Disaster management is a complicated process that entails national, international as well as local organizations. Each of these shareholders has a unique role to play. Disasters are defined as severe activities that disrupt the general operation of the society. Disasters have an impact on economic, material and human aspects. They are usually beyond the ability of the community to deal with. There are several types of disasters including environmental emergencies, natural disasters, and pandemics. Therefore, disaster management is the ability of an organization to manage resources and its responsibilities to handle all humanitarian elements of emergencies including preparedness, response, and recovery in order to minimize the effects of the disasters. Coordinated efforts are required to respond to disasters (King, 2006).
There are a number of disaster management organizations across the united states that operate locally, nationally and internationally. Food and Agriculture Organization is a United Nations organization that gives yearly cautions on the coming food crisis. It also evaluates food issues across the world. International Organization for Migration assists in transporting refugees as well as people who are internally displaced and those who might need any national or international migration services. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs works together with the inter-agency standing committee that helps in combining all humanitarian providers nationally and internationally to make sure that a rational response to emergencies is offered (King, 2006).
Additionally, the organization makes sure that frameworks are put in place so that each provider can fully contribute to the general purpose. Finally, the organization advocates for the requirement and encourages preparedness and prevention aspects that can help promote the best solution. United Nations Development Program is an organization that helps countries faced with disasters to plan. It also assists with preparedness, prevention and mitigation measures.
The world Food Program is the major supplier of relief food assistance to countries experiencing disasters. World Health Organization is in charge of providing public health through the setting of the standards, monitoring the trends in health status and offering direction when it comes to emergency cases in health. The main role of the world health organization is preventing possible loss of life as well as the burden of disease and disability. The international federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the largest humanitarian organization in the world (Sariego, 2006). The organization consists of up to 186 member countries. The main aim of the organization is to enhance the lives of people at risk through mobilizing the power of humanity. The organization also directs and coordinates help of victims from any form of disasters as well as refugees and any emergence issues concerning health. Other organizations include MSF, rehabilitation international, health volunteers overseas, and CARE among many others.
The essential services such as healthcare, water, communications, and transportation can be interrupted by any disaster. Such interruptions can have serious effects on the health, economic and social aspects of communities and countries. Disasters are usually associated with long-term effects on people after the immediate effects have been mitigated. If relief services are poorly planned, they can as well have a negative impact on the victims of the disaster as well as the donors and relief agencies. Local, national and international organizations are all involved in responses to disasters (Sariego, 2006).
Disaster prevention
All the organizations apply the set up standard operating procedures in order to prevent possible occurrence of disasters. Such activities are created to offer permanent protection of communities from disasters. Not all disasters especially natural disasters can be prevented but the risks of losing lives and getting people injured can be mitigated with environmental planning programs, evacuation plans, and design standards. For example, about 168 countries have adopted the Hyogo Framework that helps in providing priorities of action, the guiding principles, and means in which disaster resilience for at-risk communities can be attained (Saluja, 2014).
Disaster preparedness
The activities are usually made to reduce the possible loss of life as well as damage to properties. For example, most of the disaster management organizations tend to remove people as well as properties from locations that are at risk and promoting effective and timely relief, rescue and rehabilitation activities. This is the key manner in which the impact of disasters can be reduced. All the organization tends to take crucial steps so as to achieve safety and security in the occurrence of disasters and calamities (Saluja, 2014).
Disaster relief
This activity usually involves coordination of efforts so as to reduce the impact of disasters and the long-term impacts. Many organizations tend to offer relief services such as relocation of the victims, provision of food and water, preventing disease and disability as well as rescue missions. Additionally, the organizations tend to repair crucial services such as transport and emergency health care in place faced with disasters (Saluja, 2014).
Disaster recovery
After all the emergency needs have been providing and the disaster is over, the victims and affected communities are usually still at risk. Therefore, the disaster management organizations usually engage in recovery activities such as the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures, rehabilitation, and healthcare facilities. Additionally, the organizations usually blend with other activities such as developing of practices and policies that can help avoid such occurrence in the future. Disaster management is mainly associated with sustainable development main in connection with people who are at risks such as children, elderly and the disabled. Therefore, every disaster management organization uses the available standard operating procedures to make sure that the above disaster mitigations have been attained (Saluja, 2014).
- King, D. (2006). Organisations in Disaster. Natural Hazards, 40(3), 657-665. doi:10.1007/s11069-006-9016-y
- Saluja, G. (2014). Chapter-01 Standard Operating Procedure for Preparing, Revising and Using Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Standard Operating Procedures and Regulatory Guidelines: Blood Banking, 1-7. doi:10.5005/jp/books/12340_1
- Sariego, J. (2006). CCATT: A Military Model for Civilian Disaster Management. Disaster Management & Response, 4(4), 114-117. doi:10.1016/j.dmr.2006.09.001
