Tornadoes are common in the US and are known to hit anytime but are more frequent in the southern and mid-west states during early summer and the spring. They are a common disaster that are well known for their raw capability. It usually leave communities devastated in its wake. The destruction varies with the intensity, path, size, the amount of time it lasts on the ground and time of the day. Because of the predisposition, it is imperative that the organizations including the businesses, federal bodies, community groups and rescue associations develop response and mitigation plans to subdue the impacts (Walker, 2011).
Response Plan
Responding to the recent touchdown of tornado on the Midwestern US city that left a complete destruction of four major hospitals and police’s emergency dispatch centre, we develop a response plan. The initial step for responders to a large-scale event is immediate damage assessment to drive quick decision making. This enables a quick evaluation of the scenario and provides a situational analysis because it assimilates the information that is related to the series of events or its impact to the property and life. This assessment is indispensable in determining what must be given the priority. In our case, four hospitals were torn down yet they are the facilities that are meant to receive any causalities. Even worse, the department that is meant to dispatch the emergency response was affected. Such a plan would help develop a quick decision of priority and proper allocation of resources (McCaslin, n.d.).
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In the aftermath of a tornado, quick actions owing to the immediate damage assessment ought to fall in place immediately to rescue the prioritized facilities such as hospitals. Because tornado-impacted regions usually present a health hazards, they should be evaluated and controlled in a systematic manner so as to eliminate the health risks to the workers. This will ensure that we do not lose lives and properties while rescuing others.
As for this crisis management, the first thing is for the emergency operations centre to dispatch equipment and manpower to the affected area. The manpower would help in clearing the debris for the emergency machines (McEntire, 2014). The emergency machinery would consist of well-equipped rescue vehicles to offer first aid to the citizens who are likely to be injured. During this time, we would also ensure that the emergency communication lines are highly operational to ensure sufficient attention is given to any arising special cases. Since the police department emergency dispatch centre is ironically affected, we would request for the readily reachable the officers to be deployed to the ground immediately.
The fire department would ultimately dispatch the firefighting companies, ambulances, a helicopter to the hospitals and the affected police department. In addition, we would dispatch a heavy utility machine to the latter as it is one of the participatory departments in the rescue mission. The fire department would be requested to put up a command post where there is a major damage. The dispatched police officers would temporarily get allocated with a dedicated telephone line since their emergency centre is also affected. Also the police department would coordinate with the mid-west city patrols to close the freeways that lead to the affected areas so as to prevent unauthorized entry and looting (Hart, 1985).
Additionally, the department of Building and Safety would be requested to give inspectors to assess the damage of the hospitals, police department and other buildings as well as post warnings on other hazardous buildings. All the utility companies would be requested to assign a representative to the command post to facilitate direct communication. The fire department would also be charged with assisting citizens to cover their damaged roofs and providing plastic sheeting so that rains do not deteriorate the buildings’ content (Hart, 1985). This exercise would take place in not more than one hour in not more than one hour and all critical notifications made. The media would also be notified immediately about the type of disaster for an informed tornado watch. Further, Red Cross would be invited to aid in this response especially in providing shelter the tornado victims (Hart, 1985).
The federal bodies that should assist in this response plan include Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) whose major functions is to declare disasters, coordinate communities, providing homeland security and providing recovery support functions. Majorly, they provide aid and nuggets of preparedness in times of disaster. They also work to disseminate credible information and also maintain cohesion at each level of government response (US. FEMA, 2008). There is also National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) that mainly coordinates several bodies to assist both local and state emergency responders with equipment, training, information sharing, public health, exercise and medical services (United States National Domestic Preparedness Office, 2001). These bodies would have played a major role in this recovery plan. For instance, NDPO would have provided health hazard gear to the team that was on rescue mission because tornado impacted areas usually pose health threats because of the debris, slippery floors etc. FEMA would have reinforced the security because the police department had also been affected.
Mitigation Plan
Mitigation plan is inclusive throughout the entire process and it focuses on reducing the risk associated with tornadoes. In this we focus on determining the risk, increasing knowledge and determining a safeguarding plan (Manning, 2002). A major mitigation plan for tornadoes is building facilities that are able to withstand tornadoes. Unfortunately, they are usually very expensive. As a major deduction from this scenario however, emergency department ought to have their facilities being tornado resistant because in the wake of the disaster, they remain the only source of hope. For instance, the police department whose contribution to the recovery exercise is indispensable was affected by the disaster as well and it would have resulted to a major paralysis of the exercise. Additionally, tornado watching and warning are important because they indicate probabilities of tornadoes with an approximate area. Tornado warning show probability of a tornado existing and this puts the relevant departments in the wake. It also prepares the citizens and enables them to look for secure places to hide (Jackman & Beruvides, 2013).
Tornado drills and community awareness plays a major role in its preparation. This includes advising then citizens in tornado prone areas of the things they need to do once a tornado touchdowns. For instance, for building that are tornado resistant, they are advised to shelter in the basements, close all open doors and windows to prevent flying debris (US. FEMA, 2008). They could also eliminate dangers such trees that are likely to fall on the buildings and cause property damage once the tornado sets in. FEMA provides guidelines of how to build Safe Rooms in buildings in such areas that occupants can shelter. In extreme cases however, citizens might be relocated from the tornado prone areas if the risk is too high (US. FEMA, 2008).
Preparedness for the tornadoes, in broad, can include evacuation drills such as identifying the routes people would take. For the case of the affected hospitals, it would include how patients are shifted to safer place, test of how to handle serious injuries before rescue personnel arrive. There ought to be simulations to exemplify extent of local preparedness activities.
The federal agencies that would have been of great importance in this mitigation plan include National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOOA) whose main mandate is to provide reliable information on oceans, climate, weather for national level and atmospheric concerns. Such a body would be important because it would provide the information in advance through tornado watching and warning so that citizens are evacuated and other properties rescued from the prone areas. It would also enable the emergency response agencies to prepare for dispatch and also do advanced communication to other integrated bodies (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, n.d.). Once again, FEMA would play a major role since it’s the overall federal body charged with advising every stage (preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation) of the disaster management. It would provide guidelines of incorporating mitigation elements in the strategies (US. FEMA, 2008).
Owing to the nature and occurrence of tornadoes, there is likely to be difficulties such a slippery grounds during the time of the rescue thus calling for adhered caution during the rescue. The destroyed infrastructures such as roads, telephone cables, electricity cables are also likely to harden the rescue mission because of their centrality in the entire process. Additionally, there is likely to be delays in the response by the involved bodies especially those that are state managed and usually, this contributes to damage of more property and loss of lives. In areas whose access is not properly manned, there is a likelihood of property looting thus contributing to more losses. The news anchors may relay different information from what is on the ground and thus contributing to a confusion that can even alter command reception (Kapur & Smith, 2011).
As a key strategy to minimize the difficulties, it is important to “plan now” for the tornado. A thorough plan and an expedient implementation will ensure that the loopholes are sealed and all needs of the communities are met. Also, all participating agencies should be fully aware of their assignments. This should be accompanies with a unified and robust command system. This remains the best strategy because tornadoes are unpredictable and the only solution to handle its wake is being always ready for it (Walker, 2011).
Conclusion
There are almost no areas immune to tornadoes in the US. They can occur anytime in the day regardless of location as long as there are favorable conditions. While there are preparations such tornado watch and warning, sometimes they occur in areas that such preparations are not in effect, so it is only imperative to stay alert. Quick response to tornadoes is an expensive and dangerous exercise that only well prepared federal, state and community agencies ca handle. Although adequate preparedness is paramount, the communities in tornado prone areas and the agencies associated with the emergencies should always be ready to handle aftermaths of a tornado (Alexander, 2002). Mitigation strategies should also be strengthened every other time so as to continuously reduce the destruction caused by tornadoes. State, federal and community based agencies should clearly understand their roles in instances of tornadoes so as to reduce the sluggishness and losses associated with unplanned groups.
References
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McEntire, D. (2014). Disaster Response and Recovery . Hoboken: Wiley
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (N.D.) Our Mission and Vision. Science, Service and Stewardship . Retrieved on 27 th October from, https://www.noaa.gov/our-mission-and-vision
United States National Domestic Preparedness Office, (2001). National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) State and Local Advisory Group . Washington: The Office
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2008). Overview: ESF and Support Annexes Coordinating Federal Assistance in Support of National Response Framework . Washington: US Department of Homeland Security.
Walker, M. (2011). Best Practices for Tornado Response . Retrieved on 27 th October, from, https://www.firerescuemagazine.com/articles/print/volume-6/issue-5/special-operations/best-practices-for-tornado-response.html
McCaslin, C. (N.D.). Developing a Tornado Response Plan to Identify Immediate Actions.
Hart, G. (1985). The Los Angeles, California, Tornado of March 1, 1983 . Washington: National Academy Press.
