How Relief Agencies Coordinate in the Aftermath of a Disaster
When a massive disaster affects a region, responding requires an intricate web of coordination between government, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups. With so many actors involved in hurricane, flood or earthquake relief and recovery efforts, how do they come together quickly and effectively? Disaster response is a complex dance, but according to those at Brother’s Brother Foundation, there are systems and protocols to unite groups despite the chaos.
First Response Mobilization
Local emergency managers are often the initial coordinators after a disaster strikes a community. As needs reports stream in, managers request state resources and alert a pre-identified roster of volunteer agencies and nonprofits to mobilize. Groups spring into action, activating trained volunteers, pre-positioning supplies through partners, and preparing mobile aid units to deploy.
Multi-Agency Coordination
Once first responders arrive, Multi-Agency Coordination Systems (MACS) stand up quickly to orchestrate efforts. These bring together representatives from response groups into a common space or system. Coordinating priorities, deployments, resources, communications, and data allows real-time awareness of who is doing what and where.
Layered Response
Effective coordination follows a tiered model across different levels. Local agencies and volunteers meet urgent needs on-site. State-level EMAs provide reinforcements and recovery oversight. National groups like FEMA supply major resources. Some organizations operate regionally, while the Army Corps handles major infrastructure projects. Each layer complements the other.
Expanding Scope
In the early days, the focus is on lifesaving response needs like search and rescue, medical aid, food, water, and shelter. As immediate threats subside, the scope expands to post-disaster needs assessments, removing debris, restoring power and transportation. The coordination tent expands to include health providers, schools, businesses, social service agencies and others key to long-term rebuilding.
Information Sharing
Fast, accurate information exchange is the lifeblood of coordination. Designated Public Information Officers ensure consistent public communications. Databases like the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System track survivors. Resource management tools like EM Constellation allow real-time exchange of operational data between agencies. Information flows up, down and across the system.
Divvying Up Turf
With many groups flooded into a disaster zone, dividing up operational zones prevents duplication of efforts. Coordinators assign response zones, so each group takes the lead in their designated areas, while supporting others as needed. Specialization also helps – some groups provide medical care while others clear roads. Regular coordination meetings help troubleshoot any response gaps.
Interoperability
Since groups converging often use different radio frequencies and operating procedures, achieving interoperability is crucial. Advance planning for contingency communications really does help agencies talk to one another when primary systems are down. Satellite phones and mobile command centers also enable connectivity. Adapting a common lexicon avoids confusion as well.
Public-Private Partnerships
Businesses bring key capabilities such as supplies, logistics expertise, mobile assets, and local knowledge to the table. Private-public partnerships tap into these resources for greater responsiveness. Businesses with fleets of trucks or heavy equipment can augment public sector capacity. Corporate donations, technical skills and facilities also help to expand relief resources.
Leaning on Relationships
In fast-moving crisis situations, personal relationships and trust between agencies grease the wheels of coordination. Leadership, delegating roles, problem-solving tensions, and adapting protocols rely on collaboration skills as much as formal systems. Cultivating these relationships before disasters is therefore invaluable.
So to conclude, with so many moving parts and urgent needs, coordinating a major disaster response is enormously complex. But time-tested systems that foster unity of effort through cooperation, communications, and organization management help to make order from chaos. With protocols in place, relief groups can work in harmony to serve devastated communities.