Friday, 6 April 2018

First Critical Step To Disaster Damage Assessment And Recovery

By Eric Baker


The thing about emergencies is that they take advantage of surprise. There is also virtually no information that could aid a recovery plan. The loss of control experienced by parties could lead to panic and confusion. It also makes people focus on the short term, they lose sight of the bigger picture. The best and smartest thing to do is to take a deep breath and conduct disaster damage assessment.

The first thing is to describe the condition accurately. Only until the full scope of a situation has been understood can one start to make the necessary steps. Taking a step before fully understanding the instance is a sure way to fail. While time is being wasted going down the wrong path unknowingly, the condition might escalate. The best way to deal with an emergency is to act fast. Acting fast and blindly are two different things. The latter is vehemently discouraged.

Casualty does not only encompass injuries and loss of human life. It could also mean the loss of business interests or assets. In their individual contexts, they are fatal blows. While taking the stairs and one falls. They do not just continue immediately. They bend and inspect the knee. The level of injury determines whether it makes sense to continue the rest of the way or if one should stop and attend to the knee first. Taking stock of the loss in an emergency ensures one knows exactly how much work the recovery plan will have t do.

After the above have been measured and documented, there is need to break up the situation into categories. What would constitute a mild emergency? What would be considered severe? By categorizing the condition, one is able to keep track of it in case it escalates. It is also prudent to determine the risk of escalation. This way one knows to be extra vigilant as they check on the signs of escalation or to focus their efforts on a recovery plan.

After a careful consideration of the risk of escalation, one can start to think about a possible band-aid solution before the surgery begins. Which point of the situation warrants immediate and first priority? By attending to that aspect, the field should open a little more for more action to be taken. It is akin to punching the genitals to incapacitate the opponent so that one can have more time to deal with the rest of him.

Once an emergency response is complete, there is a need for a recovery plan. One will be looking to remedy the present situation than later trying to get back to pre-fall condition. That means first aid first then finding a way to get medical attention.

After the plan is developed, the next thing is together all the tools required. It might be personnel or it could be machinery. In a business setting, it would be digging into the emergency recovery fund and getting consultants to help. After a terrorist attack, it would be getting blood donations and medical help for casualties.

This is a critical step to recovery from an emergency. If it is skimped on or compromised, the situation could get very dire very fast. It might end up being irrevocable. Accurate assessment is therefore paramount to full recovery.




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