ENGL 2311 - Community Emergency Plan for Grid Interruption

This essay explores the critical role of communication and coordination in disaster management, particularly in the context of grid interruptions. It emphasizes the need for robust and cost-effective communication systems, including backup power sources and alternative communication methods like radio waves and satellites, to ensure reliable communication during emergencies. The essay also examines the impact of community-level communication, neighborhood belonging, and risk perceptions on disaster preparedness, highlighting the importance of household-level and individual preparedness measures, such as communication, resource availability, and motivation. The analysis draws on research related to hurricane preparedness and emergency communication strategies, underscoring the significance of proactive planning and community engagement in mitigating the impact of disasters. Desklib provides students access to similar documents and past papers for academic assistance.

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Geography
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Keywords: Communication and Coordination, neighborhood belonging, power outage,
hurricanes, and communication strategies
Communication and coordination is very important when a disaster occur but sometimes
communication systems tend to malfunction. It is therefore important for respective institutions
to set up and checkup the state of communication systems before the occurrence of the disaster.
Coordination between various organizations is enhanced through proper communication,
therefore, it is necessary to employ several communication methods to avoid uncertainties which
may occur when one system fails in the facility.
Organizations that are responsible for disaster management should be equipped with
technological solutions for them to efficiently provide lifesaving responses and assistance when a
disaster occurs. Such organizations should also seek for solution that are cost-effective, industry
proven and robust. The systems in some cases be able to be operational with even limited
network connectivity. Some systems that may be considered in disaster management include
optimization of situational awareness by communicating about the disaster early enough.
Facilitating mobile support, web-based access across a range of devices and ensuring that people
and correspondents are connected in field and fixed locations. Additionally, they should ensure
system reliability and security for good response performance.
When natural disasters for example hurricanes occur, they interfere with various system such
as causing grid interruptions in several parts in the planet. When grid is interrupted where there
is no backup power source. This outage of power interferes with businesses, communication
systems, transport systems and loss of water pressure in an organization. In case of
communication systems, an organization should have substitute communication systems which
are enhanced by use of generators, batteries and solar panels. For higher level situations there

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real alternatives which include radio waves and satellites. These are rarely affected by disasters
that occur on earth’s surface therefore becoming the best in keeping communication lines
reliable at all times (David, 2018).
Incorporated linkage to community-level communication measures constituting local media,
interpersonal networks, and community organizations directly affects a possibility of
participating in activities concerning disaster preparedness and has indirect effect on activities
that occur during the disaster. Neighborhood belonging was established to increase the
possibility of taking preparedness actions during a disaster but not before the occurrence. Risk
perceptions also have an effect in disaster preparedness. Social risk perception increase a
possibility of taking preventive actions prior to a disaster, in the other hand, personal risk
perception has an effect on engagement in preventive steps during a disaster.
Disaster preparedness factors that were considered include household- level
preparedness and individual disaster preparedness. Household –level preparedness was done in
two levels, before and during the disaster. Before the disaster such activities were carried out:
Communicating about the disaster through phone calls, meeting in person, emailing and
researching about the disaster. During the disaster the following actions were undertaken, staying
with neighbors, frequent communication to reduce the extent of uncertainty about personal safety
and that of colleagues. For individual disaster preparedness, it was evaluated that there are three
main conditions related to disaster preparedness: possession of knowledge about natural disasters
which is acquired through education and experience .Secondly an individual should be sorted
with basic resources, financial, social, administrative, technological and informative so as to
undertake disaster preparedness. An individual must also be motivated to take action concerning
disaster related resources and knowledge (Kim & Kang, 2010).

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References
David, D. (2018). Emergency Communications:Nationwide Blackout,EMP or Solar Flare. Retrieved from
Secrets of Survival: https://www.secretsofsurvival.com/survival-tips/Emergency-
Communications-Nationwide-Blackout.html
Kim, Y., & Kang, J. (2010). Communication,neighbourhood belonging and household hurricane
preparedness. PubMed, 34 (2), 470-488.