Assessing Disaster Preparedness Research Articles

Assessing disaster preparedness of emergency nurses in Saudi Arabia: A study on educational needs

This study aimed to evaluate how well emergency nurses (ENs) at a leading hospital in Saudi Arabia are prepared for disasters by conducting an assessment of their educational needs. The research explains the importance of this assessment for the nurses, discusses the expected outcomes based on existing literature, and describes the process of collecting data from 29 ENs using a specific questionnaire. The study used statistical methods to analyze the data and found significant gaps in the nurses' knowledge and training for disaster preparedness. The results of the assessment can help educators understand the learning needs of the nurses and suggest ways to improve their training. The study proposes a 30-hour training course based on the assessment findings and recommends revising the current methods of instruction for nurses to better prepare them for disasters.

Disaster Preparedness amongst Schools Teachers: A Holistic Approach towards Development of a Research Tool

The Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) is a complete strategy for creating safe learning environments for administrators, teachers, students, and school staff. The CSS framework has three pillars: safe learning facilities, school disaster management, and risk reduction and resilience education. This study was conducted to develop a research tool to assess disaster preparedness among school teachers using the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF). A questionnaire was developed by the researcher, which had 27 items. There were 320 school teachers selected from 64 schools. On the basis of factor analysis, there were seven factors found for the disaster preparedness of school teachers: online learning and emergency preparedness, local risk awareness, physical safety and infrastructure, organization disaster management, online teaching readiness, active learning and disaster training, general awareness, and immediate response. The tool developed by the research was named disaster preparedness and risk reduction (DPRR). This tool is validated and reliable on the basis of factor analysis for the assessment of disaster preparedness amongst school teachers.

Risk Mapping of COVID-19 to Create a Common Operating Picture Using Data from Wastewater Monitoring

Monitoring wastewater quality at the inlet of a wastewater treatment plant provides an overview of the health of the community connected to the respective wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater monitoring has been increasingly recognized as a valid tool in pandemic risk management, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. However, the results of wastewater monitoring are not yet fully utilized in the decision-making process of public governance across most of the Asia-Pacific region. This study explored the potential of geographic information systems to map the results of wastewater monitoring and provide a common operating picture for swift and informed decision-making, especially in times of disasters. By creating an online dashboard tool, we found that an additional merit of mapping wastewater monitoring is that it allows overlaying various other information, such as evacuation shelters, onto the same map. As the service areas of wastewater treatment plants, or sewersheds, are not necessarily aligned with geopolitical boundaries, mapping provides opportunities for re-calculating wastewater monitoring results at the city or district levels. The potential for recalculation is also applicable to overlayed information, indicating that information from wastewater monitoring may be used to assess disaster preparedness or multi-hazard risks. The dashboard prototype was discussed with government officials and feedback was obtained. We aim to further develop the findings so that the information from wastewater monitoring can be shared on a platform, such as the shared information platform for disaster management, in the future for effective risk governance.

Disaster Preparedness in a Resettled Refugee Community: Qualitative Findings.

Under-resourced communities face disaster preparedness challenges. Research is limited for resettled refugee communities, which have unique preparedness needs. This study aims to assess disaster preparedness among the refugee community in Clarkston, GA. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were completed with community stakeholders. Convenience sampling using the snowball method was utilized until thematic saturation was reached. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted through an inductive, iterative approach by a multidisciplinary team using manual coding and MAXQDA. Three themes were identified: First, prioritization of routine daily needs took precedence for families over disaster preparedness. Second, communication impacts preparedness. Community members speak different languages and often do not have proficiency in English. Access to resources in native languages and creative communication tactics are important tools. Finally, the study revealed a unique interplay between government, community-based organizations, and the refugee community. A web of formal and informal responses is vital to helping this community in times of need. The refugee community in Clarkston, GA faces challenges, and disaster preparedness may not be top of mind for them. However, clear communication, disaster preparedness planning, and collaboration between government, community-based organizations, and the community are possible areas to focus on to bolster readiness.

The Level of Disaster Preparedness in Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya

Increase in disaster incidences have been witnessed in secondary schools in recent years, its frequency and impact hampering education process. For instance, besides loss of lives, and injuries, school properties have been damaged and closing and often with children having to leave school for long periods in recovery period. Continued occurrence and magnitude of disaster have prompted international organizations especially the United Nations agencies and other countries to come up with best practice models of institutions including training on disaster and disaster risk management. Despite the concerted efforts by the government of Kenya and other stakeholders in emphasizing preparedness, Kenya still experiences various disasters in schools. Majority of students in secondary schools are exposed to mishaps and accidents daily in schools. School authorities, parents and even students are jolted into actions only when a fatality or injury has occurred and this affects the response and mitigation level of these disasters and thus the need of the study. The general objective of the study is to assess disaster preparedness and safety standards in public secondary schools of Nairobi County, Kenya. The study sought to establish the level of disaster preparedness in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Target population of the study was 73 from which 13 schools were selected using random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions and observation checklist. From the findings, 10.16% (n=39) of the total population determining that schools conduct most frequent training, 13.02% (n=50) of the total population responded training programs are done frequently. 28.65 (n=110) of students indicated trainings on fire safety facilities are done less frequently. The findings revealed a lack of training and inadequate community awareness on disaster preparedness and safety standards. The study concluded that the schools were insufficiently prepared for disasters and most of the physical infrastructures were considered unsafe. The study recommended regular inspection of school infrastructure, safety training by qualified by qualified personnel and taking into consideration the ability and capacity of different schools when settings standards for disaster preparedness and safety.

Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET): Adaptation and psychometric evaluation for nurses in Germany.

Background: The Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET) with 47 items was developed to assess the disaster preparedness level among nurses in the USA. Aim: This study aimed (1) to adapt and validate the DPET for the nursing context in Germany and (2) to perform its psychometric evaluation. Methods: The DPET items were translated to German (DPET-GER). Adaptation was performed to identify irrelevant items and content validity was estimated using the scale-level content validity index (S-CVI) based on expert ratings. Psychometric evaluation was performed based on data from an online survey of 317 nurses. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and factor structure were assessed with an exploratory factor analysis. Results: Ten items were unanimously rated as irrelevant by four experts and removed. Based on ratings by further seven experts, the content validity of DPET-GER was low for all 37 items (S-CVI of 0.53) or moderate for 19 items rated as relevant (S-CVI of 0.74). The internal consistency of DPET-GER was high (Cronbach's alpha of 0.94) and 37 items were reduced to five factors that explain 55% of variance in all items. Conclusions: The DPET-GER has acceptable psychometric properties (internal consistency and factor structure). However, low content validity indicates that further adaptation of the DPET-GER is required before it could be used to assess disaster preparedness among nurses in Germany. More research is also needed to contextualize the construct of disaster preparedness.

PEMETAAN RISIKO MULTIBENCANA ALAM PADA INFRASTRUKTUR JALAN

Road infrastructure as a means of transportation has an important role in the economy of a region. The ability of road infrastructure to serve the community is not only needed under normal conditions but is also needed when a disaster occurs as part of disaster resilience. One of the approaches that can be used in assessing disaster preparedness is mapping disaster risk on the road sections under review. In this research, a case study of disaster risk mapping was carried out on the Pasauran-Sp. Labuan - Cibaliung and Citereup-Tanjung Lesung, Banten Province which is divided into 11 road sections. Disaster risk mapping on roads in Padegelang is very much needed with disaster-prone locations making it very prone to disasters, especially floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides. The aim of this study is to map disaster risk based on the value of the multi-disaster risk index (floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides) on the Pasauran-Sp. Labuan-Cibaliung and Citereup-Tanjung Lesung. Disaster risk mapping is carried out using the procedures of Director General of Highways Circular Letter no. 12/SE/Db/2014 concerning Guidelines for risk analysis of natural disasters affecting roads and bridges. With this disaster risk map, it is hoped that it will be useful for stakeholders to make decisions related to disaster mitigation on these roads. The results of the multi-disaster disaster risk index values obtained from this study in sections 9, 10 and 11 have a low risk level, in sections 1,3,5 and 6 have a medium risk level, and in sections 2,4,7 and 8 have a high level of risk

A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations.

Introduction:Hospitals around the world need to be safe and prepared to face disasters, being these man-made or caused by natural hazards. The Hospital Safety Index (HSI) is a tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that allows access to the level of preparedness of hospitals; it is the most widely used instrument of its kind. Although the HSI is frequently used by hospitals and healthcare facilities around the world, scientific literature on its application in real life is scarce and qualitative studies are absent. By adopting a qualitative methodology, this study aims to investigate the use of the HSI to assess disaster preparedness in hospitals and healthcare facilities, identify challenges and facilitators of the HSI use, and devise recommendations for future adaptations of the tool.Method:A retrospective qualitative study employing semi-structured online interviews was conducted to gather opinions and perspectives of professionals using the HSI to assess disaster preparedness. Participants were recruited by contacting via email the authors of scientific publications on the use of the HSI.Results:In total, nine people from three different countries (Serbia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia) and having different professional backgrounds agreed to participate in this study. They shared the reasons for their choice of using the HSI, against other tools, as well as the steps taken before and during data collection. Strengths and weaknesses of the HSI were identified and authors reported the challenges they encountered in the preparatory phase and during data collection. Modifications of the tool and recommendations for the future were proposed targeting both researchers and hospital managers.Conclusion:As far as the authors know, this is the first qualitative study examining the methodological implications of using the HSI and providing practical recommendations that can advance the HSI tool and foster its use for disaster preparedness assessments worldwide.

A Qualitative Study on the Use of the Hospital Safety Index and the Formulation of Recommendations for Future Adaptations

The Hospital Safety Index is a tool developed by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization in 2008 and updated in 2015. Although it is the most widely used instrument of its kind to assess the level of hospital preparedness, scientific literature on its application in real life is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the use of the Hospital Safety Index to assess disaster preparedness in healthcare facilities. A retrospective, qualitative study employing semi-structured online interviews was conducted to gather the opinions and perspectives of professionals who have experience in applying the Hospital Safety Index. Authors of scientific publications using the Hospital Safety Index were recruited. A semi-structured interview guide was developed. It addressed different phases of data collection with the Hospital Safety Index, the challenges and facilitators of using it, and recommendations for future adaptations. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Nine participants who were from three countries (Serbia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia) and had different professional backgrounds (medical doctors, engineers, spatial planners, etc.) participated in this study. A total of 5 themes and 15 subthemes emerged during data analysis. Most of the participants reported their reasons for choosing the Hospital Safety Index as being its comprehensiveness and the fact that it was issued by the World Health Organization. The tool appears to be very specific and allows investigators to spot details in hospitals; however, it is not easy to use, and training is highly encouraged to learn how to navigate the different components of the tool. Governmental support is a crucial facilitator for investigators to be able to enter hospitals and conduct their evaluations. Overall, the tool has a lot of potential, and it should be used to reach a broader audience, such as community members, and assess the preparedness of other facilities that can take part in the response to disasters (hotels, stadiums, schools, etc.). Nevertheless, it still needs more adaptations to be tailored to different contexts and settings.

Disaster preparedness level in hazard laden environment: A case study of tertiary institution students in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Objective: The aim was to assess disaster preparedness of tertiary institution students in Osogbo, Osun State.Materials and methods: A cross sectional study carried out among 360 tertiary institution students using a semi structured self-administered questionnaire.Results: Extreme heat, extreme cold and overcrowding are the hazards commonly exposed to by the students. While some respondents reported availability of safety equipment in their school, majority do not either have access to it or know how to operate these equipment. About two thirds (62.5%) are aware of disaster impact while only about one third (33.3%) are highly prepared for it. Bivariate analysis shows that religion (p=0.032), marital status (p=0.027) and family type (P=0.008) were significantly associated with their awareness level while only program of study (P=0.013) was significantly associated with preparedness level.Conclusion: Tertiary institution students in Osogbo are exposed to various hazards and majority are not well prepared for it.

Building Toward a Disaster Resilient Health System: A Study of Hospital Resilience.

This research evaluated the resilience of 6 tertiary and rural health facilities within a single Australian Health Service, using the World Health Organization (WHO) Hospital Safety Index (HSI). This adaptation of the HSI was compared with existing national accreditation and facility design Standards to assess disaster preparedness and identify opportunities for improvement. This cross-sectional descriptive study surveyed 6 hospitals that provide 24/7 emergency department and acute inpatient services. HSI assessments, comprising 151 previously validated criteria, were conducted by Health Service engineers and facility managers before being externally reviewed by independent disaster management professionals. All facilities were found to be highly disaster resilient, with each recording high HSI scores. Variances in structure, architectural safety, continuity of critical services supply, and emergency plans were consistently identified. Power and water supply vulnerabilities are common to previously reported vulnerabilities in health facilities of developing countries. Clinical, engineering, and disaster management professionals assessed 6 Australian hospitals using the WHO HSI with each facility scoring highly, genuine vulnerabilities and practical opportunities for improvement were identified. This application of the WHO HSI, intended for use primarily in developing countries and disaster-affected regions, complimented and extended the existing Australian national health service accreditation and facility design Standards. These results support the expansion of existing assessment tools used to assess Australian health facility disaster preparedness and resilience.

Using Experiential Learning to Affect Perceived Knowledge of Disaster Preparedness Among Hospital-Based Personnel.

Perceived knowledge deficits in disaster preparedness are widespread among hospital-based nurses and healthcare professionals. Experiential learning programs provide enhanced disaster preparedness familiarity among hospital-based healthcare staff. A disaster preparedness education class was offered at a midwestern suburban hospital to promote increased knowledge perception. The Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire was administered to assess disaster preparedness familiarity. The posttest scores after the experiential learning yielded statistically significant results ( t = 46.90, p < .001) for increased disaster preparedness familiarity.

Simulated Patient Environment: A Training Tool for Healthcare Professionals in COVID-19 Era.

BackgroundAn in-situ simulation model with a simulated patient environment is a training tool that was implemented for the front-line workers managing COVID-19 respiratory infection outbreak in a hospital of National Importance, situated in southern part of India. The objective of this training tool was to improve the preparedness of health care workers and the control measures to manage any respiratory infection outbreaks. Also, to provide good patient care and patient safety during the sudden outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen causing pandemic respiratory infection outbreak worldwide.MethodsSimulated patient environment is a kind of functional mock drill that was applied to assess and improve the readiness of the healthcare workers of the hospital to identify the patient at the screening area, guide the patient for investigation and inform the public health system during an outbreak of an infection. The faculty of the Department of Microbiology, Community and Family Medicine, and General Medicine were the educators and demonstrators. Fifty healthcare workers from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, such as doctors, epidemiologists, nurses, laboratory technicians, laboratory attendants, members of infection control team and biomedical waste management team participated in this program.ResultsStatistical analysis of the results with pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments and feedback from the participants was done at the end of the program. The difference between the mean of pre-intervention and post-intervention scores in doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals was statistically very highly significant (P-value <0.001).ConclusionThe training method was the simulation of management of pandemic respiratory infection outbreaks in the most realistic manner possible to test or evaluate the capability of more than one function in the context of an emergency event. An in-situ simulation is an effective method that is close to real-life scenario, to measure the readiness and effectiveness of an emergency response plan. Hence, it is a useful tool to assess disaster preparedness against any type of outbreak.

Hospitals Disaster Preparedness and Management in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional study.

The current study was conducted to assess disaster preparedness of hospitals in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. A descriptive cross-sectional study of all hospitals in the Eastern Region of KSA was conducted between July 2017 and July 2018. The included hospitals were selected using convenience sampling. The questionnaire was distributed together with an official letter providing information about the aim and objectives of the study as well as ethical issues guiding their participation in the exercise. All the included hospitals had a disaster plan that was completely accessible by all staff members. About 70% of the included hospitals established an educational program on disaster preparedness once per year. Assessment of hospital disaster preparedness was conducted using disaster drills in 62 (n= 98%) of the hospitals. However, only 9.5% of the hospitals had post-disaster recovery assistance programs like counseling and support services. Most hospitals involved in this study had sufficient resources for disaster management; however, the overall effectiveness of hospitals' disaster preparedness was slight to moderate. Some recommendations to improve hospitals' disaster preparedness should be proposed, including improved staff training and testing, better communications and safety procedures, and adoption of a holistic approach for disaster management.

Personal disaster preparedness of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Development and validation of a self-report questionnaire

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The current resources related to chronic disease and disaster preparedness focus on chronic disease in general and do not examine the unique needs and vulnerabilities of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to develop a disaster-preparedness questionnaire for people with COPD, and evaluate validity, reliability, readability and feasibility. METHODS: The questionnaire was validated by pulmonary and disaster experts using the Content Validity Index method. Readability was assessed by participants with COPD, using the think-aloud method and a grade level assessment. Test-retest reliability was assessed in participants with COPD and analyzed using Kappa and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted Kappa (PABAK) scores. Feasibility, general and COPD-specific disaster preparedness were assessed in a separate cohort of participants with COPD. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: Based on the validation and readability assessments, the final version of the questionnaire included 27-items (19 general and 8 COPD-specific questions). Readability was measured at a grade 9 level. Test-retest reliability was moderate-good (overall Kappa = 0.54, overall PABAK = 0.69). Twenty-eight people with COPD completed the final questionnaire (time to complete < 15 minutes). A total of 68% reported they had food and water for 3 days; however, only 36% met the criteria for general disaster preparedness and only 37% met the criteria for COPD-specific disaster preparedness. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire is valid and reliable and is suitable for use by researchers and health professionals to assess disaster preparedness in people with COPD.

Animal Disaster Training: Assessing Disaster Preparedness and Perceptions of Responders

Extension has an important role in addressing animal issues in communities. An evaluation of animal disaster preparedness and perceptions of participants in a large-animal emergency training course was conducted through precourse and postcourse surveys, and survey data from first responders were compared to those of other participants. Few participants had personal disaster plans that included animals. After taking the course, participants demonstrated greater appreciation for collaborating agencies and better recognition of the importance of animal handling, animal behavior, and animal first aid/triage. Overall, participants identified equipment safety and personal protective equipment as the most important topics for which training is needed. Implications for Extension disaster management education programs exist.

Disaster Preparedness in Selected Hospitals of Western Ethiopia and Risk Perceptions of Their Authorities.

PurposeDespite the fact that hospitals are always at a high risk of disasters, the preparedness status in many of the Ethiopian hospitals is not well recognized. It is with this research gap in mind that this study motivated the authors to assess disaster preparedness level in selected hospitals of the western part of Ethiopia and their authorities’ risk perceptions.MethodsThis was a facility-based study conducted by using mixed qualitative and quantitative research designs among selected hospitals of western Ethiopia. While disaster and emergency readiness was evaluated using a modified World Health Organization observation check list. The key informant interview method was used to assess the disaster risk perception of the hospitals’ authorities in the study area.ResultsThe overall level of emergency and disaster preparedness in the selected hospitals was weak with an average calculated preparedness score of 45.6%. The score of readiness in terms of disaster response and recovery planning was 33.3%. Moreover, we have not got a documented disaster plan in all of the hospitals and the hazard-specific response sub plans were also not consistently in place. Of prime concerns, this study has revealed that there was no patient evacuation plan in all of the selected hospitals. The human resource preparations of the hospitals were relatively better with an average readiness score of 60%. The study has found that no committee was responsible for emergency readiness at all of the sampled hospitals. The hospital authorities’ disaster risk perception was found to vary according to the type of calamities and this was from moderate to high level.ConclusionThis study concludes that although their authorities’ risk perception of disasters was high, the selected hospitals were ill-prepared for the potential disaster strikes in this study area.

Increasing Disaster Preparedness in Emergency Nurses: A Quality Improvement Initiative

IntroductionEmergency nurses are on the frontlines of disaster response. Current research reveals low to moderate levels of disaster preparedness in this population and suggests education as an effective means of increasing preparedness. The purpose of this study was to measure, explore, and increase the preparedness levels among emergency nurses at an acute care community hospital in Southern California. MethodsThis was a single group pre/posttest of an educational intervention. The adapted Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire was administered to all emergency nurses at the practice site to assess disaster preparedness levels before and after a 6-month education intervention. The intervention was novel because the education was delivered through existing communication channels of daily shift huddles, regular e-mails, designated whiteboard, and staff meeting presentations. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and paired t tests were used to analyze the data. ResultsModerate levels of disaster preparedness were reported. The number of years worked in the emergency department had the strongest correlation with perceived preparedness levels, followed by prior disaster education/training. A 16.9-point (23.5%) increase between the respondents’ mean pre- and post-Emergency Preparedness Information Questionnaire scores (t(33) = –10.27, P ≤ 0.001) was observed. DiscussionThese results suggest that a tailored ED-specific disaster preparedness curriculum, delivered through established clinical communication channels, can effectively increase preparedness levels among nurses with little additional cost. The integration of concise, relevant disaster information can be implemented in any department interested in developing a more confident and prepared workforce.

Assessing Disaster Preparedness and Educational Needs of Private Veterinary Practitioners in Mississippi.

The veterinary medical education system faces increasing challenges in educating students in the most current technologies while responding to changing community needs and expectations. Communities expect veterinarians to be involved in disaster management at some level. The purpose of this study was to describe the level of disaster preparedness and educational needs of veterinary practitioners in Mississippi. A survey was mailed to 706 practitioners to assess disaster plans, disaster training, and familiarity with disaster-related organizations. Forty-three percent of veterinarians had a clinic disaster plan. Veterinary practitioners who had experienced a disaster were more likely to have a personal plan (odds ratio [OR] = 4.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.47-8.37) and a clinic plan (OR = 4.11, 95% CI = 2.28-7.44) than those who had not. Veterinarians residing in Mississippi Gulf Coast counties were more likely to have a personal plan (OR = 3.62, 95% CI = 1.54-8.72) and a clinic plan (OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.35-7.21) than were those residing in other areas. Only 17% of veterinarians had assistance agreements with other practices, and few veterinarians indicated having disaster education materials available for their clients. Twenty percent of respondents indicated having obtained formal disaster training, and more than two-thirds of respondents were interested in receiving disaster training, mostly in the form of online delivery. Results suggest that private veterinary practitioners have the desire and need to obtain disaster education. Providing opportunities for both veterinarians and veterinary students to obtain education in disaster management will result in better overall community disaster preparedness.

Development and Initial Validation of a Stochastic Discrete Event Simulation to Assess Disaster Preparedness

Introduction:Assessing disaster preparedness in a given region is a complex problem. Current methods are often resource-intensive and may lack generalizability beyond a specific scenario. Computer-based stochastic simulations may be an additional method but would require systems that are valid, flexible, and easy to use. Emergo Train System (ETS) is an analog simulation system used for disaster preparedness assessments.Aim:To digitalize the ETS model and develop stochastic simulation software for improved disaster preparedness assessments.Methods:A simulation software was developed in C#. The simulation model was based on ETS. Preliminary verification and validation (V&amp;V) tests were performed, including unit and integration testing, trace validation, and a comparison to a prior analog ETS disaster preparedness assessment exercise.Results:The software contains medically validated patients from ETS and is capable of automatically running disaster scenarios with stochastic variations in the injury panorama, available resources, geographical location, and other variables. It consists of two main programs: an editor where scenarios can be constructed and a simulation system to evaluate the outcome. Initial V&amp;V testing showed that the software is reliable and internally consistent. The comparison to the analog exercise showed a general high agreement in terms of patient outcome. The analog exercise featured a train derailment with 397 injured, of which 45 patients suffered preventable death. In comparison, the computer simulation ran 100 iterations of the same scenario and indicated that a median of 41 patients (IQR 31 to 44) would suffer a preventable death.Discussion:Stochastic simulation methods can be a powerful complement to traditional capability assessments methods. The developed simulation software can be used for both assessing emergency preparedness with some validity and as a complement to analog capability assessment exercises, both as input and to validate results. Future work includes comparing the simulation to real disaster outcomes.