2. Levels of disaster
Level III disaster:
considered a minor disaster. These are
involves minimal level of damage.
Level II disaster:
considered a moderate disaster. The local
and community resources has to be
mobilized to manage this situation.
Level I disaster:
considered a massive disaster- this
involves a massive level of damage with
severe impact.
2
3. Characteristics of a disaster
1. Cause, natural or man-made.
2. Causality Is a human being who is injured
or killed by or as a direct result of an
accident.
a. Multiple causality incident the no. of
causalities more than 2 and less than hundred.
b. Mass causality a number of victims that is
greater than that which can be managed safely
with the resources the community has to offer
incident involving 100 or more and
overwhelms the resources of large cities.
3
4. Characteristics of a disaster
3. Time, speed, and duration.
4. Scope: range of its effect, geography or
no. of victims.
5. Intensity: the level of destruction and
damage.
6. Predictability
7. Frequency
8. Controllability/Mitigation
9. Community Implications
4
5. Victims of disaster
Victims are characterized by the level of
involvement.
1. Direct victims: are people experiencing the
event, dead, survivors even with no physical
injury, they are likely to have health effect
from the experience. ( some have no shelter
or food).
Displaced persons are forced to leave their
home to escape the effect of the disaster.
Refugee are people who are forced to leave
their homeland because of war or persecution
2. Indirect victims : are the relatives and friends
of direct victims.
5
6. Factors contributing to disaster
To understand the factors, apply host, agent,
and environment model because it is useful in
planning strategies to prevent or prepare for
disaster.
1. Host Factors: host is the person who
experiences the disaster. The host factors
includes; age, general health, mobility,
psychological factors and socioeconomic ones.
2. Agent Factors: agent is the natural or
technological element that causes the disaster.
E.g. high wind of hurricane, radiation and industrial
chemicals.
6
7. Factors contributing to disaster
3. Environmental Factors: are factors that
potentially contribute to or mitigate a
disaster.
Most common factors includes:
1. community’s level of preparedness.
2. Presence of industries
3. Rivers, lakes, streams, rain and snow flow
4. High and low temperatures
5. Presence or absence of political unrest.
7
8. The Phases of Disaster
Prevention or (prei-mpact)
Preparedness (Impact)
Response (Post impact)
Recovery (rehabilitation)
8
10. Nurses role
Nursing can contribute to prevention,
mitigation, preparedness, response, and
recovery.
Nurses work systematically by gathering
data, planning according to priorities to
target all who might benefit, working
skillfully to promote health of the
community, and evaluating the outcomes.
11. DISASTER PREVENTION OR MITIGATION
Disaster mitigation refers to actions or
measures that can either prevent the
occurrence of a disaster or reduce the
severity of its effects. (American Red
Cross).
Mitigation activities include awareness and
education and disaster prevention
measures
Examples
◦ Immunization programs
◦ Public education
11
12. Pre-impact
Pre-impact
◦ Occurs prior to the onset of the disaster
◦ Include the period of threat and warning
◦ May not occur in all disasters.
12
13. PREPAREDNESS impact
Activities that are taken to build capacity and
identify resources that may be used to handle
a disaster when it strikes at local, regional and
national levels (community, personal, and
professional preparedness). E.g.
◦ Know evacuation shelters
◦ Emergency communication plan
◦ Preventive measures to prevent spread of disease
◦ Public Education
◦ Period of time when disaster occurs continuing to
immediately following disasters
◦ Inventory and rescue period
◦ Assessment of extent of losses and
◦ Identification of remaining sources
◦ Planning for use of recourses and rescue of victims
and minimize further injuries and property damage
13
14. Preparedness
Non-health care community
◦Fire fighters
◦Municipal or government officials
◦Media
◦Medical examiners
◦Medical supply manufactures
◦Police
14
15. Preparedness
Key organizations and professionals in
disaster management
Health care community
◦ Hospitals
◦ Health professionals
◦ Pharmacies
◦ Public health departments
◦ Rescue personnel
15
16. Preparedness
Community preparedness
The level of community preparedness for
a disaster is only as high as the people
and organization in the community make
it.
Community must have adequate warning
system and a back up evaluation plan to
remove people from the area of danger
16
17. Response
The level of disaster varies and the
management plans mainly based on the
severity or extent of the disaster.
Activities a hospital, healthcare system, or
public health agency take immediately,
during, a disaster or emergency occurs
17
18. Recovery
During this phase actions are taken to
repair, rebuilt, or reallocate damaged
homes and businesses and restore health
and economic vitality to the community.
Psychological recovery must be addressed.
Both victims and relief workers should be
offered mental health activities and
services.
◦ Debris Removal
◦ Care and Shelter
◦ Damage Assessments
◦ Funding Assistance
18
19. Components of disaster debris
Building Debris
Household Debris
Vegetative Debris
Problem Waste Streams
19
20. Myths associated with disasters
Any kind of assistance needed in disasters
A response not based on impartial evaluation contributes to
chaos
Epidemics and plagues are inevitable after every disaster
Epidemics rarely ever occur after a disaster
Dead bodies will not lead to catastrophic outbreaks of exotic
disease
Proper resumption of public health services will ensure the
public’s safety (sanitation, waste disposal, water quality, and
food safety)
Disasters bring out the worst in human behavior
The majority responses spontaneous and generous
The community is too shocked and helpless
Cross-cultural dedication to common good is most common
response to natural disasters.
20
