Читать книгу Disaster Response and Recovery - David A. McEntire - Страница 60

Although it is useful to classify hazards in order to understand their unique features, it is important for you to recognize that hazards are not mutually exclusive. In other words, each hazard may interact with others in convoluted and perhaps even unpredictable ways. The examples are numerous:

 An earthquake may break a dam, cause a building collapse, and produce landslides. It may also a Natech disaster which results from a combination of natural and technological hazards).

 Degradation of the environment (e.g., deforestation) could exacerbate flash flooding and create mudslides that are typically only related to severe storms.

 Flooding could lead to the spread of certain communicable diseases.

 A train derailment could result in the spill of dangerous chemicals and harm the natural habitat and pose danger to nearby populations.

 Those participating in mass shooting and riots may trigger panic flight behavior.

 Terrorism may have a significant negative impact on critical infrastructure, public health and psychological well‐being.

These are not hypothetical situations. Compound disasters occur more frequently than people think. For instance, on February 7, 2021, a glacier broke off a Himalayan mountain near Uttarakhand in Northern India. The massive displacement of ice, rock, and water broke a dam and flooded the Rishiganga, Dhauliganga and Alaknada Rivers. The water rushed downstream and subsequently damaged two other hydroelectric projects, as well as a number of roads and bridges. Several villages were impacted, and at least 36 people died and more than 200 were categorized as missing.

In addition, human vulnerability will complicate and exacerbate the impact of hazards/triggering agents. Studies reveal that disasters are not caused by a “single factor;” instead they are often the result of “accumulation of complex chains” of actions and events (Aini 2005, 56). For instance, warnings may not be heeded due to language barriers or cultural misunderstandings. Poverty may limit people’s options for evacuation and sheltering. A lack of preparedness may complicate emergency actions to save lives and treat the injured. Health disparities may exacerbate the spread of disease among vulnerable populations. Insufficient training may slow down damage assessment activities. Conflict over recovery policies may halt rebuilding efforts for an extended period of time. The diverse ways vulnerability interacts with hazards are almost limitless. The complexity of disasters is not always understood or appreciated.

The major point to consider from this section is that a single hazard is not the only thing you need to be concerned about as an emergency manager. You must appreciate the complex interaction of multiple hazards and diverse vulnerabilities as these relationships can have serious impacts upon response and recovery operations. In most cases, you will be responding to multiple hazards and vulnerabilities in any given disaster. This creates serious challenges that you must be ready to deal with at a moment’s notice.