Mass Disaster Planning
Introduction
Disasters are tactics devastating a community, property distraction and injuring populations. For worldwide reduction of property and life loss, 1990s has been declared the International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction by the United Nation General Assembly. Medical society involvement is crucial in this result of attempt. Disasters are caused by man or natural incidents and are repetitively described in terms of reliable characteristics whereby every one of them is unique, intense urgency each placing very great weight on leaders and their communities to reduce rates of destructions and deaths. Calamities of such kind have been witness already.
With no warning, an earthquake laid waste Soviet Armenia, water and winds of Hurricane Hugo ravaged the Carolinas and the Caribbean island and many more that already took place and others still to take place. Man-made disasters are happening at a tremendous rate worldwide. In spite of the fact that global incidents coverage media provide access to viewing the disasters, lacking experience that is first hand one cannot wholly acknowledge level of death, devastation and suffering. In order to reduce the scenarios and establish higher survival number, particularly the medical society must provide plans for disaster response. A proved response plan knowledgeably coordinated by leaders who are experienced will enable saving of bigger number of lives and also reduce problems that are not necessary. Thus, this article will be introducing overall disaster planning concepts while focusing on medical society response and organization.
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo resulted in a tremendous life loss and damage in Southeast United States, Puerto Rico and Leeward Island. In the year 1989 September 9th, Hurricane Hugo emerged over eastern Atlantic swiftly covering wide range of miles over the Atlantic with the strength of a level 5 hurricane. On September 17th and 18th, as level 4 hurricane, Hugo stretched to St. Croix and Guadeloupe. As it continued to weaken it crossed to Puerto Rico as a level 3 hurricane. After some hours it downed to level 2 where it shot up again to category 4 at McClellanville. Its history will stay remembered as it caused 34 deaths at the Caribbean, South Carolina 27, almost 100,000 people were left without homes and an overall damage of 10 billion dollars marking it as the most costly hurricane recorded by the year 1989.
Preparations
In San Juan, 15th September, Puerto Rico National Weather Service called for a hurricane watch which was upgraded to a warning the day after. Disaster Interagency Committee was immediately activated as people started being evacuated giving Hugo the sixth position on the list.
Impact
Puerto Rico and United States mainland encountered damage that was almost 7 billion dollars as a result of the Hurricane Hugo. It marked as the most expensive hurricane until the year 1992 where it was surpassed by Hurricane Andrew and other three more down the line. Damage recorded at the Caribbean, summed up to 3 billion dollars giving an overall total of 10 billion dollars. As for the number of people who died the records are not clear as the American Meteorological Society claim they were 49 as others say 56.
`Hurricane Hugo results were unbearable. The damage was too intense as people were left homeless and food sources shortened resulting to lawlessness and looting. In Saint Croix it became extreme that the President of the United States George H. W. Bush matched his federal troops there to retain order and law, property protection and diminish destruction. Army elements, U.S Federal Bureau of Investigation and Marshal Service, Coast Guard, and the Navy created Joint Task Force 40 for Operation Hawkeye. In addition, National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) first operated due to Hugo which was sent to aid in medical assistance.
Planning
Approach
Disaster planning is a great task. For divers needs resulted by major services disruption and damage of property to be met, the local official of the government and community require to devise strategy that is inclusive. Where casualties are produced due to calamity, it is difficult for disaster planning but also very important for medical reaction that is sophisticated. For an effective anticipation, planners need to first uncover problems posed by a disaster which is marked to be the most challenging viewpoint. All planning should be solvent on approved assumptions resulted from the research past drills and responses of disasters.
Catastrophe response radically varies from habit when it comes to medical care submission. Care philosophy does not focus on specific patient. Medical facilities, personnel and supplies are earmark with care providing tremendous good for tremendous number. Procedures and priority of routine are accordingly modified. Selection of communication, patients and resources is important. This enables many from benefiting.
Disaster studies have established inconsistencies that have resulted to injury potential. Putting this in consideration establishes larger grounds when it comes to estimation of casualties and kinds. One example is the American earthquake which was resulted by construction that was poor in nature making it collapse. Many people suffered from it which included medical personnel where no facilities or medical support remained. Moreover, planners need to anticipate results from previous catastrophes such as the Hurricane Hugo floods to result to more damage.
Conclusion
No person anticipates a category 5 Hurricane to arise from the Atlantic covering wide ranges of dry land resulting to massive damage and deaths and thousands injured. Nor expect collapsing of two skywalks leaving 114 dead at Kansas or an earthquake like the one that took place in San Francisco. Disasters are not expected but they do take place as it is natural for calamities to occur with living as with advances in technology and industries, accidents come. War, dissatisfaction and terrorism are results from political change or socioeconomic stagnation.
Better planning and preparation helps the society to handle death and devastation on disasters strike. It is always critical for medical society to be involved. Disaster medicine is chosen by various personnel in the medical field to become trained and knowledgeable in this field so as to play part in planning and leadership. Some attain skills in medical care and management on ground, philosophy care alteration, recourse allocation, procedure and priority of routine modification. A large number though familiarize with hospital settings. At all circumstances, the medical society have to come to the understanding of its limits and roles, show awareness of the value of fellow members responding to worrying times. And with all that said, it is highly important for them to maintain commitment in responding when summoned.
Reference
Wecht, C. H., & Okoye, M. I. (2007). Forensic investigation and management of mass disasters. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Pub. Co.
Kramer, W. M. (2009). Disaster planning and control. Tulsa, Okla: PennWell/Fire Engineering.
