Disaster preparedness - Essay Example

Compose a disaster scenario involving the disaster (Japan earthquake) Although the Japan earthquake is a very recent event in our current history, it is important to note that there are a number of lessons that can be learned from the events that transpired. As fires broke out and people were unable to communicate with each other, a doomsday scenario of sorts developed, with people somewhat unprepared to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. My Japan earthquake disaster scenario involves the situation immediately after the earthquake with my family members outside of the safety of our home because it is a regular day and most of them are either at work or at school.

FEMA has reported that most people are either trapped in buildings or homes without a way out because the earthquake has caused the doors and windows to either jam or be blocked and therefore cannot be opened from the inside. Emergency Services are unable to get to the disaster areas due to the severe road conditions that involve open gap roads and landslides. The public is in a state of near panic and hysteria because the normal avenues of communication such as the internet, mobile phones, and landlines have been taken out by the disaster causing local calls to be cut off. 2. Identify the detailed events for your scenario.

In the event of an earthquake disaster, the likes of which Japan has just seen, FEMA would involve the state and local officials of the affected areas, as well as the following agencies in their rescue efforts: a. Emergency Services b. Fire Department c. Public Works d. Red Cross e. Public Schools Immediately after the quake, the USGS will release information regarding the intensity of the quake to FEMA. This will serve as the basis for their action plan and priority actions to be undertaken.

As FEMA awaits this news, the agency is already coordinating with local and national emergency services units and readying them for dispatch to affected areas. The first of these teams to be dispatched will be the fire department in order to put out the urban home and vehicular fires that will hinder the rescue efforts of the other teams. The fire department will begin rescuing those who are trapped within fire active homes, buildings and vehicles. Soon after, FEMA will also dispatch ambulances to the areas that require the ferrying of injured people.

At almost the same time, the public works division will also order their heavy equipment to action. Their main purpose will be the clearing of road debris in order to allow emergency services, fire trucks, and ambulances to gain access to severely affected and damages areas. In the event that a nuclear power plant is in the vicinity, an immediate assessment of possible damage and speedy repair of the plant will be of the highest priority. While these rescue efforts are ongoing, FEMA is now also coordinating with the Red Cross as well as local public schools in order to set up emergency shelters and medical facilities to service the overflow from the hospitals.

Food rations and other necessary supplies will begin arriving from the government shortly after and the same people will be in charge of rationing the supplies to those in the shelters and those who stayed at their residences. All of these actions happen almost simultaneously with FEMA and the various local government heads in constant conference assessing the situations and actions that may arise while the disaster situation is being placed under control. References FEMA. (2011). Earthquakes.

Retrieved from http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm Ready America. (2009) Earthquakes. Retrieved from http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/earthquakes.html