2. Introduction
A disaster is a situation in which the community is
incapable of coping. It is a natural or human-
caused event which causes intense negative
impacts on people, goods, services and/or the
environment, exceeding the affected community’s
capability to respond; therefore the community
seeks the assistance of government and
international agencies
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4. Disaster management cycle
Mitigation: Measures put in place to minimize the results
from a disaster. Examples: building codes and zoning;
vulnerability analyses; public education.
Preparedness: Planning how to respond. Examples:
preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training;
warning systems.
Response: Initial actions taken as the event takes place. It
involves efforts to minimize the hazards created by a
disaster. Examples: evacuation; search and rescue;
emergency relief.
Recovery: Returning the community to normal. Ideally,
the affected area should be put in a condition equal to or
better than it was before the disaster took place. Examples:
temporary housing; grants; medical care.
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5. Stage 1: disaster mitigation
Structural mitigation – construction projects
which reduce economic and social impacts i.e.
dams, windbreaks, terracing and hazard resistant
buildings.
Non-structural activities – policies and practices
which raise awareness of hazards or encourage
developments to reduce the impact of disasters
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6. Mitigation include: Strategies
Reviewing building codes.
Vulnerability analysis
updates.
Zoning and land-use
management and planning.
Reviewing of building use
regulations and safety codes.
Implementing preventative
health measures
Political intervention and
commitment
Public awareness .
Hazard identification and
vulnerability analysis.
Various mitigation
strategies or measures-For
instance, varieties of crops
that are more wind, flood
or drought resistant can
often be introduced in
areas prone to floods,
drought and cyclones,
Economic diversification.
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7. Disaster Mitigation and
Infrastructure
Disaster and development
Investment in infrastructure to support
sustainable socioeconomic
development
Investment in infrastructure for
reconstruction and recovery.
i. A backup generator is available in
case of power failure and that a
battery-operated radio .
ii. A backup copy of all critical
information
iii. The preliminary design should take
into consideration the prevalent
hazards and methods to avoid or to
minimize the effects of the extreme
natural events.
iv. Strengthening vulnerable areas such
as roofs, exterior doors, windows,
and garage doors
Disasters set back
development programming,
destroying years of
development initiatives.
Rebuilding after a disaster
provides significant
opportunities to initiate
development programmes
Development programmes can
increase an area’s susceptibility
to disasters
Development programmes can
be designed to decrease the
susceptibility to disasters and
their negative consequences
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8. Development initiatives for
countries faced with
disasters.
Phase II: Preparedness
Partnership-close collaboration
among donors, governments,
communities, nongovernmental
organizations, the private sector,
and universities
Flexibility-. Development agencies
must be efficient and flexible;
adaptable to local environments
and capable of adjusting to
changing conditions and seizing
opportunities when they arise.
Selectivity-resources are the public
asset that must be invested
prudently to achieve maximum
impact.
Preparedness measures include:
I. Preparedness plans ƒ
II. Emergency exercises/training
III. ƒWarning systems
IV. ƒ Emergency communications
systems ƒ
V. Evacuations plans and training ƒ
VI. Resource inventories ƒ
Emergency
VII. personnel/contact list.
VIII. ƒMutual aid agreements
IX. ƒPublic information/education
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9. The Emergency Operation Plan
(EOP)
EOP allows the community to
respond to threats.
engages responders in the short-
term recovery
must be flexible to be valuable in real
and potential emergencies.
It doesn’t include the administrative
plan , the mitigation strategy, the
long term recovery or the Standard
Operational procedures.
Structure of EOP consists of
promulgation/broadcast statement
signed by the Chief Executive Officer
authorizing the Plan; description of
the planning process, abstract of
contents, implementation; table of
contents; instructions about the use
of the Plan; purpose of its sections,
and its distribution
Functional Annexes- provide
specific information and
direction on operations and the
roles and responsibilities to be
performed by responders.
Exercising the EOP- by having
response agencies exercise them.
The exercises carried out involve
preparatory training that helps
orient staff to the procedures
that they may be required to
know, to function during a
disaster.
Publicizing the Plan- Completed
EOPs are published and made
public to communities and
through the use of public
awareness programmes.
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10. Steps to Take after a Flood, Fire or
Other Natural Disaster
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When a disaster damages or destroys your home
or neighborhood, everything changes. Whether
it's a flood, fire, hurricane, tornado, earthquake
or storm, suddenly many things don't work and
aren't available - food, water, electricity,
refrigeration and the ability to drive. You may
need to move quickly to obtain food, water and
shelter; avoid unaccustomed dangers and recover
property and financial losses.
11. Immediately after a disaster
After making sure that you and those you live with are safely out of harm's way,
you should do the following:
Check on others - If anyone is injured, weak, extremely distressed or has any
other unusual symptoms, seek medical help right away. Check on your
neighbors, especially elderly persons, disabled persons or children who may
have been alone.
Safety first - Turn off your gas and electricity if you can safely do so. If your
home has been damaged, your power lines and gas lines may have sustained
damage also. Let utility crews turn them back on when they determine it's safe.
Take your time - Don't be in any hurry to go back into your home - There are
many risks, from floors or ceilings giving way to live wires and gas leaks. Don't
go in if the gas and electricity haven't been turned off, and don't try to turn
them back on yourself.
Returning home - If you live on a military installation, check with the
military police for information on returning home. Military installations also
have emergency plans that may include help for families after a disaster.
Keep your eyes open - Report any downed power lines or broken gas lines
right away.
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12. Necessities
Making sure you and your family have safe water, food and shelter is your first
priority after a disaster.
Water - A normally active person needs at least a gallon of water each day. If
the water supply is disrupted, you can use water from your hot-water tank,
pipes or ice cube trays. You can also collect rainwater and water from streams,
rivers, ponds, lakes and natural springs, but be sure you boil any water you
drink or use for cooking.
Food - You'll need to keep your strength up, so eat at least one well-balanced
meal each day. Canned food doesn't need to be heated, but if you want to heat
food in the can, be sure to open the can and take off the paper label first. If you
are without power and refrigeration, first use up perishable food from the
refrigerator, then from the freezer.
Shelter - The American Red Cross and other volunteer agencies set up shelters
for people whose homes are destroyed or are too dangerous to stay in.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency can provide housing assistance if
your home was damaged or destroyed.
Locating and contacting family members -The American Red Cross
maintains a database to help people find relatives after a disaster. Your family
members in other cities can call their local chapters, but should not call the
chapter in the disaster area
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13. Cautions
After a disaster, there are many potential dangers. It's important to be
aware of what can harm you or your loved ones.
Electrical lines - Don't turn the electricity back on after a flood if the
system was flooded or if you smell gas. Don't handle electrical
equipment in wet areas. Avoid puddles and other standing water - you
could get a shock from underground or downed power lines. Assume all
wires on the ground are dangerous, including cable TV lines.
Natural gas, propane, gasoline and other flammables - Don't turn the
gas back on after a flood. Let the utility crews handle it. Use a flashlight,
never matches or candles. Beware of leaking gas lines and propane
containers, gasoline that has leaked from vehicles and lighter fluid or
paint thinner that has spilled.
Carbon monoxide - Using fuel-burning devices (such as kerosene lamps,
wood stoves, fireplaces, gas-powered pumps, and generators) for indoor
cooking, heat or light can be very dangerous. The carbon monoxide these
devices give off is invisible and odorless, but can be deadly. Provide
plenty of ventilation and watch for symptoms of carbon monoxide
poisoning: mild headaches that persist or get worse, shortness of breath,
irritability, poor judgment, memory loss or rapid fatigue. Never try to
heat your house with a gas stove. Never burn charcoal in the house or
garage.
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