As those who work in disaster recovery well know, the US has experienced a wide array of natural disasters in recent years. From hurricanes, to wildfires, to earthquakes, these events have strained, and in some cases overwhelmed, the nation’s ability to respond and rebuild. Writing for The Conversation, Morten Wendelbo, research fellow and policy sciences lecturer at Texas A&M University, details three key factors that emergency management professionals should consider. These factors, according to Wendelbo, help to shape America’s vulnerability to these types of disasters, and how the conditions which underlie these factors are worsening:
Location: Major cities are often located in areas prone to natural disaster, whether via exposure to hurricanes in coastal areas, or through earthquakes, tsunamis, or even volcanic eruptions. Wendelbo notes these cities are also experiencing growth, forcing more elaborate and complicated infrastructures to support their populations. When a disaster hits, these infrastructures can undergo failure, like the levies that collapsed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina resulting in the flooding of large areas in the city, or the ruptures of gas mains during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake which fed fires throughout the city. As extreme weather events grow more frequent, the failures of these supporting infrastructures can further amplify the damage to the residents.
Money: After disasters, people need money to purchase supplies, medical care, and other basic necessities. However, after disasters, cash is often in short supply, as power outages can limit access to ATMs or terminals. Even if power isn’t disrupted, recent studies have noted that almost half of Americans would have difficulties in finding $400 USD without resorting to borrowing, writes Wendelbo. Without access to cash, recoveries will be slowed as people are unable to acquire critical items.
Access: With increasing emphasis on international supply lines, low inventories, and just in time delivery, even those with money on hand can struggle to find the necessary goods, according to Wendelbo. This extends from the individual to organizations, with health providers often relying on deliveries multiple times in a single day to ensure pharmaceutical and medical supplies are on hand. After a disaster, these supply lines are often disrupted, making restocking a challenge at a time when demand is likely to be much higher than normal.
Source:
https://theconversation.com/3-reasons-why-the-us-is-vulnerable-to-big-disasters-97592
