Mitigating mass flood disasters

Extracts of the paper presented at the Annual Sessions 2008 of the Medico Legal Society by Mithra Ariyasinghe. It highlights the contribution of Police, Medical Officers, Scientists, Lawyers and other concerned agencies in planning, preparing and taking action to mitigate mass flood disasters

Mithra ARIYASINGHE Retired Senior DIG

Disasters most frequent in Sri Lanka are due to floods, particularly with the recent climatic changes in the region like increased tropical cyclones in the Indo- Pacific region and the instability of undersea geological structure in proximity to Sumatra.

Hence planning and being prepared for prevention of serious flooding through timely evacuation, rescue, arranging relief and rehabilitation is essential.

Role of Police

Police should check with the Officials of Meteorology Department, Irrigation and National Disaster Centre and reliable local sources of the areas likely to be inundated. Accurate assessment of the severity and ascertain the people getting affected is also essential. Call out the Essential Services and communicate speedily to all who need to know and or can be of help in carrying out the under- noted activities; helping with logistics and supplies needed along with the National Disaster Centre officials, District/ Divisional Secretaries, Grama Niladharies, Navy, Social Services and Rehabilitation officials. Issuing appropriate timely warnings without causing panic and initiating timely rescue, life saving, protection of persons, evacuation, crowd control, traffic control with arrangements facilitating easy passage to emergency support vehicles through safe unobstructed routes and evacuating vulnerable persons, taking special care of immobile, handicapped and elderly persons with volunteer support if needed.

Health risks

Arrangements should be made to protect property from looters where residences/ offices are vacated.

Help identify health related problems that are likely to emerge. Trauma prevention and control is also important. Develop design preventive measures and help implement rapid response of medical resources as appropriate during preparation, rescue, relief and recovery phases.

Response will involve deployment of teams to carry out medical reconnaissance, resuscitation, on the spot treatment, coordinating and transporting those needing more medical care to proactively prepared hospitals.

Monitor or review post disaster physical and mental health or emotional effects on rescue workers, affected populations specially elderly, handicapped and ill persons and help arrange psychiatric counselling, where needed.

Evolving new ways

Scientists too could contribute to mitigate damage to property, loss of life, identification of dead, missing, injured, speeding up procedures for speedy disposal of dead. They also can evolve new ways to minimize health risks, epidemics by testing, water and food sources, control of pests and guidance in cleaning up and preparations for post flood resettlement.

Review whether laws are adequate to deal with negligence. Monitoring the proper maintenance of safety of dams, performance of assigned tasks, duty, responsibilities of disaster mitigation, compensating victims and dealing with false claims.

Role of the State

In the past planning and preparedness were handicapped by dearth of information and public awareness. Recent developments in information and satellite technology such as GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing and Ikonos satellite information can be used to minimize the damages caused by natural disasters. Such meps should be made available to the area Police Heads, District and Divisional Secretaries.

Mobilizing all those who can contribute for collaborative action. It would enable considerable improvement in minimizing damage from flood disaster.

Multi disciplinary approach with effective communication, coordination and collaboration among all who can contribute (Trained life saving personnel in the Police, Navy, Air Force, life saving associations trained volunteers) could considerably mitigate the disaster by minimizing loss of life, health problems and damage to property. It can also speed up response, relief and rehabilitation.