Significance of Communication in Disaster Management

Any disaster can have unforgettable memories on one’s mind. However, it is very necessary to be alert during the crisis time. The following article emphasizes on the role of efficient communication during the time of disaster.

A disaster may be defined as a series of events that occur rapidly and with no prior intimation in the area that you manage. At this point, your communication skills will act as an added advantage in collecting all the possible information on the reasons and consequences of the disaster from all the victims and the witnesses. Your role as an Emergency manager would be take decisions immediately in favor of the current situation. Disaster management is the most important task to be performed during the crisis situation. An emergency manage is expected to pool up all the information on the situation form all possible sources and provide the superior in charge with a single stream of information.

During an adversity, Disaster Management fails mainly in the communication systems. With well wishers being worried about their loved ones the communication networks for all the mobile phones almost crash, posing grave failure to the Disaster management team’s communication to its head quarters. It is very important to think about how long a mobile system stays functional for during a disaster condition.

This is the point where choice of selecting the right communication equipment is highlighted. If the communication system fails, no matter how efficient the disaster management and rescue team is they will fail to function because of inefficiency in passing vital information to each other.

The Disaster Management Team should review their emergency equipment for the following details;

1. Review the mobile phones of all the employees in their contact list.

2. Check for spare batteries, fully charged and ready to go for all phones relied on during emergency.

3. Check for the working ability of land line phone in case of power failure or PC shut down.

4. How to manage multiple conversations on individual phone without hanging up on any one in different emergency teams.

5. Ensuring that the response teams have their communication equipment with them at all times.

In addition to all these facilities, using the communication system in an efficient way is also obligatory. All this requires a dedicated training for emergency situations.