| Inherent within disaster management is developing | | | | to a natural disaster, disaster response plan entails |
| response, and an essential element of response is | | | | identifying disaster risks, vulnerabilities, impact, |
| contingency planning. Generally, contingency | | | | organizational resources and capacities. It further |
| planning is defined as an anticipatory emergency | | | | involves determining roles and responsibilities, and |
| preparation to be followed in an anticipated or | | | | formulating policies and procedures and planning |
| eventual disaster, based on risk assessment, | | | | activities. This is at the broader perspective and it |
| availability of human and material resources, | | | | allows identifying gaps and needs. Contingency |
| community preparedness, local and international | | | | planning focus more on addressing the responses |
| response capability, etc. That definition sets the | | | | and actions geared for specific disaster scenarios. |
| framework as we put on our thinking hats on. As | | | | (ii) |
| we brace ourselves for the oncoming monsoon | | | | Since contingency planning deals with individual |
| rains and the potential for floods again, the | | | | specific events which are known risks at the local, |
| question at the back of our minds will be - how | | | | national or regional levels, formulation necessitate |
| do we set up for the worst? Jointly and severally, | | | | the involvement of stakeholders at the associated |
| all the stakeholders involved with disaster | | | | levels. Contingency plans mesh well with |
| management need to come up with a | | | | operations management in terms of handling |
| contingency plan on how to deal with and minimize | | | | anticipated resource requirements, available |
| the risks of these natural disasters to lives and | | | | resources, and shortfalls or gaps. |
| properties. | | | | With extreme weather disasters becoming the |
| Contingency planning sessions could construct | | | | emerging feature this decade, and the horrific |
| mitigating measures to control damage on | | | | experience of Typhoon Morakot (Philippines, |
| development through such natural calamities. | | | | Taiwan) and the Istanbul flash floods still fresh in |
| Lessons learned in preceding disaster response | | | | our minds, any flood risks alert should not be |
| operations could provide the basic guidelines in | | | | taken with a pinch of salt. Preparedness warrants |
| ensuring present contingency plans are on the | | | | that expecting the worst i.E. Flood prone areas |
| desirable track. Following completion of the | | | | expected to have higher that normal risk of |
| contingency plan, as soon as disaster strikes, the | | | | flooding in different places and at greater |
| event triggers operationalisation of the | | | | magnitude than previous experience. Scenarios |
| contingency plan itself which has been formulated | | | | developed for the possible natural disaster will |
| with agreed upon common strategy. (i) Over the | | | | indicate the potential impact of such event. |
| years, there has been a paradigm shift in disaster | | | | Flooding, for instance, often destroys houses and |
| management from disaster response to disaster | | | | other properties resulting in the displacement of |
| risk reduction, reflected in the proactive action | | | | the flood affected population. Hence contingency |
| prior to the arrival of the calamity. In developing | | | | planning could anticipate both food and non-food |
| contingency plans, worst case scenarios are | | | | relief provision to alleviate human suffering |
| worked on to meet needs for planning ahead for | | | | resulting from the displacements. Those displaced |
| calamity risk reduction. | | | | suffer loss of household belongings and assets to |
| Red Cross and Red Crescent societies through | | | | the floods. Contingency plans look into emergency |
| their mandate and humanitarian assistance | | | | shelter requirements with the objective of |
| principles are periodically drawn into managing | | | | protecting those affected from avoidable risks |
| severe emergencies including natural disasters. In | | | | and vulnerabilities from the elements.(iii) |
| ensuring organizational readiness and that | | | | References: |
| adequate arrangements are made in anticipation | | | | (i) PDCC Kalinga approves disaster contingency |
| of an emergency, the common management tool | | | | plan. 12 Jun 2009. Philippine Information Agency |
| comprise response and contingency planning. Well | | | | (PIA) |
| thought out planning could greatly assist in | | | | (ii) International Federation of Red Cross Red |
| ensuring rapid and effective delivery of resource | | | | Crescent Societies. Contingency Planning & |
| needs of whatever disasters wherever that may | | | | Disaster Response Planning. |
| be. | | | | (iii) Flood Contingency Plan for 2007 Main Rainy |
| In order to realize a satisfactory level of | | | | Season in Ethiopia. August 2007. Addis Ababa. |
| preparedness for timely and effective response | | | | |