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| Registered Nurse Response Network nurses headed for the Philippines International Airport.
(NNU / Flickr / Creative Commons) |
Recently, there were 16 tornadoes (Chicago tribune, 2013) that hit the Midwest, taking eight lives and destroying land in 10 states (Walsh, 2013). In relation to the size and force of the tornado, the death toll in Washington, Illinois was relatively small (Goudie, 2013). This can be credited partly to the town’s siren system. The siren system warned the Washington community that a tornado was on its way. According to the chief of police in Washington, it was because the siren system was heard by most of the community members, that many people were able to survive. Tulang Diyot is an island in the same region as the Philippines. It was also destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan last week. Tulang Duyot used early evacuation as a means to save as many lives as possible. The island evacuation saved potentially 1,000 people, even though all houses on the island were destroyed (McElroy, 2013). But importantly, not one person lost their life during one of the deadliest typhoons on record (McElroy, 2013). This is an example of how years of planning and preparation before a natural disaster occurs can prevent an avoidable and massive loss of life. Tulang Diyot’s simple, but effective evacuation plan shows how communities can prepare for natural disasters, but there have been, unfortunately, many more times in which communities were unable to escape from a natural disaster.
One of the most vulnerable times for a community is directly after a natural disaster is over. Many lives are lost after a disaster. This is also preventable when community members prepare prior to disasters. Necessities can be stored away in case of an emergency, and these resources may be the difference between life and death for people after a disaster. Elaine Alanguilan (2013) constructed a list of items that should be stocked to survive the time after a natural disaster. Her list includes water, food that does not need cooking, a first aid kit, a transistor radio, and flashlights with extra batteries. These items can help keep communities alive for days, and up to weeks, until help has arrived, as was the case with Hurricane Katrina.
Increased attention must be brought to prevention strategies, to preemptively minimize damage and loss of life. Only a few preparation methods have been discussed here; there are many more tactics individuals and communities can implement now, in order to be prepared for the unforeseeable future. In the future, the US can model after the more advanced European weather warning systems (Miller, 2013), in order to improve its disaster preparedness. This will also help communities protect themselves from natural disasters.
Great post, JT. I agree with you that better warning systems are needed across the country. But that phrase is so easy to say, and so hard to accomplish. You note sirens in your post, which is a great way to start, but what other measures would actually work? A better, more cohesive evacuation plan? Better meteorologists (haha)? I'm not certain what other ways we can assist. Further, better warning systems will help save lives, but a natural disaster will still cause destruction no matter the warning systems. Sometimes helpless is the only way we can feel when it comes to natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteI have to very strongly disagree with you, Luke. Yes, the route a tornado takes, the location lightening will strike, and the strength of an earthquake are all entirely out of our control. However, there many steps communities, health care providers, and families can take to protect individuals before or during a disaster and to respond after one takes place.
DeleteWhile I was in the Peace Corps, I worked closely with two of my fellow volunteers who were completing their MS degrees in Natural Hazard Mitigation. One was specifically studying volcanology and the other landslides. In Guatemala, no regulations are in place to prevent farmers from "slash and burn" farming, where entire faces of mountains are cleared of trees (by slashing and then burning) in order to make room for growing maize or other crops. With no tree roots left to hold topsoil in place, this results in massive mudslides during the six-month rainy season. Often times, these mudslides destroy infrastructure like highways and bridges, but occasionally, they take out entire villages. These "natural" disasters are caused by human manipulation of the environment and can be prevented through culturally appropriate education about sustainable agriculture practices, prevention of deforestation, and reforestation of land.
While earthquakes cannot be prevented, volcanic eruptions can be predicted by seismic activity. Having the nation-wide infrastructure in place and highly qualified individuals trained to monitor seismic activity at the bases of the active volcanoes in Guatemala has allowed the government to evacuate communities when needed. After centuries of losing entire communities to lahars and other volcanic activity, the government is not shy about ordering those evacuations. On the local level, cell phone towers in rural areas have ensured that everyone will have access to evacuation orders instantaneously.
In the case of both mudslides and volcanic eruptions, families can be protected by ensuring more stable construction of homes (using iron rebar and concrete to build homes, rather than traditional adobe or wood and aluminum) and working with community leaders to develop coordinated evacuation plans in the event of a disaster. Nurses in these communities are very involved in educating families and school children on disaster preparedness, including when and how they should evacuate, how to best protect themselves during a disaster (we've all done the kneeling-with-a-book-over-your-neck move), and how to seek help after a disaster. Community health centers are also prepared (as much as they can be with limited resources) to respond to disasters.
Many Guatemalans I know definitely used to feel helpless. And, in a very fatalistic culture, it's easy to say "si Dios quiere" or "if it's what God wants" in the face of natural disasters. But, after generations and generations of losing family and friends because they didn't evacuate or their homes were made of adobe or the health center had no supplies, it's becoming more apparent that succumbing to that feeling of "helplessness" isn't working.
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DeleteJustin,
ReplyDeleteI think that natural disaster preparation is a great idea. I agree with Luke that regardless of preparation, natural disasters will continue to cause destruction. However, I believe that the goal here is to save as many lives as possible. Materialistic items are replaceable. Also, it can be difficult to prepare for natural disasters, because every different form requires different measures for preparation. For example, when preparing for a tornado, you would probably designate a basement as the location for shelter. On the other hand, the basement is the last place you would want to be in the event of an earthquake. Great post, Justin!
Great post and very relative! Natural disasters and even terrorist attacks are devastating and costly. I took a terrorism and disaster policy course my senior year of college and it is shocking how unprepared the US is for disasters. One of the reasons that many cities are unprepared is budget. If funds are limited, it will be used for more immediate concerns such as road repair. It is hard to put time and money into something that may or may not happen. However, when disasters occur without warning, it is hard to scramble the resources in time of need. It would be beneficial to have a designated group of individuals at a university, or in a city, whom develop plans for disasters and conduct "disaster drills" for practice.
ReplyDeleteThis post makes me think of the Typhoon Haiyan that very recently struck in the Philippines. Although the natural disaster has already happened, steps related to population health are being take to prevent further damage to the population. In particular, there is a movement to immunize all children under five against polio and measles in Tacloban City. Displacement centers are overcrowded and this is is the perfect environment for these diseases to cultivate and spread. Immunizations, a population health measure, will help prevent the spread of disease brought on by natural disaster (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25092026).
ReplyDeleteThis post seems to be presenting many different good ideas in relation to natural disaster. One thought that stuck out to me was the idea of preparation. I think it is very powerful to think about what impact we could have if we were better prepared for natural disaster so that we did not have to resort to saving lives after the disaster hits. I know that in elementary through high school education across the nation there are various seminars presented to prepare students to certain emergencies. Although these are often times region specific (i.e. tornado preparedness happens in regions with flatter land), I wonder what kind of changes we could make in even educating our youth in natural disaster preparedness. This may even set up better responses post-disaster if kids from a young age are educated on what actions are necessary after disasters.
ReplyDeleteGreat thoughts, Justin! It's refreshing to hear a discussion about natural disasters from a preventative approach. While we have no control over the occurrence of natural disasters, I agree with Ashleigh that this shouldn't automatically assume a stance of "helplessness". A key component to disaster preparedness is having the necessary resources and equipment in place beforehand. However, I would argue that educating the community and learning from previous natural disasters are just as important. The example Ashleigh provided related to her experiences in Guatemala is a perfect example of learning from past disasters, identifying ways to improve/prepare for the next time, and educating the community on short and long-term preparedness measures. It's difficult to predict the likelihood of natural disasters, which is why they must be approached preventatively with an expectant attitude.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Justin. I know that I am personally unprepared for a disaster. I like the comment about how Tulang Duyot prevented the loss of lives by evacuating the entire Island. However, I am not sure such an action would work in the United States due to the size difference and culture differences. I also think some Americans would choose not to evacuate, simply because they are told that they "have to." I also like Ashleigh's input regarding her experiences in Guatemala.
ReplyDeleteJustin, this is an excellent post. I touched on the fact that nurses need more training in disaster preparedness, but you brought up excellent points about first aids kits, communication, and food. Although it may seem wasteful, having these items ahead of time in a particular area that is known for hurricanes, typhoons, or any other natural disaster might be a good idea as well. In addition, it's important to note that the amount of technology that is present in these particular areas plays a role in their response to the disaster. For instance, the United States has a significantly high level of technology whereas another country may not. It is important for everyone to contribute and offer any assistance, aid, or technology that could potentially help those affected by natural disasters.
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