Assessing Crisis Management in Iran Based on Little John Model (A Case Study of the Flood of 2019 in Lorestan, Mazandaran, and Kermanshah Earthquake in 2017)

Background and Objectives: Human society has historically been faced by a variety of natural and unnatural disasters, so, every year, 200 million people affected by the disasters. Iran is among the ten high risk countries in the world, with India, Bangladesh and China fourth behind in Asia. The global crisis, due to the magnitude of the accident, the numerous affected populations, and the limited capacity to respond of the authorities in a short time, caused high demands of relief, health and medical needs, so the management requires coordinated and proper use of all national material and human resources. In this regard, identifying the strengths and improvements in crisis managements, based on world-class scientific models and using them in order to improve the next crisis management quality may be very effective. Method: This is an applied study according to the objectives of crisis management research; on the other hand, this is a descriptive-analytic research based on quality and method. Crisis management in Iran (case study, floods in Luristan and Mazandaran, and Kermanshah earthquake) considered by using Little John six step model and field survey, documentation, discussion with senior executives of government agencies related to crises (governorship, county offices, municipality, electricity, water, gas, telecommunications, Red Crescent, emergency, fire departments, etc.) and a questionnaire in which numbers 9 and 1 scored as maximum and minimum, respectively. Results: According to the evaluation by Little John model, designing the crisis response (4.7) and necessity planning (2.9) showed highest and lowest scores in Iranian crisis management, respectively. The whole crisis management assessment shows the average less than medium (4.6). a system for sending and distributing the required items (2), information system to individuals and managers of crisis management department (1.8) are as the weakest parts of crisis management and the rapid establishment of water and gas services as well as the rapid distribution of required items are as the best crisis management sectors (6.6). Conclusion: Even though the great efforts made to improve the quality of crisis management services, and high probability of natural disasters in Iran, special consideration in this field is necessary. Improving some standards such as a system to register the information of places and people as well as rapid informing to crisis management members, may have effective results in future crisis managements.