8.3 & 8.4 Disaster Preparedness & Adaptation

1. 8.3 & 8.4Disaster Preparedness & Adaptation How do earthquakes force societies to respond to the change, and possible subsequent disasters? How does this work with hurricanes and forces of nature?

2. The Disaster Cycle

3. Earthquakes • Earthquakes are defined as a vibration of the earth's surface that occurs after a release of energy in the earth's crust. • Plate Tectonics: "plates" are constantly moving slowly & vibrations occur. Most earthquakes are small & are unnoticed. Larger and more violent earthquakes occur in a release of energy as the plates slide past or collide into one another. Large earthquakes can focus on the boundaries where two plates meet, but they are not limited to these areas. As the plates move, fractures in the earth's crust develop and earthquakes are often located on them. These fractures are referred to as faults, of which there are three types and all generate earthquakes when they move. • Richter Scales determine an Earthquakes magnitude (strength) and Energy released. The Mercalli Scale measures the “felt” or observed intensity at a particular location.

4. Hurricanes • Storm Surge • Wind Damage • Freshwater Flooding

5. Preparedness • The first step of the disaster cycle is preparedness. • Prior to a disaster’s occurrence, emergency managers plan for various disasters which could strike within the area. For instance, a typical city located along a river would need to plan for flooding, hazardous material accidents, large fires, extreme weather, geologic hazards, and other applicable hazards. • The emergency manager learns about past disasters and current potential hazards and then begins to collaborate with other officials to write a disaster plan for the jurisdiction with appendices for specific hazards or special types of response scenarios. • Part of the planning process is the identification of human and material resources needed during a specific disaster and obtaining information about how to access those resources, whether public or private. If specific material resources are needed to have on hand prior to a disaster, those items are obtained and stockpiled in appropriate geographic locations based on the plan.

6. Response • The second stage in the disaster cycle is response. • Imminently prior to a disaster, warnings are issued and evacuations or sheltering occurs and necessary equipment is placed at the ready. • Once a disaster occurs, first responders immediately respond and take action and assess the situation. The disaster plan is activated. Often, an emergency operations center is opened in order to coordinate the response to the disaster by allocating human and material resources, planning evacuations, assigning leadership, and preventing further damage. • Response is focused on the immediate needs such as the protection of life and property and includes firefighting, emergency medical response, flood fighting, evacuation and transportation, decontamination, and the provision of food and shelter to victims. • The initial damage assessment often takes place during the response phase to help better plan the next phase of the disaster cycle, recovery.

7. Recovery • After the immediate response phase of the disaster cycle, the disaster turns toward recovery, focusing on the longer term response to the disaster. • There is no specific time when the disaster transitions from response to recovery and the transition may occur at different times in different areas of the disaster. • During the recovery phase, focus is on cleanup and rebuilding. Temporary housing is established and utilities are restored. • During the recovery phase, lessons learned are collected and shared within the emergency response community.

8. Mitigation • Mitigation is concurrent with the recovery phase. • The goal of the mitigation phase is to prevent the same disaster-caused damages from occurring again. • During mitigation, dams, levees, and flood walls are rebuilt and strengthened; buildings are rebuilt using better seismic safety and fire and life safety building codes. Hillsides are reseeded to prevent flooding and mudslides. Land use zoning is modified to prevent hazards from occurring. Perhaps buildings are even not rebuilt in extremely hazardous areas. • Community disaster education is offered to help residents learn how to better prepare for the next disaster.

9. Starting the Disaster Cycle Again Using the lessons learned from the response, recovery, and mitigation phases of the disaster the emergency manager and government officials return to the preparedness phase and revise their plans and their understanding of the material and human resources needs for a particular disaster in their community.

10. Handy Disaster Preparedness Items • Strong rope • Small propane stove • Small pot & pan • Water purifier/ purifying tablets/ straw purifiers • Extra containers of gasoline (or keep your car filled always) • Jumper cables • Flares • Inflatable rescue raft • Small monetary supply • Radio (battery) • Flashlights/lamps • Matches • Batteries • Warm blankets • Basic tool kit (wrench, screwdriver, nails, hammer, etc.) • Duct tape • Safety pins • Needle & thread • Shovel & snow shovel

11. Disaster Food Items • Water • Dry milk powder • Canned goods • Non-perishable sealed items • (dried fruit, pastas, flour, etc.) • Baby food • Pet food

12. Medical Items • First aid kits, including, but not limited to: • Aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol, anti-diarrheal pills, stool softeners • Sterile bandages, gauze pads, band-aides, ace wraps, tourniquets • Disinfecting cream, burn ointment, rubbing alcohol, sunscreen, bug spray • Latex gloves, thermometer, ice packs • Safety pins, scissors

13. Household Items • Basic cleaning products (bleach & disinfecting wipes) • Paper & pencils/pens • Baby diapers • Extra clothing • Towels • 0-degree sleeping bags • Tie/synch-garbage bags • Disinfecting soap • Dish rags • Shampoo/conditioner • Feminine hygiene supplies • Manual can-opener • Utensils & dinnerware • (metal or paper - something that can't break easily)

14. Applying Unit Concepts You will assume the roll of an Emergency Manager. Develop a plan of how your community might survive a natural disaster, in accordance with the Disaster Cycle (DC). • Name, date & class block in top right corner. • Title of Emergency Plan. • Introduction outlining disaster(s) being prepared for. • A section for each area of the DC. • A Conclusion, based on lessons learned from the response, recovery, and mitigation phases of the disaster, to revise plans and understanding of disasters & resources, before returning to the preparedness phase

15. Homework California has laws that govern how architectural plans must include earthquake protections and some Midwestern states require functional storm shutters in home construction. Various areas of the world suffer from different types of disasters, and plan accordingly. What was the New Orleans's reaction to Hurricane Katrina? How do Californians protect themselves from fires & mudslides? • Compose a short presentation on how a particular culture of your choice prepares for a specific type of disaster. • Each presentation must include specifics, such as culture, disaster prepared for, and what measures are taken.