Emergency And Disaster Planning And Management

By Author: Henry Ford
Total Articles: 189
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Emergency management is the strategic organizational processes of countering the occurrence or the impacts of hazard risks which are potential of causing catastrophes or disasters on assets. In this case, assets are categorized as economic, cultural, non-living as well as living things. The human society is prone to a wide variety of hazards which are either human-made or natural. It is of great importance to note that, hazards of any nature, either natural or man made, small or huge leads to significant destruction on human wellbeing as well as destruction of property. Some of the hazards like floods, world fires, earthquakes, and train cracks among other accidents lead to severe damages. Over the years, man has been overwhelmed by varied disasters thus leading to jeopardizing of the pleasures of life. In response to this situation, there has been every need to establish viable solutions to counter the impacts of hazards. This phenomenon has led to the concepts of emergency and disaster planning and management. The whole concept of disaster or emergency planning is divided into four fields which deal with identification of ...
... the process. It worth noting that the four process as primarily aimed at reducing the risk, preparation of resources, responding to the actual calamity as well as limiting further damage. This research paper will focus on the concept of emergency and disaster planning and management. A special attention will be put on the planning and management of floods.
Carter (1992) indicated that emergency management is a strategic process that resides in the executive level of an organization, rather than being a tactical process. In this case, the concept of emergence management entails all process of ensuring integration of emergency plans as well as coordinating all functions of organizations towards realization of a common goal. With regard to the ideas of Carter (1992), emergency management entails the combination of the efforts of all levels of an organization in realization of the common goals. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the hierarchy of the emergency management team is very vital in ensuring responsibility and accountability in the execution process. The role of the emergency manager is very crucial in that it ensures smooth coordination of all other aspects of the organization.

Phases in emergency and disaster planning and management
Moore and Lakha (2006) outlined that emergence and disaster management is a strategic process that requires professionalism and expertise of a high order. In this case, all the aspects of the disaster ought to be adequately addressed. As indicated by Alexander (2002), emergency management cycle is a long term program, which not only looks at the present or past issues but also pays attention to future phenomenon. Moore and Lakha (2006) indicated that emergence management cycle must include long term work on public awareness, infrastructure as well as human justice issues. By consideration of these concepts, the strategic process of disaster management is able to meet its objectives. Specifically, emergence planning and management is categorized into four phases which include mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. All the phases are distinct though work towards the same goal of preventing or reducing the impacts of disasters on human life as well as to property. All the phases are applicable to all forms of disasters, whereby effective execution of the activities involved in the phases leads to significant or total reduction and prevention of the impacts of the disasters.

Mitigation
Mitigation is the first phase in the strategic process of disaster planning and management. As postulated by Carter (1992), mitigation is aimed at preventing the hazards from yielding into disasters. In addition, mitigation is also aimed at reducing the impacts of the disaster on the population. It should be noted that, mitigation is slightly different from other phases in that it focuses on long term measures. The activities and structures put in place in this phase are all aimed at eliminating or reducing the risk from occurring. Nevertheless, it should be considered that mitigation measures taken after the onset of a disaster stands to be part of the recovery process. Kaplan (1996) indicated that mitigation measures for countering the occurrence of a disaster may be both structural and non-structural. In the case of structural measures, technological solutions are used. On the other hand, non-structural measures adopt the use of designing, legislation as well as land-use planning. Insurance is also a non-structural measure used in the mitigation process.
In the case of floods, both structural and non-structural mitigation measures are applicable in countering the disaster. To begin with, structural measures in countering the occurrence of floods include the construction of levees. Flood levees in this case refer to barriers constructed on rivers or dams to prevent spilling of water in case of heavy rains. This has been identified as a very effective strategy in that it ensures prevention of the floods. It’s worth noting that flood levees are constructed in river banks in places inhibited by people or areas with various economic activities. By so doing, the overflow of water which may be disastrous is prevented (Carter, 1992).
On the other hand, non-structural measures are also adopted in preventing the catastrophes or disasters associated with floods. Some of the non-structural measures used to counter disasters arising from floods include land-use planning, legislation, insurance as well as education. Through this process, the community or population living in the vulnerable area is enlightened on the best ways of preventing the calamity. In the case of land use, the population is barred from using land near the lowlands which are very vulnerable to the floods (Moore and Lakha, 2006).The setting of flood zones is also very important as it depicts safe and no go zones. By so doing, the potential impacts of floods on the population is reduced. Insurance on life and property is also another effective non-structural measure used in preventing the impacts of floods. In this regard, communities living in flood zones are advised to insure their lives and property, which helps in reducing the impacts of the disaster incase of deaths or destruction to property. With reference to the aspect of legislation, the government or the relevant authority institutes regulations which are aimed at reducing the effects of the disaster. Some of the regulations include evacuations as well as sanctions concerning people who fail to obey the regulations (Moore and Lakha, 2006).

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