Search and rescue in collapsed structures: engineering and social science aspects

This paper discusses the social science and engineering dimensions of search and rescue (SAR) in collapsed buildings. First, existing information is presented on factors that influence the behaviour of trapped victims, particularly human, physical, socioeconomic and circumstantial factors. Trapped victims are most often discussed in the context of structural collapse and injuries sustained. Most studies in this area focus on earthquakes as the type of disaster that produces the most extensive structural damage. Second, information is set out on the engineering aspects of urban search and rescue (USAR) in the United States, including the role of structural engineers in USAR operations, training and certification of structural specialists, and safety and general procedures. The use of computational simulation to link the engineering and social science aspects of USAR is discussed. This could supplement training of local SAR groups and USAR teams, allowing them to understand better the collapse process and how voids form in a rubble pile. A preliminary simulation tool developed for this purpose is described.     

Cracking the humanitarian logistic coordination challenge: lessons from the urban search and rescue community

The challenges of achieving successful inter‐agency logistic coordination in preparing for and responding to natural disasters and complex emergencies are both well understood and well documented. However, although many of these challenges remain unresolved, the literature reveals that the organisations that form the urban search and rescue (USAR) community have attained a high level of coherence and interoperability that results in a highly efficient and effective response. Therefore, this paper uses the idea of ‘borrowing’ from other fields as it explores how the processes and procedures used by the USAR community might be applied to improve humanitarian logistic operations. The paper analyses the USAR model and explores how the resultant challenges might be addressed in a humanitarian logistic context. The paper recommends that further research be undertaken in order to develop a modified USAR model that could be operationalised by the international community of humanitarian logisticians.     

How emergency managers (mis?)interpret forecasts

Emergency managers who work on floods and other weather‐related hazards constitute critical frontline responders to disasters. Yet, while these professionals operate in a realm rife with uncertainty related to forecasts and other unknowns, the influence of uncertainty on their decision‐making is poorly understood. Consequently, a national‐level survey of county emergency managers in the United States was administered to examine how they interpret forecast information, using hypothetical climate, flood, and weather scenarios to simulate their responses to uncertain information. The study revealed that even emergency managers with substantial experience take decision shortcuts and make biased choices, just as do members of the general population. Their choices vary depending on such features as the format in which probabilistic forecasts are presented and whether outcomes are represented as gains or losses. In sum, forecast producers who consider these decision processes when developing and communicating forecasts could help to improve flood preparation and potentially reduce disaster losses.     

Decision‐making and evacuation planning for flood risk management in the Netherlands

A traditional view of decision‐making for evacuation planning is that, given an uncertain threat, there is a deterministic way of defining the best decision. In other words, there is a linear relation between threat, decision, and execution consequences. Alternatives and the impact of uncertainties are not taken into account. This study considers the ‘top strategic decision‐making’ for mass evacuation owing to flooding in the Netherlands. It reveals that the top strategic decision‐making process itself is probabilistic because of the decision‐makers involved and their crisis managers (as advisers). The paper concludes that deterministic planning is not sufficient, and it recommends probabilistic planning that considers uncertainties in the decision‐making process itself as well as other uncertainties, such as forecasts, citizens responses, and the capacity of infrastructure. This results in less optimistic, but more realistic, strategies and a need to pay attention to alternative strategies.     

Disaster management and mitigation: the telecommunications infrastructure

Among the most typical consequences of disasters is the near or complete collapse of terrestrial telecommunications infrastructures (especially the distribution network–the 'last mile') and their concomitant unavailability to the rescuers and the higher echelons of mitigation teams. Even when such damage does not take place, the communications overload/congestion resulting from significantly elevated traffic generated by affected residents can be highly disturbing. The paper proposes innovative remedies to the telecommunications difficulties in disaster struck regions. The offered solutions are network-centric operations-cap able, and can be employed in management of disasters of any magnitude (local to national or international). Their implementation provide ground rescue teams (such as law enforcement, firemen, healthcare personnel, civilian authorities) with tactical connectivity among themselves, and, through the Next Generation Network backbone, ensure the essential bidirectional free flow of information and distribution of Actionable Knowledge among ground units, command/control centres, and civilian and military agencies participating in the rescue effort.     

救援人员的主要心理问题、相关因素与干预策略

救援人员泛指在各种紧急情况中提供救助的个体,其心理健康风险得到越来越多的关注.研究发现救援人员的心理问题主要是应激相关障碍,消极情绪以及倦怠感.不利的救援工作条件、创伤暴露与非适应性的情绪调节策略是救援人员心理健康主要的危险因素;救援工作中的有利条件、社会支持、心理弹性以及适应性情绪调节策略是心理健康的保护因素.对救援...     

Science guides search and rescue after the 2006 Philippine landslide

A rockslide-debris avalanche destroyed the remote village of Guinsaugon in Southern Leyte, Philippines, on 17 February 2006. Although search and rescue procedures were implemented immediately, the scale of the landslide and a lack of information about its nature resulted in unfocused and imprecise efforts in the early days of the operation. Technical support was only introduced five days after the event, provided by a team of volunteer geologists, geophysicists, and meteorologists. By the time search and rescue operations were transferred to specific target sites, however, the chances of finding survivors trapped under the rubble had diminished. In such critical situations, speed, accuracy, and the maximum appropriation of resources are crucial. We emphasise here the need for a systematic and technically informed approach to search and rescue missions in large-scale landslide disaster contexts, and the formulation of better disaster management policies in general. Standard procedures must be developed and enforced to improve how civil authorities respond to natural calamities.     

大中城市震害预测与辅助决策的空间分析

利用GIS的空间分析功能，对大中城市防震减灾示范研究成果进行了空间区划分析，给出了城市高危害街区的计算方法和结果，同时给出了各种结构类型房屋破坏面积、人员伤亡和无家可归人口数在各个街区的空间分布结果，以及基于此空间分布结果的医疗救护、人员疏散和物资供应等辅助决策分析。该分析的主要意义在于能充分了解大中城市潜在震害的空间分布，为震前采取相应预防措施和震后开展应急救灾工作提供了方便。     

国家地震紧急救援训练基地可控地震废墟设计(Ⅱ)——功能设计

地震往往给人类社会带来巨大的财产损失和人员伤亡，专业化的地震紧急救援能够及时应对地震灾害，最大限度减少人民生命财产损失，是防震减灾体系不可或缺的组成部分。国家紧急救援训练基地的建立就是为了训练具有专业水平的地震紧急救援队伍和人员。针对建筑物在地震中的破坏倒塌模式，借鉴国际先进地震搜索救援经验，进行了在各种地震废墟中紧急搜索和救援的方案设计以及国家地震紧急救援训练基地可控地震废墟部分的功能设计。     

国家地震紧急救援训练基地可控地震废墟设计(II)——功能设计

地震往往给人类社会带来巨大的财产损失和人员伤亡,专业化的地震紧急救援能够及时应对地震灾害,最大限度减少人民生命财产损失,是防震减灾体系不可或缺的组成部分。国家紧急救援训练基地的建立就是为了训练具有专业水平的地震紧急救援队伍和人员。针对建筑物在地震中的破坏倒塌模式,借鉴国际先进地震搜索救援经验,进行了在各种地震废墟中紧急搜索和救援的方案设计以及国家地震紧急救援训练基地可控地震废墟部分的功能设计。     

Impact of psychological risk factors on disaster rescue operations: the case of Italian volunteers

This paper reports on research into the characteristics of emergency rescue workers, with a focus on psychological distress. We present the results of a study of volunteers from the Italian national civil protection programme. A questionnaire was administered to 2,576 subjects from all over Italy. Most respondents were men, mostly unemployed, whose average level of education was higher than that among most Italian volunteers. Many were poorly endowed with basic skills, with large differences according to geography. Many expected to convert their volunteer activities into permanent jobs. Using this data, we employed a logistical regression model to analyse the risk of low, moderate and severe psychological distress symptoms, including anxiety and panic attacks, during rescue operations. The results indicate that some rescuers are particularly vulnerable to distress. The highest risk factors pertained to volunteers from southern Italy whose training is inadequate, who have little experience of emergency work and who play subordinate roles in small teams that lack psychological support services.     

应对河南省特大洪涝灾害救援药品保障目录的研究与实践

为提高中国救援队救援任务中的药品保障效率,建立洪涝灾害救援药品保障目录.查阅洪涝灾害医学及救援相关文献270余篇,统计分析洪涝灾害疾病谱及发生率.根据不同疾病类型的发生比例,采用决策分析法,确定洪涝灾害救援药品保障目录,搭建国内药品紧急响应平台.研究结果为:消化系统疾病、呼吸系统疾病及皮肤科疾病占据疾病谱前三位.参照疾...     

Challenges in humanitarian information management and exchange: evidence from Haiti

There is a growing recognition of the critical role information management can play in shaping effective humanitarian response, coordination and decision‐making. Quality information, reaching more humanitarian actors, will result in better coordination and better decision‐making, thus improving the response to beneficiaries as well as accountability to donors. The humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake marked a watershed moment for humanitarian information management. Yet the fragmented nature of the response and the use of hierarchical models of information management, along with other factors, have led some observers to label the Haiti response a failure. Using an analytical framework often found in humanitarian emergencies, this study analyses challenges to information flow in the Haiti case and the implications for effective humanitarian response. It concludes by offering possible paths for overcoming such challenges, and for restoring the value and utility of humanitarian information management and exchange in humanitarian relief settings.     

农村灾害避难场所布局规划评价研究——以四川省小鱼洞镇为例

灾害避难场所不仅在灾中或灾后能为农村灾民提供一个临时安置或生存场所,而且更是农村整合其有限资源开展防灾减灾工作的平台,在农村社区减灾中工作发挥着重要的作用,然而相关研究工作较少。以四川省彭州市小鱼洞镇为例,通过对政府既定的避难场所进行安全性、通达性、收容性、生活性等分析,综合评价这些避难场所的布局合理性。以期为该区避难所的进一步建设提供科学依据,也为农村灾害避难所的规划和评价提供参考实例。     

制约地震紧急救灾效果的关键因素与改进途径

紧急救灾是减轻地震人员伤亡的重要措施.震后半小时内、第1天、第2、3天救出人员的存活率明显不同,分别把这3个时段称为地震紧急救灾的第1、第2、第3有效时间.决定救出时间的第1因素为救灾队伍到达现场的时间,第2因素为救灾技术.但因"第2因素"最终还需依赖"第1因素"才能发挥作用,所以"第1因素"最为关键."第1因素"的第1制约条件为救援者与现场的距离;第2制约为交通条件与救灾调度、交通管理技术,第3制约为救灾指挥与实施者的反应速度与反应能力.且救出时间的第1与第2决定因素都受动力、物质、环境条件的制约.因此,应结合救灾调度设计,有重点地强化交通网、水、电、等生命线工程;科学地定点储备城市救灾物质、设备与技术力量;增强居民的防灾、救灾意识与技术能力;防止次生灾害危险源可能造成的破坏;加强指挥机构的应急反应能力与决策合理性;减小决策失误风险;实施救灾指挥预备.     

Risk factors for long‐term post‐traumatic stress disorder among medical rescue workers appointed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake response in China

This study aims to determine the risk factors for clinically‐significant post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Chinese medical rescue workers one year after the response to the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008. A sample of 337 medical workers who performed response work within the first three months of the event completed an online questionnaire, which included information on demographics, social support, the management and organisation of the disaster response, and an assessment of PTSD. Symptoms consistent with PTSD were prevalent in 17 per cent of the rescue workers. Those who developed PTSD symptoms were more likely to have been injured, experienced a water shortage, been disconnected from family and friends during the response, and have passive coping styles and neurotic personalities. Factors that cannot be changed easily, such as personality traits, should be evaluated prior to deployment to ensure that rescue workers at higher risk of PTSD are provided with adequate support before and during deployment.     

大气化学灾害应急气象保障系统的设计与开发

大气化学灾害应急气象保障系统是针对危险化学品的泄漏、爆炸和光化学烟雾等大气化学灾害应急处置专门设计开发的技术支持系统，该系统由大气化学灾害事故信息接警、现场气象监测、气象资料综合显示、社会经济环境背景查询、危险大气成分预报、决策服务产品制作、应急指挥、预警信息发布等若干子系统组成，可以为各级政府指挥大气化学灾害的应急工作提供科技支撑平台。     

Gender,households, and decision‐making for wildfire safety

This paper considers the impact of gendered norms on decision‐making for wildfire preparation and response at the household level. Focusing on Australia, it provides a theoretical thematic analysis of data acquired in 107 interviews with residents of nine different localities. It builds on existing research on gender and disaster, as well as on decision‐making and wildfires, and analyses the narratives that centre on ‘split’ households plans (where a male partner plans to stay and a female partner plans to evacuate) and disagreements within heterosexual couples as to an appropriate wildfire safety plan. The study finds that gender inequality and differences in gendered expectations are likely to create difficult conditions for negotiation between members of a heterosexual couple when there is disagreement over a plan and that this may contribute to risky decision‐making practices and outcomes. The paper reiterates, therefore, the importance of taking into account the social construction of gender in wildfire research and policy.     

Social capital's role in recovery: evidence from communities affected by the 2010 Pakistan floods

Pakistan suffered large‐scale flooding in summer 2010 that caused damage amounting to approximately USD 43 billion, claimed the lives of at least 1,700 people, and negatively affected some 20 million others. Observers have debated the degree to which social capital plays a role in recovery after a catastrophe of this magnitude. Using new survey data on 450 residents impacted by the disaster, this study found that, controlling for various confounding factors, the social capital levels of victims serve as robust correlates of life recovery. Other important variables connected with recovery include education and income, family size, occupation, material damage suffered, stability of home, and trauma experience. The findings point to a number of relevant policy recommendations, most notably that during and following major shocks, disaster managers should work to keep the social networks of victims intact so that they can benefit from interaction with family, friends, and neighbours.     

Implementation of a medical command and control team in Switzerland

In case of a major incident or disaster, the advance medical rescue command needs to manage several essential tasks simultaneously. These include the rapid deployment of ambulance, police, fire and evacuation services, and their coordinated activity, as well as triage and emergency medical care on site. The structure of such a medical rescue command is crucial for the successful outcome of medical evacuation at major incidents. However, little data has been published on the nature and structure of the command itself. This study presents a flexible approach to command structure, with two command heads: one emergency physician and one experienced paramedic. This approach is especially suitable for Switzerland, whose federal system allows for different structures in each canton. This article examines the development of these structures and their efficiency, adaptability and limitations with respect to major incident response in the French‐speaking part of the country.