Disaster Management

in MalaysiaDR BASMULLAH YUSOF

MD (USM), MSc.ERP (UPM)DISASTER AND RELIEF MEDICINE

TOPICS COVERED

• Introduction

• Overview of past disasters

• Taxonomy of Disaster

• Evolution of disaster management

• National Security Council Directive 20

• Future challenges

• Conclusions

Introduction

• Since independence in 1957, Malaysia hastransformed herself from an agrarian to anindustrialized nation.• Various types of disaster ranging from biological,structural collapse, fire and explosion, landslidesand meteorological incidents have struck the nation.• Some of these disasters were landmark disasterswhereby various safety, emergency acts andregulations were proposed, amended or formulated.Also resulted in formation of specialized teams

Collapse of Four-Story Building - 1968(Royal Inquiry)

Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal –1988 (Royal Inquiry)

Bright Sparklers - 1991(Royal Inquiry)

Response to Bright Sparklers

Thirteen workers and crewmen were killed, and morethan 200 families living in the port vicinity were evacuated.

the final outcome of that case was unavailable at publication

21 Jun 92 Choon Hong III oil tanker explodes and burns (Royal Inquiry)

Highland Towers - Dec 1993

Rescue of Highland Towers

Highland Towers- Remaining Block

Future Highland Towers?

Genting Highlands Landslide - June 1995

Pos Dipang - August 1996

Japanese Encephalitis – June 1999

Decontamination

Tsunami - Dec 2004

TG TOKONG PESIARAN GURNEY

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)Nov 2002- May 2003

Avian Influenza 2003 - 2007

DEFINATION( accident, crisis, disaster )

Crisis:

The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point.

Water crisis Political crisis Global climatic and environmental crisis

DEFINATION(accident, crisis, disaster )

Accident:

• an event that takes place without one's foresight or expectation; OR

• an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected event; OR

• an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; etc

Contruction site

At work

DEFINATION( accident, crisis, disaster )

Disaster:Serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of the affected people to cope using their own resources.(Natural disasters and Man made disasters)

Highland Tower 1994 Penang Terminal Ferry 1988Haiti 2009

Defined as the effective organization, direction and utilization of available counter-disaster resources.

Public health objectives :

1. Prevent unnecessary morbidity, mortality, and economic loss resulting directly from the disaster.

2. Eliminate morbidity, mortality, and economic loss directly attributable to Mismanagement of disaster relief efforts

DISASTERMANAGEMENT

PHASES OF A DISASTER

Preparedness

PreventionMitigation

RehabilitationReconstruction

Response

Disaster

Recovery

DISASTER PREPAREDNESSObjectives : to ensure that appropriate systems, procedures and

resources are in place to provide prompt, effective assistance to disaster victims, thus facilitating relief measures and rehabilitation services.

Activities, include;

Evaluate the risk of the country or particular region to disasters.

Adopt standards and regulations

Organize communication, information and warning systems

Ensure coordination and response mechanisms

Adopt measures to ensure that financial and other resources are

available for increased readiness and can be mobilized in disaster

situations.

Develop public education programs

Coordinate information sessions with news media

Organize disaster simulation exercises that test response

mechanisms

DISASTER RESPONSE AND RELIEF

Facts

• An effective response minimizes relief and maximizes recovery.

• Recovery to be holistic i.e. physical, psychosocial and economic recovery. (The Kobe Example)

• Every $1 spent in reduction saves$7 in response (World Bank Report)

DISASTER RESPONSE AND RELIEFA relief plan· Rescue of victims· Provision of emergency medical care· Elimination of physical dangers (fire, gas leak etc)· Evacuation of the population· Provision of preventive and routine medical care· Provision of water· Provision of food· Provision of clothing· Provision of shelter· Disposal of human waste· Control of vector born diseases· Disposal of human bodies· Disposal of solid waste

Relief Activities

• Emergency Response

• Medical

• Shelter

• Water and Sanitation

• Food

• Non Food items

Medical Response• On-site treatment and stabilization

• Mobile medical units

• Fixed-site (hospital) treatment

• Definitive treatment at referral centre

Response Issues

• Collaboration

• Logistics and Communications

• Cultural, Political and Religious Issues

• Professionalism

Local Disaster Response(Emergency Response)

• Search and rescue

• Triage of victims

• Decontamination

• On-scene treatment of victims

• Transportation

• Re-triage and hospital treatment

Search and Rescue

• SMART team

• Army / Wataniah

• Fire Brigade

• EMS

• Local Emergency/Response Team

Effective Response

• Adequate information

• Early response

• Effective delivery method

• Well coordinated• Quality service (up to min standard)

• Complete recovery

CoordinationIncident Command System (ICS)

• Sharing information

• Maximizing resources

• Adequate and appropriate response

• Covers all areas and all aspects of relief

• Involving all relief agencies

• Work to compliment others

• Coordinating bodies• Local authorities

• International agencies

ON SCENE MANAGEMENT

Saturday, May 21,

2011

ON SCENE MANAGEMENT

Including:

Operation point/office

37

Assembly Point

38

Search & Rescue Task Force

39

First Aid Task Force

40

Fire Safety Task Force

Merekan yang maut; Mohd Mustakim Mamat 12, Norahimi Rusdi 14, Mohd Zaim Azhaari 14, Dzhir Mohd Moim 18, Zaid Assywal Zamri 19, Farid Ibrahim (wardan) 34, Mohd Aiman Abdullah 10, Lokman Hakim Abdul Star 11, Wan

Ahmad Hasril Wan Ahmad Hazim 11, Mohd Kamarul Amiza Johari, 11.

Mohd Azhil Azhaari 8, Mohd Naerzein Mohd Nor 8, Sharul Nur Imran Adnan 9, Mohd Rizman Abdul Latif 9, Mohd Hazi Shafree 9, Mohd Aiman Fardhad 9.

Al Fatihah.

Socio-Technical Disaster Model

Defining Disaster – NSC D20

• Incident that occurs in a sudden manner, complex in nature, resulting in the loss of lives, damages to property or the environment as well as affecting the daily activities of local community.

• Such incident requires the handling of resources, equipment, frequency and extensive manpower from various agencies as well as effective coordination and the possibility of demanding complex actions over a long period of time.

TYPES OF DISASTERS DEFINED UNDER D-20

1. Natural disaster such as floods and landslide.2. Industrial & technological disasters.3. Accidents of dangerous or hazardous materials.4. Collapse of high rise buildings & special structures.5. Aviation accidents in public areas.6. Railway accidents.7. Major Fire Incidents.8. Collapse of hydroelectric dams or reservoirs.9. Nuclear & radiological accidents.10. Release of poisonous & toxic gases in public places.11. Air & environmental disasters such as haze

Malaysian Experts Criteria of Disaster - 2007

1. 10 people or more killed or

2. 100 people or more injured or

3. 10,000 people or more evacuated or

4. Vast area affected and caused

extensive environmental degradation

or ecological destruction or

5. Level II or Level III disaster response

activated

United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) Disaster Criteria

1. 25 death or more; or

2. 125 injured or more;

3. 10000 evacuated or more; or

4. 10000 people or more deprived of

water; or

5. US10 million or more in damage to

the parties

EVOLUTION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) (1995)

ACEH

PAKISTAN

PHILIPPINES

National Security Council Directive 201997

Characteristics of Declared Disasters Areas

Level of The Disaster Management andRelief Committee

Sub System

INCIDENT POST

Role of Non Government Organization (NGOs)

Future Disasters - Challenges

Future Disasters – Characteristics and Conditions

A. TransnationalizationThe original source of the problems at hand may continue to be local

or national, but the immediate and long term impact of disasters and crises to come span countries and continents.

e.g. 1 : Chernobyl disaster 1986 - the radiation fallout from Chernobylcaused sustained damage to many countries in Northern and WesternEurope.e.g. 2 : Sandoz chemical accident in Basel Switzerland, 1986 –

produced considerable pollution along the Rhine River over more than 800 miles.

e.g. 3 : Forest Fires and Haze (Indonesia) in 1997.

B. MediazationSubjective notion of disaster can be summarized in a version

of the ThomasTheorem:“If the media define a situation as a disaster or a crisis, be

sure that itwill indeed be a disaster or a crisis in all its consequences”- Mediazation will be one of the driving forces in the world of

futuredisasters.- Outright sensationalism to self-imposed censorship.- Put pressure on the decision makers to explain and justify to

the public.

C. Compound DisastersEvolved into a totally different category ofdisaster/crisise.g . Amsterdam air crash of October 1992

D. Mutation of Disasters-Mutating in form in response to population

growth and urbanization, economic growth, globalization of commerce, and technological advancement

- The ‘disaster reduction’ can barely keep in pace

E. Changing Loss ProfilesDespite the major population growth, loss of lives drop

but there is increase in property losses and indirect

economic losses i.e. losses such as business disruptions

becoming major societal vulnerability

F. Globilization Effects of Disasters

- eg. The Kobe earthquake affected a large fraction of

Japanese shipping that forced closures of

subcontractors’ facilities worldwide, even in the US

G. Newly Emerging Hazards (Global Scale)

Global warming; Ozone depletion; etc., where the

incubation period can be very long, even decades.

H. Emergence of Mega ThingsEmergence of Mega Cities, Mega

Carriers/Transport,

Mega Structures MEGA DISASTERS

I. Unprecedented Technological Advances

Disasters are evolving rapidly in response to scientificadvancement but engineering practice may not be keepingin pace- Uncertainty in estimating losses- Inability of using new scientific and technological advancesto mitigate disasters- Hydrometeorological hazards are not forecastable on anextended time scale as required by today’s societies, eg.Increase in evacuation clearance time due to the increasedpopulation densities- The pace of engineering advance and its implementation inpractice, eg. The building codes are not keeping pace withthe current engineering practice (Petronas Twin Tower)

J. PolitizationFuture disasters will be best depicted as a

context of framing

and blaming (Hart, 1993)

- Politicians with some skill may turn disaster from a threat

into an opportunity / political asset.

e.g . The Challenger disaster - Jan 1986

Disasters in the Context of Global Change

1- From Objective to Subjective definition - extreme collective stress or social disruption rather than fatal casualties or physical damage.

10 dead = 100 injured = RM 1,000,000 property damage?

Not all deaths can be counted as one.

2- Creeping Disasters

Re-conceptualization of the notion of sudden onset of disasters - e.g. Deforestation, loses of ozone, global warming, rise of sea -level ; span many decades to develop and bursting into a disaster.

3- Mega Disasters

Sheer number of potential or actual casualties and an astronomical amount of physical damage.

- Weather triggered super disaster - effects of EL NINO weather phenomenon.

- Mega carriers in the transportation industry. (e.g. Estonia Ferry Disaster,

1994 : 900 casualties)

Conclusions

1. Besides the negative impacts of disasters to life and properties, they

present opportunities to learn from past mistakes. This is attested by

the evolution of various safety and emergency laws, acts and

regulations since independence.

2. An effective implementation of the national disaster management is

yet to materialized but the future looks optimistic for signs of

cooperation between various relevant agencies become more

apparent. Disaster practitioners and scholars are taking steps to

bridge the gap.

3. Transnational type of disaster is on the increase worldwide. The haze

incident in 1998 affected South East Asian countries. The recent SARS had affected 28 countries worldwide. Are we prepared to face

these new threats?

OVERALL CONCLUSION

* Emergency Planning- getting ready for a crisis that may not occur.

* Effective Disaster Management requires PREPAREDNESS.* 5 Principles of Preparedness;- Preparedness and improvisation are central foundations ofemergency management.- Preparedness is a continuous process.- Preparedness is an educational activity.- Preparedness is based on knowledge.- Preparedness evokes appropriate actions.

OVERALL CONCLUSION

10 Useful Responses to Recent Disasters• 1. Develop emergency plans. Make sure that early warnings reach and are understood by

the most vulnerable people; they need to know what to do, where to go, and how to protect themselves.

• 2. Provide poor communities with emergency material such as water purification tablets,

jerry cans, stretchers, chain saws, lanterns, plastic sheeting, first aid supplies and generators.

• 3. Dedicate vacated areas for specific uses (such as parks or football fields) when moving people out of flood plains.

• 4. Build houses and infrastructure to withstand future disasters (for example, provide roofs with straps to protect against hurricanes, use steel reinforcements at the corners of a house to make it earthquake-resistant).

• 5. Make hospitals disaster-resistant, including road, water, and electricity access.

• 6. Preserve social networks when relocating people away from hazardous areas.

• 7. Provide livelihoods opportunities, and where possible, help people to take charge of their own reconstruction.

• 8. Provide disaster victims with cash support to purchase their own supplies, shelter, etc. rather than receive items in kind which might not be appropriate.

• 9. Ensure that structures are properly maintained.

• 10. Consider gender differences when designing the response, as disasters often affect men and women differently.

OVERALL CONCLUSION

10 Disastrous Responses to Disasters• 1. Ignoring local leadership, and not involve beneficiaries in the planning process of their houses.

• 2. Ignoring parts of the population when distributing relief goods, reconstruction material,

or other benefits; especially those which address the needs of the poor, women, children, and the elderly.

• 3. Rushing with reconstruction without recycling useful materials from the disaster site, bulldozing over what could be valuable building materials.

• 4. Rushing in quickly to implement poorly thought out plans that might wash away in the

next event in a year. For example, establishing new institutions in short time frames, or developing complex and inflexible project designs.

• 5. Diverting funds from successful health and education projects to the disaster site.

• 6. Using an unfamiliar accountability system with the local officials. Rather, use local procurement procedures with strong oversight.

• 7. Relocating people away from their jobs and social contacts.

• 8. Missing the planting season when distributing seeds in drought-stricken areas.

• 9. Imposing grief counseling where it is inappropriate for many family-based cultures.

• 10. Reacting instead of planning ahead, especially where we know disasters will surely happen; e.g. Not

considering disasters as one of the risks evaluated in the risk assessment process.