Community Disaster Assessment and Planning

Community Disaster Assessment and Planning

The potential for natural and manmade disasters is a constant threat, especially in today’s world of climate change, political upheaval, and global unrest and terrorist activity. Due to the many potentiating factors that substantially increase the potential and threat of disaster it is necessary that at a national, state, county, and community level plans are in place for immediate response and action. The threat of disaster is a global, national, state, and community concern.

Disaster Potential and Predictability in Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spartanburg County in the State of South Carolina lies between the foothills of South Carolina and its beautiful coastline. As part of South Carolina, Spartanburg County is at risk for many varying and potentially devastating disasters. Due to the geographical location of Spartanburg County being at the base of the South Carolina mountain ranges and in-between the coast line, the potential for severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and snow and ice storms is a significant risk. Severe weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe ice storms can wreak havoc on the environment and the lives of the population living in the wake of severe storms. The loss of natural habitat, clean water, and other natural resources can be devastating from an environmental and community health perspective. In addition, damaged infrastructure and the damage to individual businesses’ and private homes can pose insurmountable obstacles in the financial status of the community. The lives of the individual citizen can also be severely affected in terms of their general and overall mental and physical health (South Carolina Emerge...

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...tection of the community and the community’s population. The disaster plan must incorporate many and varying responses and actions to multiple types and levels of disaster. A well developed and comprehensive disaster plan details the chain of command in a disaster and the immediate responses and actions required, including the evacuation of some or all of the community citizens.

References

Jackson., D., Andrew, S., & Cleary, M. (2012.). Family and community health nursing: Challenges and moving forward. Contemporary Nurse, 41(1), 141-144. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database.

South Carolina Emergency Management Division. (2013). South carolina emergency management division plan and prepare. Retrieved from http://scemd.org/

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. (2013). Spartanburg regional healthcare system. Retrieved from www.spartanburgregional.com