NU450: Public Health Nursing – Population-Centered Health Care in the Community

FEMA Phases of Disaster Management

Strategies (Two per phase)

Rationale

Preparedness is the most important step in a community disaster management plan. In order to prepare for a disaster, authorities put in place measures and resources to mitigate disasters and catastrophes. One of the measures taken during this phase is identifying hazards and developing measures to aid in response and recovery efforts (Canton, 2019). Good disaster preparation has to include an active and ongoing identification of hazards, and mapping of risks. The authorities should frequently review these risks and update the register where new hazards emerge to facilitate adequate preparation (Ryan & Islam, 2016). In addition, this stage also include ascertaining the availability of facilities, and resources that may be mobilized in the event of a disaster. Such plans are likely to be more effective when made in coordination with all the agencies concerned (Ryan & Islam, 2016). This strategy also includes an audit of the resources and capabilities available (Canton, 2019). Therefore, they are critical in ensuring that communities are well prepared to respond to disasters.

The preparedness phase should also include a scope of practice for public health nurses (PHNs). They are particularly useful in disaster preparedness activities since they possess knowledge and experience (Institute of Medicine, 2015). The practitioners contribute in this regard through various activities, such as hazard mitigation as well as deterring, and eliminating threats; this makes them valuable assets in disaster preparation. They can thus be involved in performing hazard vulnerability and risk assessment, surveillance, and mass immunization (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Therefore, PHNs can play a leading role in disaster preparedness.

The first step in disaster management is preparedness. It is only logical to perform a hazard and risk assessment as it helps to properly prepare for them in advance. The risk factors keep on evolving each time; hence, the need to make the evaluation a continuous exercise that allows for the inclusion of emerging risks (Canton, 2019).

The definition of scope of PHNs is important in the preparation for disasters. The inclusion of PHNs at this stage is crucial since they possess critical knowledge on aspects, such as disease pathophysiology and epidemiology, and areas that are key in preparing for a disaster (Institute of Medicine, 2015). According to Bonito & Minami (2017), PHNs are also skilled in community assessment, which is imperative in the preparation and protection phase of the disaster preparedness. Therefore, the implementation of the two strategies is important to ensure adequate disaster preparedness.

When disaster strikes, it is important to develop a response to enable return to normalcy. A calamity affects normal life and disrupts the existing order (Canton, 2019). The response effort aims at helping those affected, and implementing temporary measures to allow for continuity. Therefore, activities during this phase include search and rescue, protection of people’s lives and their valuables, establishment of temporary shelters, and controlling hazardous materials.

One of the most important strategies during a response is to mobilize an emergency response teams. First, medical team need to be in place to offer assistance (Ryan & Islam, 2016). There might also be a need for teams to ensure continuous access to the disaster site in the event of washed off roads. In some cases, the emergency response teams might need experts to deal with leakages of hazardous material. In the event of a disease outbreak, authorities may need to quickly mobilize epidemiologists and public health experts to help with the response.

The second strategy during the response phase is ensuring the availability of supplies and first aid kits (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Time is of the essence when responding to a disaster, and that makes it important to ensure the flow of supplies to the places of need, and in the aftermath of a disaster. Emergency response teams have to be ready to provide first aid to those who may be injured before they can receive further medical attention (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Ultimately, the strategies during this phase must aim at helping those affected by the disaster.

Despite of the levels of preparedness put in place, disasters still happen. Thus, the authorities have to do everything possible to respond and get those affected through the difficult period. Mobilizing emergency response teams is important as they try to restore normalcy (Canton, 2019). Furthermore, having the proper supplies needed and first aid kits make it possible to reach the affected, and to provide them with immediate relief before the implementation of additional measures.

The recovery phase takes place after the response and lasts much longer. Its aim is to return the people to pre-disaster levels. One of the strategies during this phase is having resources for care and shelter (Information Resources, Management Association, 2018). It is important to ensure that those affected, and who may have lost their homes have safe shelter and receive the care that they need (Information Resources, Management Association, 2018). Notably, disasters may take a toll on the physical and mental health of people. One of the recovery strategies is defining the role of PHNs in such an instance (Institute of Medicine, 2015). They can perform community assessment, offer psychological support, and act as community advocates.

The recovery phase attempts to ensure that things are restored. The safety of the community is a priority in such a case, as people and strategies must be aligned towards that purpose. Hence, providing care and shelter helps to take care of people’s welfare and ensure a restoration of their quality of life (Information Resources, Management Association, 2018). At the same time, it is critical to take care of people’s health as they recover from the disaster; hence, the reason for the involvement of public health nurses at this point (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Therefore, recovery efforts must focus on helping communities rebuild after a disaster.

After recovering from a disaster, the next step is to put in place mitigation plans. The purpose of activities during this phase is to prevent and reduce the causes and impacts of disaster (FEMA, 2020). One strategy during this phase is implementing preemptive strategies to enable a quicker recovery for the community. In this case, they aim to carry out measures that would make it possible to recover faster from future disasters (Canton, 2019). Having learnt from an actual tragedy, the authorities should be aware of what helped communities to recover and the steps that they can take in the future to ensure that things go back to normal as soon as possible, in the event of a repeat occurrence (Ryan & Islam, 2016).

As authorities make efforts to enhance public safety, they should work on making policy and structural changes to prevent the occurrence of a disaster or to minimize its impact if it occurs. For example, this can involve the construction of dykes and levees to prevent flooding. Public health authorities can put in place better disease surveillance measures to ensure better detection and control of outbreaks (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Ultimately, mitigation can help communities to deal better with disasters in the future.

When dealing with the aftermath of a disaster, the authorities must draw on lessons that they will use to inform their future disaster management plans. One way of preparing for the future is to create strategies that may be used in the future at the moment (Canton, 2019). That allows for the authorities to test and ascertain the methods that work, and those that do not. In addition, the lessons from a disaster should prompt the authorities to make changes to enhance their capacity to deal with any future eventualities (Information Resources, Management Association, 2018). Such measures are enacted to ensure the long-term safety of the public. For example, those in charge of public health may enhance disease surveillance as a way of reducing the threat and impact of future disasters (Institute of Medicine, 2015). Therefore, the measures taken are aimed at reinforcing the capacity of communities so that they deal with future disasters better.