The Disaster Environment

To understand disaster communications, you need to have some understanding of a disaster.

Most of my Red Cross experience was in relatively "nice" areas. Not expensive homes and such, but good neighborhoods. Places where people knew their neighbors and respected each other. In good times they would be very nice places to live. Things change after a major disaster. Some things get better, some get worse.

Wind damaged building near New Orleans after Katrina.

Lets put you there, in that neighborhood. What would you experience? How would you feel?

You will be tired. Very very tired. This lead to irritability, errors in judgment, lowered resistance to disease and accidents. And it is not just you that will be tired, but everybody will be tired. Bone dead tired.

Imagine being in a town where everyone is stressed. Small incidents bloom into confrontations. People make stupid mistakes which irritate others. Everyone becomes edgy.

Confusion will be extreme. It will be almost impossible to find out what is really happening. Rumors will circulate so many times you will begin to believe the most ridiculous stories. You will spend energy going someplace to get something that is not available. Not once or twice but many times.

Making important decisions will be very difficult. You (and others) will become disoriented. Nothing will be as it was. After Katrina there were no street signs. Something as simple as giving someone travel directions was a real challenge. Your everyday reality will be distorted and frightening.

It will be dangerous. Live electrical wires, polluted drinking water, flooded roads, downed trees,

Debris is everywhere making travel difficult and dangerous.

broken glass, blocked roads. All this will make any “normal” task difficult and dangerous. It took us several days to move a communications vehicle a short distance (blocks) because of the tangle of downed power lines, trees and debris.

Nothing will be routine. You will have to view each and every action in a new perspective. You will not be able to assume that a simple trip down the block to help a neighbor will be safe and easy. Debris is dangerous. A wall might fall. Trees might snap shooting debris with rifle like power. Glass, nails and broken metal will puncture your tires.

You will not have any news. Most communications will be gone for a few days and that is when you need information the most. Soon some radio stations will be on the air, but they will be overwhelmed with technical problems and staff shortages.

Your personal contacts will be limited. The worry about others that are not easily contacted will be very difficult and painful. Where is my daughter, is she alive? How are my friends doing?

For all these reasons, and more, you will find your ability to move around, your ability to gather information, your ability to contact others and to maintain contact with your family will be very difficult if not impossible.

Communications takes on a new importance. Because the situation you are in is unknown, your need for information and contact with others is vital. So lets do the first and most important step, make a communications plan.