Franklin county catastrophe - Essay Example

? Franklin County Catastrophe Roxie Land Western Governor's Franklin County Catastrophe Overview This is a case study involving a population that suffered the effects of a windstorm. This was as a result of a tornado and the effects included floods and spill of other substances. There were other damages including the destruction of infrastructure such as bridges. The number of people who were left without electricity was estimated at above 1,500. To clean up the mess, city and county governments came together. Despite the manpower provided, the clean up process took several months to accomplish. The process required a strategic plan and this was devised through the enactment of different teams to achieve the goal. The most prominent of these teams were a control center which dealt with emergency cases and a health team that ensured public sanitation was maintained. The health team had different leaders working together to achieve the set goals. Management Structure The control center was managed by Chris Newhouse. This meant that all people working in the area had to report to him on all the issues that were taking place in the area. The reports and progress were submitted on a daily business to ensure that the team was on target. The briefing was attended by all leaders involved in the rescue and cleanup teams. This was to ensure that all ideas that could be used to accomplish the task at hand were laid bare. Rebecca Browler reported to Newhouse as she was his assistant. She was charged with the duty of inspecting activities in the area and ensuring that all teams had hit their target. In addition, she was obligated to report any new issues to Newhouse. Zachary Burke was charged with collection of data from the different health team leaders. He was also charged with the duty of analyzing the collected data before handing the information to his superior, Browler. The health team consisted of several members charged with different duties. They had to report all issues and progress to Burke. In addition to this team, there was a nurse and an expert in environmental issues. They provided direct support to the health team. Responsibilities for the Health Team The management of the health team was done under four officers who included the officer in charge of operations, logistics, planning and finance. The operations officer was in charge of developing strategies that would be used to accomplish the goals of the team. The planning officer was responsible for data collection and information processing. This data was then used to come up with plans that could be used to tackle upcoming incidents in the process. The plan developed from this information would be utilized in various ways including developing strategies achieving the goals of the health team. Provision of equipment used in the process was placed under the logistics officer. Funds for buying equipment and payment of service providers were given by the finance officer. After the disaster, an institution volunteered to provide shelter to the victims of the catastrophe. An ES was provided by Zimmerman which was in fulfillment of an agreement between the two countries about assistance during such times. The ES was charged with inspection of the shelters provided by the institution as well as eateries in the area. The inspection revealed various problems afflicting the victims. These problems included lack of hygiene, possibility of food poisoning as the food provided had been properly stored and overcapacity in the shelters. Portable toilets were provided by the health team. The handicapped were also considered during this process as they were also provided with toilets that could accommodate their needs. Since it had been an emergency, the animals were living with the human in the same quarters. This was not only unhealthy but also dangerous. The group was provided with kernels to house the animals. The eatery inspection led to the closure of one restaurant. Communication with the media was seen as an important part of the process and hence the appointment of a communications officer. The main duty left to this officer was that of data collection, analysis and final drafting of statements. Most of the information being provided related to community wellbeing. Ass such, a health officer had been charged with the duty of preparing such statements. Timely provision of information to the fourth estate was seen as a vital tool as it would educate the public on the health issues that were of concern at the time. The public releases also provided information on the resources that were available to the public in case of emergencies. Through this information, the public was informed on the importance of boiled water. In addition, they were educated on identifying spoilt food. The nurse had to visit each household. This enabled the nurse to assess the health issues that may have been present. Considering the effects of flooding, it was important to make such visits as they would inform of the best way to deal with different scenarios. To fulfill her duties, the nurse carried a questionnaire. The question-answer sessions provided the nurse with ample time to assess the health of individuals. This enabled her to provide medical aid to all those people who required it. She was also charged with the duty of checking that all people had all access to indispensable requirements. In addition, she had to ensure that all people who needed medications had access to them. During her inspection, she did not encounter any person with any serious needs apart from one who had run out of medication for blood pressure. After checkup, the individual was provided with medication and taken to the dwelling place. Food had been a major issue in the area and there was also need to ensure that people had access to clean water. She ensured that people were aware of the risks posed by the flooding. During her inspection, she also encountered a woman whose only language was Spanish. Although the language barrier was a hindrance to communication, the nurse was able to discover that the woman had a son who was conversant with English. The conversation with the son enabled the nurse to find out that there were generators in the room but they were a health threat to the family. She trained them on how to reduce the risk while enjoying the services of the generators. Spills in the area were common and the nurse found a man who wanted to clean his garage as a result of oil and paint spills. Considering the health risks, the nurse informed the man about the department involved in such cleanups. The department would evaluate the trickle and provide further directions on cleanup. Some of the other problems identified by the nurse included anxiety in people. This was observed in a blind woman who was bitter that the husband was not doing enough to provide her with supplies. She moved the family to a better shelter and ensured that supplies were available to the couple and their families. The nurse was also able to establish the needs of the community through her inspection. The needs of the population would be addressed through the provision of the require equipment, training on safety and water treatment. Due to differences in language, the handouts presented by the nurse were made available in both English and Spanish. The team had managed to pull most people from the site of the disaster and most had been able to return to their homes. The safety of the homes was still in question and this led to the nurse intervening with the suggestion that houses still a threat unless they were inspected. In addition, she emphasized the need for a nurse to be on hand during the exodus. Those who had questions about their health and safety consulted the nurse through phones and she was able to give assistance and appropriate recommendations. Outcome Although there was need to quantify the outcomes of the calamity, this had to wait until all pertinent issues regarding the health of the individuals were taken care of. This led to a reconsideration of the plan that had been devised to counter disaster in the county. Despite the smooth handling of the disaster, the county managers still felt there was room for improvement. As such, they decided that the emergency plan for the county needed upgrading. This upgrade would involve processes such as improved communication during emergencies and hence the need to train more people in response to emergencies. The storm had destroyed the available infrastructure for communication and there was need to upgrade the communication system. This called for additional training on communication infrastructure such that the infrastructure would be reliable during future adversities. It became apparent that there was need to develop an efficient communication system. This would improve safety during such times. The new plan would also accommodate more disaster response workers in the city and county. The health team would also require additional workers for this purpose. Compulsory training was proposed as the main avenue to achieve an increased work force. Conclusion The nurse ensured that all the needs of the concerned individuals were met. As a professional, she fulfilled her obligations through provision of health needs to the community. In addition, she provided resources and training to the people. Furthermore, she acted on behalf of the community in advocating for their rights. References Emergency First Response website. (2011). www.emergencyfirstresponse.com/ Federal Emergency Management Agency website. 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