Objectives for mass evacuation programs: decision-making and resident procedures

Mass Evacuation

It is a common knowledge that various disasters happen nowadays. From natural calamities (such as earthquakes, tsunami, hurricanes, etc.) to man-initiated catastrophes (such as flood, fire, bombings, oil spills, wars and the likes), men are expected to react properly and effectively so as to ensure that everybody will be safe.

Part of the reaction or planning program that must be ensured when a calamity, of whatever form strikes is the evacuation. However, for every type of calamity or disaster, there is a specific type of evacuation plan that people must so. This paper is aimed at setting the evacuation plans for various types of calamities and/or disasters. Specifically, this paper is intended for:

Identifying the person who can be authorized to decide for the mandatory evacuation

Categorizing the time allotment for an evacuation to take place

Identifying the effective procedures when dealing with some people who do not wish to evacuate

Categorizing the procedures to prevent incidence of looting

Evacuation Procedures

Mass evacuation normally happens when a major threat to a certain community, building or anyplace were majority of the people therein are at risk. There are different types of mass evacuation namely pre-event evacuation, post-event evacuation, voluntary evacuation and mandatory evacuation. A pre-event evacuation occurs 'when the level of risk is uncertain while post-evacuation occurs if it has been assessed that the situation has been contained. On the other hand, voluntary evacuation happens when the people themselves choose to move out of their place, with or without instructions from the outsiders. A mandatory evacuation occurs when a lead agency imposes the people to leave the area (Mass Evacuation, 2006).

The procedures for mass evacuation will be dependent on the type of place and threat. However, the objectives for mass evacuation will always be (Mass Evacuation, 2006):

to evacuate people in a timely, safely and effectively to consider evacuation when risks are too high and cannot be reduced taking note of the fact that evacuation should only take place "when the risk of staying in place is greater than the risk of shifting

For example if a certain building has received a certain bomb threat or a possible incidence of fire, the procedures to follow are:

Evaluating first if the warning (bomb or fire threat) received is genuine

At this day and age, there are some people who like to make fun of other people. There are lots of pranksters existing nowadays hence only proper authorities should be allowed to ask the people to evacuate.

The list of proper authorities may include:

Police officials (FBI, NYPD, LAPD, etc.)

Government officials

Special organizations within the government (like the disaster coordinating units, etc.)

If the calls came from these groups and are directly asking the people to evacuate, evacuation must be done accordingly.

The building officials may also direct for the mass evacuation. A fire warning inside the building itself coupled with other computer devices that detects fire signals within the premises will be enough to evaluate if mass evacuation is necessary.

Ensuring which way to use and where the people should be transferred

There are safety exits in any building, but this does not mean that people will always use this for during mass evacuation. It will be the building's safety official's task to ensure that the people will be using the safest and the fastest way out. More so, the people should be properly instructed as to where they should be going or where they will be evacuated.

The building's safety officials or the specialized units connected with the government or even with the police officials will be able to direct the people regarding their next shelter or place to evacuate. It should be noted that (Mass Evacuation, 2006):

Designating an area for shelter is necessary if there is a significant disruption to transportation and going to other place could expose the people to more threats or risk.

Evacuation and designation of shelter is detrimental if:

Safety is at risk for continuing threat (such as further volcanic eruptions, aftermaths of earthquakes and/or tsunami, etc.)

Properties within the area are "classified as unsafe or unsanitary or both and there is a lack of suitable shelter or alternative accommodations

Public health is at risk, which is normally the result of long-term trouble to water supplies or sewerage systems

Unavailability or contamination of food and water supply

Evaluating the time needed for the people to evacuate and the time they will be spending in the evacuation areas

There are emergency calls which will give the evacuees very limited time to move out of the place. Like for example in fires, earthquakes or bomb threats. Such risks will require the people to move out the quickest way possible. This is the very reason why the area officials will need to have a very clear plan of action as to which exit areas should the people be using.

Meanwhile, the length of stay in the evacuation site will be dependent on how devastated to area is. If massive earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings or tsunami has happened, the evacuees will normally have to stay in designated shelters for the time being until the city or government officials has declared that they can finally go back to their respective places.

Proper information dissemination is very important during evacuation and sheltering the evacuees. This is to calm the people who are evacuating and also to ensure that everybody will be moving out. It can be expected that there will b some who will be hesitant to move out, for the fear of losing their comfort or even their properties. hence, the most important information that should be given to the affected people are (Mass Evacuation, 2006):