Disaster communication is significant during, and even after a disaster occurs. The significance of disaster communication reveals itself in aspects such as response and recovery. Disaster communication ensures that the affected people are connected with their communities and families. The connection is crucial because it links the affected persons with the responders and the available support systems. According to Medford-Davis and Kapur (2014), disaster communication is essential because it helps in the coordination of response among the concerned bodies, advocating for the affected people, and preventing more panic.
The Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 is one of the most recent cases where disaster communication was expertly applied. The attack came a few years after the 9/11 disaster in 2001 that tested the preparedness of the American government in dealing with such kinds of disasters. During the Boston Marathon bombing that claimed the lives of three people, bombers had targeted to kill many people that had crowded near the finish line of the marathon. The event had a significant number of medical professionals that made it even more advantageous. However, disaster communication helped ensure that Boston remained strong as opposed to earlier horrific events.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
During the Boston Marathon attack, both medical and security personnel communicated more effectively. The rapid response showcased by medical personnel ensured that many injured people survived despite the intense effects of bombing. The emergency responses were coordinated from the top levels to the junior levels, making it successful (Walls & Zinner, 2013). The first responders and security bodies were in constant communication that involved the use of hotlines and other communication channels that led to the success of managing the disaster. Despite the deaths that occurred and the casualties, disaster agencies and medical practitioners, together with health professionals, played a significant role in the Boston bombing. This has been attributed to the establishment of effective disaster communication systems before the Boston Marathon bombing.
References
Medford-Davis, L. N., & Kapur, G. B. (2014). Preparing for effective communications during disasters: Lessons from a World Health Organization quality improvement project. International Journal of Emergency Medicine , 7 (1), 15. doi:10.1186/1865-1380-7-15.
Walls, R. M., & Zinner, M. J. (2013). The Boston marathon response : Why did it work so well? Journal of the American Medical Association, 309 (23):2441–2442. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.5965 .
