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Respond to each post with a FULL Single-space paragraph
A reliable reference for each paragraph
Respond DO NOT summarize.
Very important; you have to include your thoughts
APA style
At least 125-150 words each
3 responses in total
Course Name: Psychological Aspects of Disaster
The assignment was:
“Listen: to This American Life Episode 296: After The Flood (September 9, 2005), 60 min
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/296/after-the-flood (Links to an
external site.)
(It is sometimes easier to listen while driving or doing chores, like folding laundry or doing
dishes. Feel free to do so!)
Reflect on the following:
1. What act stuck out to you the most? Why?
2. What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency
Management or as part of a Recovery team?
3. How might these experiences have been better prevented?
4. What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE a disaster strikes so the
impact of such a disaster is lessened?
5. What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community recovery and
resilience?”
Post#1
“Question 1: What act stuck out to you the most? Why?
Each of the acts was harrowing and disheartening; however, the act that really struck me,
was act one with Denise Moore. Her story was distressing in many ways, but the aspect that
shook me the most was how strongly her story reminded me of those from the Holocaust.
Perhaps it was the way in which Ms. Moore describes the fear people in the convention
center experienced, and their concern not simply that they would be left for dead, but rather
deliberately killed by acts such as officials opening the flood gates that drew a mental image
of how those persecuted in the Holocaust had experienced.
Question 2: What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency
Management or as part of a Recovery team?
I think for me the most difficult task would be to recognize that I may not be able to locate
all those in need of assistance (at least night right away), that I may not have the resources to
help everyone in need of assistance, and that this may require a triaging of which
individuals/groups affected get the benefit of resources. This realization that despite my best
intentions to help all affected both physically and emotionally, that I may not have the
capability to do so.
Question 3: How might these experiences have been better prevented?
I think there are countless aspects of the response to this event that would have improved
the experience of those involved, the most important probably being planning prior to the
storm. Coordinating evacuation procedures and shelter capabilities before they were actually
needed would have created better access to resources for all involved. Another aspect that
may have assisted would be planning and training to understand how to modify plans and
procedures during the response and recovery phases of an event. Despite the best intentions
and forethought in the planning phase, many needs and requirements will not be met, and
many plans will not be actionable or substantial enough once an event is underway. To
improve this, emergency managers, public officials, and responders need to have training and
approval to deviate from the plan and improvise. One of the reasons I enjoy disaster
management is because so much of what responders and managers do is utilizing the
available resources and finding ways to make them work for the situation; I enjoy
improvising and thinking outside the box to manage situations.
Question 4: What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE a disaster strikes
so the impact of such a disaster is lessened?
One of the themes that I noted throughout almost every story was the unity of individuals to
form a community and how the determination of those groups led to survival. A fight for
survival and a sense of caring for others experiencing the same situation is a strong
motivating factor. In Ms. Moore’s recanting of her experience she describes “gangsters” as
creating a response team with an organized structure, going as far as acquiring bright-colored
raincoats to be easily visible to those in their group and to stand out to others. These
individuals likely had no formal emergency management training, yet understood the needs
of those around them and devised a system to provide as much help as they could. If
communities and individuals are trained to formally assist in community planning, response,
and recovery efforts, the number of prepared individuals and available resources could
significantly increase. A better-prepared community, capable of providing more assistance to
each other at a local level, will most likely fare better in a large disaster event where state
and federal resources are not abundant enough to match the need.
Question 5: What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community
recovery and resilience?
Where to begin… After hearing the stories showcased by Mr. Glass, one would think the
most important aspect of recovery is a need for government and local officials to rebuild the
trust of those who had suffered so significantly during this event. The rebuilding of trust
takes time and is best done through actions rather than words. With the creation of realistic
and achievable disaster plans in which communities are involved, those affected may begin
to recover and feel better prepared for future events. This not only includes a return of
managers and stakeholders to the planning table, but should also include training for
individuals and communities on disaster preparedness and response (as discussed in question
4) so that, communities will be better prepared to help themselves in the future.”
Post#2
“1. What act stuck out to you the most? Why?
Two things stuck out the most in this episode. The first one regards the lack of a clear
outline of duty and accountability about emergency response and recovery. Secondly,
emergency response is meant to rescue and save victims and not to treat them like criminals.
2. What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency
Management or as part of a Recovery team?
One of the most challenging things about responding to emergency or recovery is
maintaining emotional stability to offer a shoulder for the victims to lean on. Victims of a
disaster are terrified; some are grieving the loss of their loved ones while others are nursing
severe physical and emotional injuries. Professionals in the response or recovery teams
witness all these and are still required to remain emotionally stable to counsel, give hope,
and assure victims that all will be well. Besides, they still strive to help them get off the
danger zone or recover from traumatic events. Managing to remain strong emotionally,
mentally, and physically is the hardest about these duties and responsibilities. I believe that
this is the reason why most of the emergency responders and recovery teams often suffer
post-traumatic stress disorder.
3. How might these experiences have been better prevented?
These experiences would be better prevented if there were adequate and better
emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plan. In this case, preparedness means
preparing and empowering the community to build a resilient community that knows what
to do when such an emergency occurs and having in place well-trained professionals,
resources, plus guidelines to respond to an emergency adequately (Redd & Frieden, 2017).
Great response and recovery come with excellent preparation that requires keeping everyone
aware and trained to provide the best services to the victims. What manifest, in this case, is
the total lack of response and humanity. It is like adding some salt to an injury and expecting
it recovery smoothly. If there were a well-planned and humanitarian response, most of these
worse experiences would have been prevented.
4. What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE disaster strikes, so the
impact of such a disaster is lessened?
It all begins with warranting excellent emergency preparedness, well-trained, and
human response and recovery team and community. As stated earlier, emergency
preparedness means incorporating the community in preparedness activities and availing
every resource that they may need when disaster strikes (WHO, 2017).
5. What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community recovery and
resilience?
The recovery effort aims to restore social welfare as quickly as possible. Firstly, there
is a need to build an excellent recovery team that understands what victims go through
during a disaster. Additionally, there should be community groups led by community
volunteers who work closely with community health nurses, response and recovery teams,
and social workers to provide ways through which the community can efficiently channel
their concerns for quick intervention.”
Post#3
“What act stuck out to you the most? Why?
The statement made by Bill O’Reilly in act 3. My interpretation of what he was saying is that
ultimately you need to be responsible to take care of yourself and family, but that if you are
poor then you won't be successful in this task and you will be relying on another entity (the
government) to save you.
Additionally, it is mind-boggling to me that they would impede the victims from exiting the
city. In a multi-casualty incident (MCI) one of the first steps of triage is to have all “walking
wounded” to exit the incident scene. By eliminating the ones less injured you can start to
focus on the ones needing the most attention. So why not allow the ones that are able to, to
leave.
What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency Management
or as part of a Recovery team?
The lack of communication throughout the response members, and not being able to truly
help the citizens. We all got involved in this to help people, and to force people to stay in
deplorable living conditions is unacceptable. I don’t think I would be able to fallow
commands and force people to stay in those situations.
How might these experiences have been better prevented?
Better preparedness plans, and faster evacuation orders by the local government. Knowing
the levees would fail they know where the water was going to go. So get the people out
before it’s a problem.
What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE a disaster strikes so the impact
of such a disaster is lessened?
Understand our disadvantaged communities, do not just tell them what they need to do to
prepare for disasters. Some community members cannot afford extra supplies. Instead,
develop educational opportunities on how to make things stretch to be able to build supply
stashes. Utilize BOGO offers at grocery stores, maybe buy cans of beans if they go on sale
even if its something you usually won't eat, then you are almost guaranteed not to eat it
when you are hungry. Maybe hold a disaster fair with local participating NGO’s that could
help distribute useful equipment and help educate the citizens.
What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community recovery and
resilience?
Life safety is the priority, save as many as you can. You also must simultaneously aid the
victims that have already been saved. Providing adequate food, water, shelter to those
victims that are now relying on you for their wellbeing.”
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