Preparing for disaster.

Preparing for and recovering from a natural disaster.

Preparing for the next natural disaster: learning from Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina exposed the nation's ongoing vulnerability to large-scale losses from natural disasters. The catastrophic loss of life and property has lead people to question why the United States is not better prepared for such disasters. In this Issue Brief, a leading expert on decision processes and low probability events discusses the reasons why people do not take protective measures vo...

Preparing for the next natural disaster--need for a WHO coordinating centre.

This month is the first anniversary of the 7.6 Richter earthquake which struck Pakistan on 8 October 2005. The medical community’s response to this tragedy was overwhelming. In the hardest hit areas — Bagh, Balakot, Mansehra and Muzaffarabad — there were no hospitals, clinics or trauma centers within 80 km. Initial estimates suggested a death toll of 70 000 with over 150 000 injured. In the fir...

Healthcare executives' role in preparing for the pandemic influenza 'gap': a new paradigm for disaster planning?

P andemic influenza, by its nature, is a healthcare disaster. Healthcare organizations are the unique reservoirs of the essential knowledge and tools for handling such a pandemic; they have infection-control procedures, universal precautions, and personal protective equipment for virus protection. Because of this, healthcare organizations run the risk of being the scapegoat if this pandemic is ...

Preparing for the Worst: Re-Envisioning Disaster Legal Relief in the Era of Homeland Security

The New York legal community’s response to the September 11th disaster provides an excellent example of pro bono assistance in a time of crisis. The New York response featured many well-trained lawyers with extensive resources and organizational efforts from the New York City bar. However, not all communities have the same resources and ability to mobilize for a large pro bono effort in respons...