PSY211 Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania This American Life Episode 296
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Q:Listen: to This American Life Episode 296: After The Flood (September 9, 2005) 60 min http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/296/after-the-flood
~ Try listening while driving, cooking, folding laundry or doing other household tasks if you find it difficult to listen without visual input J
Reflect on the following:
What “Act” stuck out to you the most? Why?
What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency Management or as part of a Recovery team?
How might these experiences have been better Prevented?
What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE a disaster strikes so the impact of such a disaster is lessened?
What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community recovery and resilience?
1)The act of blame between government officials on who should be responsible for the mitigation of disaster is what shocked me. The federal government failed to step in on Friday when the governor of Louisiana declared an emergency.
As a member of the recovery team, I consider the evacuation of people from the affected area as challenging. The storms took place in the eastern and western part of Louisiana. There were no enough rescue places to accommodate people who were affected. At one point, hospitals could only take in people who had gunshots and snakebites. Resources to support those misplaced could be considered a challenge.
The challenges experienced by the recovery team in evacuating people could have been avoided if there was a clear procedure on who was in charge of the emergency. Evacuation would have been easier had the federal government acted earlier when the governor issued an emergency. Had people started to evacuate earlier then it would have been easier to handle a few who might have been got up by the storms.
2)What “Act” stuck out to you the most? Why?
The “Act” that stuck out to me most is when Ira Glass interviewed Denise Moore. The interview focused on the role of the United States government during Hurricane Katrina. She claimed that there lacked humanity, and survivors were treated like animals. The two white nurses kicked the survivors out of the facility. Denise’s mother was an employee at New Orleans Hospital, yet her daughter was not given refuge. Denise Moore returned home alone only for the ceiling to crash down on her. Lack of humanity led to the suffering of Denise Moore and other survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
What would you find the most challenging as someone involved in Emergency Management or as part of a Recovery team?
As a member of an emergency management and recovery team, the most challenging activity would be the provision of long-term support to the survivors of the incidence. In most cases, the available reliefs offered by charity organizations, governments, and NGO’s are only available during the disaster. Due to the destructions of their properties, assets, and source of livelihood, survivors end up in critical conditions (Jacobs et al., 2016).
How might these experiences have been prevented?
Increasing government expenditure and adequate planning remain as essential strategies in preventing experiences of a disaster. The preparation must involve pre-planning, collection of adequate information, and acquiring funds and infrastructure. Many disasters result in severe damages due to lack of preparation.
What can we do to build more resilient communities BEFORE a disaster strikes, so the impact of such a disaster is lessened?
Formation of resilient communities results in the recovery of societies after the occurrence of a disaster. One way to build more resilient communities involves encouraging collaboration and teamwork among the members of society. Also, forming of support groups, educating the members of disaster management, and identification of vulnerable infrastructure can help build more resilient communities (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2003).
What must be done AFTER a disaster in this context to build community recovery and resilience?
After the occurrence of Hurricane Katrina, the government and other stakeholders should focus on restoration of critical resources and infrastructure such as water, healthcare services, and electricity. Also, the relevant agencies must conduct a damage assessment. Lastly and most importantly, the government should provide counseling, shelter, food, and jobs to the survivors (Jackson & Cook, 1999).
References
Jackson, G., & Cook, C. G. (1999). Disaster mental health: Crisis counseling programs for the rural community. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Jacobs, G. A., Gray, B. L., Erickson, S. E., Gonzalez, E. D., & Quevillon, R. P. (2016). Disaster mental health and community”based psychological first aid: Concepts and education/training. Journal of clinical psychology,
