How Can Nurses Help in Disaster Preparedness?

Introduction

The Center for the Study of Brooklyn confirms that Community boards were established in 1963 through the New York Charter as the city’s means of governance to provide opportunities for broader and more in-depth engagement of citizens in local decision-making. Each Board was authorized to consider the needs of the district which it serves and decides the course of action that best serves the needs of the citizens, such as traffic problems or deteriorating housing. Monthly meetings provide the members the opportunity to address items of concern, and voice their opinions. It plays an advisory role in dealing with land use and zoning matters, the City’s budget, municipal service delivery and other factors concerning the community’s welfare. Community Boards also have the responsibility to follow up on issues presented at the meetings. Community Board No.18's meeting was on January 16, 2013. One of the topics that were mentioned in the Open Discussion was people that were displaced by Super Storm Sandy who were having difficulties dealing with existing health issues and new ones arising from the disaster itself. Numerous people who were already in financial straits could not afford to purchase their medications and take care of their families. Firstly, just a few were actually prepared for an event like Sandy, which was a red flag; stating, what we are doing in terms of educating the citizens in the community and how to prepare for a disaster.

How can Nurses help in Disaster Preparedness?

"Disaster, natural or man-made such as hurricanes, fires, floods, and earthquakes can cause major destruction and disruption of everyday normal life" (Gebbie & Qureshi, 2002). This can result in environmental contamination and significant technologic catastrophe.

Therefore, before disaster strikes communities, community representatives and hospital administrations need to have a plan for disaster situations implemented. With nurses being on the forefront in disaster relief, teaching primary prevention is the first step in planning and educating communities about disastrous events and this should be done in conjunction with community representatives, nurses and community hospitals. Special training for nurses, doctors and staff should be done for care and evacuation in times of disaster. According to Gebbie & Qureshi (2002), nurses can help in disaster preparedness by identifying who needs to know how to do what.

Therefore, any large-scale devastation needs an organized community response and this is where nurses play an integral role in planning that response with community representatives and members, because when devastation occurs, many different sociocultural levels are affected. According to Gebbie & Qureshi (2002)”, until now, emergency preparedness competencies specific to nurses working