From: Paul.Walton@f404.n632.z3.fidonet.org (Paul Walton)
Newsgroups: aus.radio
Subject: WICEN National Newsletter No 11
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 12:44:08

      To      : All Emergency Management Agencies
      From    : Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network
                Australia
      Information for inclusion in this fortnightly Bulletin
      should be sent by one of the following methods :-

      Postal  : WICEN, P.O. Box 106, Mitcham, Victoria, 3132
      InterNet: vk3tp@csource.oz.au
      FidoNet : Paul Walton @ 3:632/404
      Packet  : vk3ur@vk3bbs.vic.aus.oc
      Voice   : Paul Walton (03) 754-8646 (A.H)

 
WICEN.011   SUBJECT: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?    PART 3 OF 3    29/11/92

This is the final part  of  the last Bulletin's article on what can be expected
to occur during various disaster scenarios.

50. Dead  bodies  should  not  be an initial concern.  Rescuing the living
should be the first priority.

51. If phones are working , the number of requests for service will be
overwhelming.  People will have to fend for themselves ; it will be difficult
for dispatchers to ignore these pleas for help.

52. Some  field  units  will "disappear" ; you  will not be able to reach them
and will not know where they are or what they are doing.

53. Security  will  have  to  be  posted at hospitals, clinics, and first-aid  
 stations  to  control  hysterical  citizens  demanding immediate attention.
 
54. Representatives from public agencies and many foreign countries will  want 
to come and observe the operations or offer assistance. They will be a
significant problem.

55. Department heads  (EOC)  staff may not have a working knowledge of their
assigned  areas  of  responsibility , and will "play it by ear."

56. Some  citizens  and  media  representatives  will question your decisions
because they will not recognize that the safety  of field responders is
paramount.

57. There are no critically injured  in a disaster ; only those who are dead or
alive.

58. Handicapped  and  disabled  persons  will  probably  die unless personal 
family  and  friends can care for them and maintain their life-support
systems.

59. Management will not be familiar with field response procedures,and may
attempt to change standard operating procedures.

60. Emergency responders (public safety and medical alike) will not be
adequately trained to respond efficiently.

61. There will be initial chaos ; supplies, materials and equipment needed will
not be readily available.

62. There   will  be  a  general  lack  of  necessary  information;coordinators
 will  want  to  wait  for  damage/casualty assessment information to establish
priorities.

63. Emergency  equipment  will  not be able to reach some locations because of
traffic jams.  Tow  trucks  will be at a premium. Parked or abandoned vehicles
will block streets , and emergency responders will be the worst offenders.

64. Even  though  there will not be enough people to initially deal with
emergencies, many available personnel will never be identified and never used. 
After  the  initial shock , there will be too many volunteers.

65. General  information  will  be  offered in response to specific questions  
because  field   units  cannot   verify  the  requested information.

66. Individual public safety officers will be asked  to do the work of squads
or companies; they will have to recruit volunteers on the spot to provide
assistance to their efforts.

67. The message flow to, from, and within the EOC and Field Command Post will
break down and become inefficient and unmanageable.

68. There  will  be an overcritical desire to "verify" all incoming
information. If  it  is  received  from  a field unit, it should be considered
as verified.

69. Some  EOC  and  Command Post  personnel will become overloaded;some  will 
not  be  able  to  cope with the volume of activity and information  they  have
to deal with , and some will not be able to cope with the noise and
distractions.

70. Things  will  get  better -- some  time  after they have become
considerably worse.
 

 * Origin: WICEN Victoria Telephone BBS. (3:632/404)