major hindrances to effective communication. The communication barriers is mostly common in Asian region thus there is a need to place translation software to address the need for communication challenges. The combination of both high-techs as well as low human based technology should be used to help in solving language barriers (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). Leadership requirement for disaster management The role of managers within an organization differs and dependent on the nature of business being carried out or the office set up. This managerial role is the widest in an organization and has a variety of tasks and responsibilities (Healy & Sharman, 2007). The hospital principal should ensure that the hospital has a mission that shows the existence of the hospitals and the purpose for its existence and the direction the hospitals are taking towards disaster management. Without planning, little can succeed in an organization since aims and objectives can only be achieved through proper planning. Proper communication is necessary to ensure coordination in times for emergency; the hospitals should be well equipped with facilities, which can enable them to respond swiftly in times of emergency (Phillip, 2012). The hospitals and management should be well equipped with controlling skills where they should be able to control and manage the staff in times of emergency response. As a manager, one would ensure corrective control by making sure that all cones are filled equally and making sure that supervision and coordination in emergency response are n place (Phillip, 2012). The leadership should have managerial skills like competency, courageousness and visionary. This will help in solving the emergency respond programs (Stephenson & Peter, 2007). Conclusion As noted, communication and information technology has opened doors for more innovativeness application of communication technologies in different phases of the disaster management; it also poses new challenges for disaster management society (Esplin, 2012). The effective application of new communication technology would require that the current technologies be integrated with technologies that are more conventional. The disaster management society will also have deal with disparity that exists between different regions and communities in terms of communication infrastructure. References Arup D. (2013) “Thailand: Getting back on track’, Geospatial World, Vol. 2, No...3, October 2013. Baydar, N, (2000). The Vibro-acoustic Monitoring of Gearboxes. Eng. D. 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