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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64484-0_10
Chapter 10
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster
Management
Abstract A disaster is a significant disturbance that occurs in a short span of time.
Emergency is an unforeseen situation that calls for actions immediately. A disaster
is likely to have more overwhelming consequences and/or affect more people compared to an emergency. An emergency may turn into a disaster, whereas a disaster is
innately an emergency situation. A disaster could be anthropogenic or natural. The
disaster affects health and environment in many ways resulting in injury, epidemic,
death and pollution. Due to the significance of the above issues, this chapter discusses the theory and practice of emergency preparedness and disaster management
along with case studies.
10.1 Introduction
A disaster is a significant disturbance occurring in a short span of time. Emergency
is an unforeseen situation that calls for actions immediately. A disaster is likely to
have more overwhelming consequences and/or affect more people compared to an
emergency. An emergency may turn into a disaster, whereas a disaster is innately an
emergency situation.
Disaster could be anthropogenic (industrial accidents, transportation accidents
etc.) or natural (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis etc.). The disaster affects the health and environments in many ways resulting
in injury, epidemic, death and pollution.
Each location on the earth is unique in terms of weather, geography, topography,
biodiversity, infrastructure, language, culture, demography, literacy, health and
many more variables. Disasters affect different places with different magnitude of
vulnerability with respect to distinct social, health and economic conditions.
Earthquakes cause numerous injuries demanding medical care compared to floods,
as well as tidal waves. Population movement and environmental changes may result
in higher risk of disease transmission. Health risks following a disaster occur at
various times and differ within a disaster-affected area. Casualties occur mostly at
the place and time of impact, while the risks of augmented disease transmission are
the greatest due to overcrowding and decline in the standards of sanitation and other
hygiene. Disaster-created demands for food, shelter, as well as primary health care
(Pan American Health Organization 2000).
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64484-0_10
Chapter 10
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster
Management
Abstract A disaster is a significant disturbance that occurs in a short span of time.
Emergency is an unforeseen situation that calls for actions immediately. A disaster
is likely to have more overwhelming consequences and/or affect more people compared to an emergency. An emergency may turn into a disaster, whereas a disaster is
innately an emergency situation. A disaster could be anthropogenic or natural. The
disaster affects health and environment in many ways resulting in injury, epidemic,
death and pollution. Due to the significance of the above issues, this chapter discusses the theory and practice of emergency preparedness and disaster management
along with case studies.
10.1 Introduction
A disaster is a significant disturbance occurring in a short span of time. Emergency
is an unforeseen situation that calls for actions immediately. A disaster is likely to
have more overwhelming consequences and/or affect more people compared to an
emergency. An emergency may turn into a disaster, whereas a disaster is innately an
emergency situation.
Disaster could be anthropogenic (industrial accidents, transportation accidents
etc.) or natural (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis etc.). The disaster affects the health and environments in many ways resulting
in injury, epidemic, death and pollution.
Each location on the earth is unique in terms of weather, geography, topography,
biodiversity, infrastructure, language, culture, demography, literacy, health and
many more variables. Disasters affect different places with different magnitude of
vulnerability with respect to distinct social, health and economic conditions.
Earthquakes cause numerous injuries demanding medical care compared to floods,
as well as tidal waves. Population movement and environmental changes may result
in higher risk of disease transmission. Health risks following a disaster occur at
various times and differ within a disaster-affected area. Casualties occur mostly at
the place and time of impact, while the risks of augmented disease transmission are
the greatest due to overcrowding and decline in the standards of sanitation and other
hygiene. Disaster-created demands for food, shelter, as well as primary health care
(Pan American Health Organization 2000).