Impacts of Disaster.pptx

Impacts of Disaster Impact on Infrastructure: Transportation ● Roads are closed and/or impassable ● Responders may be delayed in reaching areas of need ● Flow of needed supplies (e.g., food, water) is interrupted Impact on Infrastructure:Structures ● Damaged critical facilities (e.g., hospitals,...

Impacts of Disaster Impact on Infrastructure: Transportation ● Roads are closed and/or impassable ● Responders may be delayed in reaching areas of need ● Flow of needed supplies (e.g., food, water) is interrupted Impact on Infrastructure:Structures ● Damaged critical facilities (e.g., hospitals, fires stations, police precincts, airports) unable to function ● Increased risk of damage from falling debris Impact on Infrastructure: Communications Systems ● Survivors unable to phone for help or reach service providers ● Coordination of services is hampered ● Families and friends cannot communicate Impact on Infrastructure: Utilities ● Loss of service ● Increased risk of fire or electrical shock ● Limited access to fuel (e.g., pumps that may not work) Impact on Infrastructure: Water Service ● Medical facilities hampered ● Inadequate water flow, which results in notice to boil water and hampered firefighting capabilities ● Increased risk to public health Impact on Infrastructure: Fuel Supplies ● Increased risk of fire or explosion from fuel line rupture ● Flow of fuel is interrupted by impassable roads Impact on Infrastructure: Financial Services ● ATMs do not work ● Credit card systems inoperable Consequences of Damage to Infrastructure ● Each instance of damage to infrastructure may severely restrict the abilities of police, fire, and emergency medical services in that disaster. During a disaster, hospital emergency room personnel prioritize resources based on the severity of each injury. For emergency room personnel, life-threatening injuries take the highest priority and they treat them first. In some way, during or after a disaster, emergency services personnel must prioritize resources according to the highest-priority need. Consequences of Damage to Infrastructure cont ● Police will address incidents of grave public safety ● Firefighters will suppress major fires ● EMS personnel will handle life-threatening injuries. You should be aware, however, that CERTs may also handle life-threatening injuries until EMS units become available ● Lower-priority needs will be met in other ways Damage Related to Structure Type ● It is important to know what type of damage to expect from the main types of structures in the community. Engineered buildings, such as most high-rise buildings, have performed well in most types of disasters. During earthquakes, flooding events (e.g., hurricanes, tsunamis), and high-wind events (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes), older high-rise buildings, however, are more susceptible to damage from: ○ Broken glass ○ Falling panels ○ Collapsing walkways and stairways Damage Related to Structure Type cont. ● Keep in mind that age, type of construction, and type of disaster are major factors in potential damage to detached homes and garages. ○ Tornado and hurricane damage to single-family homes can range from little damage to total destruction ○ When an event damages a structure, there is a threat of additional damage, such as fire from ruptured gas lines, following the event ○ Mobile homes are most susceptible to damage because they can be displaced. When displacement occurs, structural integrity becomes questionable and utility connections may be damaged, increasing the risk of fire and electric shock. ● In multiple-unit dwellings, there is often a main utility shut off for the entire building, as well as a shut off located within each individual unit. Depending on the situation at hand, you may need to use one or both. Be mindful of the effects and consequences of using each Multiple-Use Buildings ● Multiple-use buildings with oversized roof spans have a greater risk of collapse and broken glass in a disaster. These include; ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Airports Malls and strip malls Places of worship Sports arenas Warehouse-type structures Non-Structural Hazards ● There is also a risk in all types of structures from fixtures and other items within a home, garage, or workplace, that can pose a hazard during or after a disaster, including: ○ Gas line ruptures from water heaters or ranges displaced by shaking, water, or wind ○ Damage from falling books, dishes, or other cabinet contents ○ Risk of injury or electric shock from displaced appliances and office equipment ○ Fire from faulty wiring, overloaded plugs, frayed electrical cords ● Reducing hazards is an important part of personal preparedness. It is also important to know how and when to turn off utilities safely.