Disaster Simulation Research Articles

Select Demographic Data, Disaster-Related Experience, and Disaster Attitudes as Predictors of Disaster Preparedness Among Student Nurses: A Descriptive Correlational Study.

The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the critical need to enhance disaster preparedness among nurses and nursing students due to concerns over their current levels of competency in disaster management. This study aimed to investigate the influence of demographic characteristics, disaster-related experience, and attitudes toward disasters on the disaster preparedness of nursing students. A descriptive correlational design was employed to examine the relationships between selected variables and disaster preparedness. A total of 235 nursing students participated in the study, selected through cluster sampling. Data were collected using Google Forms, incorporating demographic questions and three validated scales: Adapted Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool (DPET), Adapted Measurement of the Severity of Disaster Experience, and Adapted Attitudes toward Disaster Management Scale. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation Coefficient using SPSS Version 23.0. The findings revealed statistically insignificant correlations between disaster preparedness and several demographic variables, namely: year level (r = -0.069, p = 0.292), monthly household income (r = 0.004, p = 0.957), and type of housing (r = 0.106, p = 0.104), and NSTP component taken (r = -0.015, p = 0.822). Additionally, disaster attitude (r = 0.091, p = 0.163) was not significantly associated with disaster preparedness among nursing students. However, disaster experience showed a significant relationship with disaster preparedness (r = 0.979, p = 0.001). This finding highlights the critical role of firsthand disaster exposure in shaping students' readiness to respond effectively to emergencies which suggests that experiential learning opportunities, such as disaster simulations or active participation in disaster response efforts, may be more effective in enhancing preparedness than demographic factors or classroom-based training alone. The authors concluded that demographic factors and attitudes towards disasters were not significantly associated with disaster preparedness among nursing students. However, the findings revealed a positive relationship between previous disaster experiences and disaster preparedness of the participants, suggesting that firsthand exposure to disasters enhances preparedness. Future research should explore additional factors through qualitative and longitudinal approaches. Targeted educational interventions are recommended to address specific gaps identified in this study.

Disaster Mitigation and Emergency Response in the School Environment

Natural disasters are a significant threat in vulnerable areas, including Indonesia which frequently experiences floods, earthquakes, and landslides. This study explores disaster mitigation and emergency response management in schools in Sembakung and Lumbis Districts, Nunukan Regency. The objectives are to understand the challenges, human resource (HR) readiness, availability of facilities and infrastructure, community participation, technology utilization, and post-disaster psychosocial support. Qualitative methods were used with in-depth interviews with school principals, teachers, and staff. The findings show limited disaster mitigation and simulation training, minimal disaster-resistant school infrastructure, and low community participation and technology limitations in remote areas. This study recommends a holistic approach to improving disaster preparedness through training, infrastructure strengthening, community participation, technology utilization, and psychosocial support. Collaboration between government, schools, and local communities is needed to create a safe and resilient educational environment in the face of disasters.

Handling ‘Poison Books’: Dry Versus Wet Scenarios

ABSTRACT Toxic heavy metal pigments are known to be found in nineteenth-century, mass-produced, Euro-American bookbindings. A lack of data, standards, and regulations for exposure to heavy metal pigments in the cultural heritage sector limits understanding of when such bookbindings might present the greatest health and safety risk and how best to assess such risk. This case study measures the friability of arsenic, chromium, and lead based pigments in a sampling of nineteenth-century bookbindings through three scenarios: first, in their naturally aged, intact state; second, during a water event simulation; and third, after salvage and air-drying from the water disaster simulation. The data demonstrate that the risk of exposure to these heavy metals increases during and after a water event, with exposure to arsenic presenting the highest degree of risk.

Multi-Objective Distributionally Robust Optimization for Earthquake Shelter Planning Under Demand Uncertainties

Deciding the locations of shelters and how to assign evacuees to these locations is crucial for effective disaster management. However, the inherent uncertainty in evacuation demand makes it challenging to make optimal decisions. Traditional stochastic or robust optimization models tend to be either too aggressive or overly conservative, failing to strike a balance between risk reduction and cost. In response to these challenges, this research proposes a multi-objective distributionally robust optimization (MODRO) model tailored for shelter location and evacuation allocation. First, an ambiguity set (moment-based or distance-based) is constructed to capture the uncertainty in evacuation demand, reflecting the possible range of outcomes based on demand data from a disaster simulation model. Then, the distributionally robust optimization model considers the “worst-case” distribution within this ambiguity set to minimize construction cost, travel distance, and unmet demand/unused capacity, balancing the trade-off between overly conservative and overly optimistic approaches. The model aims to ensure that shelters are optimally located and evacuees are efficiently allocated, even under the most challenging scenarios. Furthermore, Pareto optimal solutions are obtained using the augmented ε-constraint method. Finally, a case study of Ogu, a wooden density built-up area in Tokyo, Japan, compares the DRO model with stochastic and robust optimization models, demonstrating that the cost obtained by the DRO model is higher than a stochastic model while lower than the worst-case robust model, indicating a more balanced approach to managing uncertainty. This research provides a practical and effective framework for improving disaster preparedness and response, contributing to the resilience and safety of urban populations in earthquake-prone areas.

Pembentukan Remaja Sadar Bencana dan Pelatihan Mitigasi Bencana di SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Turi

Mount Merapi, located in Sleman Regency, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, with eruption intervals ranging from 3 to 7 years. In this community service project, we aim to establish a Disaster-Aware Youth Group and conduct Disaster Mitigation Training at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Turi. The goal of this community service is to form a group of disaster-aware youth volunteers at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Turi. The community service method involves disaster preparedness education for 34 students, providing them with both knowledge and practical experience through role-playing and disaster simulation exercises. As a result of this project, a group of disaster-aware youth volunteers has been established at SMP Muhammadiyah 1 Turi. Additionally, posters about disasters and health were created, along with the development of evacuation routes and assembly points. In conclusion, the community service project by the Unisa Yogyakarta lecturers at SMP Muhammadiyah Turi Yogyakarta was successful. The establishment of disaster-aware youth volunteers at SMP Muhammadiyah Turi has been achieved, posters have been installed, and evacuation routes and assembly points have been established. Students' knowledge about disaster preparedness has improved.

Geometric nonlinear analysis based on the generalized displacement control method and orthogonal iteration

Abstract In response to the shortcomings of insufficient efficiency in calculating geometric nonlinear features and high environmental impact in the current construction, this study explores the control of nonlinear geometric structures based on an updated Lagrangian model function in the construction. In this method, the change in the geometric nonlinear stiffness is analyzed using generalized stiffness parameters and a displacement increment method, and the iteration step size and loading/unloading directions are adjusted in the iteration process to achieve the convergence of the solution. In the simulation experiment, the proposed method took 126 s to calculate the incremental iteration steps 700 times in a conventional environment, which is 28.8% more efficient than the cross-sectional method. In the simulated disaster environment, the model took 1,615 s to calculate the ultimate load of 84 contact elements, which is 43.1% more efficient than the section method and 62.6% more efficient than the discrete analysis method. Experimental results showed that the displacement judgment calculation efficiency of the method proposed in this study is higher than that of other models under different loading and unloading conditions and even in geological disaster states. This method had high environmental adaptability in solving nonlinear building structures and could improve the efficiency of solving general nonlinear building results.

A Physics‐Based Simulation Approach for Urban‐Scale Earthquake Disaster From Fault to City: Theory, Verification, and Application

ABSTRACTBy employing the frequency‐wavenumber (FK) method to simulate the propagation of seismic wavefield in the crustal layer, using the spectral element method (SEM) to simulate the propagation of wavefield in the near‐surface soil, and using the multi‐degree‐of‐freedom (MDOF) model to simulate the seismic response of building clusters in city, this paper establishes the FK‐SE‐MDOF approach (a two‐step method) for urban earthquake disaster analysis of fault‐to‐city based on the concept of domain reduction. The approach can simultaneously consider factors such as earthquake source parameters, propagation paths, local site effects, site‐city interaction (SCI) effects, and the dynamic nonlinear responses of buildings (hereafter referred to as source‐to‐city factors) in a physics‐based model. Firstly, the theories of the approach were introduced, and the correctness of the approach was verified. Furthermore, the applicability and the necessity of considering source‐to‐city factors were examined using a building cluster on an ideal sedimentary basin under the action of a point dislocation source. Finally, the seismic response of buildings in a region was simulated using buildings in the Nankai District of Tianjin as examples. This approach avoids the influences caused by expert experience differences in empirical and hybrid methods, establishes a connection between fault rupture and buildings dynamic response, and can more realistically reflect the distribution of seismic wavefields, building seismic responses, and damage state distribution under the earthquake scenario. It can be applied to earthquake disaster simulation for urban buildings at the scale of tens of thousands of buildings, and the simulation results can provide quantitative guidance for urban planning, earthquake‐resistant design, risk assessment, post‐earthquake rescue, etc.

Application Of Remote Sensing Technology And Geographic Information Systems For Tsunami Vulnerability Analysis In Mamuju District

This research aims to analyze the vulnerability to tsunami disasters in Mamuju District, West Sulawesi, using remote sensing technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mamuju District is at high risk of tsunamis due to its coastal location and its position between active tectonic plates. The analysis utilizes five main parameters: elevation, slope gradient, distance from rivers, distance from the coastline, and land cover. The GIS overlay analysis method is applied to map tsunami hazard zones, combining weighting and scoring for each parameter. The results indicate that 3% of the area has very high vulnerability, 7% of the area has high vulnerability, while 82% of the area has low to very low vulnerability. Areas with very high vulnerability include the coastal zone directly adjacent to the shoreline and residential areas. This study is expected to serve as a reference for local governments and disaster management agencies in efforts to mitigate and plan safer spatial arrangements against tsunami threats. Mitigation strategy recommendations include the construction of evacuation routes, safe shelters, and the regular enhancement of disaster education and simulations for the community. Furthermore, this research encourages the use of mountainous areas as primary evacuation zones and collaboration with research institutions for the development of more innovative mitigation technologies.

Earthquake Disaster Simulation on Increasing Knowledge and Preparedness Attitudes of Elementary School Students in Padang City

The earthquake in West Sumatra in 2009 caused 1,195 people to die, where the majority of victims were the elderly and children. The factor that causes the large number of fatalities during earthquake disasters is the lack of knowledge and attitudes of the community and children regarding earthquake disaster management preparedness. This research aims to determine the effect of earthquake simulation on increasing knowledge and attitudes about earthquake disaster preparedness among elementary school students in Padang City. The research method uses Quasi-experimental with One Group Pre test and Post design, the research location is Lubuk Lintah State Elementary School 21. The population is 80 grade 5 elementary school students with 44 samples taken by proportionate random sampling. The data collection technique uses a questionnaire. The earthquake disaster simulation educational intervention was carried out twice in one meeting for 2x120 minutes. Data analysis used the Paired T-dependent test. The research results showed that there was an effect of increasing knowledge and attitudes before and after being given an earthquake simulation to elementary school students with P-value = 0.000. The research conclusions show that earthquake simulations can be used to increase knowledge and attitudes about earthquake disaster preparedness among elementary school students. If earthquake simulation is used as an activity program in schools, it can make students resilient to disasters.

Understanding seismic hazard resilience in Montenegro: A qualitative analysis of community preparedness and response capabilities

Abstract Enhancing resilience against seismic hazards in earthquake-prone regions is essential for reducing the devastating impacts of disasters. Seismic resilience refers to a community’s ability to withstand and recover from earthquake impacts, while preparedness gaps are the areas where current measures are insufficient to effectively respond to or mitigate earthquake damage. This study focuses on Montenegro – a region with frequent seismic activity – aiming to assess resilience levels, identify critical gaps in preparedness, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing response strategies. Using qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews, the research gathered insights from residents of Montenegro’s most vulnerable cities: Nikšić, Podgorica, Bar, Kotor, Cetinje, Budva, Herceg Novi, and Berane. Participants, chosen for their first-hand experience with significant earthquake impacts, provided valuable perspectives on various aspects of resilience, from local government response to individual preparedness. This research revealed significant disparities in resilience across communities: for instance, approximately 62.5% of the respondents highlighted inadequate education as a barrier to effective earthquake preparedness, and only 37.5% reported awareness of basic earthquake response procedures. Furthermore, while some communities, such as urban areas with accessible services, reported higher preparedness levels, rural areas showed deficiencies, with 50% of the respondents from these areas identifying a lack of organized drills and limited public awareness initiatives. These findings underscore the urgent need for community-specific preparedness programs and enhancements in both structural resilience and public education to bolster community readiness effectively. Also, findings highlight the need for customized preparedness programs tailored to specific community needs, alongside improvements in structural safety measures and educational outreach. The study underscores the importance of a comprehensive approach involving detailed risk assessments, community-focused preparedness training, and stronger public awareness initiatives. Furthermore, the study calls for enhanced local government capabilities to sustain proactive response measures, including rapid mobilization of emergency resources and regular disaster simulations, to build long-term resilience across communities.

Perinatal care in the earthquake disaster of the century: Nurses' and midwives' experiences.

To determine the experiences of nurses and midwives providing perinatal care in an earthquake area. On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.6 magnitudes struck Turkey, affecting a large area. It is crucial for perinatal care to be rapidly organized, provided under the most suitable conditions, and delivered by qualified health professionals. Understanding the post-disaster experiences of nurses and midwives is crucial to addressing this issue. This is a qualitative study using phenomenological methodology with 8 nurses and 12 midwives in the earthquake-affected area. Personal information and semistructured interview forms were used for data collection. Content analysis was used for data analysis. Participants had a mean age of 33.75 years. The experiences of nurses and midwives were grouped into five themes: emotions experienced, challenges encountered, problems in perinatal services, coping mechanisms, and recommendations. The emotions experienced theme encompasses both positive and negative emotions. The challenges encountered theme includes challenging environmental conditions, organizational issues, problems with medical supplies and drugs, and being a victim of the earthquake. The problems in perinatal services theme includes pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum services. The coping mechanism's theme encompasses problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. The recommendations theme includes education and awareness, preparedness for disasters, and sustainable services. Nurses and midwives working in the earthquake-affected area experienced numerous physical and psychological challenges and encountered difficulties in delivering health services. Adisaster educationcourse including simulated disaster drills and practice can be integrated into the education system. Strengthening healthcare facilities against disasters and raising awareness among the community are crucial.

The Effectiveness and Benefits of Disaster Simulation Training for Undergraduate Medical Students in Saudi Arabia [Letter

The Effectiveness and Benefits of Disaster Simulation Training for Undergraduate Medical Students in Saudi Arabia [Letter

Analysis of postdisaster economy using high-resolution disaster and economy simulations.

We present an integrated framework that utilizes high-resolution seamless simulations of disasters and national economies for estimating the economic impacts of disasters. The framework consists of three components: a physics-based simulator to simulate the disaster and estimate the response of the infrastructure; a tool that estimates the losses suffered by the infrastructure based on its response; and an agent-based economic model (ABEM) that simulates the national economy considering the infrastructure damage and postdisaster decisions of the economic entities. The ABEM used in the framework has been implemented in a high-performance computing environment to simulate large economies at 1:1 scale. Furthermore, it has been calibrated to the Japanese economy using publicly available macroeconomic data and validated to the Japanese economy under the business-as-usual scenario. We demonstrate the integrated framework by simulating a potential Nankai-trough earthquake disaster and estimating its impacts on the Japanese economy. The seismic response of 1.8 million buildings of the Osaka-bay area has been estimated using a large-scale earthquake disaster simulator and corresponding repair costs are estimated using the Performance Assessment Calculation Tool. As per our estimates, repair costs amount to approximately 15 trillion Yen. Considering the investments made by impacted households and firms toward recovery, the postdisaster economy is simulated using the ABEM for 5 years under two recovery scenarios. Industrial production is expected to recover in three quarters whereas 10-13 quarters will be required to finish all the repairwork.

Improve disaster literacy in nurses: a qualitative descriptive study.

The enhancement of nurses' disaster literacy is crucial for effective disaster emergency management, especially for clinical nurses with no prior experience in disaster rescue. This study aims to explore the perspectives of nurses who have been involved in disaster rescue operations on strategies to advance nurses' disaster literacy. A qualitative descriptive study, which follows unified qualitative study reporting guidelines. Thirty disaster rescue nurses were recruited to participate in this study, who came from 30 third-class hospitals in China. From October to December 2021, information was acquired by conducting semi-structured telephone interviews with participants. Qualitative content analysis was used to examine the data. Six categories and eleven subcategories were created. Strengthening disaster education and training was the main focus, and its subcategories included continuing education, nursing curriculum development, and disaster rescue experience guide. The second focus, which included scene simulation, actual combat/military simulation, and virtual reality simulation, was strengthening disaster simulation and drill. The third focus was on providing psychosocial support, which included improving self-psychological adjustment, developing resilience, and engaging in active coping. The fourth category was to strengthen nurse/hospital managers roles and leadership, which included enhancing professional identity and policies/leadership support. The fifth category was disaster preparedness, and the sixth was enhancing knowledge transformation. Government agencies or healthcare organizations should actively promote the formation of nurses' disaster literacy from multiple viewpoints. Disaster education and training, simulation exercises, and psychosocial support should be prioritized.

Accuracy of a Commercial Large Language Model (ChatGPT) to Perform Disaster Triage of Simulated Patients Using the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) Protocol: Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility Study.

The release of ChatGPT (OpenAI) in November 2022 drastically reduced the barrier to using artificial intelligence by allowing a simple web-based text interface to a large language model (LLM). One use case where ChatGPT could be useful is in triaging patients at the site of a disaster using the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) protocol. However, LLMs experience several common errors including hallucinations (also called confabulations) and prompt dependency. This study addresses the research problem: "Can ChatGPT adequately triage simulated disaster patients using the START protocol?" by measuring three outcomes: repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy. Nine prompts were developed by 5 disaster medicine physicians. A Python script queried ChatGPT Version 4 for each prompt combined with 391 validated simulated patient vignettes. Ten repetitions of each combination were performed for a total of 35,190 simulated triages. A reference standard START triage code for each simulated case was assigned by 2 disaster medicine specialists (JMF and MV), with a third specialist (LC) added if the first two did not agree. Results were evaluated using a gage repeatability and reproducibility study (gage R and R). Repeatability was defined as variation due to repeated use of the same prompt. Reproducibility was defined as variation due to the use of different prompts on the same patient vignette. Accuracy was defined as agreement with the reference standard. Although 35,102 (99.7%) queries returned a valid START score, there was considerable variability. Repeatability (use of the same prompt repeatedly) was 14% of the overall variation. Reproducibility (use of different prompts) was 4.1% of the overall variation. The accuracy of ChatGPT for START was 63.9% with a 32.9% overtriage rate and a 3.1% undertriage rate. Accuracy varied by prompt with a maximum of 71.8% and a minimum of 46.7%. This study indicates that ChatGPT version 4 is insufficient to triage simulated disaster patients via the START protocol. It demonstrated suboptimal repeatability and reproducibility. The overall accuracy of triage was only 63.9%. Health care professionals are advised to exercise caution while using commercial LLMs for vital medical determinations, given that these tools may commonly produce inaccurate data, colloquially referred to as hallucinations or confabulations. Artificial intelligence-guided tools should undergo rigorous statistical evaluation-using methods such as gage R and R-before implementation into clinical settings.

The speed and accuracy of prehospital triage for simulated disaster patients: Comparing prehospital emergency triage rapid algorithm (PETRA) and simple triage and rapid treatment (START)

The speed and accuracy of prehospital triage for simulated disaster patients: Comparing prehospital emergency triage rapid algorithm (PETRA) and simple triage and rapid treatment (START)

Pelatihan Manajemen Bencana Dengan Table Top Disaster Simulation: Perintisan Desa Siaga Bencana di Kabupaten Musi Rawas Sumatera Selatan

Minimizing the impact that occurs due to disasters, and preparing for the possibility of a disaster occurring is the most important thing that must be done, including preparing human resources to be ready to face the disaster itself. One form of preparing society to be able to respond well to disasters is by providing good education and training on how to respond to disasters. Table Top Disaster Simulation is an effective education and training method for preparing human resources. This activity aims to increase community knowledge about disaster management as part of the Disaster Preparedness Village pilot in Air Satan Village, Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra. This activity is community service using education and training methods with a total of 33 participants. Participants' disaster management knowledge was measured before and after attending education and training using a questionnaire. The evaluation results showed that there was an increase in knowledge before being given the training with the average knowledge score of participants being 44.71, while after being given the training the average knowledge score was 78.32. After conducting education and training using tabletop disaster simulation, public knowledge about disaster management increased. It is hoped that after this pioneering disaster preparedness village activity, education and training will continue to be carried out on other factors in responding to disasters such as training on handling injuries for lay people, training on handling drowning victims for lay people, and so on.

Analisis potensi konflik akibat bahaya alam dan teknologi di RS Hermina Bekasi pasca PPKM

Background: Unanticipated emergencies can lead to disasters, whether caused by natural or human factors. Disasters result in loss of life, environmental damage, and economic impact. The Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) method assists hospitals in identifying potential hazards and vulnerabilities, both from natural hazards (such as earthquakes and floods) and technical failures (such as electrical outages). The objective of this study is to analyze the potential conflicts arising from natural and technological hazards at RS Hermina Bekasi after the end of PPKM. Methods: This research uses secondary data from HVA RS Hermina Bekasi and primary data through interviews with the hospital’s occupational health and safety (K3RS) team. The analysis is conducted using a qualitative method. Findings: Earthquakes have a risk percentage of 33%, making it the highest risk within the natural hazards category. The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) plays a crucial role in disaster response and management. Internal fires carry a risk percentage of 22%, the highest in the technological hazards category. The fire department's presence during fire incidents is to assist in extinguishing and mitigating the situation. Conclusion: RS Hermina Bekasi prioritizes earthquake and internal fire hazards, with disaster response plans, simulations, and collaboration to ensure emergency preparedness. Novelty/Originality of this article: This article reveals a comprehensive analysis of potential conflicts from natural and technological hazards in hospitals post-PPKM, highlighting preparedness priorities for earthquakes and internal fires.

Simulation of spatial flooding disaster on urban roads and analysis of influencing factors: taking main city of Hangzhou as an example

Simulation of spatial flooding disaster on urban roads and analysis of influencing factors: taking main city of Hangzhou as an example

Numerical Analysis of Flood Invasion Path and Mass Flow Rate in Subway Stations under Heavy Rainfall Conditions

The occurrence of extreme weather, such as heavy rainfall and sudden increases in precipitation, has led to a notable rise in the frequency of flooding in subway stations. By conducting numerical simulations of flood disasters in subway stations under heavy rainfall conditions and gaining insights into the patterns of flood invasion inside the stations, it is possible to develop practical and feasible drainage designs for the stations. This paper employs the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, utilising the volume of fluid function (VOF) method and the renormalization k-ε group model within the vortex viscosity model. The complete process of flood invasion into subway stations with varying water levels (1500 mm, 2000 mm, and 2450 mm) is modelled, and the distribution of floods at different times under varying operational conditions is analysed to identify the evolutionary patterns of station flood history. The simulation calculations yielded the mass flow rate time history curve at the tunnel entrance and exit, which was then subjected to an analysis of its development trend over time. The total accumulated water in the subway station is calculated by integrating the difference in mass flow rate between the entrance and the tunnel exit, using the mass flow rate curve. In conclusion, the paper proposes drainage measures that provide valuable insights into pumping strategies when floodwaters infiltrate subway stations. The results indicate that the speed of flood spreading in subway stations increases with higher groundwater levels, and that the mass flow rate of floodwater entering the tunnels increases over time, eventually reaching a stable state. It was observed that, at certain times, the mass flow rate of floodwater into the tunnels exhibited a linear relationship with time.