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Strategies of Disaster Response in the Health Care System for Tropical Cyclones: Experience Following Typhoon Nari in Taipei City
Author(s) -
Lai TingI,
Shih FuhYuan,
Chiang WenChu,
Shen ShihTsuo,
Chen WenJone
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
academic emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.221
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1553-2712
pISSN - 1069-6563
DOI - 10.1197/s1069-6563(03)00368-3
Subject(s) - damages , typhoon , natural disaster , medicine , tropical cyclone , preparedness , medical emergency , natural hazard , environmental health , emergency management , environmental planning , health care , meteorology , economic growth , geography , political science , law , economics
Natural disasters present significant potential for injuries and death. Unlike the experience of Hurricane Andrew that destroyed a vast surface area in the rural countryside, Typhoon Nari in Taipei proved that significant damages from natural disasters also can happen to modern health care systems in urban areas. To ameliorate such damages, specific structural, nonstructural, and administrative issues must be taken into account. Such issues include the location of the health facility, design of the infrastructure, storage of equipment and machines, maintenance, medical, and nonmedical operations. Specific considerations, such as early evacuation and securing the safety of the patients before a disaster, should be emphasized. Recovery plans that determine how soon medical service can be restored to the community should also be established. Emphasis on emergency‐response preparedness, mitigation procedures, and recovery efforts should all be included in a comprehensive emergency plan against the destruction caused by natural hazards.