Disaster Management: Floods

Introduction

The whole of New Jersey is dominated by different types of disasters including floods, fires, hurricanes, blizzards, windstorms, tornados and many more. Of course, these disasters come along with diseases and related hazards. Blizzards are one of the most rampant disasters in North Brunswick alongside windstorms and floods. These disasters have serious negative effects on the native’s health and properties. However, the intervention of relevant authorities such as nurses, community health officers among others has proved important in the course of managing these disasters and ensuring the safety and health of North Brunswick’s natives.

Of the three, blizzards, windstorms and floods, North Brunswick is frequently affected by devastating floods (“Which Parts of New Jersey are Safest from Natural Disasters”, 2018). The fact that North Brunswick lies on a flood plain is evaluated as the main reason to why the area experiences frequent floods. Floods often accelerate the spread of waterborne diseases. That being the case, floods in North Brunswick, as acclaimed by medical experts deployed in the region facilitate the spread of infections such as cholera, typhoid and other waterborne related illness. In the most recent incident of floods, a few cases of cholera, typhoid and guinea worm disease were reported (“Three-quarters of residents happy with emergency response during flood, survey says | CBC News”, 2018). Literally, these infections are deadly if appropriate interventions are not considered.

From the experiences of previous floods, North Brunswick has implemented effective strategies and responses to manage and mitigate the aftermaths of floods. Most of these strategies and responses are solely sponsored by various health organizations and are executed by health officials including community/ local nurses. Actually, the intervention of nurses, their coordination with governmental and non-governmental health organizations has been the greatest and important measures towards mitigating the aftermaths of floods in the whole of North Brunswick (Pallarito, 2017).

The various responses adopted towards mitigating floods have so far proved to be effective. For over the years, relocation was highly considered. However, the measure became irrelevant due to the increase in North Brunswick’s population. And that meant that other options should be sought out. Apparently, several community-level intervention responses are in place in any case floods happen.

Evacuation is one of the responses North Brunswick considers in any case there are floods in the region. The community health officials in conjunction with both governmental and non-governmental organizations such as the WHO and Red cross have always teamed to evacuate people in any case there are floods. Also, they have gone further to ensure the affected are provided with basic amenities such as shelter, foods and medical aid until the area is safe for return. Instant response and intervention of armed forces when they are called in to help provide evacuation aid is the biggest course of the evacuation process.

Another response North Brunswick should highly re-consider is providing a more advanced warning. Giving a prior warning before heavy downpours is a suitable response to floods. However, this has to be made successful by the intervention of weather analysts as well as reliance on previous data on floods (their occurrence, intensity, effects and many more). Advanced warning is expected to give natives of North Brunswick enough time to prepare for the expected floods. In short, it allows for preparedness, both for locals and public health officials including nurses. In this case, preparations may include relocations as well as finding enough basic amenities to sustain them throughout the flooding period. A substantial number of people have often ignored this procedure, but apparently, in the 2018 floods in North Brunswick, a large number of persons were very much safe after they heed the prior warnings of an expected flood in the region (“Three-quarters of residents happy with emergency response during flood, survey says | CBC News”, 2018).

Community nurses and other public health officials in the region always respond positively and instantly in any case there are floods. They have often ensured a steady and enough supply of medical amenities to provide health or medical aid for the injured. North Brunswick community nurses and other public officers always play a significant role in restoring community services such as health services after a flood (Austin, 2011). They diagnose possible occurrences of waterborne diseases and neutralize any possible signs and instances of these infections. In coordination with locals, community nurses and other volunteer organizations supervise and lead cleaning of the region to prevent the acceleration of the spread of waterborne infections.

Conclusion

To sum up, a disaster plan exists for North Brunswick. Not just a disaster plan for floods only but also a disaster plan for other rampant disasters such as blizzards, winter storms, windstorms and tornados among others. Since the study exclusively focused on floods, North Brunswick disaster plan for a flood include evacuation, leaving home and advanced warning which was adopted recently. An evidence-based practice conducted by “N.B.’s response to floods inadequate: northern officials | CBC News” (2018) ascertains that evacuation, relocation (leaving home as it is) and prior warnings are the best measures to consider when dealing with floods. Based on “N.B.’s response to floods inadequate: northern officials | CBC News” (2018) discussion, it is clear that North Brunswick’s current disaster (flood) management plan is sound and effective.