Navigating the Pediatric Disaster Preparedness Literature: A Starting Point for Local Emergency Managers

10.5580/3d ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Starting Point

Local emergency management social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 83-97
Author(s):  
Sean Hildebrand, PhD ◽  
Brandon Waite, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
The Times

The purpose of this special issue of the Journal of Emergency Management is to assess the state of disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article adds to this discussion by examining the results of a national survey of emergency managers in the United States regarding the social media platforms they use to communicate information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, how proficient they feel using them, and what value they see in these technologies during the times of crisis. The authors’ findings help make sense of government responses to the pandemic, as well as contribute to the body of literature on communication and emergency management more broadly. Furthermore, their findings have important implications for emergency management practitioners and educators. 

scholarly journals USING SPATIAL ANALYSIS TO OPTIMIZE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS FOR FRAIL OLDER ADULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S885-S885
Author(s):  
Megan Bond ◽  
Jessica L Tice
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Unique Challenge ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Mapping Software ◽  
Extended Care ◽  
Florida Department ◽  
Community Based Services

Abstract The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) provides programs and services for over 65,300 older people and adults with disabilities. These individuals are uniquely vulnerable and may be disrupted, displaced, and disoriented during the natural disasters common to Florida. DOEA clients are homebound or dependent upon community-based services to provide supervision or direct assistance to perform basic self-care. Often, clients are unable to complete personal care independently, which makes sheltering in place a unique challenge, yet they can only evacuate with special transportation and support arrangements in the shelter. It is critical to DOEA to accurately predict clients likely to be seriously affected by storms, plan for relocation before an event, and arrange for the provision of extended care after. DOEA responded by utilizing ArcGIS mapping software to join client residence locations to evacuation zone polygons and developed a methodology to prioritize clients with personal and functional barriers to evacuation. Proven during Hurricane Michael (2018), local emergency managers were able to use this tool to complete wellness checks on survivors before outside aid arrived. This initiative is evolving with the challenges posed by each storm season. Hurricane Dorian (2019) required the addition of latitude and longitude of client locations for when traditional street navigation became unavailable. Importing and overlaying primary data on secondary emergency management resources is a strategy that could be replicated by other organizations that have similar needs to reconcile individual locations in context of local threats, making this methodology transferrable to other disaster and flood-prone communities.

scholarly journals Beirut Ammonium Nitrate Blast: Analysis, Review, and Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samar Al-Hajj ◽  
Hassan R. Dhaini ◽  
Stefania Mondello ◽  
Haytham Kaafarani ◽  
Firas Kobeissy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Environmental Implications ◽  
Chemical Safety ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Detailed Assessment

A massive chemical detonation occurred on August 4, 2020 in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon. An uncontrolled fire in an adjacent warehouse ignited ~2,750 tons of Ammonium Nitrate (AN), producing one of the most devastating blasts in recent history. The blast supersonic pressure and heat wave claimed the lives of 220 people and injured more than 6,500 instantaneously, with severe damage to the nearby dense residential and commercial areas. This review represents one of the in-depth reports to provide a detailed analysis of the Beirut blast and its health and environmental implications. It further reviews prior AN incidents and suggests actionable recommendations and strategies to optimize chemical safety measures, improve emergency preparedness, and mitigate the delayed clinical effects of blast and toxic gas exposures. These recommended actionable steps offer a starting point for government officials and policymakers to build frameworks, adopt regulations, and implement chemical safety protocols to ensure safe storage of hazardous materials as well as reorganizing healthcare system disaster preparedness to improve emergency preparedness in response to similar large-scale disasters and promote population safety. Future clinical efforts should involve detailed assessment of physical injuries sustained by blast victims, with systemic mitigation and possible treatment of late blast effects involving individuals, communities and the region at large.

Vulnerability assessment of earthquake prone communities in Baluchistan

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainuddin Syed ◽  
Jayant Kumar Routray
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Earthquake Hazards ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Vulnerability ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Key Informant ◽  
Future Earthquake ◽  
Property Losses ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the vulnerability of communities prone to earthquake hazards in Baluchistan at the community and household levels and identify the determinants accounting for the vulnerability of the communities. Baluchistan is vulnerable to potential seismic risk and has recently suffered huge economic and property losses due to the October 2008 earthquake. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on household surveys, field observations, key informant interviews and focus-group discussions for the assessment of community vulnerability to earthquakes. Findings – The analysis revealed that the community is vulnerable to earthquake hazards both at the community and household levels. The logistic regression model identified three variables, namely, ownership of residential unit, family size and household income, as the most important factors in influencing community vulnerability to earthquake hazards. Practical implications – The paper may help emergency managers, policymakers and local government authorities to implement building codes, urban planning by-laws and projects and activities to empower communities for disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction. Originality/value – The paper concludes that for earthquake safety, building regulations and spatial planning by-laws should be implemented and monitored rigorously. Community preparedness is essential for enhancing people’s awareness against future earthquake hazards in the area.

Decontamination of Mass Casualties — Re-evaluating Existing Dogma

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 200-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard W. Levitin ◽  
Henry J. Siegelson ◽  
Stanley Dickinson ◽  
Pinchas Halpern ◽  
Yoshikura Haraguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Mass Casualties ◽  
Emergency Responders ◽  
Chemical Attack ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Mass Casualty Event

AbstractThe events of 11 September 2001 became the catalyst for many to shift their disaster preparedness efforts towards mass-casualty incidents. Emergency responders, healthcare workers, emergency managers, and public health officials worldwide are being tasked to improve their readiness by acquiring equipment, providing training and implementing policy, especially in the area of mass-casualty decontamination. Accomplishing each of these tasks requires good information, which is lacking. Management of the incident scene and the approach to victim care varies throughout the world and is based more on dogma than scientific data. In order to plan effectively for and to manage a chemical, mass-casualty event, we must critically assess the criteria upon which we base our response.This paper reviews current standards surrounding the response to a release of hazardous materials that results in massive numbers of exposed human survivors. In addition, a significant effort is made to prepare an international perspective on this response.Preparations for the 24-hour threat of exposure of a community to hazardous material are a community responsibility for first-responders and the hospital. Preparations for a mass-casualty event related to a terrorist attack are a governmental responsibility. Reshaping response protocols and decontamination needs on the differences between vapor and liquid chemical threats can enable local responders to effectively manage a chemical attack resulting in mass casualties. Ensuring that hospitals have adequate resources and training to mount an effective decontamination response in a rapid manner is essential.

Facilitators and Barriers to Preparedness Partnerships: A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Schmitz ◽  
Tamar Wyte-Lake ◽  
Aram Dobalian
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Veterans Affairs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Shared Goal ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Barriers To Collaboration

AbstractObjectiveThis study sought to understand facilitators and barriers faced by local US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) emergency managers (EMs) when collaborating with non-VA entities.MethodsTwelve EMs participated in semi-structured interviews lasting 60 to 90 minutes discussing their collaboration with non-VAMC organizations. Sections of the interview transcripts concerning facilitators and barriers to collaboration were coded and analyzed. Common themes were organized into 2 categories: (1) internal (ie, factors affecting collaboration from within VAMCs or by VA policy) and (2) external (ie, interagency or interpersonal factors).ResultsRespondents reported a range of facilitators and barriers to collaboration with community-based agencies. Internal factors facilitating collaboration included items such as leadership support. An internal barrier example included lack of clarity surrounding the VAMC’s role in community disaster response. External factors noted as facilitators included a shared goal across organizations while a noted barrier was a perception that potential partners viewed a VAMC partnership with skepticism.ConclusionFederal institutions are important partners for the success of community disaster preparedness and response. Understanding the barriers that VAMCs confront, as well as potential facilitators to collaboration, should enhance the development of VAMC–community partnerships and improve community health resilience. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:431–436)

Best Practices and Lessons Learned from Community Engagement and Data Collection Strategies in Post-Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Saum-Manning
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Collection Strategies

Abstract Communities have a vital role to play in managing the risks associated with natural disasters. As such, their strengths, weaknesses, and priority concerns must be factored into policy decisions to ensure local recovery efforts reflect community needs. Regular engagement with community members provides opportunities for emergency managers and first responders to tap into a reservoir of local knowledge to build a shared understanding of how to foster local preparedness and help communities reduce the impact of a disaster. Not all communities are alike; needs can differ for a variety of reasons and can help determine the best ways to galvanize an appropriate response. The methods of engagement should also be tailored to ensure communities are willing and able to participate in the types of interactions emergency managers wish to initiate. In this paper, we used a mixed method approach to examine several different community engagement and data collection strategies conducted, observed or examined by our research team during six months of post-Hurricane Maria recovery efforts in Puerto Rico from February to July 2018. The aim of this study is to assess whether different outreach approaches used illuminated different perceptions about disaster preparedness and recovery and to identify what works and what does not work when engaging communities in emergency preparedness and recovery activities.

Teaching emergency management students about money: “Without money you ain't doin bupkis”

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-198
Author(s):  
James L. Jaffe, BS (Accounting), JD
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Emergency Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Curriculum Changes ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Elective Course ◽  
Management Students ◽  
Financial Issues

The objective of this article is to address the glaring deficiency in educating emergency managers with regard to the financial aspects of Emergency Management (EM) and suggest curriculum changes. This article reviews 313 Higher Education Programs in EM located in 189 institutions of higher education in the United States to determine which include courses in the financial aspects of EM. The programs reviewed range from undergraduate certificates to PhD Degrees in EM. Of the 313 EM programs, only 78 [24.8 percent] have any courses discussing accounting, budgeting, economics, or finance either as a required or restricted elective course. Only nine [2.9 percent] courses focus on the financial issues of EM. Based upon the data reported, the author suggests changes in EM education as a starting point in the necessary discussion of what an EM educational program should cover.

Emergency preparedness of veterans and nonveterans

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Geiger III, BS
Keyword(s):  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Us

This study examined statistical differences in levels of disaster preparedness between former members of the US Armed Forces (veterans) and civilians (nonveterans). It was hypothesized that veterans would exhibit a higher degree of disaster preparedness as compared to their nonveteran counterparts as a consequence of their training and life experience. Furthermore, if this were proven to be valid, the finding would identify this cohort as an ideal target audience for emergency and disaster preparedness education efforts. A four-page survey consisting principally of closed-ended questions about emergency preparedness was written to measure these differences. Most of the questions required respondents to rank their answers according to a five-step Likert Scale. The survey could be completed either in hard copy or online from September 2014 to January 2015. Ultimately, 113 surveys were returned for evaluation. Of those respondents, 62 were veterans and 51 were nonveterans. The responses were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance tests for statistical significance using the 95 percent confidence standard for each tested value. The results support that veterans are more prepared for domestic emergencies than nonveterans. In addition, veterans were more willing to provide leadership and direction to others in an effort to assist emergency managers in responding to domestic disasters. It is for these reasons that emergency managers should consider targeting veterans for disaster preparedness training to help ensure effective and efficient responses to emergencies.

scholarly journals Traditional Coping Strategies and Disaster Response: Examples from the South Pacific Region

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Fletcher ◽  
Jodi Thiessen ◽  
Anna Gero ◽  
Michele Rumsey ◽  
Natasha Kuruppu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Family And Community Involvement

The Pacific Islands are vulnerable to climate change and increased risk of disasters not only because of their isolated and often low lying geographical setting but because of their economic status which renders them reliant on donor support. In a qualitative study exploring the adaptive capacity of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) across four countries, Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu, it was clear that traditional coping strategies are consistently being applied as part of response to disasters and climate changes. This paper describes five common strategies employed in PICs as understood through this research: recognition of traditional methods; faith and religious beliefs; traditional governance and leadership; family and community involvement; and agriculture and food security. While this study does not trial the efficacy of these methods, it provides an indication of what methods are being used and therefore a starting point for further research into which of these traditional strategies are beneficial. These findings also provide important impetus for Pacific Island governments to recognise traditional approaches in their disaster preparedness and response processes.

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