In addition volunteers and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the local Red Cross branch or St. John Ambulance may provide immediate practical assistance, from first aid provision to providing tea and coffee. A well rehearsed emergency plan developed as part of the preparedness phase enables efficient coordination of rescue efforts. Emergency plan rehearsal is essential to achieve optimal output with limited resources. In the response phase, medical assets will be used in accordance with the appropriate triage of the affected victims.
SURVIVAL LAW OF 3S
Sometimes it is useful to remember the survival law of 3’s is significant if you consider the survival profile of the person and the situation and add that to the other important factors in a survival situation. This works in a displaced wilderness scenario or a disaster, such as earthquakes in an urban or austere / mountainous environment.
The survival law of 3s is often quoted as:
Air 3 Minutes without air
Water 3 days without water
Food 3 weeks without food
Shelter Finding shelter is important to keep warm or cool and protected.(Some say 3 hours without shelter in harsh areas)
Health Proper healthy living, nutrition, activity, medical, etc., is needed.
Company / Moral: Some add - 3 months without companny.
Where required, search and rescue efforts commence at a very early stage. Depending on injuries sustained by the victim, outside temperature, and victim access to air and water, their location, etc., the vast majority of those severely affected by a disaster may die within 72 hours after impact. Within a week of a major incident SAR Teams often leave and the incident enters a ‘Recovery phase’. Medical response obviously has obvious important applications in the ‘Direct Impact’ phase and the ‘Indirect Impact’ phase – as a secondary result of the incident. (Llike disease, infection and post trauma treatment.)
Individuals often feel compelled to volunteer directly after a disaster. Volunteers can be both a help and a hindrance to emergency management and other relief agencies. A spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteer can actually harm the effectiveness of coordinated agencies – some earning the term ‘disaster tourists’ running into an event with preparation, coordination or even informing anyone – of their whereabouts and intentions. However trained and prepared volunteers under the direction of an organizing agency, such as mobile SAR Disaster Teams, can provide many benefits to the troubling effects of a disaster.
The response phase of an emergency may commence with a search and rescue phase. However in all cases the focus will be on fulfilling the basic needs of the affected population on a humanitarian basis. This assistance may be provided by national and/or international agencies and organisations. Effective coordination of disaster assistance is often crucial particularly when many organisations respond and Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) capacity may be over-stretched and diminished by the disaster itself.
On an individual or personal level, your decision / response can take the shape either of a home confinement or an evacuation. In a home confinement scenario a you and your family should be prepared to fend for yourselves in their home for several days without any form of outside support.
In an evacuation scenario, you and the family evacuates by a vehicle with the maximum amount of supplies, including a tent for shelter. The scenario could also include equipment for evacuation on foot with at least three days of supplies and rain-tight bedding a tarpaulin and a bedroll of blankets, would be the minimum.
RECOVERY The aim of the recovery phase is to restore the affected area to its previous state. It differs from the response phase in its focus; recovery efforts are concerned with issues and decisions that must be made after immediate needs are addressed. Recovery efforts are primarily concerned with actions that involve rebuilding destroyed property, re-employment, and the repair of other essential infrastructure.
An important aspect of effective recovery efforts is taking advantage of a 'window of opportunity' for the implementation of mitigative measures that might otherwise be unpopular. Citizens of the affected area are more likely to accept more mitigative changes when a recent disaster is in fresh memory. The recovery phase starts when the immediate threat to human life has subsided. In the reconstruction it is recommended to reconsider the location or construction material of the property.
In long term disasters the most extreme home confinement scenarios like war, famine and severe epidemics last up to a year. In this situation the recovery will take place inside the home.
Planners for these events usually buy bulk foods and appropriate storage and preparation equipment, and eat the food as part of normal life. A simple balanced diet can be constructed from vitamin pills, whole-meal wheat, beans, dried milk, corn, and cooking oil. One should add vegetables, fruits, spices and meats, both prepared and fresh-gardened, when possible.
4 R’S OF RESCUE, RELIEF, REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION The standard time frame of rescue, relief and rehabilitation are usually defined as approximately 7 days, 3 months and 5 years respectively. (This is an approximate rule.)
The rescue operation starts with the local residents, immediately after the earthquake / disaster. It is usually supported by the trained and skilled staffs from the (Urban) Search and Rescue (SAR) departments of the governments. These activities can be complemented by the non-government organizations (NGO).
International Relief Teams arrive in the later stage, usually after 24 hours, depending on the accessibility, and political relation with the country.
RESCUE PHASE Rescue phase usually lasts for the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster when the rate of survival of trapped victims is high. Rescue operations continue for much longer duration, however, after the first 2 to 3 day, the resources allocated for rescue are comparatively low since other priorities take over. Initially Rescue may be 'self-rescue' or the rescue by bystanders or witnesses.
RELIEF PHASE Relief phase followed immediately after the Rescue phase. During the relief phase, the focus is to provide basic necessities to victims of the earthquake and to restore social equilibrium. Detailed assessment of human and other losses is also usually carried out during the relief phase, which helps in optimal allocation of resources.
Relief phase may last between 1 to 3 months depending on the severity of the earthquake and the resources of the government. Community, supported by government is usually the central point. Added resources of the NGOs and the international organization substantiate this effort.
REHABILITATION / RECONSTRUCTION PHASE AIMS Rehabilitation/reconstruction phase aims to restore the communities to the pre-earthquake status. During this phase, the social and other infrastructure is restored and economy revitalised. The rehabilitation/reconstruction phase typically starts at the end of relief phase and may last for several years.
The short term plans of the recovery process are clearance of debris, building housing units, restoration of the lifelines and infrastructures, while the long-term objective is to build a safer and sustainable livelihood. Past experiences show that the efforts are sustainable only with community / government partnership, while NGOs and international organizations role is reduced after a certain period.
The Disaster Management Cycle: Therefore, disaster management can be divided in several phases, (depending on the perspective and definition of each phase).
