Community Emergency Preparedness Research Articles

Assessment of Urban Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Capacity Using Entropy Weight Method and Multilayer Fuzzy Comprehensive Model

Assessment of Urban Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Capacity Using Entropy Weight Method and Multilayer Fuzzy Comprehensive Model

Supporting the Emergency Management Pipeline: How Institutions of Higher Education can Increase the Emergency Management Career Goal for Students to Enhance Disaster Preparedness and Response Globally

Introduction:The local, national, and global disasters have increased the demand for Emergency Management professionals. Institutions of higher education can play a key role to support and respond to this demand. One institution of higher education responding to this demand is Anna Maria College (AMC). AMC is a four-year, independent, Catholic institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, which was formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Established in 1946 by the Sisters of Saint Anne, the College was founded to increase access to quality education, educational innovation, and respect for service to others through development of the total human being. AMC offers exceptional professional programs at all degree levels, especially in community-oriented professions, propelling students to lives of civic, spiritual, and personal consequence. Based on the number of public safety majors and their networks, an area of interest has become how the college could contribute and respond to the demand for emergency managers.Method:These search resources were used: Chronicle, HigherEd jobs, Indeed, GoogleScholar Emergency Management majors curriculum, with searches from 2012 onward. Keywords used included emergency management jobs, higher education emergency management curriculum, public safety and community networking, disaster, and emergency preparedness, and filling the emergency management pipeline.Results:Data collection and analysis planned for completion by February 2023.Conclusion:Higher education can support the pipeline to narrow the gap and respond to the demands for trained and educated community members in disaster and emergency preparedness. Higher education responses include strategies such as, creative emergency management curriculum and community networking.

Evaluation of Urban Community Emergency Preparedness Ability Based on Improved Catastrophe Progression Method

Evaluation of Urban Community Emergency Preparedness Ability Based on Improved Catastrophe Progression Method

Applied Learning on A Study Abroad: Teaching Community Emergency Preparedness in the Balkans

Natural disasters and human-made hazards in the Western Balkan region have led seven countries and territories to meet, discuss, and attempt “to create a sophisticated network of disaster experts and officials” (United Nations Development Programme, 2017). This is the fourth study abroad where students from Utah Valley University went to Kosovo and North Macedonia to study emergency response and teach community preparedness. In addition to earthquakes, fires, floods, and other disasters, the region has suffered through wars, forced-evacuations, economic and political instability and other human-caused tragedies. In 2015-2016, these countries were faced with a large migration of refugees from passed through to Western Europe. Most students on the study abroad were studying emergency response and community resilience. The Western Balkan region provided an ideal situation to learn about disasters and refugees. This study shows how applied learning approaches like a study abroad, community service, and teaching practicum can enhance student learning and prepare them for future careers.

Simulation Training for Community Emergency Preparedness.

Most infants and children who are ill and injured are cared for in community-based settings across the emergency continuum. These settings are often less prepared for pediatric patients than dedicated pediatric settings such as academic medical centers. Disparities in health outcomes exist and are associated with gaps in community emergency preparedness. Simulation is an effective technique to enhance emergency preparedness to ensure the highest quality of care is provided to all pediatric patients. In this article, we summarize the pediatric emergency care provided across the emergency continuum and outline the key features of simulation used to measure and improve pediatric preparedness in community settings. First, we discuss the use of simulation as a training tool and as an investigative methodology to enhance emergency preparedness across the continuum. Next, we present two examples of successful simulation-based programs that have led to improved emergency preparedness. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(1):e19-e24.].

Threshold rainfall ranges for landslide occurrence in Matara district of Sri Lanka and findings on community emergency preparedness

The objective of this research was to identify the effects of antecedent rainfall on the probability of landslide occurrence and to analyze the knowledge of the community on Emergency Preparedness.In this study, recent major landslides events were studied. The rainfall relevant to landslide locations was extracted using a GIS-based interpolation.From the daily rainfall of two days prior to landslide event (i.e. Day 3) till the daily rainfall of landslide day (Day 1), there was an identifiable pattern. There is more than 90% chance for a landslide to occur, when the rainfall of Day 1, or the day of the landslide event, is close to 300 mm or above with a rainfall of ~80 mm or above on the previous day (Day 2); i.e. There is more than 94% chance for a landslide to occur when the total rainfall received on Day 1 and Day 2 exceeds 375 mm. The majority of the events (>94%) had a daily rainfall of ~80 mm or above on Day 3. The cumulative rainfall of the landslide day up to three days prior to the landslide event shows a significant pattern (Day 1-Day 4). Overall, when there is a rainfall event of ~80 mm or over, people need to be warned/cautioned about a potential landslide within the next three days, if the rainfall continues to be high.Social survey shows that during 2017, people were more prepared compared to 2003, but still there are many steps to be taken in terms of preparedness.

Campus law enforcement: the relationship between emergency preparedness and community policing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between emergency preparedness and community policing within campus law enforcement agencies, as well as agency and campus characteristics that impact the level of emergency preparedness activities.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from the 2011–2012 Survey of Campus Law Enforcement Agencies, this study employs ordinary least squares regression modeling to examine emergency preparedness and community policing relationships within 298 campus law enforcement agencies.FindingsCommunity policing is the greatest predictor of emergency preparedness in campus law enforcement agencies. This finding refutes arguments that emergency preparedness and community policing are incompatible policing innovations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited by the use of secondary data. Future research should utilize survey measures to better isolate the roles and functions of community policing and emergency preparedness.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for campus law enforcement agencies to view emergency preparedness and community policing activities as interrelated. Specifically, agency administration can benefit by taking a holistic approach to campus policing and preparedness.Originality/valueThis paper extends the current research in municipal policing to the campus police environment. This paper also adds to the limited body of literature on the relationships between community policing and emergency preparedness.

A Program for Local Health Departments to Adapt and Implement Evidence-Based Emergency Preparedness Programs.

The goal of this project was to enhance the capacity of local health departments to translate and implement evidence-based programs in emergency preparedness by using the Getting To Outcomes approach. Our evaluation determined that local health department staff reported improved capacities. A "Getting To Outcomes Guide for Community Emergency Preparedness" guidebook was produced and is available online.

Lessons Learned From an Epidemiologist-Led Countywide Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) in Oregon.

Conducting a large-scale Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) in a geographically and linguistically diverse county presents significant methodological challenges that require advance planning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adapted methodology and provided a toolkit for a rapid needs assessment after a disaster. The assessment provides representative data of the sampling frame to help guide effective distribution of resources. This article describes methodological considerations and lessons learned from a CASPER exercise conducted by Washington County Public Health in June 2016 to assess community emergency preparedness. The CDC's CASPER toolkit provides detailed guidance for exercises in urban areas where city blocks are well defined with many single family homes. Converting the exercise to include rural areas with challenging geographical terrain, including accessing homes without public roads, required considerable adjustments in planning. Adequate preparations for vulnerable populations with English linguistic barriers required additional significant resources. Lessons learned are presented from the first countywide CASPER exercise in Oregon. Approximately 61% of interviews were completed, and 85% of volunteers reported they would participate in another CASPER exercise. Results from the emergency preparedness survey will be presented elsewhere. This experience indicates the most important considerations for conducting a CASPER exercise are oversampling clusters, overrecruiting volunteers, anticipating the actual cost of staff time, and ensuring timely language services are available during the event.

Community's Emergency Preparedness for Flood Hazards in Dire-dawa Town, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study.

Background:Emergency preparedness at all levels (individuals and communities) is the corner stone of effective response to the increasing trends of global disasters due to man-made and natural hazards. It is determined by different factors, including (among others) past direct and indirect exposures to hazards. This study was carried out in Dire Dawa town, Ethiopia, which in the past experienced frequent flooding events, yet dearth of information exists about preparedness in the area. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of emergency preparedness for flood hazards at households and communities levels.Methods:The study was conducted in a qualitative approach and was conducted in Dire Dawa town, which has been divided into nine administrative-units called Kebeles. Two focus group discussions were held in two of these units (Kebele-05 and 06), each focus group comprising twelve people (all above 18 years of age), and in total 24 people (13 females and 11 males) took part in the study. Open ended questions were used that could guide the discussions, and the discussions were audio-taped and transcribed. The results were translated from local language to English and qualitatively presented.Results:The findings of focus group discussions showed that the local government in collaboration with the federal government built the flood protection dams in areas where flood hazards have been thought to be repeatedly wreaking havoc, specifically after the flood disaster of the year 2006. In addition, in Kebele-05, where one Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) was operating on flood hazards prevention and mitigation program, some non-structural emergency preparedness measures were undertaken by the communities. These non-structural measures (the major ones) entailed: establishment of committees recruited from residents and training them to raise awareness among communities on emergency preparedness; some residents made changes to their own houses (retrofitted) and put sandbags around their houses to temporarily protect the flooding; establishment of communication channels between communities to alarm each other in the event of flood disaster; and reforestation of the already deforested mountainous areas surrounding the town. However, concerns were raised by study participants about strengths of the constructed flood protection dams. Furthermore, the non-structural emergency preparedness measures identified by this study were not comprehensive; for example, residents were not trained in first aid, first aid kits were not provided, there was no linkage being established between communities and health facilities so as to provide emergency medical care to victims in the event of flood disaster. Discussion: The findings of this study concur with some of the previous quantitative studies’ results in that the past direct and indirect disaster experiences invoke preparedness intention and actual preparedness for flood hazards at individuals, communities and organizations levels. The only one quantitative and behavioral based study conducted thus far in Dire Dawa town reported the strong association of past flood disaster experience with household emergency preparedness. Among the residents there was a tendency to rely on the dams to be constructed with “good quality” and “higher strength” than making preparedness efforts on their own at their households. Structural measures such as building of dams, dikes, levees, and channel improvements could be means of mitigation measures; however, solely relying on these measures could have far reaching consequences.Conclusions: To mitigate flood hazards, dams were built and in addition, in Kebele-05 where an NGO was operating, some non-structural emergency preparedness measures were undertaken. In the course of construction of flood protection dams, ensuring communities’ involvement is needed; and at the same time undertaking comprehensive non-structural emergency preparedness measures in all Kebeles is highly recommended.Key words: Emergency, Preparedness, Flood, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

Disaster Preparedness in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Disasters disproportionally affect vulnerable, technology-dependent people, including preterm and critically ill newborn infants. It is important for health care providers to be aware of and prepared for the potential consequences of disasters for the NICU. Neonatal intensive care personnel can provide specialized expertise for their hospital, community, and regional emergency preparedness plans and can help develop institutional surge capacity for mass critical care, including equipment, medications, personnel, and facility resources.

Strengthening community emergency preparedness and response in threats and epidemics disasters prevention and management in Saudi Arabia

Background: Increasing natural and man-made threats to communities and disaster vulnerabilities have been linked to globalisation, increasing urbanisation and climate changes. This review paper analyses the changing trend and pattern in natural and man-made evolving emergencies threats and disasters vulnerability, towards robust and effective emergency community-based preparedness, emergency response policy and programs in Saudi Arabia. Method: A systematic review was performed to assess community emergency readiness in man-made or natural threats and epidemics disasters in the Kingdom. Findings: Our results showed that man-made disasters were the most reported cause of fatality with over 3979 deaths from 1975 to April, 2016. Substantially, Saudi Arabia government commitment and investment efforts have been devoted to ensure adequate emergency management. However, the level of community emergency preparedness culture for all types of risk assessment and management still requires urgent attention in the context of emerging global health threats and epidemics. This paper provides a set of lessons learnt that are useful to foster and scale-up further policy-makers and emergency planners proactive emergency preparedness capacity, and communities resilience initiatives. Leveraging on aggregate annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage or mass gathering lessons learnt, global emergency response experiences and best practices are assets in scaling-up proactive and practical community/public and regional emergency security resilience. Conclusion: Strengthening evidence-based comprehensive sustained Saudi innovative community-based emergency partnerships, community surveillance and preparedness, resilient measures and best practices against threats and disasters is advocated.

Strengthening community emergency preparedness and response in threats and epidemics disasters prevention and management in Saudi Arabia

Background: Increasing natural and man-made threats to communities and disaster vulnerabilities have been linked to globalisation, increasing urbanisation and climate changes. This review paper analyses the changing trend and pattern in natural and man-made evolving emergencies threats and disasters vulnerability, towards robust and effective emergency community-based preparedness, emergency response policy and programs in Saudi Arabia. Method: A systematic review was performed to assess community emergency readiness in man-made or natural threats and epidemics disasters in the Kingdom. Findings: Our results showed that man-made disasters were the most reported cause of fatality with over 3979 deaths from 1975 to April, 2016. Substantially, Saudi Arabia government commitment and investment efforts have been devoted to ensure adequate emergency management. However, the level of community emergency preparedness culture for all types of risk assessment and management still requires urgent attention in the context of emerging global health threats and epidemics. This paper provides a set of lessons learnt that are useful to foster and scale-up further policy-makers and emergency planners proactive emergency preparedness capacity, and communities resilience initiatives. Leveraging on aggregate annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage or mass gathering lessons learnt, global emergency response experiences and best practices are assets in scaling-up proactive and practical community/public and regional emergency security resilience. Conclusion: Strengthening evidence-based comprehensive sustained Saudi innovative community-based emergency partnerships, community surveillance and preparedness, resilient measures and best practices against threats and disasters is advocated.

Strengthening community emergency preparedness and resilience in emerging natural and man-made threats and epidemics in Saudi Arabia and EMRO countries

Background: Globalization, increasing intense urbanization and climate changes has been linked to natural and man-made evolution and curiosity resulting in multiple threats and vulnerability. The degree, nature and extent community and household preparedness and resiliency programs and activities defined the robustness and effectiveness of local, national to regional EMRO timely response policy decision maker by policy makers, health planners and implementers. Methods: This paper analyses existing community emergency preparedness and resilience implementation and translation challenges and bottlenecks against emerging natural and man-made threats and epidemics disaster in Saudi Arabia and other EMRO countries. Results: Our results showed inefficiencies to identify, understanding and mapping of potential risks/threats and weak community early alarm and surveillance systems in threats or disaster occurrence. Also, showed that real time community-based programs are poorly interrelated and nurtured in most EMRO countries, and require fostering community guidelines and prevention and control activities. Such include social mobilization, health education in increasing alertness, awareness and community mass literacy outreach. Critically, adequate community knowledge and attitudes on preparedness and resilience on mass pilgrims influx during Hajj and Ramadan seasons, potential vulnerability to epidemics and floods indicates that policy planners and implementers could capitalize on these strengths and address the weaknesses in scaling up practical community and household emergency preparedness and management approach on and across borders populations for common beneficial expectations in upholding safety and security, healthy lives and well-being. In conclusion, we advocate that establishment of a comprehensive evidence-based local, national and regional laboratory and digital surveillance systems, community-based partnerships, investment projects and related preventive resilient measures are vital in revamping the evolving and future threats and disaster situations in Saudi Arabia and other EMRO countries in line with One Health Surveillance systems.

Emergency preparedness amongst university students

The objective of this study was to examine the level of emergency preparedness among University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada students. The research examined both purposeful preparedness and coincidental preparedness, students' sense of responsibility, and barriers preventing further preparedness. Information was collected through an online survey, completed by 80 participants, conducted during the Spring 2013 academic term. The study found that the majority of students felt that they were the most important actors in personal wellbeing during the first 72h post-incident; however, most were not prepared to deal independently with a disaster for the recommended 72h period. Most students did have basic coincidental preparedness supplies, but not full emergency preparedness kits. The results showed that students do experience barriers limiting further preparedness, which may be alleviated through increased administrative support by the University and other community emergency preparedness agencies.

Disaster Preparedness and the Cooperative Extension Service

This past decade has recorded an increase in catastrophic events that have led to dramatic changes for Americans. The wake of these disasters has resulted in many lessons being learned. These lessons have been captured by Homeland Security in the First Edition of the National Preparedness Goal. Extension is uniquely positioned to assist with community disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response efforts as outlined in the National Preparedness Goal. This article captures examples of Extension's involvement in the disaster realm and encourages additional work in the many aspects of community emergency preparedness.

The Use of U.S. Academic Institutions in Community Medical Disaster Recovery

AbstractObjective: To explore the role of public schools, and other academic institutions, in community medical disaster preparedness and recovery. Methods: A literature search on the subject of public schools utility in community medical disaster preparedness and recovery was performed. Relevant publications were selected, reviewed, and categorized for the strength of evidence. Spatial distribution of schools, and academic facilities, within rural and urban communities using Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis was conducted. GIS of the Northern Virginia (NOVA) region, adjacent to the nation's capital, was used to identify the spatial distribution and relationship of schools, and other academic and healthcare facilities, within rural and urban communities and the walking accessibility distance within a residential area. A group of subject‐matter experts was convened to identify lessons learned and solicit opinions on the use of schools for medical disaster preparedness. All information was integrated in the final assessment of the role of public schools and academic institutions in medical disaster preparedness and recovery. Results: Literature on the use of schools and academic institutions for medical disaster preparedness and recovery is sparse. Meta‐analysis or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were not found. Most of the relevant information was located in state or federal government websites. Fair evidence supports that: (1) Schools were used, either as healthcare or as shelter facilities, by federal agencies and privately funded humanitarian relief organizations such as the American Red Cross (ARC). Many U.S. states have executed agreements with ARC for such purposes. (2) Schools, on their own, usually lack resources, facilities, and liability coverage to serve as physical and logistic assets for community medical disaster recovery beyond their traditional role of protecting students and staff. (3) University campuses possess educational and infrastructure resources capable of supporting community medical needs following disasters. Some universities have already established emergency preparedness departments, and are recipients of federal and state grants to develop medical disaster educational programs. With modest investments, such programs can be adapted by local schools for additional community outreach activities. (4) GIS analysis can help identify unique physical attributes of schools of interest to medical disaster planning and recovery programs. In the NOVA region, schools have different spatial relationships to the communities and other resources of potential benefit for medical disaster recovery. In the rural areas, schools are not always located within walking distance from residential areas. (5) Community emergency preparedness networks are not fully integrated and may not benefit diverse demographic groups. Discussion: Backed by adequate resources and planning, schools can be used in a dual Function—to care for students and the community. Policy Implications and Conclusions: Schools and other academic institutions should be integrated into community disaster planning and recovery. Best practices from local health departments and privately funded relief organizations, engaging schools, should be incorporated into a nationwide disaster planning framework. NOVA's experience suggests that local health departments can integrate schools into community disaster preparedness and recovery. Adequately funded schools can help with community educational networks for disaster preparedness. Further research into the interdependencies between local health departments and schools and best practices targeting community disaster networking should be undertaken. Limitation: This is a preliminary review intended to identify lessons learned and research gaps in the use of schools for medical disaster preparedness and response. Using the NOVA region, part of the nation's capital region, as a study model may not be applied to other U.S. geographic regions due to the uniqueness of the Washington Metropolitan area. However, the NOVA region may be a good representation of a suburban area. This review is focused on public schools and to some degree state universities. Private schools and/or universities were not included due to the difficulty of acquiring information from parochial organizations and could have introduced additional bias.

Involving Youth in Community Emergency Preparedness: Impacts of a Multistate Initiative

The National Preparedness Guidelines (2007) state, “as uniformed responders account for less than 1% of the total U.S. population, it is clear that citizens must be better prepared, trained, and practiced on how best to take care of themselves and assist others in those first crucial hours during and after a catastrophic incident.” This is increasingly more evident due to recent disasters such as hurricane Katrina. The Alert, Evacuate and Shelter (AES) program identified and trained youth/adult teams to use geospatial technology to map shelter locations and evacuation routes. Training began with team building activities to strengthen and build youth/adult preparedness partnerships. Program evaluations revealed a major shift in thinking about the positive potential level of involvement of youth in emergencies. Survey results immediately following trainings revealed statistically significant increases in participant knowledge gain regarding emergency preparedness. Follow-up evaluations indicate the success of this project in meeting community preparedness goals.

Are Londoners prepared for an emergency? A longitudinal study following the London bombings.

The UK government sees increasing individual preparedness as a priority, but the level of preparedness of people in the UK for a large-scale emergency is not known. The London bombings of July 7, 2005, affected many Londoners and may have altered their sense of vulnerability to a future terrorist attack. We used a longitudinal study design to assess individual preparedness within the same sample of Londoners at 2 points in time: immediately after the bombings (T(1)) and 7 to 8 months later (T(2)). A demographically representative sample of 1,010 Londoners participated in a phone interview at T(1). Subsequently, at T(2), 574 of the same people participated in a follow-up phone interview. At T(1) 51% of Londoners had made 4 or more relevant emergency plans; 48% had gathered 4 or more relevant supplies in case of emergency. There was evidence of increased preparedness at T(2), by which time 90% had made 4 or more emergency plans. Ethnicity, low social status, and having felt a sense of threat during the bombings predicted increased preparedness between T(1) and T(2). Women in general, and women of low social status in particular, perceived themselves to be unprepared in the event of a future terrorist attack. In summary, Londoners show moderate levels of emergency preparedness, which increased following the London bombings. Although we cannot know whether this association is causal, the prospective nature of the study increases the likelihood that it is. However, preparedness is still patchy, and there are important demographic associations with levels of preparedness and perception of vulnerability. These findings have implications for future development of individual and community emergency preparedness policy.

Community Health Centers and Emergency Preparedness: An Assessment of Competencies and Training Needs

Community health centers (CHCs) provide care to a large number of medically underserved Americans. As primary care providers and trusted members of their communities, CHCs need to be prepared to respond to emergency and disaster situations, as they may be relied upon for medical care and other support services. Focus groups were conducted with CHC medical directors and administrators from New York City. Participants discussed previous emergency preparedness training, future training needs, applicability of competencies, and usefulness of two training programs. Participants indicated that they had more experience with preparedness training than many of their colleagues, although participants still reported further training needs. In particular, emergency roles and responsibilities, decontamination and containment, and personal preparedness were given as needed training topics for staff. The training resources were reported to be useful and beneficial. Participants also reported that most of the competencies were appropriate for CHC clinicians. During an emergency, people want to receive care from their normal provider, and for many, that provider is a CHC. This and other research suggests that the emergency preparedness needs facing CHCs are significant and should be addressed.