emergency management

Drafting of local, regional and national emergency plans related to natural phenomena (landslides, torrential phenomena, falls of rock blocks, floods, avalanches, snow storms, etc.).

Immediate mobilization of emergency personnel on site for rapid response. Observation of the area and planning of tasks to be carried out to achieve a quick return to normality. Follow-up of the work until the end of the emergency.

emergency management

• Determine the scope and boundaries of the affected geographic area
• Evaluation, monitoring and forecasting of the evolution of the emergency, the safety of buildings, urban roads and traffic
• Determination of the possibility of acting without generating new risks
• Determine the possibility of collateral damage and/or domino effects
• Establish the sequence of tasks to perform
• Advice on the need for evacuations
• others

We have managed multiple emergencies related to natural risks, from numerous falls of rock blocks in the Solana de Andorra la Vella, landslides in La Massana, rock falls on the Andorra road network, torrential phenomena in the parish of Sant Julià de Lòria (all them in Andorra), going through a large rockfall that caused 11 deaths in 2015 in Ecuador, and even counseling at the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN) of the Ministry of Defense of Peru during episodes of the "El Niño" phenomenon "of the year 2017.

Emergency plans

Disaster management (or emergency management) is the creation of plans through which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Disaster management does not prevent or eliminate threats; instead, it focuses on creating plans to lessen the effect of disasters. Failure to create a plan can result in asset damage, human mortality, and loss of income.

If possible, emergency planning should aim to prevent emergencies from occurring, which should develop a good action plan to mitigate the results and effects of any emergency. As time passes and more data becomes available, usually by studying emergencies as they occur, the emergency plan should evolve. The development of emergency plans is a cyclical process, common to many risk management disciplines, such as business continuity and security risk management, as set out below:

Recognition or identification of risks

Classification or evaluation of risks

Respond to significant risks

Tolerate

Try

Transfer

End up

resource controls

Reaction planning

Reporting and monitoring of risk performance

Review of the risk management framework

There are various guidelines and publications related to emergency planning, published by various professional organizations, such as ASIS, FEMA, and the Emergency Planning College. There are very few specific emergency management standards.

In order to avoid or reduce significant losses to a society, emergency managers should work to identify and anticipate potential risks, hoping that the probability of occurrence is reduced. In the event of an emergency, managers should have a plan in place to mitigate the effects of that emergency, as well as to ensure continuity of critical operations after the incident. It is essential that an organization/administration includes procedures to determine if an emergency situation has occurred and when an emergency management plan should be activated.

Prevention

Prevention has recently been added to the phases of emergency management. It focuses on preventing human danger, mainly from potential natural disasters. Preventive measures are taken both nationally and internationally, designed to provide permanent protection against disasters. Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters, can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be mitigated with good evacuation planning, environmental planning, and design standards.

Mitigation

Mitigation is key to national preparedness. Individuals and families are trained to avoid unnecessary risks. This includes an assessment of potential risks to personal/family health and personal property, and measures taken to minimize the effects of a disaster.

Preventive or mitigation measures take different forms for different types of disasters. In earthquake-prone areas, these preventative measures may include structural changes such as installing a valve to instantly shut off the supply of natural gas, seismic property renovations, and fixing items inside a building. The latter can include mounting furniture, refrigerators, water heaters and others on the walls, and adding cabinet locks. In flooded areas, houses can be built on high dice/pillars. In areas prone to prolonged power outages, installing a generator ensures continuity of electrical service.

At the national level, governments could implement large-scale mitigation measures. Following the 2010 monsoon floods, the Punjab government subsequently built 22 "disaster-resistant" model villages, comprising 1,885 single-story houses, along with schools and health centers.

Preparation

Preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use in the event of a disaster. These equipment and procedures can be used to reduce vulnerability to disaster, to mitigate the impacts of a disaster, or to respond more efficiently in an emergency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has established a basic four-stage vision of preparedness that moves from mitigation to response readiness to recovery and back to mitigation in a circular planning process. This circular and overlapping model has been modified by other agencies and discussed in academic articles. FEMA advises citizens to prepare their home with some basic emergency items in case food distribution lines are disrupted.

Emergency preparedness can be difficult to measure.

Reply

The response phase of an emergency may start with Investigation and Rescue, but in all cases the focus will quickly shift to meeting the basic humanitarian needs of the affected population. This help can be provided by national or international agencies and organizations. Effective coordination of disaster assistance is often crucial, especially when many organizations respond and the capacity of local emergency management agencies has been overwhelmed by demand or diminished by the disaster itself.

On a personal level, the response may take the form of a shelter-in or evacuation.

In a refugee scenario, a family would be prepared to fend for themselves in their home for many days without any external support. In an evacuation, a family leaves the area by car or other mode of transportation, taking with them the maximum amount of supplies they can carry.