NATURAL DISASTER CONTINGENCY PLANS

Natural Disaster Contingency Plans



Natural Disaster Contingency Plans

Introduction

Planet Earth is our home in space. It is a planet of continuous changes that started billions of years ago and that will continue for billions of years to come. Sometime the earth undergoes changes or movements that are rapid and effect our environment and safety. These rapid changes are known as natural disasters. These include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons (hurricanes), tsunamis, floods, droughts, fires, and other events which are indications of interactions of mass and energy on the surface of our planet.

Natural Disaster

The definition of "Natural Disaster" refers primarily to catastrophes that occur with or without warning. These include fire, tornado, earthquake, explosion, or air accidents. Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force one to evacuate his neighborhood or confine him to his home. Natural disasters are unavoidable because they are beyond our control and almost all cannot be prevented (Hendricks, Klaus. and Brian Lesser, 1993). However, mankind, being as adaptable as it is, has learned to live with all these hazards. Each day, natural disasters destroy our communities and affect the lives of our families, neighbors, and businesses. Researchers and lay people of today are paying considerable attention to risk and disasters. Disasters can strike at any time, and some disasters, such as fires, can occur everyday. Natural disasters affect the lives of many thousands of people each year. Within minutes, a natural disaster can rip apart a community, and change the lives of its residents forever (Barton, John and Johanna, 1995).

Disaster Recovery Plan

In preparing a disaster plan for correctional institution it is important to consider all eventualities, but more importantly all the resources which might be lost. Consider each resource in turn and ask yourself: what if this was lost? How long would it ...