Emergency Response Preparedness Research Articles

Preparedness and emergency response strategies for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies in disaster management: A qualitative systematic review

AbstractDisaster management, mainly related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, is a critical field that requires constant evaluation to improve preparedness and response strategies. This review synthesises evidence on global health sector strategies for CBRN preparedness, gathering lessons to enhance policymaking for future response and readiness. This review included original English and French research addressing healthcare preparedness for CBRN threats. Database searches, such as EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Ovid, Lissa, and Santécom, were conducted until November 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute's tools were utilised to assess the risk of bias. Al‐Raayan® and Nvivo® version 12 software were employed for the review and analysis. 57 articles in English and 6 in French met the inclusion criteria. The analysis identified numerous strategies, concentrating on chemical and biological incidents (Chemical and biological bioterrorism: n = 27; Epidemics and Outbreak: n = 15). “Hospitals”, “responsibility”, and “health” emerged as prominent keywords, emphasising institutional roles and health outcomes in CBRN incidents preparedness. Key findings highlighted the need for a unified global definition of bioterrorism to align international efforts. Hospital‐level initiatives were emphasised as the foundation for national preparedness, emphasising specialised training, community engagement, and robust coordination mechanisms. Geographical variability in response strategies was noted, necessitating a harmonised global approach. Continuous research, epidemic management, and addressing radiological/nuclear threats emerged as crucial elements. Among others, strategies defined under “Emergency Response Preparedness” and “Intersectoral Policy Development” outlined comprehensive preparedness contexts for CBRN incidents. The review suggests an imperative shift towards building collaborative networks and enhancing health sector operational readiness to mitigate the impacts of CBRN incidents.

Preparedness and emergency response strategies for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies in disaster management: A qualitative systematic review

AbstractDisaster management, mainly related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, is a critical field that requires constant evaluation to improve preparedness and response strategies. This review synthesises evidence on global health sector strategies for CBRN preparedness, gathering lessons to enhance policymaking for future response and readiness. This review included original English and French research addressing healthcare preparedness for CBRN threats. Database searches, such as EBSCO, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Ovid, Lissa, and Santécom, were conducted until November 2022. The Joanna Briggs Institute's tools were utilised to assess the risk of bias. Al‐Raayan® and Nvivo® version 12 software were employed for the review and analysis. 57 articles in English and 6 in French met the inclusion criteria. The analysis identified numerous strategies, concentrating on chemical and biological incidents (Chemical and biological bioterrorism: n = 27; Epidemics and Outbreak: n = 15). “Hospitals”, “responsibility”, and “health” emerged as prominent keywords, emphasising institutional roles and health outcomes in CBRN incidents preparedness. Key findings highlighted the need for a unified global definition of bioterrorism to align international efforts. Hospital‐level initiatives were emphasised as the foundation for national preparedness, emphasising specialised training, community engagement, and robust coordination mechanisms. Geographical variability in response strategies was noted, necessitating a harmonised global approach. Continuous research, epidemic management, and addressing radiological/nuclear threats emerged as crucial elements. Among others, strategies defined under “Emergency Response Preparedness” and “Intersectoral Policy Development” outlined comprehensive preparedness contexts for CBRN incidents. The review suggests an imperative shift towards building collaborative networks and enhancing health sector operational readiness to mitigate the impacts of CBRN incidents.

Assessment of existing emergency dosimetry protocols for electronic devices - a feasibility study to support emergency response

This study examines the potential use of components from electronic appliances as emergency dosimeters. The research aims to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of these electronic components in providing precise dose estimations during radiological incidents. Surface mounted devices (SMD) resistors were extracted from a previously irradiated CD-ROM and laptop, as well as pieces of the laptop's screen glass. The irradiation was carried out using a Co-60 source and MTS detectors (LiF:Mg,Ti) were used for the reference. The optically stimulated signal from the element samples was measured using a standardized protocol. Accidental dose was reconstructed using elements extracted from printed circuit boards of a CD-ROM and a laptop using the universal signal fading correction of SMDs extracted from mobile phones. The results showed high efficiency even seven days after exposure. Additionally, the results obtained from the tested SMD samples were comparable to those obtained from the MTS detectors. However, the study found that laptop screen glass samples were slightly overestimated, indicating a need for further investigation into their non-radiation induced signals and fading characteristics.In summary, the study demonstrates that certain laptop and CD-ROM components have dosimetric potential as alternative dosimeters in emergency situations compared to mobile phones, emphasizing their replaceability and low cost. The findings support the feasibility of incorporating electronic components for rapid dose assessment and triage in radiological emergencies, thereby contributing to enhanced emergency response preparedness.

Effectiveness of a Structured Disaster Management Training Program on Nurses’ Disaster Readiness for Response to Emergencies and Disasters: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Most frontline nurses lack sufficient readiness for effective disaster response. Therefore, designing a disaster management training program (DMTP) to promote nurses’ readiness for disaster response is imperative. Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured DMTP on nurses’ readiness for response to disasters. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred eligible nurses, recruited using convenience sampling from a medical centre in northern Taiwan, were randomly assigned to either the experimental (EG, n = 50) or control (CG, n = 50) group. Both groups received regular continuous nursing education. The EG received an extra two‐day (16 h) structured DMTP delivered by transdisciplinary collaborations through multiple teaching strategies (lectures, simulations, problem‐solving lessons, demonstrations, tabletop exercises, discussions, group presentations, and reflections). Readiness for disaster response, consisting of four subscales (emergency response, clinical management, self‐protection, and personal preparation), was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used as the primary method of data analyses to evaluate the intervention effects. Results. Ninety‐four nurses (94%) completed the study, and 100 nurses were included in the intention‐to‐treat analysis. While participants in the EG had increased readiness for disaster response after training and at the 12‐week follow‐up, those in the CG exhibited no differences between baseline and 12‐week follow‐up. When the group × time interaction was examined, the EG had a greater increase in readiness for disaster response and its four domains, including emergency response, clinical management, self‐protection, and personal preparedness after 12 weeks, than the CG. Conclusion. A two‐day structured DMTP utilizing multiple teaching strategies through transdisciplinary collaborations is recommended to enhance hospital nurses’ readiness for disaster response. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing leaders should consider incorporating such a structured DMTP into ongoing nursing training as a critical component of professional development programs, thereby strengthening nurses’ disaster readiness in hospital settings.

Effectiveness of a Structured Disaster Management Training Program on Nurses’ Disaster Readiness for Response to Emergencies and Disasters: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Most frontline nurses lack sufficient readiness for effective disaster response. Therefore, designing a disaster management training program (DMTP) to promote nurses’ readiness for disaster response is imperative. Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured DMTP on nurses’ readiness for response to disasters. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred eligible nurses, recruited using convenience sampling from a medical centre in northern Taiwan, were randomly assigned to either the experimental (EG, n = 50) or control (CG, n = 50) group. Both groups received regular continuous nursing education. The EG received an extra two‐day (16 h) structured DMTP delivered by transdisciplinary collaborations through multiple teaching strategies (lectures, simulations, problem‐solving lessons, demonstrations, tabletop exercises, discussions, group presentations, and reflections). Readiness for disaster response, consisting of four subscales (emergency response, clinical management, self‐protection, and personal preparation), was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention. Generalized estimating equations were used as the primary method of data analyses to evaluate the intervention effects. Results. Ninety‐four nurses (94%) completed the study, and 100 nurses were included in the intention‐to‐treat analysis. While participants in the EG had increased readiness for disaster response after training and at the 12‐week follow‐up, those in the CG exhibited no differences between baseline and 12‐week follow‐up. When the group × time interaction was examined, the EG had a greater increase in readiness for disaster response and its four domains, including emergency response, clinical management, self‐protection, and personal preparedness after 12 weeks, than the CG. Conclusion. A two‐day structured DMTP utilizing multiple teaching strategies through transdisciplinary collaborations is recommended to enhance hospital nurses’ readiness for disaster response. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing leaders should consider incorporating such a structured DMTP into ongoing nursing training as a critical component of professional development programs, thereby strengthening nurses’ disaster readiness in hospital settings.

Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Pandemics: Pharmacy Students Impacting Pharmacy Practice in Puerto Rico Through Medication Therapy Management Services During Disasters.

Community-based medication therapy management advanced pharmacy practice experiences (MTM APPE) can engage pharmacy students in public health initiatives, including emergency response preparedness, to successfully impact patient care. This study aimed to evaluate pharmacy students' perceptions of their experience on an MTM APPE during disasters in Puerto Rico. After completing the MTM APPE during times of hurricanes, earthquake or pandemic, pharmacy students were asked to voluntarily participate in a questionnaire about their perception of assisting during a disaster. The survey consisted of 5 questions. Four questions were based on a Likert scale with answers choices ranging from Agree, Not Sure, Disagree, or Not Applicable. One question requested free text comments from participants. Sixteen students completed the survey. Pharmacy students agreed that the MTM APPE taught them the clinical skills needed to assist and educate individual patients and the community that suffered from a disaster, and that the role of the pharmacist is vital when a disaster disrupts a community's health-care system. Training in emergency response to disasters should be a considered component of MTM APPE.

PENGELOLAAN SUMBERDAYA AIR TERPADU BERBASIS GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) DI KABUPATEN MUSI RAWAS UTARA

North Musi Rawas Regency is a new district that has a wealth of natural resources, one of which is water resources. However, the use of water resources is not maximized and not properly inventoried, especially in disaster activities such as floods and forest fires. This is because the condition of the area is difficult to reach, making it difficult for local governments to map the situation and potential of water resources. The increasing development of science and technology requires local governments to have special data collection systems for natural disaster situations and water resources, especially those that can be accessed by the public. The aim of this research is to identify natural disaster situations and water resource potential based on field data taken and provide information regarding natural disaster data (floods and forest fires) and water resource potential that can be accessed by the government and the public. It is hoped that the results of this research will provide a general overview of information regarding natural disaster situations and water resource potential in North Musi Rawas Regency so that it can become a work reference and decision/policy making for the Government/relevant agencies in disaster emergency response preparedness efforts and the development of sustainable water resource potential development. . The research location is North Musi Rawas Regency. The research method is a field survey. The survey carried out was to collect data and coordinate points for floods and forest fires as well as potential water resources. Next, hydrological system identification and data inventory will be carried out. Then the data was analyzed using a GIS application. The map contains information on disaster point data (floods and forest fires), water facilities and infrastructure as well as water resource potential as part of public information.

Analysis of documents issued during two phases responding to COVID-19 in Thua Thien Hue province through matching against the set of essential functions of public health in Vietnam.

ABSTRACT The Thua Thien-Hue province study in 2022-2023 on "Analysis of Documents issued during the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Matching against the Essential Functions of Public Health" is one of a series of basic studies that the Public Health Association (VPHA) has conducted right during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The main objective of these studies is to understand the gaps in the practical application of the functions and subfunctions of the EFPHs toolkit and to find effective complementaries to have a good preparedness for future health emergency response. The research series was divided into two phases: In phase one, the research object is documents issued during the pandemic, but only from agencies at the central level, including the government, the National Steering Committee, and the Ministry of Health. those default places are the most important decision-making bodies directly related to the pandemic. The second phase is conducted in three provinces of the Public Health Association in three regions of Vietnam, including Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap. The main objective of this second phase study is to describe the epidemic pattern occurring at the provincial level and decisions made at the local levels through documents issued: the textual data from the Province, District, and Commune were also matched against the EFPHs toolkit to draw specific lessons at the grassroots level in responding to a real pandemic. These studies were conducted by the Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap Public Health Associations with technical support from the Vietnam Public Health Association. Readers are invited to follow the specific research results of each province. Keywords: public health functions, directive documents, Covid-19, Thua Thien Hue

Analysis of documents issued during two phases responding to COVID-19 in Yen Bai province through matching against the set of essential functions of public health in Viet Nam.

ABSTRACT The Yen Bai province study in 2022-2023 on "Analysis of Documents issued during the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Matching against the Essential Functions of Public Health" is one of a series of basic studies that the Public Health Association (VPHA) has conducted right during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The main objective of these studies is to understand the gaps in the practical application of the functions and subfunctions of the EFPHs toolkit and to find effective complementaries to have a good preparedness for future health emergency response. The research series was divided into two phases: In phase one, the research object is documents issued during the pandemic, but only from agencies at the central level, including the government, the National Steering Committee, and the Ministry of Health. those default places are the most important decision-making bodies directly related to the pandemic. This first study was conducted by the Office of the Vietnam Public Health Association. The second phase is conducted in three provinces of the Public Health Association in three regions of Vietnam, including Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap. The main objective of this second phase study is to describe the epidemic pattern occurring at the provincial level and decisions made at the local levels through documents issued: the textual data from the Province, District, and Commune were also matched against the EFPHs toolkit to draw specific lessons at the grassroots level in responding to a real pandemic. These studies were conducted by Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap Public Health Associations with technical support from the Vietnam Public Health Association. Readers are invited to follow the specific research results of each province. Keywords: public health functions, directive documents, Covid-19, Yen Bai

Analysis of documents issued during two phases responding to COVID-19 in Dong Thap through matching against the set of essential functions of public health in Viet Nam.

The Dong Thap province study in 2022-2023 on "Analysis of Documents issued during the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Matching against the Essential Functions of Public Health" is one of a series of basic studies that the Public Health Association (VPHA) has conducted right during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. The main objective of these studies is to understand the gaps in the practical application of the functions and subfunctions of the EFPHs toolkit and to find effective complementaries to have a good preparedness for future health emergency response. The research series was divided into two phases: In phase one, the research object is documents issued during the pandemic, but only from agencies at the central level, including the government, the National Steering Committee, and the Ministry of Health. those default places are the most important decision-making bodies directly related to the pandemic. This first study was conducted by the Office of the Vietnam Public Health Association. The second phase is conducted in three provinces of the Public Health Association in three regions of Vietnam, including Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap. The main objective of this second phase study is to describe the epidemic pattern occurring at the provincial level and decisions made at the local levels through documents issued: the textual data from the Province, District, and Commune were also matched against the EFPHs toolkit to draw specific lessons at the grassroots level in responding to a real pandemic. These studies were conducted by Yen Bai, Hue, and Dong Thap Public Health Associations with technical support from the Vietnam Public Health Association. Readers are invited to follow the specific research results of each province. Keywords: public health functions, directive documents, Covid-19, Dong Thap

서울시민의 재난안전 인식 연구

This study aims to diagnose the level of disaster safety awareness among Seoul residents and to strengthen disaster safety awareness as an initial step toward building a disaster-safe community. Due to rapid urbanization and population growth, Seoul has become a central area where people live and economic activities are concentrated. As a result, it creates enormous socio-economic value and is exposed to potentially serious disasters and risks. Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) and social disasters (fires, accidents) have a more devastating impact in large cities. Therefore, disaster safety has emerged as one of the key challenges of modern society and is strongly influenced by emergency response capabilities, effective prevention and preparedness plans, and citizens' perceptions of disaster safety. Based on the survey data of 1,000 Seoul residents in 2021 conducted by the Seoul Institute, this study used E-stat 3.0, a statistical program of the Korea Social Science Data Center (KSDC), to study disaster safety awareness using frequency analysis and analysis of variance, and the results of the study are expected to derive measures to improve disaster safety awareness at the local level and serve as a resource for strengthening disaster safety awareness not only in Seoul but also in other large cities.

Elements and Dimensions of Emergencies Preparedness and Response among Large Worship Centres in South-South Region of Nigeria

Good emergency response plans help ensure that appropriate actions are taken to minimize the effects of any loss. Considering the recent emergency events involving worship places in Nigeria, the study examined the emergency response preparedness measures in large worship centres in the South-South State capitals of Nigeria. With focus on worship centres with seating capacity above 1500, the study selected worship centres such as Full Life Christian Centre (Uyo), Living Faith Church (Port Harcourt), Salvation Ministry (Yenagoa) and Christ Embassy Summit (Benin) for the study. The study adopted cross-sectional survey research design based on questionnaire for data collection and analysis was done through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS v.21) using the descriptive (frequency count and table) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance-ANOVA). The result of the analysis indicated that worship centres agreed to have appointed personnel for risk monitoring and emergency team (92.9%) and established a proper and functioning communication protocol with the relevant government sector (86.1%). However, the worship centres have not developed initial response monitoring framework to facilitate timely preparation and monitoring in case of crisis (67.2%) and lack a written contingency plan, response and emergency preparedness document that is publicly available (58.0%). The statistical analysis of the study indicated that worship centres showed significant difference in protocols between the Church and the Government for requesting/accepting international assistance (where p < 0.05, p = 0.014). overall, the worship centres showed significant level of emergency preparedness and response; however, there is need for integrated approach towards infrastructural development planning towards optimizing their emergency capabilities.

Vaccine hesitancy comes in waves: Longitudinal evidence on willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 from seven European countries

AimThis paper investigates the prevalence and determinants of three main states of people’s willingness to be vaccinated (WTBV) against COVID-19 – willing, unwilling and hesitant – and the occurrence and predictors of shifts between these states over time. Understanding the dynamics of vaccine intentions is crucial for developing targeted campaigns to increase uptake and emergency response preparedness. Study designA panel survey consisting of 9 quarterly waves of data collected between April 2020 and January 2022. Baseline data included 24 952 adults from Germany, UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, and Italy recruited from online panels to construct census-matched nationally representative samples. Methods and measuresSelf-reported COVID-19 vaccine intention was the main outcome. Multinomial logit random effects models were used to analyze the relationships of interest. All results reported as relative risk ratios (RRR). ResultsHesitancy to get vaccinated was the most unstable vaccine intention, with on average 42% of ever hesitant respondents remaining in this state through future waves, followed by the ‘unwilling’ (53%) and ‘willing (82%). Following COVID-19 news, trust in information from the government, GPs and the WHO, risk preferences, risk perceptions, and confidence in vaccines (or lack thereof) predicted vaccination intention reversals. Risk preferences acted both as an impediment and as a facilitator for the vaccine uptake depending on the initial vaccine intention. Conclusions and relevanceThis study revealed the dynamic nature of COVID-19 vaccine intentions and its predictors in 7 European countries. The findings provide insights to policymakers for designing more effective communication strategies, particularly targeted at hesitant and unwilling to vaccinate population groups, to increase vaccine uptake for future public health emergencies.

The NERIS roadmap: research challenges in emergency preparedness, response and recovery

NERIS as a European Platform on Preparedness for Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Response and Recovery (EPR&R) has developed a roadmap setting out the key research challenges for radiation emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Research projects in this field have been summarised to demonstrate how important areas of development have been identified and addressed. Radiation EPR&R has a continuous need to evolve to meet societal demands, but also to keep pace with scientific and technological developments and opportunities and so the NERIS research priorities as published in the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) are kept under review. Three challenge areas have been identified covering the topics of radiological impact assessment, protective action strategies and establishing a transdisciplinary and inclusive framework for emergency preparedness, response and recovery. The importance of these challenge areas and the underlying key topics for NERIS have been mapped across to the Joint Radiation Protection Roadmap developed by the consortium of European radiation research platforms known as MEENAS. The war in Ukraine triggered a new round of revision of the SRA that resulted in the identification of four topics as new or revised challenges for the NERIS community. These updated challenges are: (1) optimisation of management strategies for the transition and recovery phase, (2) uncertainty quantification, data assimilation and monitoring strategies, (3) inverse modelling, and (4) lessons identified from Ukraine and implications for emergency preparedness. These four areas will form the priority research areas for the NERIS community to help advance radiation emergency preparedness to meet current challenges and needs that have been identified.

A Simplified Analytical Model to Evaluate Hospital Preparedness for Earthquake Emergency Response

Casualty management is crucial after an earthquake disaster. A comprehensive emergency response plan is essential for all sectors, especially in emergency healthcare services, to reduce the fatalities and maximize the number of saved lives after a mega-earthquake disaster. Post-earthquake emergency healthcare services greatly depend on the level of hospital preparedness. This research proposed a simplified analytical model to evaluate hospitals' preparedness for earthquake emergency response. The proposed model considers the number, severity, and distribution of injuries in the affected region, as well as the seismic vulnerability, hospitals' existing resources, and the timeline. The model can predict different levels of preparedness for different numbers of casualties and estimate the number of saved lives. In a case study of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, for damage state grades 1 and 2, a dynamic range of results have been discovered where a sufficient level of preparedness can be observed for a lower number and an insufficient level of preparedness for a higher number of casualties. In addition, we observed that prioritization of casualty treatment could significantly change the hospital preparedness level. Emergency managers and policymakers can utilize the proposed model to determine hospital preparedness levels and take the required actions to bridge the gap between post-earthquake hospital demand and capacity.
 The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 11(1), 2022, P 53-68

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.

Gambaran Tingkat Pengetahuan Tentang Mitigasi Bencana Tanah Longsor pada Remaja di Desa Jeruk Selo Boyolali

Landslides are the movement of slope-forming materials in the form of rocks, debris, soil, or mixed materials that move down or out of the slope. Lack of public knowledge on handling emergency response, mitigation, and disaster preparedness can cause a lot of losses. This problem has been recorded since 2020, 572 landslides have been found with landslide-prone locations in Indonesia totaling 6,664 areas. Anticipation of landslides can be overcome by providing education on disaster risk management by providing landslide disaster mitigation. The purpose of this study was to describe the level of knowledge about landslide disaster mitigation among adolescents in Dayu hamlet, Jeruk village, Selo sub-district, Boyolali district. This study uses quantitative descriptive with the number of respondents as many as 50 teenagers who were selected based on total sampling technique. The analytical method used is univariate analysis. The study showed that the level of knowledge of adolescents regarding landslide disaster mitigation was found to be 88% (44 respondents) with good knowledge. The level of knowledge of adolescents related to landslide disaster mitigation in Dayu hamlet, Jeruk village, Selo sub-district, Boyolali district, was mostly well-informed.

PkM Edukasi Organisasi Tim Tanggap Darurat di Area Kerja pada Karyawan PT. Sarana Tirta Alamindo

An emergency is an unexpected difficult situation that requires immediate treatment to prevent accidents/fatalities. The work environment has the potential for emergencies such as fires and earthquakes. According to risk identification data, the work environment area must be prepared to face disasters by preparing resources. Support infrastructure facilities and human resources. Support infrastructure facilities and human resources. Prevention efforts to minimize risk are by planning a disaster emergency response system. Emergency response unit is a work unit specially formed to deal with emergency situations in the workplace. Emergency response teams work quickly to deal with all disaster events quickly, precisely, and accurately and to reduce the incidence of casualties and losses due to disaster events. Implementation of community service activities for employees of PT. Sarana Tirta Alamindo provides participants with an understanding of emergency response so that they are able to plan emergency response preparedness in the work area. The results of the emergency response socialization activity in the work area, employees understand the importance of being ready for emergency response, through training and discussion all must be familiar and able to apply in their work area emergency response conditions and the importance of support from company leaders to form an emergency response team that works and is directly responsible for handling the situation. work area emergency.

Family preparedness of children in dealing with a flood disaster in Paupanda II Village, Wewaria sub-district of Ende Regency Indonesia

Background: For almost ten years Wewaria Village, Wewaria sub-district of Ende Regency suffered a flood disaster. The flood occurred in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Paupanda II Village has a puddle up to one and a half meter every year. Flood emergencies can cause family panic in rescuing themselves or their children under five. Children are a vulnerable group in the health sector because they cannot help themselves, when floods. If family preparedness is low, then the child’s health threatened, increasing the child’s morbidity or mortality rate. Purpose: This study explains or explore the experience of family preparedness who have children under five dealing with floods. Method: it used Purposive sampling in selecting the first informant then using snow ball sampling for the next informant. The number of samples is 9 people taken from a family of 6 people, 2 policy stakeholders, and 1 health worker. The qualitative analysis used is triangulation of data sources. Results: Family knowledge is well, but preparedness is still low for children needs, flood early warning, flood emergency response preparedness, and resource mobilization deal with floods.

Evaluating the impact of post-processing medium-range ensemble streamflow forecasts from the European Flood Awareness System

Abstract. Streamflow forecasts provide vital information to aid emergency response preparedness and disaster risk reduction. Medium-range forecasts are created by forcing a hydrological model with output from numerical weather prediction systems. Uncertainties are unavoidably introduced throughout the system and can reduce the skill of the streamflow forecasts. Post-processing is a method used to quantify and reduce the overall uncertainties in order to improve the usefulness of the forecasts. The post-processing method that is used within the operational European Flood Awareness System is based on the model conditional processor and the ensemble model output statistics method. Using 2 years of reforecasts with daily timesteps, this method is evaluated for 522 stations across Europe. Post-processing was found to increase the skill of the forecasts at the majority of stations in terms of both the accuracy of the forecast median and the reliability of the forecast probability distribution. This improvement is seen at all lead times (up to 15 d) but is largest at short lead times. The greatest improvement was seen in low-lying, large catchments with long response times, whereas for catchments at high elevation and with very short response times the forecasts often failed to capture the magnitude of peak flows. Additionally, the quality and length of the observational time series used in the offline calibration of the method were found to be important. This evaluation of the post-processing method, and specifically the new information provided on characteristics that affect the performance of the method, will aid end users in making more informed decisions. It also highlights the potential issues that may be encountered when developing new post-processing methods.