Disaster Management

Contrary to what is sometimes alleged, the use of specific terminology in recovery and response efforts is not to obfuscate the process of disaster relief for the public, but to ensure that when disasters do occur, that they are graded by the necessary criteria to meet with an appropriate response. For example, there is very strict criteria for what constitutes a national disaster at the federal level (“Glossary,” 2019). To ensure that emotions do not affect the ways in which events are perceived, and that the necessary types of financial and human resources are given to the relief effort, it is important that the terminology be specific and germane to the process. But even though specific terminology must be used, it can also be confusing. With this in mind, there should be an effort to educate the public about, for example, what is the difference in severity between the different categories of hurricane or what constitutes a complex medical incident. Having a common vocabulary used between emergency personnel on the local, state, and national level is also required to facilitate communication and consistency in a constant, open dialogue before, during, and after incidents.

There is the risk of overusing technical terms in a way that confuses the public. Many of the abbreviations and words used in the language of disaster planning sound very similar, and the public may have difficulty distinguishing between them. During times of crisis, it can be particularly challenging for people to differentiate between terms, much less understand the appropriate preparations they should take on a personal level. A thorough audit may be needed of the terms specifically used to communicate with the public, to determine if they can be simplified and condensed for maximum efficacy. It is also important to use them before a crisis occurs, so the public can become familiar with them.

References

Glossary. (2019). Public Health Emergency. Retrieved from: https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/mscc/handbook/Pages/appendixd.aspx