Disaster Preparedness

Preparedness means a state of adequate preparation in case of an emergency situation in order to

reduce loss of life and livelihoods. Disaster means a sudden happening or event being caused, or
accompanied by a calamity bringing great damage, loss, or destruction to the life and livelihood,
something that has a very bad effect or result, something that is in a very disordered state or condition, an
unfavorable aspect.

Therefore, disaster preparedness will mean a set of measures undertaken by governments,

organizations, communities or individuals to better respond and cope with the immediate aftermath of a
disaster, whether it is man-made or caused by natural hazards. The main objective is to reduce loss of life
and livelihoods. It is one of the five main steps of emergency management. The steps include prevention,
mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
With increasing population growth, rapid and unplanned urbanization, climate change,
environmental degradation and widespread poverty, a growing number of people and assets are exposed to
disasters. Moreover, many of these events occur in fragile and conflict-affected states, thus increasing the
complexity of crises. However, improved practice and response mechanisms save lives and strengthen the
countries and communities ability to reduce the impact of disasters. Understanding the occurrence and
frequency of natural hazards, as well as the risks, vulnerabilities and potential impact on people and assets,
helps to improve preparedness. Instead of providing emergency response only, international efforts should
help governments and communities invest in understanding risks and building preparedness capacities for
pre-emptive and early action.

Disaster preparedness consists of hosting training, education, drills, tabletop exercises and full-scale
exercises in order to ensure the stakeholders know what to do in the event of an emergency. Preparing for
disasters saves countless lives, speeds up people's recovery and saves money. International organizations
like International Federation of Red Cross supports National Societies to continually improve their local
preparedness and response capacity—ultimately preventing and reducing the impacts of disasters on
communities.
Preparedness for Effective Response is a cyclical approach, designed to help analyze the capacities,
strengths and weaknesses within a response system. It is based on decades of collective experience in
preparedness and disaster response across the global network. Ability to respond to disasters requires timely,
appropriate, well-coordinated, relevant and effective works. The preparedness approach is made up of five
phases.
Orientation
Assessment
Prioritization and analysis
Work plan
Action and accountability

Orientation is the act of explanation and the approach to the concern National Society to discuss
internal and external risks and hazards to be prioritized. Assessment is the understanding of the current
response system to identify areas for improvement. This can be done through self-assessment, disaster
simulations or reviews during or following an operation. Prioritization and analysis emphasize on works to
narrow down areas of its activities that needs to focus on and conducts in-depth analysis to identify the
barriers that need to overcome. Work plan is a road-map to increase its response capacity. This includes
outcomes, outputs, activities, timelines, targets and a clear accountability framework. The organization
concern puts their work plan into action, continually monitoring and reporting on their progress in the long
term.

Disaster preparedness plays a critical role in mitigating the adverse health effects of natural disaster.
Preparedness is defined by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
(2009) as knowledge, capabilities, and actions of governments, organizations, community groups, and
individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or
current hazard events or conditions. Preparedness efforts range from individual-level activities such as first
aid training, to household actions like stockpiling of equipment and supplies, community efforts like
training and field exercises, and governmental strategies such as early warning systems, contingency plans,
evacuation routes, and public information dissemination. Perceived risk, disaster preparedness knowledge,
prior disaster experiences, and certain socio demographic characteristics like gender, age, education, and
family income have potential to affect an individual’s emergency preparedness and related behaviors.
Botzen and colleagues found that, regardless of socio demographic status, less knowledge about the causes
of flood events was associated with lower flood risk perception (Botzen et al., 2009).

Disaster preparedness requires critical activities and approaches heavily influenced by conditions
that are impacted by many contextual factors that determine both the scope and nature of preparedness and
response. Several of these factors are explored. These factors are particular to and overlapping with both
emergency management and behavioral health professionals. As a result, both professions must be aware of
and be prepared to, understand and accommodate to these factors. Comparable information regarding
disaster and emergency health and behavioral health is to be provided. Additional factors explored include
legislative and policy definitions of what types of events activate what programs and approaches, legal and
ethical issues to be considered such as confidentiality, licensure, and others.

Disaster preparedness and response planning are other key factors for reducing disaster effects in any
society. Furthermore, it is accepted to support preparedness and response planning with scientific and
technical information. For example, the Japanese Basic Disaster Management Plan is supported with
scientific information for assessing disaster risks for tsunamis, earthquakes and other types of disasters.
These plans and preparedness measures should not be temporary, fragmented and lacking proper
coordination with other development plans. Emergency response plans are developed with consideration for
hazard/risk levels and characteristics and needs of exposed communities as well as other stakeholders such
as emergency respondents, hospitals, schools, and campgrounds.

Disaster preparedness and response is not based on unconstrained flexibility to meet all needs. There
are limits, permissions, and definitions that apply at all levels of government and to nearly all elements of
preparedness, response, and recovery. In order to assure an integrated response and a reduction in
misunderstandings, all parties benefit when the various authorities are understood and tested in exercises.

Disaster preparedness policy of International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) includes the following
points as key to development:
1. A reduction in household and community vulnerability in disaster-prone areas and improvement of
their ability to cope with the effects of disasters.
2. Strengthening of the capacities of National Societies in disaster preparedness and post disaster
response.
3. Determination of a National Society role and mandate in national disaster plans.
4. Establishment of regional networks of National Societies that will strengthen the federation’s
collective impact in disaster preparedness and response at the international level.
This policy applies to all types of disaster preparedness activities at local, national, regional, and
international levels, whether carried out by a branch of a National Society, an individual National Society, or
the International Federation. The International Federation of Red Cross proclaims that it and each National
Society will recognize that disaster preparedness should be one of the primary activities of the International
Federation and each National Society. It will recognize disaster preparedness as an effective link between
emergency response, rehabilitation, and development programs. It will recognize the Red Cross/Red
Crescent role in disaster preparedness as complementary to government. It will advocate, where necessary,
with government, donors, NGOs, and the public, the need for and effectiveness of disaster preparedness. It
will strengthen the organizational structures at international, national, and local levels required for effective
disaster preparedness; improve coordination by promoting better cooperation and partnerships between
National Societies, ICRC, governments, NGOs, and other disaster response agencies at local, national,
regional, and international levels; identify those persons, communities, and households most at risk of
disaster; raise awareness of disaster hazards through public education; improve the ability of vulnerable
communities to cope with disasters through community-based disaster preparedness strategies that build on
existing structures, practices, skills, and coping mechanisms; strive to provide the financial, material, and
human resources required to carry out appropriate and sustainable disaster preparedness activities.

Disaster preparedness and response is becoming more formalized. There are many good reasons for
this, especially the demonstrated value of consistency in response structure, such as the nearly universal
adoption of the incident command system. Another factor contributing to this formalization is the
accumulation of evidence about what policies, programs, and interventions are most effective. Research and
evaluation is difficult in disaster situations, and there is less efficacy data in every area than is ideal.
However, learning continues, data and experience bases are built and, over time, practice and policy changes
to reflect best or promising practices. There must be continuous assessment of what is done in all aspects of
disasters to assure that what is practiced, promoted, and sustained represents the best-known practices.

Anyone who has been involved in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery is aware that victims
and survivors have different priorities, needs, and receptivity depending on many factors, especially the
phase of the event. Emergency managers are well aware of this and historically have developed and
sequenced their activities and priorities accordingly. Emergency managers may be less aware of some of the
psychosocial priorities depending on event stage. For example, in an unexpected and life threatening event,
people are likely to be concerned exclusively about their own safety and status and well-being of those they
love. At this point, most other information provided to them may be ignored. Later, once personal threat is
past, they may be more interested in what caused the event and how it could have been prevented or better
handled. In later stages, people may be interested in recovery strategies, litigation, the cost of recovery, etc.
Behavioral health professionals experienced in understanding the needs and priorities of victim and
survivors, as a function of event phase, can be very helpful to emergency managers as they craft messages
and prioritize communication. Such professionals skilled in understanding what people in crises want to
know and when, can be significant assets to emergency managers at every stage of disasters and
emergencies.