DISASTER

 

An overwhelming ecological disruption occurring on a scale sufficient to require outside assistance … PAHO 1980. Disasters are exceptional events which suddenly kill or injure large numbers of people… Red Cross/Red Crescent. 

Definitions

Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health or health services on a scale that warrants extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area

Source: WHO strategy and approaches to humanitarian action,1995

 Man made calamity (accident or intentional)

A catastrophic event that overwhelms a community’s response capabilities

Definitions cont--

CRED defines a disaster as “a situation or event which overwhelms local capacity, necessitating a request to a national or international level for external assistance; an unforeseen and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction and human suffering

Types of disasters

Natural (Acts of God) Man made

Sudden Impact Gradual onset Hostile Accidental

Earthquake,

Volcanic Eruption,

Cyclones,

Flash Floods 

Floods,

Snow Storm,

Famines,

Droughts

World war I&II

Terrorism 9/11

Sabotage

Air crashes,

Train accidents,

Fires, Smog,

Toxilogic accidents Nuclear accidents

Bombings

Accidents

Floods

Air Crash

Tornados

Drought

Sandstorm

Disaster subgroup definition and classification

Subgroup Definition

Disaster Main Types

Geophysical Events originating from solid earthEarthquake, Volcano, Mass Movement (dry)

Meteorological

Events caused by short-lived/small to meso scale atmospheric processes (in the spectrum from minutes to days)

Storm

HydrologicalEvents caused by deviations in the normal water cycle and/or overflow of bodies of water caused by wind set-up

Flood, Mass Movement (wet)

Disaster subgroup definition and classificationSubgroup Definition Disaster Main

Types

ClimatologicalEvents caused by long-lived/meso to macro scale processes (in the spectrum from intra-seasonal to multi-decadal climate variability

Extreme Temperature,Drought, Wildfire

Biological Disaster caused by the exposure of living organisms to germs and toxic substances

Epidemic, Insect Infestation,Animal Stampede

Types of Disasters

Deaths VS InjuriesDeaths exceeds Injuries Injuries exceeds Death

Storm surges

Tsunamis Flash Floods Landslides Avalanches Volcanic eruptions Tidal waves

Hurricanes

Fires

Explosions

Earthquakes

Typhoons

Tornadoes

Top 10 Natural Disasters in Pakistan for the period 1992 to 2011 sorted by numbers of killed

Disaster Date No Killed

Earthquake 8-Oct-2005 73,338

Flood 28-Jul-2010 1,985

Flood 8-Sep-1992 1,334

Flood 2-Mar-1998 1,000

Storm 14-Nov-1993 609

Flood 19-Jul-1995 600

Flood 9-Feb-2005 520

Flood 22-Jul-1995 451

Flood 11-Jul-1994 316

Storm 26-Jun-2007 242

Top 10 Natural Disasters in Pakistan for the period 1992 to 2011

sorted by numbers of total affected people:Disaster Date No Total Affected

Flood 28-Jul-2010 20,359,496

Flood 9-Feb-2005 7,000,450

Flood 8-Sep-1992 6,655,450

Flood 15-Jul-1992 6,184,418

Earthquake 8-Oct-2005 5,128,309

Drought Nov-1999 2,200,000

Storm 26-Jun-2007 1,650,000

Flood 19-Aug-1996 1,300,000

Flood 22-Jul-2003 1,266,223

Flood 22-Jul-1995 1,255,000

Disaster Management

Emergency Aid

and

Disaster Response

is

as old as humanity

Phases of Disaster Management

Mitigation

Preparedness

Disaster impact

Rehabilitation

Reconstruction

ResponseRECOVERY

Preparedness Planning how to respond for an emergency or disaster and working to

increase resources available to respond effectively

Multisectorial Activityo communicationso healtho social welfareo police & security o search & rescueo transporto media

Preparedness(a stitch in time saves nine)

Tasks

o evaluate risk,o adopt standards/regulations, o organize communication, warning sys,

coordination& response mechanism,o ensure financial resources,o develop public education programmes,o coordinate with media, and o organize disaster simulation exercises

PLANNING PROCESS

P Planning O Organizing S Staffing D Directing C Coordinating R Reporting B Budgeting

Disaster impact & Response Activities that occur during and immediately following a disaster

Search, Rescue &First Aid

Field care

Triage

TaggingIdentification of

dead

TriageDo the most good for the most patients

Emergent (Immediate) or Priority One (RED)

Urgent (Delayed) or Priority Two(YELLOW)

Non-urgent (Minimal) or Priority Three(GREEN)

Dead (BLACK)

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL FIELD OPERATIONS

IN DISASTER RESPONSE SCENARIOS

• People• Equipment• Training• Organization

Emergent or Immediate

Examples

•Unstable chest/abdomen wounds

•Vascular wounds with limb ischemia

•Incomplete amputations

•Open fractures of long bones

Urgent or Delayed

ExamplesStable abdominal woundsSoft tissue woundsVascular injuries with adequate collateralsGenitourinary tract disruptionFractures requiring operative interventionMaxillofacial without airway compromise

Urgent or Delayed

Non-urgent or Minimal

Walking wounded/ walking “well”

Directed away from Triage area to minimal care area for first aid and non-specialty care

May be a source of manpower

DEAD / MORIBUND

Survival unlikely even with optimal care

Should be separated from view of other casualties

Should not be abandoned

Comfort measures with minimal staff

MitigationActivities which actually eliminate or reduce the chance of occurrence

or the effects of a disaster

o Measures designed to either prevent hazards eg protection of vulnerable population and structures

o Improving structural quality of houses, schools, and other public buildings.

o Safety of water supply & sewerage system

Rehabilitation Actions taken to return to normal or safer conditions

Water supply

Food safety

Basic Sanitation&Personal

Hygiene

Vaccination

Nutrition

Vector Control

NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority)

Established

2010