Response to Human Disaster: The Ocean Ranger

In February, 1982 the drill rig Ocean Ranger sank in a storm on the Grand Banks with the loss of all on board. This paper examines the aftermath of this disaster from a service delivery perspective. After a total disaster, all is secondary to the immediate psychosocial needs of those involved. The delivery system of response services that evolved in this instance pointed out a number of Contingency Plan weaknesses relative to anticipation and planning especially in the human needs sector. In a disaster, a special component focused on human needs should coordinate existing agencies to identify needs; respond to the physical, emotional, psychological, religious and security requirements; and monitor and need for continuing support for those affected in other than the immediate post-disaster period.