Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 20.1
(Continued)
Response and relief during event
EVACUATION
Recommendations:
Issue:
Poorly organized evacuation can
increase the stress experienced
by those affected by
ooding
.
Better coordinated and organized emergency response and evacuation plans
.
Re-evaluate the location of evacuation centres and emergency response control centres outside
risk areas
.
Do not assume that everyone has access to transportation for evacuation
.
Consider cultural sensitivities in evacuation centres in areas with large ethnic minority
groups, e.g. segregated areas and facilities for males and females, provision of
appropriate food
Recovery after event
POST-FLOOD DISRUPTION AND
FINANCIAL WORRIES
Recommendations:
.
Provide practical support to help during clean-up
Issue:
.
Ensure contingency planning for the loss of essential services and provision of essential supplies
(e.g. food and water) in major emergencies
.
Make available de
nitive guidance on best practice for drying, stripping out and repairing of
properties
.
Provide more advice and support for small businesses
.
Encourage employers (including local authorities) to be more sympathetic to staff who need to take
time off to deal with recovery
.
Work with insurance companies, loss adjusters and building contractors to improve their assessment
and handling of insurance claims and the repair of damaged properties, and their sensitivity to those
who have been
ooded
Psychological distress is often
more re
ective of the dif
culties
and hardships encountered
during the recovery rather than
the impact phase of an event
HEALTH
Recommendations:
Issues:
.
Further research into the risk to public health from
oods
Need clearer understanding of the
effects of
ooding upon
people's physical and mental
health and well-being and how
to mitigate these
.
Explore the feasibility of increased use of Psychological First Aid to practically meet people's
individual psycho-bio-social needs through the process of listening and formulating an action plan
for recovery
.
Facilitate post-event self-help support groups where people can meet and talk with others who have
been affected
.
Explore ways to facilitate the building of social networks and resources
.
Encourage active coping to reduce psychological distress following
ooding
.
Draw upon those who have experienced past
ood events to demonstrate that people can and do
recover
.
Target psychosocial resources at marginalized households with less access to information, support
and communication channels relating to assistance programmes
.
Explore ways to highlight the importance of keeping up routine social activities to help maintain
social networks and support camaraderie during recovery
.
Increase understanding of which groups may be more vulnerable at certain phases of a
ood event
than others
.
Conduct research to better understand the impacts of
oods on front-line workers
WIDER COMMUNITY IMPACTS
Recommendations:
Issue:
.
Assess the wider recovery needs of affected communities; practical, social and emotional
Disaster events and the recovery
process need to be recognized
and considered as social and
communal phenomena and not
just affecting individuals
.
Better understand communities and their values, as awareness campaigns that re
ect social values
and perspectives and common motivations can serve to achieve common goals, e.g. increased
resilience
.
Encourage a positive sense of community through facilitating community networks
.
Prioritize restoring the social fabric of communities (e.g. by setting up meeting places) to mobilize,
maintain and enhance natural community and social support systems
.
Involve communities in planning and implementing responses
