DISASTER SITES

Navigating the Disaster:  Knowing what’s out there.  What was there before, what might be gone now.  It involves the critical process of hazard analysis and using all possible tools at our disposal to make informed decisions toward mission success.

Personnel Accountability:  Not withstanding impacted victims, knowing which responder, and where they are going is critical to their safety. This would aid in an ability to reach them should they require aid themselves.

   In the field, personnel should all be outfitted with a simple “Whistle” to serve as a possible distress signal to all others in the area to help locate someone or individuals in need of assistance.

   Example:  During Hurricane Katrina the government did place at its disposal the use of geo-satellite use to graphically document conditions on the ground.  Knowing which infrastructures where intact, which were gone and providing this information to IC’s on the ground to better enable them to make their deployment decisions. This capability and others like it might be placed on the chopping block as our economic emergency seems to call for cuts all across the board.  These cuts will undoubtedly affect our effectiveness in response and recovery efforts.

Damage Assessments:

   There are varying methods for assessing damage of impacted sites.  Dependent upon weather conditions, aerial assessment may be made initial to identify the magnitude of the event.  This may only provide estimates of the damage.  However it may help provide preliminary estimates to determine disaster declarations, etc.

New technology is and will come into play to increase our capabilities in assessing damage and hazard exposures that will likely face responders/workers.  Robotics, as well as drones or remotely controlled aircraft are new examples.  Such devices may serve to provide visual assessment of damage impact.  Audio communication capabilities will likely also be incorporated to relay messages and communication from the field back to decision makers.  They may also lend themselves to acquiring environmental samples.  They could be used to identify the presence hazardous materials, etc.

   Devises such as Google Glasses are being considered for use for individual responders entering into hazardous areas.

   The American Red Cross volunteers have been used for decades in performing the actual foot work associated with identifying damage to structures and dwellings.  There are full courses dedicated to assessments.  Outside the services offered by ARC volunteers, other assessments will be performed by engineers and specialists.  These individuals are all well versed in their respective specialties and will be called into play to recognize and address damages to utilities, gas and electric, infrastructures and building stability. Etc.

Urban search and rescue (US&R):

Search & Rescue Assessment Marking: In the United States, a different FEMA marking system is used on searched structures, as follows:

• A single diagonal slash indicates that a search in the building is in progress. This is used to indicate searcher locations and to avoid duplication of the search effort.
• An X inside a square means “Dangerous – Do Not Enter!”
• An X with writing around it means “Search Completed”, with the time (and the date if appropriate) written above the X, the team conducting the search written to the left side of the X, the results of the search (number of victims removed, number of dead, type of search such as primary or secondary) written below the X, and any additional information noted about the structure to the right of the X.
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These x-codes are used in a variety of situations and were prolific (and adopted and modified by other agencies) during post-Katrina operations.

Buddy System: There should be little need for any individual to go out into a hazard, impact area alone.  Fire-Rescue personnel live by this policy.  In many instances they have rapid response teams on the ready to render them aid should they fall victim, become overwhelmed, trapped or incapacitated.

Distraction  (Awareness & the Power of Observation)

We lose a great deal of our awareness level when we are distracted or distract ourselves from our surroundings.  In paying attention to human behavior even under the most normal of circumstances, you will notice how often many of us lose focus of our surroundings.  A very serious example of this, as witnessed far too often is the use of handheld devises in texting or even simple calls.  Most new devises will allow for hands free capability. “USE THEM”!

If there is a down side to new communication technology it might very well be the danger of distraction.  When using cell phones, smart devises, tablets, laptops, etc.  We have witnessed common distractions of using such devises.  It’s not like trying to walk and chew gum at the same time.  Most of us have that down fairly well.

     Using such devises under even the most normal of circumstances will almost command someone to lose attention and awareness of their surrounding environment.

Here are a few hints for your safety:

• Don’t ever text and drive (NOT EVER)
• Don’t text on a devise and walk around blindly.  It will likely put you on a collision course with something!
• If you wear a headset or ear piece from a devise, there’s’ a good chance you may not hear something you need to hear such as a warning signal, tone, or instruction.

If you are going to use such a devise, make sure its use is conducive to the hazard exposures around you or wait until you are idol or in a safe location, where you will not place yourself (or others) in harm’s way.

How often have you watched an individual calling or especially texting while they try to do something else?  Even something as simple as walking, they will tend to not pay as close attention to what they are doing. They are placing (un-intentionally or subconsciously) themselves in harm’s way.

If you are not present mentally, you are not fully there.  Regardless of your position, start setting examples to those around you by utilizing communication devises in such a way that they do not add to the likelihood of an injury or worse.

If your function is stationary and the reason of a meeting is for the purpose of communicating, that’s when attention to devises, paper-reports, etc might be appropriate.  In meetings, the use of cellular/digital devices may also be a negative, dependent upon what communication is being conveyed in the meeting.  There are written works on so called social etiquette disrespect or ethical use of a devise when someone is trying to talk or communicate with you.

Remarkable tools, but least they be laid to rest when you’re supposed to be attentive to those around you.

Just for arguments sake, say you are gathering information on a device in a situation meeting or briefing and you miss critical information pertaining to changes with regards to environmental hazards or safety concerns.  The meeting brief ends and you leave to return to your functions without all the information presented.  Could this adversely affect the welfare or safety of you or others?  Just Sayin!

What we are proposing, if it hasn’t already been, is to keep these devises from use in an emergency/disaster meeting, until they can be used in an acceptable manner.  Yes, there may exist an emergency message coming through.  If that can be recognized, excuse yourself and make sure you gather what information you may have missed when you return.

As soon as you move from a stationary position, everything changes.

The danger increases remarkably when one is situated in a disaster site, such as a debris field, hazardous materials environment, or dangerous operation of some type.  Please stay attuned to the dangers that may be present around you.  If you need to do something other than be 100% attentive to your surroundings, find a safe location where you might take a moment to call or communicate out.