Disaster Management Plans Research Articles

Peran Tenaga Kesehatan dalam Penanggulangan Banjir di Pasuruan pada Bulan Februari Tahun 2023

Disaster preparation is a step towards disaster risk reduction. Disaster risk reduction can be in the form of disaster management plans, early warning systems, evacuation sites and provision of essential goods. According to PERMENKES No. 66 of 2016, which is a guideline for health HR management in disaster management, the crisis response team includes the Rapid Reaction Team (TRC), Rapid Assessment Team (TPC/RHA team) and Health Assistance Team. The purpose of this research is to evaluate material in terms of preparedness policies and human resources when facing disasters. The type of research used is descriptive quantitative. Pasuruan Regency and Pasuruan City experienced floods 7 times during the month of February. A total of 2,520 residents were affected by the flood disaster. The need for health human resources for TRC among residents/refugees between 10,000-20,000 such as general practitioners and specialists, nurses, epidemiological surveillance, pharmacists, nutritionists, midwives communication officers, ambulance drivers, and DVI personnel. With the existence of regulations/policies that have been set, it really helps to facilitate the performance of health human resources in handling disaster-affected residents to the fullest. The role of health workers and disaster preparedness is very important. It is suggested that with this research, health human resources are expected to always increase their competence and increase their role so that when they go down to help residents affected by a disaster, they already have strong enough potential to be implemented to residents.

Assessment of social factors that promote the vulnerability of communities to coastal hazards in the Volta estuary in Ghana

Although vulnerability assessments have been widely conducted along the coast of Ghana, they have not focused on the factors contributing to social vulnerability of households and communities to disaster risks. Using an indicator-based approach, this study examines the social factors that affect the exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of households and communities in the Volta estuary, Ghana. Results indicate that all the communities within the study area were exposed to climate change related hazards. However, two communities, Azizanya in Ada East District and Fuveme in Anloga District, were highly exposed with unweighted indexes of 0.50 and 0.76, respectively. Sensitivity among communities was generally high ranging from 0.00 to 0.87 due to several social factors including low household income, high number of children and aged at home, and lack of social amenities such as roads, health facilities, markets, and schools. The communities recorded high adaptive capacity and were able to withstand the ravages of the ocean and the river system. Households and communities developed various adaptation measures such as relocation to nearby communities or higher grounds, open spaces and packing of their belongings on higher objects such as tables, whiles government actions included occasional dredging and constructions of sea defense structures. An integrated, multi-stakeholder approach involving government, non-governmental community-based organisations, communities, households, and other stakeholders is proposed to design and implement a comprehensive disaster management plan to combat climate change related coastal disasters.

Building Forest Fires Resilience, the Incorporation of Local Knowledge into Disaster Mitigation Strategies

The severity of the socio-economic, political, and ecological damage caused by forest fires each year requires action plans for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Despite efforts made to incorporate participatory mechanisms into risk governance, much of the research on disaster risk reduction in academia is conducted under the deficit model. This paper proposes public engagement as a mechanism for incorporating community-based knowledge, experiences, and practices into DRR plans. Based on the case study of forest fires in Galicia (Spain), developed within the MITIGACT project, we explore, through the analysis of in-depth interviews, how forest fires are defined, how disaster management plans are evaluated and what concrete proposals are considered. The results highlight the need to strengthen social governance at the local level and to balance the resources dedicated to the three phases of prevention, extinction, and recovery, moving from a linear to a circular model.

Modeling of annual maximum flows with geographic data components and artificial neural networks

The flow rate at which the instantaneous maximum flow is recorded throughout the year is called the Annual Maximum Flow (AMF). These flow rates often cause disasters such as floods. Snow melts and extreme precipitation associated with temperature fluctuations are the two most important factors that occurred flooding. The deluge that follows kills people and destroys property in communities and agricultural lands. As a result, it's critical to predict the flow that causes flooding and take appropriate precautions to limit the damage. The prediction of the probability of a flood event in advance is very important for the safety of life and property of large masses and agricultural lands. Early warning systems, disaster management plans and minimizing these losses are among the important goals of the country's administration. This study was used in five Current Observation Stations (COS) located in Yeşilırmak Basin in Turkey. By using 8 input data including geographical location, altitude and area information of these stations, AMF data were tried to be estimated for each COS. A total of 240 input data was used in the study. The data period covers the years 1964-2012. Unfortunately, AMF values cannot be monitored for all 5 stations used after 2012. Therefore, the data period was stopped in 2012. In this study, Multilayer Artificial Neural Networks (MANN), Generalized Artificial Neural Networks (GANN), Radial Based Artificial Neural Networks (RBANN) and Multiple Linear Regulation (MLR) methods were used. Input data sets were made into 4 packets and these packages were used respectively in both training and testing stages. In these packages, the AMF data measured for the 5 stations mentioned above between 1965 and 2012 were divided into 4 and used by creating 25% (test) and 75% (training) packages. Root Means Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and correlation coefficient (R) were used as the comparison criteria. The results are as follow; MANN (RMSE = 119.118, MAE = 93.213, R = 0.808), and RBANN (RMSE = 111.559, MAE = 81.114, R = 0.900). These results show that AMF can be predicted with artificial intelligence techniques and can be used as an alternative method.

Smart Disaster Management Solutions for Risk Mitigation and Preparedness in Tehran, Iran

Background and objective The city of Tehran is facing serious challenges in the field of disaster management due to high population densities and being in a natural disaster-prone area. This study aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses (internal factors) and the opportunities and threats (external factors) of crisis management in Tehran at the stages of risk mitigation and preparedness, focusing on prioritizing relevant strategies for smart disaster management. Method A mixed-method approach was used in this study. The data were collected using a library method and semi-structured interviews. Ten experts in smart city, disaster management, and urban planning were interviewed. The SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) technique was used for the analysis, while the quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) was employed for strategy prioritization. Results The internal factors had a score of 2.333, and external factors had a score of 2.351. Based on the strategic position and action evaluation (SPACE) matrix, the most suitable strategic position to address the challenges of smart disaster management in Tehran was a defensive position. After evaluating 23 strategies according to the total attractiveness scores in the QSPM, the following strategies had the highest priorities: WT3 with a total attractiveness score of 5.593, ST5 with a total score of 5.127, WO3 with a total score of 5.125, WT2 with a total score of 5.055, WO4 with a total score of 5.009, and SO1 with a total score of 4.988. Conclusion Based on the prioritized strategies, it is important to identify and monitor facilities and urban equipment with improper placement, particularly in areas with high construction rates, using online tools. Online databases should be used for locating and rectifying the positions of existing and future facilities. It is also essential to establish restrictive laws to prevent construction in flood-prone areas, and their implementation should be monitored. Furthermore, a smart system for managing worn-out urban fabrics should be designed and executed for collecting information on such fabrics online and registering the beneficiaries.

Determine of Potential Evacuation Locations as Disaster Mitigation Against Landslides

Bandar Lampung City has a lowland topography, which is quite diverse in valleys to ridge hills. The city’s development made the face of the city of Bandar Lampung turn into a dense residential area between the hills. Landslide is one of the disasters that often occur in Indonesia. About 15 sub-districts that are prone to landslides in Bandar Lampung, including West Telukbetung, East Telukbetung, South Telukbetung, Bumiwaras, Panjang, Kedamaian, North Telukbetung, Tanjung Karang Pusat, Enggal, Tanjung Karang Barat, Kemiling, Langkapura, Kedaton, Rajabasa and Sukabumi (BPBD, 2018). Research about landslide-prone areas with a geospatial approach aimed at disaster mitigation efforts. The study results will be necessary information about disaster mitigation to minimize loss of life and material. The geospatial approach integrates landslide threat maps with road networks and public facilities. Also, the landslide threat area’s accessibility and affordability functions can be arranged to secure the city’s priority location. The preparation of a landslide threat map begins by compiling an entire dataset in spatial data information from various sources. Whole datasets are arranged based on parameters that affect landslides. Each parameter has a different weight and is summarized in the Overlay method. It is hoped that this research can be used as a reference in disaster management and spatial planning in Bandar Lampung in the future. The determination of public facility services using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method.

Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Management Planning for Animals Within Zoo Enclosure: A Malaysia Perspective

Zoological parks have been linked to various potential calamities, including the inadvertent release of animal species on a regular basis. To mitigate the risk of animals escaping from these parks, it is crucial to assess the security of animal enclosures and identify the factors that may compromise their integrity. Furthermore, natural disasters pose an ongoing threat to public safety, and in such emergency situations, both animals and humans are vulnerable to harm, potentially endangering public safety. Lastly, the possibility of zoonotic diseases and their transmission among humans through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces poses a significant threat to both the animals and the human staff working in the zoo. This paper will be looking at the three possible disasters and how to mitigate such disasters from happening in Malaysian zoos. Another matter that will be highlighted is the roles and responsibilities of authorities, communication plus testing and training. The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) will be used by the authorities to respond to each scenario, based on which business processes or assets get disrupted and to understand the scale and scope of what they are facing. Risk mitigation factors are also highlighted in this article.

Evaluated Post-Disaster and Emergency Assembly Areas Using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Techniques: A Case Study of Turkey

Disaster is a general term for events that result in physical, economic, and social losses for people and occur when insufficient resources exist. Natural disasters, particularly earthquakes, are frequent occurrences worldwide. Although plans are made for both pre-and post-disaster periods, the painful experience of the recent major earthquake on the Eastern Anatolian Fault Line in Turkey has highlighted the inadequacy of these plans in terms of feasibility. Preventing future disasters is possible by implementing a good disaster management plan. Identifying emergency assembly areas after a disaster is one of the most critical issues in disaster management. This study used four multi-criteria decision-making techniques—AHP, TOPSIS, COPRAS, and BORDA—to evaluate the selection and suitability of emergency assembly areas for the Gölbaşı district of Ankara, Turkey. The AHP method was used to weight criteria, which were then applied in various decision-making approaches. Finally, utilizing the BORDA method, the alternative ranking derived from the AHP, TOPSIS, and COPRAS procedures was rated as more effective. According to the findings, the Sacrificial Slaughter Area, Green Area, Şehir Park, Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu Sports Complex, and the Türkiye Muhasebeciler Association (İncek and Taşpınar) are determined the five most effective emergency assembly areas in the Gölbaşı district.

The role of ancestral practices as social capital to enhance community disaster resilience. The case of the Colca Valley, Peru

Mitigating the gap between disaster risk management planning by government agencies and the perception and adaptation to risk of local communities is currently challenging. Numerous studies have generated knowledge based on the value of community actions and increased resilience. This research aims to analyze the role of ancestral Andean practices in building community resilience in settlements exposed to volcanic risk. The methodology is based on the combination of quantitative methods, survey and qualitative methods, focus groups, and interviews. The case study is the Colca Valley in Arequipa, specifically the villages which were affected by the eruption of the Sabancaya volcano and by collateral seismic effects. The results support knowledge regarding risk management in Andean communities, in addition to reflecting on 4 findings related to the validity of ancestral networks and practices, the lack of community trust regarding the government's response capacity, the differences between the perception of risk according to the activities that are carried out within the same community, and the existence of different perceptions of risk according to the location of the communities.

Applying a “Whole-of-Health-System” Approach in Mass Casualty Management

Introduction:In 2019, the World Health Organization published the Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) framework, detailing how all actors in the health system can contribute to reducing negative health outcomes of emergencies and disasters, including mass casualty incidents (MCI). The H-EDRM framework’s whole-of-health-system approach stresses the need for each level of healthcare systems to be involved in all phases of the disaster cycle, particularly preparedness and response. This approach highlights the critical role that lower levels of care, including primary healthcare, can play during MCI, demonstrating the need to integrate these into countries’ disaster plans. Nevertheless, countries’ disaster management plans have historically focused on hospitals and few recommendations exist for how to practically proceed with such an integration. This study explores what has been published on the topic of reverse triage (RT), namely the process used by healthcare workers (HCWs) to determine which patients can safely be discharged to lower levels of care, resulting in increased surge capacity at hospitals. The objective of this work is to collect evidence around existing criteria, tools or referral pathways used by HCWs during MCI, ultimately integrating lower levels of care in MCI management.Method:A systematic literature review was performed and a total of 12 studies were analyzed.Results:Literature focusing on RT towards lower levels of care during MCI is scant and limited to few case studies. There is no standardized tool or guidelines for how to perform RT and existing referral pathways are described in only isolated case studies.Conclusion:Published evidence on RT criteria is limited. The results of the current review can serve as groundwork upon which to design further research studies. It can be used to help devise strategies and policies for the integration of lower levels of care during MCI.

Football Stampede in Kanjuruhan Stadium from the Perspective of Disaster Preparedness on Mass Casualty Incident: A Case Study of Mass Gathering Event

Introduction:The lack of planning and coordination by the mass gathering event organizers involving other stakeholders, especially from the health sector, caused mass casualty incidents which could not be managed in a timely manner and resulted in many victims. This was worsened by the fact that the nearest health facilities to the mass gathering event did not have a disaster management plan such as a hospital disaster preparedness plan which, if any, was not operational. No firm regulation forced, monitored, and evaluated the necessity of high-risk mass gathering events to have such a preparedness plan yet in Indonesia.Method:Using a case study qualitative research method by conducting media observations and listening to webinars on experiences with health workers involved in handling the social disaster of the Kanjuruhan tragedy. Supported by analysis of policy reviews and in-depth interviews with the involved stakeholders on the field.Results:This is ongoing research, the results have not been finalized. However, from the information that has been obtained so far, it can be concluded that there is no synergy between the plans prepared by the football match organizing committee, police, local government, and nearest referral health facilities. This was identified by the absence of a medical director at the referral health facility, the absence of in and out access for the medical team to the mass gathering event location, and the absence of crowd management at the site of the incident resulted in 720 injured and 135 of them dead. This made the incident the second worst football stampede incident in history.Conclusion:Specific mass gathering regulation specific to football matches is required as Indonesia has a risk of hooliganism in some areas. This will be mandatory for the organizing committee to comply with and involve relevant stakeholders, especially the local health sector.

The experiences of the landslide survivors from Kodagu District, India: Need for community-engaged village/ward level micro disaster management planning

IntroductionKodagu district in India had catastrophic landslides in 2018, the rarest occurrence known to people until 2018. It has become an annual affair radiated to other districts of the Western Ghats range. AimTo explore landslide survivors' experiences, conventional knowledge, and responses during the emergency relief response. MethodsIn the emergency relief response phase, a qualitative study was conducted using the purposive sampling technique of landslide survivors in the Kodagu District. Ninety-nine participants were interviewed in 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. ResultsIn this study, 35 males and 64 females participated. All have endured horrifying experiences, and fear of life and social triggers have played an essential role in self-evacuation. The effective group work among the survivors was perceptible. The issues include improper communication of situational information, disruption of road and cellular connectivity, physical and mental health problems, direct and indirect losses, and other cross-cutting themes. Themes have been recognised as Experiencing the Darkness in Life; Disputed Communication; community-managed Immediate Disaster Response; Health Concerns of the Landslide Survivors; and Cross-Cutting Themes. ConclusionThe study concludes that community-driven community-managed evacuation minimised the causalities. The response from the government in the immediate disaster response phase was satisfactory; fear of life and social trigger played a vital role in the self-evacuation, subsequently reducing the casualties. With community participation, disaster planning at the village/ward level would be the way forward for the well-coordinated emergency relief response.

Agent-Based Simulation of Spontaneous Volunteer Convergence to Improve Disaster Planning

The involvement of spontaneous volunteers (SVs) in disaster response represents a significant resource. However, existing emergency management plans often fail to take spontaneous volunteers into account due to negative perceptions and uncertainty about SV convergence. We developed an agent-based simulation model of spontaneous volunteer convergence to aid the disaster response planning process. The model considers a heterogeneous population of agents, each with unique attributes such as motivation, opinion, and site choice behavior. Model development was informed by the literature as well as interviews with volunteers and volunteer managers, participant observations, and discussions with practitioners. To illustrate the practical value of the model, we present a case study that addressed research questions related to volunteer reception centers and volunteer assignment policies. This transdisciplinary study bridges the gap between operations research and management science and social science, and provides a new decision aid to help improve the integration of spontaneous volunteers in disaster management plans.

Development of Sub-National Policies for Making Hospitals Safe from Disasters: Study in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia

Introduction:Disaster and emergency management planning has an essential role to ensure that hospitals can continue to function in disaster response situations. However, there are several gaps for safe hospital policies and implementations between national and provincial/district level. The Special Region of Yogyakarta, as one of the provinces with high disaster risk in Indonesia, initiated a study to identify local policies needed for safe hospitals.Method:Focus Group Discussion (FGD) series were conducted with several hospitals representing private, public, academic, and military hospitals located in the first ring of Mount Merapi, an active volcano located on the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java Province. The FGD participants consisted of the Hospital Disaster Plan team, hospital task force of COVID-19, emergency department and hospital management team. Three FGD were carried out with different topics of discussion in each session. The topics were hospital experiences in implementing Hospital Disaster Plans during COVID-19, hospital incident command, coordination and networking. In addition, they also conducted advocacy and public consultationResults:The study that involved 12 hospitals and 40 persons, resulting in 11 specific additional policies for Yogyakarta safe hospital which include; six additional Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in terms of donation management, volunteers’ recruitment and cost claim; one initiated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for surge capacity; conducting functional exercise rather than full scale ritual simulation with management scenario, as well as develop two plans for cyber-attack and business continuity plan.Conclusion:The pocketbook of Yogyakarta’s safe hospital will be useful for more than 70 hospitals in implementing and developing their hospital disaster plan, improving coordination among hospitals in the disaster phase, as well as a lesson-learned process for other regions to develop their local-based safe hospital policies.

Emergency Medical Team Type 2 and Intensive Care Unit: A Necessary Binomial

Introduction:A disaster involving significant casualties in a populated area demands the rapid development of a field hospital with personnel specialized in Disaster Medicine. In this scenario, the clinical response of Emergency Medical Teams should be guided by the knowledge of how the medical needs of the population change after the disaster itself. In order to reduce the loss of life and prevent long-term disability, it is essential to have the right tools to treat critical patients. In fact, disasters cause a variety of conditions ranging from minor to life-threatening injuries requiring admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU).Method:A systematic review was carried out and electronic healthcare databases were searched using terms such as “Disaster” or “Flood” or “Storm” or “Earthquake” or “Mass Casualty Incidents” and “Intensive Care Unit” or “Intensive Care” or “Health Impact”. Articles that met the search criteria, published in the last 15 years in the English language, were analyzed and summarized. The objective of the review was to identify the main health problems following disasters and, in particular, the diseases that may require intensive care in order to assess the need to include ICU in the minimum technical standard for Emergency Medical Teams type 2.Results:The review included 12 studies identified as relevant and significant for our purpose. Health problems were sorted for disaster type and severity of the injury. The review demonstrates that health problems after a disaster are different depending on disaster type, but in all the scenarios there are diseases that potentially may require timely intensive care.Conclusion:The presence of an ICU within an Emergency Medical Team type 2 (according to WHO EMT classification) is an essential part of disaster management plans as ICU plays an irreplaceable role in saving lives and in reducing the health impact of a disaster.

Usage of digital library services during COVID-19 pandemic: a study of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)

PurposeThis paper aims to find out the digital services of management libraries provided during the library closure and the challenges and initiatives the libraries have taken up to fulfill the need of their user community during the pandemic crisis.Design/methodology/approachTo meet the purpose of the study, the investigators have used a survey method. An online questionnaire was devised and administered among the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) librarians using Microsoft Forms.FindingsThe study's findings suggested that all the libraries under investigation must avail of various digital library services in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Further, the investigators recommend that libraries formulate a disaster preparedness and management plan in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic so that libraries can prepare themselves for the future.Originality/valueThe pandemic has affected every aspect of life and changed the digital library services scenario. Thus, it is essential to examine the role libraries have played during the COVID-19 pandemic and distinguish the challenges and initiatives libraries have taken to tackle the problems they faced. This study has been conducted on the digital library services that were provided by the libraries of IIMs.

Determining Factors Affecting the Protective Behavior of Filipinos in Urban Areas for Natural Calamities Using an Integration of Protection Motivation Theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Ergonomic Appraisal: A Sustainable Disaster Preparedness Approach

The Philippines is considered one of the most vulnerable and susceptible countries to the effects of natural disasters due to its location. Therefore, the country needs to be resilient to the natural calamities it faces yearly. The research aimed to determine the factors that affect the protective behavior of Filipinos during natural disasters by integrating protective motivation theory, the theory of planned behaviors, and ergonomic appraisals, and by adding variables such as knowledge and geographical perspectives. PLS-SEM was used to determine the significant factors that affect protective behavior. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 302 Filipinos in the Philippines through a digital survey using Google forms. The analysis showed that the intention to prepare is the most significant factor affecting their protective behavior, followed by macro and physical ergonomics. Aside from this, attitudes, perceived severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, response cost, and subjective norms were found to influence their intention to prepare significantly. Furthermore, understanding natural calamities significantly influences an individual’s perceived severity. However, the geographical perspective, perceived vulnerability, perceived behavioral control, and cognitive ergonomics were found to have an insignificant influence on protective behavior for natural calamities. The study findings could be used as a basis for household units or the national government to build disaster management plans and resilience programs. Aside from this, it can also be used by researchers as a basis for exploring other areas that may affect the protective behavior of individuals to prepare for natural calamities worldwide.

Incorporating First Nations knowledges into disaster management plans: an analysis

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (UNDRR 2015) advocates for incorporating Indigenous knowledges and practices to complement scientific knowledge for effective and inclusive emergency and disaster management. Such traditional and local knowledge is an important contribution to developing strategies, policies and plans tailored to local contexts. A comparative analysis of local disaster management plans in Australia was undertaken as part of a larger project on emergency and disaster management in Indigenous communities and was performed to benchmark against the Sendai Framework priorities. A comprehensive search of publicly available local disaster management plans and subplans in selected local government areas was undertaken. Eighty-two plans were identified as well as 9 subplans from a list of Indigenous communities and associated local government areas. This study found a wide disparity in the organisation, presentation and implementation of knowledges and practices of local communities. While some plans included evidence of engagement and consultation with members of local communities, overall, there was little evidence of knowledges or traditional practices being identified and implemented. This analysis was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–21) and most councils had local pandemic management subplans. However, many were not publicly available and targeted approaches for Indigenous communities were not evident on council websites. To reflect the priorities of the Sendai Framework, better consultation with local communities and leaders at all levels of government needs to occur and subplans need to be easily available for review by policy analysts and academics.

Assessing Job Burnout Status in Front-line Healthcare Providers at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences During the COVID-19 Epidemic in 2022

Background: The COVID-19 epidemic was a biological disaster that may cause or exacerbate burnout in healthcare professionals (HCPs). Our goal was to determine the impact of the long-term COVID-19 epidemic on burnout in front-line healthcare workers and the factors affecting it. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey on front-line HCPs’ job burnout based on an online platform was conducted at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The demographic characteristics, medical-work-related factors, and COVID-19 exposure were collected by the self-reported Farsi version of the Maslach burnout inventory questionnaire. Results: Out of 2100 sent questionnaires, 924 participants completed them (44% response rate) of which 280 were male (30.3%). Overall, 850(92%) respondents had a high level of emotional exhaustion, 872(94.4%) had a high level of depersonalization, and 112(12.1%) had a high reduced personal accomplishment. There was a significant relation between higher burnout levels with higher education levels, working in hospitals as clinical staff, and pre-hospital operational personnel as well as having direct contact with a significant number of COVID-19 Patients. A significant number of participants (94.2%) were in severe and moderate burnout levels. Conclusion: There was a significant increase in job burnout among front-line HCPs during the COVID-19 epidemic compared to former similar studies at the beginning of the epidemic and non-epidemic periods. It is recommended that in disaster management planning, especially in long-standing ones like COVID-19, the proper programs should be considered for increasing the resilience of HCPs.

Assessing the effectiveness of existing early warning systems and emergency preparedness towards reducing cyclone-induced losses in the Sundarban Biosphere Region, India

The Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in India is highly vulnerable to cyclones and tidal surges due to its geographical location and low-lying coastal morphology. This deltaic tract experiences frequent cyclones that incur loss of life and property. Despite this, the SBR lacks a systematic and effective disaster warning/management plan that benefits all residents/stakeholders. Hence, it is imperative to assess the mitigation measures currently in place to effectively counter the risks arising from an increasing frequency of tropical cyclones therein. This paper examines the efficiency of the existing early warning systems (EWS) and emergency preparedness in the SBR. Data was collected at the household level on EWS, community preparedness and the economic losses occurring due to cyclones in the last ten years through field surveys. The Poisson distribution model was used to understand the relation of losses with the EWS. Our results reveal that a lack of early warning awareness and delays in emergency preparedness have made coastal communities more vulnerable. The SBR lacks an adequate disaster management plan for minimizing such losses and policy interventions are urgently required to safeguard coastal communities during and in the aftermath of cyclones. Possible improvements in existing strategies for reducing cyclone vulnerability are suggested.