Several environmental factors can place my community in Texas at risk include ice storms, rain floods, windy storms. The current pandemic has also put my community in need of supplies and medical care due to quarantine. At the same time, power outages have resulted from ice storms and tree falls. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there are four stages of risk management: mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2020).
The mitigation strategies are laid down before the beginning and at the end of the disaster to lower the potential disaster’s damage. Several primary interventions include sourcing backup generators for homes with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes with patients supported by oxygen or life support machines (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2020). Similarly, those families in areas susceptible to flooding can obtain insurance for their homes as a mitigation strategy. In terms of preparedness, people receive enough food, water, toiletries and store them where they can easily be picked. The residents should also have an existing plan for evacuation that is briefed to all the family members if the disaster occurs in darkness. At the same time, having an emergency center for medical services is critical to attend to people who may be injured due to the disaster. The police should also be involved to ensure that the population’s health needs are met, and everyone is safe.
This stage is followed by the secondary response strategies, which involve implementing the laid actions to prevent or control the damage resulting from the disaster. This action stage forms part of the emergency, such as obtaining shelter for those displaced (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2020). During the past ice storms, vulnerable populations such as immigrants and the homeless were mostly affected. Similarly, during the COVID -19 pandemic, the response would be quarantining and isolation of those who have tested positive and sanitizing, wearing masks, and keeping social distance.
Similarly, tertiary prevention is at the recovery stage. This is an action plan to return everything to normalcy (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2020). For instance, after the ice storms, the first step was restoring the community’s electricity lines and supply. Simultaneously, during the pandemic, essential services were allowed to operate within a specific period with a reduced number of people per space. This was done to ensure that people access essential services such as healthcare and food with reduced risk. Similarly, organizations and voluntary groups can be used to clean up the rubble and connect the displaced persons with their families. Families in shelters can also be given financial assistance to repair their homes and make them safe for inhabitation.
References
DeMarco, R. F., & Healey-Walsh, J. (2020). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Mushkatel, A. H., & Weschler, L. F. (1985). Emergency Management and the
Intergovernmental System. Public Administration Review, 45(Special), 49–56.
Hello Brenda Palmer,
I have enjoyed reading your post. I agree with you that severe weather is a common disaster in our communities. Winter storms and tornados are common emergencies that are attributed to environmental factors. You have discussed the primary prevention measures that include identifying hazards and anchoring building downs to lower the chances of fatalities attributed to debris (Demarco & Healy-Walsh, 2020). I agree with you that secondary prevention strategies are employed to prevent injuries after the event has taken place, which could be through first aid volunteers and health care professionals. Similarly, the tertiary stage of prevention involves addressing service providers such as transport and restoring electricity lines. You have also mentioned the importance of evaluation to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improving the plan in the future (Demarco & Healy-Walsh, 2020).
References
DeMarco, R. F., & Healey-Walsh, J. (2020). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Hello James Tompkins,
Thank you for your post. I like the fact that Central Ohio is relatively safe except for some floods, tornadoes, and blizzards. You have mentioned that primary interventions would involve preparation for a disaster by identifying potential hazards and evaluating possible damages (Nikam,2008). I agree with you that the secondary stage is a response to the disaster through providing emergency care, supplies such as food, water, and sanitation. I like that you have expounded about the recovery stage where a disaster has been managed, and situations are returning to normal, as explained by DeMarco & Healey-Walsh (2020).
References
DeMarco, R. F., & Healey-Walsh, J. (2020). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Nikam, S. P. (2018). Fundamentals of Disaster Management. Scholars World.
