Disaster health management

Running Head: DISASTER HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Disaster health management
Name
Institution:

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Introduction
A disaster is any sudden occurrence of the events that cause damage, disruption of the
ecological system, loss of human life, health and health services deterioration and demands an
extraordinary attention from individuals who have not been affected. Natural calamities and
disasters are among the major challenges that are faced by many countries of the world today.
Some experience long periods of draught and famine, others tsunami and waves and others
flooding caused by heavy rainfall, earthquakes, cyclones, typhoons, tornadoes rock and snow
avalanches and wild fires Mochizuki and Komendantova (2017). This essay discusses how
Trinidad and Tobago responded to the heavy downpour of October 18-19.
Background and context
The torrential rainfall experienced by Trinidad and Tobago on the 18th and 19th day of
October brought about flooding. Over 100,000 people were misplaced from their homes. Some
sought refuge from collective centers due to the 48 hours heavy downpour according to Pei, Xia,
Yan, and Yang (2017). Many parts of the country were flooded. Landslides were common in
most prone areas and many of the roads were blocked. Gusty winds were also experienced
amidst the downpour. Reports of deaths and injuries were not received at any moment since the
government agencies were alert and issued alerts early in advance. The meteorological
department issued the red riverine flooding alert to warn people to take precautionary measures
to protect lives and property. Many people whose resident was near rivers were able to swiftly
respond since rivers were already spilling over and this type of flooding would last for longer
time (Terti, Ruin, Anquetin & Gourley, (2017).

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Rescue operations were spearheaded early in advance to ensure that people who have
been overcome by events are put in safe custody. These operations helped to ensure no loss of
lives is witnessed. Protective service and regional corporations worked diligently throughout the
period to respond to the disaster. According to Quarshie & Leuschner (2018), the disaster
preparedness office should be working to supply the necessary requirements to the people and to
the agencies that are carrying out the rescue task. Interventions and assistance were made
without major delays hence the ability to curb the situation. Motorists were urged not to drive in
flooding waters since they can be swept away. Since they are also not aware of the depths of the
flood waters use of motor vehicles was completely discouraged.
The effects of a disaster when it occurs are; many people lose their lives due to slow
response by government agencies. Properties are damaged therefore many of the people leave in
abject poverty (Andergassen & Sereno, 2016). Development projects are interfered with in an
adverse manner which leads to starting all over again when the disaster subsides. The state of
infrastructure and art is damaged to a greater extent major repairs or reconstruction has to be
done. The emergency system of a nation is influenced to a greater extent that pushes the nation
either to borrowing or selling of property in order to respond to the disaster and save the lives of
its citizens.
Significance of disaster health management
Disaster management is very much important since no country is immune from disasters.
Either natural or manmade disasters find their way to occur in any country. The only variance
between countries is the vulnerability to disasters. From the background information on how

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Trinidad and Tobago responded to the flood disaster, we learn the significance of disaster health
management (Behera & Hassan, 2017).
Mitigation is the process of making adequate interventions to reduce loss of human life
and damage of property. McNaughton, and Rao, (2017) give the aim of it as to try and lessen the
impact of the disaster by taking an action at that particular time. This helps to prevent financial
constraints in the future by safeguarding the properties which when attention is given then they
can comfortably survive the disaster to serve individuals later. Human life is also saved to ensure
the future generation has people to rely on and reduce the cries and scars caused by the disaster
on families. Andergassen and Sereno (2016) discuss how risks are analyzed to ensure families,
companies and individuals are educated on how to avoid unnecessary risks. The study denotes
that risks are also reduced and measures against risks are introduced to help people to sustain the
lowest level of risks. Coordination, planning and mock activities are essential for effective
mitigation to take be employed in any particular country.
Relief is provision of help to the persons affected by the disaster. Gearing (2018) explains
that relief should kick off immediately the disaster strikes. The injured are provided with
medication to ensure they sustain life. Emergency health care services are set strategically to
help individuals who might develop health complications as a result of fear or exposure to
adverse conditions (Perry, Noe, & Stewart, 2018). The misplaced are provided with shelter and
temporary accommodation as the rescue and reclamation process goes on. Food and clean
drinking water is also provided to all the people to curb starvation and thirst which might lead to
unnecessary demises. Interventions to attain warm and clean shelter are made to reduce the risks
of sicknesses that might result from dirty environment. Security is also provided to ensure no
individuals terrorize the vulnerable people and threaten or take their lives by taking advantage of