SH-DRRM: Mod 6

2011

• Almost 30,000 killed in 302 disasters, 206 million

affected

• Costs of disasters estimated at more than USD 2 trillion

over the last two decades.

2015

• 346 disasters were reported, with 22,773 deaths

• 98.6 million people were affected by disasters.

• Top five of countries that were hit by disasters in 2015

were: China (26), USA (22), India (19), Philippines (15)

and Indonesia (11).

Disaster Risk Reduction

Decrease or manage the risk through the implementation of measures to ensure that hazards will not result in disasters

Disaster Management

Building capacities needed to efficiently manage emergencies and to effectively transition from response to early and sustained recovery.

Before a disaster (pre-disaster stage)

taken to reduce human and property losses caused by a potential hazard.

Such risk reduction measures taken under this stage are termed as prevention, mitigation and preparedness activities.

Example:

• carrying out awareness campaigns

• strengthening existing weak structures

• preparation of the disaster management plans at household and community level, etc.

Prevention

avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards

e.g. proper land use, suitable engineering design of structures

Mitigation

measures that reduce vulnerability to certain hazards

e.g. improved building practices and standard designs to ensure that buildings are constructed in risk free areas/sites, houses and hospitals can withstand earthquake or a typhoon

Structural/Hard Mitigation Measures

- Dikes - Ripraps

- Windbreaks - Break waters

Non-structural/ Soft Mitigation Measures

- Safety Measures

- Legislation (Laws, Policies etc)

- Economic Mitigation

- Advocacies, Policy Studies

Adaptation

Adjustment made by people or communities in response to actual or expected hazard stimuli or their impacts to reduce harem and make use of opportunities.

May either be spontaneous or planned

e.g. Stilt houses to prevent floods, securing school records when schools are used for evacuation

Preparedness

• Measures taken in anticipation of a disaster to ensure that appropriate and effective actions are taken in the aftermath

- Training, Education and Drills

- Public Awareness

- Early Warning System

- Strengthening organizations

- Strengthening inter-agency arrangements

- Increasing Logistic Support and Stockpile

During a disaster (disaster stage)

Activities taken under this stage are called emergency response activities.

These include initiatives taken to:

• ensure that the needs and provisions of victims are met, and

• suffering is minimized.

What are the common Emergency Responses?

• Evacuation

• Rescue

• Relief

After a disaster (post-disaster stage).

Achieve early recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities, immediately after a disaster strikes.

These are referred to as recovery activities.

RECOVERY

The restoration, and improvement of facilities (if possible), livelihoods and living conditions of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors.

May be done either by

• Rehabilitation or

• Reconstruction

EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

means by which people receive relevant and timely information in a systematic way prior to a disaster in order to make informed decisions and take necessary action.

Effectiveness of EWS

- timely

- clear and understood by everyone

Important considerations in choosing an EWS

- Credibility of the source

- Needs and the culture of the community, and

- Updatedness

Common ways of giving warning to the community

- Community meetings

- Signs and indicators agreed upon that can seen or heard

- Posters and Signs

- Through radio

- By megaphone or loud speaker

- House to house announcements

- Text messaging (SMS)

Be Alert

Community Awareness

Flooding is possible in low-lying areas ad near river channels

Be Prepared

Community Preparedness

Flooding is threatening in low-lying areas and near river channels

Take Action

Community Response

Severe Flooding is expected in low-lying areas and near river channels

Alert Level

1 bell

1-second siren every 2 seconds for 30 seconds

Ready

People are made aware of an impending flood

Alarm Level

2 bells

two 1-second siren every 2 seconds for 30 seconds

Get Set

People are advised to prepare for a possible flood

Critical Level

Continous ringing of bells or siren for 20-30 seconds

Go

People are advised to respond/evacuate for an expected flood

APPROPRIATE SERVICES DURING EMERGENCY

Evacuation (in Churches, Schools, Government Buildings)

• Setting up Temporary Refuge/Tent Cities for prolonged evacuation (fires,

floods, earthquakes)

Search and Rescue

First aid

Repair of critical facilities/services (electricity, water, public transport, hospitals)

Relief operations

• Provision of: food, clean water, clothing, water containers, candle, matches, soap, canvas, tents (trapal), plastic sheets for temporary shelters.

Indicators for evacuation

• Know and understand the early warning system

• Determine the safe areas for evacuation

• Know the shortest and safest route and identify alternative route/s

• Know the designated pick-up points

• Put road signs for the evacuation route

• Organize the groups in each pickup point and schedule the trip and the vehicle to be used.

• Prioritize the sick, differently abled, elderly, children and pregnant women

• Prepare pre-list of evacuees (if available) and check if the group per pick up point is complete

• Prepare the needed materials and supplies in an evacuation center

• Provide for rescue of those that were not evacuated and accounted for

• If possible, provide for the evacuation of animals (pets, livestock) and household belongings

• Provide for security for the community

• Form committees for the management of the evacuation center from the members of the community

Warning

• Warning on incoming hazard

• Advisories on keeping safe and alert

• Preparations and needed actions

• Monitoring and updating of the situation

Order to Evacuate

• Order to immediately evacuate from the head of community or organization

Evacuation Proper

• Timely, safe and organized evacuation based on plans and preparations

• Check the list of registered evacuees with the actual number of evacuees

Management of the Evacuation Center

• Register, monitor & orient households

• Arrange for food, clean water & other needs

• Assign appropriate area for families

• Ensure health, safety, security, cleanliness and hygiene & overall order

• Ensure continuity of basic services and information

• Organize committees for cooperative management

Return to respective houses or relocation

• Fixing of damaged houses

• Fixing and restoration of evacuation center

• Coordinating with proper authorities for the putting up of new houses for relocates

Committee on Food

• distribution of relief

• giving special attention to needs of children, elderly, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers

• management of kitchen and needed supplies

• organizing and storing the supply of food

Committee on Health

• maintenance of cleanliness and overall hygiene

• administering first-aid

• referral of patients to hospitals, if needed

• making herbal medicines

• organizing and storage of needed medicines

Committee on Information & Coordination

• Registration of evacuees/survivors and personal belongings

• Tracing/tracking of unaccounted family members

• Coordination and monitoring with outside help organizations/institutions

• Continuous monitoring and updating of conditions to evacuees

• Soliciting/gathering resources needed

Committee on Education

• Arrange for the continuation of classes for school children and day care

• Orientation on disaster preparedness measures

• Organizing physical fitness activities, games and sports

• Giving seminars on alternative livelihood, child health and issues like human rights

Committee on Safety & Security

• Ensure safety of evacuees

• Guard the evacuation center day and night

• Settle quarrels and disputes during evacuation

• Negotiate with police and armed forces

• Secure and monitor the houses and belongings left behind

DAMAGE, NEEDS, CAPACITY ASSESSMENT (DNCA)

- identifies the appropriate services and emergency response

- provides sufficient information and update regarding the situation in the affected

area, and

- gathers the needed information on the resources (financial, materials, equipment,

manpower, etc.) needed.

Information Covered by the DNCA

• Damage to personnel, houses, livelihood and critical facilities

• Response measures done by the community

• Assistance provided by local government and NGOs

• Response and recovery plans of households, organizations and the community

• Prevention and preparedness to other hazards

• Needs (food, clean water, temporary refuge, health, security, management of evacuation center, etc.)

Methods of Gathering Data for DNCA

• Observation

• Interview

• Community meetings

• Small group discussions

• Coordination with different government agencies and other organizations

Simple Format of DNCA

A. Disaster:

• What, When, Where, How

B. Damages:

• Damaged

• Still to be damaged

C. Response of Households and Community

• Evacuation

• Search and rescue

• Management of Evacuation Centers

• Relief Operations

• Monitoring

• DNCA

• Coordination with local government agencies and NGOs

D. Community and Organizational Plans

E. Primary needs

Considerations in Giving Relief:

1. Recognize that victims still have remaining capacities - enhance their adaptation rather than their dependence on outside help

2. Should be timely - relief when it is most needed

3. Should be sufficient - should answer for the nutritional requirement of a family of six members for one week or until the next ration

4. Should be Appropriate - based on the actual needs considering the culture, sex and others

Misconceptions and Malpractices Regarding Relief Operations

- Developing overdependence of communities on outside help

- Relief must be immediately provided

- The more relief goods, the better

- People will eat anything when hungry

- Families have the same needs and must be given same amount of assistance

- Use of relief for political motives

Relief Assistance

Timely, Appropriate and Adequate

Procedure for Relief Operations

1. Assessment of Damage, Needs and Capacity

2. Planning

3. Resource Generation

4. Purchasing

5. Warehousing

6. Repacking

7. Distribution

8. Assessment

9. Reporting

Emergency Health Services

• First aid

• Managing mass casualties

• Managing severe nutritional deficiency

• Sanitation

• Water supply

• Personal hygiene

• Control of communicable diseases

Psychological First Aid

• Diagnosis

• Counseling

• Therapy