Phases of emergency or disaster

Now that we have re-established a working understanding of the terms emergency and disaster, let us now look at what is meant by the term phases of an emergency or disaster event and the terminology used to describe them.


Activity 1.1

 

Click on the image to the left to listen to the sound file. Firstly ensure your speakers are on or headphones are attached and your volume is adjusted correctly.

Listen to the audio file and consider my comments related to each of the phases of an emergency event and consider the issues/comments provided. Then jot down your answers or thoughts on these comments.

In your own words, what do you think is meant by these terms and describe what activities might be involved in each of these phases of an emergency and/or disaster.

Once you have completed this activity check our definitions for these phases. These follow after this activity. See how they compare with yours.

Here is a text version of the main points of my commentary from the sound file.

Pre-impact
What happens in this pre-impact phase OR what should or should have happened in the pre-impact phase? Drawing on your knowledge of the Prevention and Preparedness aspects of emergency management, consider the various arrangements, activities and strategies that should be addressed in the period of time before an emergency event occurs. Provide a detailed list. Click on the Suggested List of Pre-Impact Phase actions link below. In that document make a list of those activities and actions etc. that you consider relate to the pre-impact phase and when you have completed your list save the document to your learning portfolio.

Suggested list of pre-impact actions

Impact
Is this the duration of the event? What is the duration of the event? How long does the impact phase last? Drawing on your knowledge of the Preparedness and Response aspects of emergency management, what type of arrangements, activities and strategies are undertaken or might be expected to be undertaken during the Impact phase management of an emergency event. What if the event lasts a number of days, weeks or maybe even months? Is there a transitionary period between Impact and Post-Impact? Can delineate clearly between Impact and Post-Impact and the various activities required within each? Once again, try to think of as much as you can regarding this phase. Click on the Suggested List of Impact Phase actions link below. In that document make a list of those activities and actions etc. that you consider relate to the impact phase and when you have completed your list save the document to your learning portfolio.

Suggested list of impact actions

Post impact
My comments in the Impact phase above lead into this phase. When does the Post-Impact phase begin? Is this just the time to patch people and things up or is it more? How long will the Post-Impact phase last? Again, drawing on your knowledge of the Response and Recovery aspects of emergency management, consider the various arrangements, activities and strategies that should be addressed in the Post-Impact phase management of an emergency event. Click on the Suggested List of Post-Impact Phase actions link below. In that document make a list of those activities and actions etc. that you consider relate to the post-impact phase and when you have completed your list save the document to your learning portfolio.

Suggested list of post impact actions

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Definitions of three phases of emergency operations management

Pre-impact

is that period of time before the onset of the event, whereby mitigating (preventative) measures may have been taken, warning systems developed and/or activated, legislation enacted which envisaged this type of emergency/disaster, plans were developed and implemented, and people were trained to fulfil their duties.

Impact

is that period of time when the onset of the event actually occurs and response strategies are activated to deal with the immediate demands of the emergency/disaster. This period may last for a short period of hours or may last several days or perhaps weeks depending on the magnitude of the event.

Post impact

is that period of time following the onset of the event where immediate demands such as search and rescue, medical care and survival are met. Actions are taken to facilitate the restoration and recovery of the affected community, and inquiries begin. This period of time may commence virtually upon the onset of the event.

How did your interpretation of what is meant by the phases of an emergency/disaster compare to the ones provided? Do not get too concerned if they vary slightly; by the end of this topic you should be thinking along the same lines.

The definitions in a way set the parameters for the analysis of the phases of your selected emergency event.

Now that you have developed a working definitions of what is meant by the terms pre-impact, impact and post impact and established a sequence of where they fit in an emergency/disaster event, we will now consolidate these and apply what we have just learnt to a case study provided on a actual disaster event.

 

 

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