Rapid Disaster Response Engineering Challenge

In light of the hurricane that hit a local town in Honduras, Rapid Disaster Response set up a challenge for five civil engineering students from College of Science and Technology. This challenge was help in Kharbandi as a scenario for disaster relief engineering. The Rapid Response Engineering Challenge divided students into groups where they were to build a pipe system that could carry water to refuges when disaster strikes. Students were given a certain amount time to come up with a plan and maps of the area so they new what they were working with. They were given the essential materials, like plastics sheets, water town and piping to construct their design. An overall prize was awarded to the winning team along with some individual recognition. The purpose of this event was to get students to think outside the box and to help them solve a problem on how to handle a serious disaster.

Newly Formed Rapid Disaster Response Units

There are constantly new advances and organizations being formed in order to have a more prepared response just in case disaster hits. The Pan American Health Organization has done just that in its establishing of a new rapid disaster response team that can be put into action on short notice in the event of major hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, etc. Experts on this team are proficient in the field of epidemiology, water and sanitation, environmental health, logistics, administration, damage evaluation for hospitals, mental health, and communication. The members that are apart of this team are chosen from a list of nearly forty experts. This includes staff members from PAHO, members from various health ministries, and other agencies.

New Technologies For Rapid Disaster Response

InSTEDD stands for Innovative Support To Emergencies Diseases and Disasters. This company doesn't just specialize in technologies to improve rapid disaster response, but they specialize in technology to improve rapid disease response as well. It is because of systems like this that we are able to profit from the use of new found resources and newly created methods in order to save lives. This company stands by their efforts to make these methods and resources available to everyone anywhere in the world and at any given time. I'm grateful for a company that prides itself on the creation of tools with the ability to withstand the harshest, most unfavorable conditions and weather types. They are experts here, not just to help us, but even our animals.

Best Friend's Animal Society Rapid Disaster Response

I think we can all agree that providing a rapid disaster response to our furry friends is a huge necessity in our society right now. When a tornado hits, or a hurricane, or a tsunami, they need our help as well as our 2-legged friends need help. The Best Friend's Animal Society has a program set up that reaches out to man's best friend. They make rescuing and providing shelter and care to all types of animals , in emergencies or disastrous situations, their number one mission. If it's anything I can't stand, or have a difficult time dealing with, it's an animal in trouble. I have a special soft spot for dogs and puppies, especially when they are trapped in water. I'm not sure why but that always touches me the most. I am grateful to organizations such as this that makes our beloved pets and animals a priority.

The Rapid Disaster Response of 9/11

This video was shown out of respect for the teams who fought hard to save those who were hurt on that day. I'm in amazement of the rapid disaster response that took place on that fateful day of September 11th. Emergency units and response teams from all over New York were bound together with the same goal in mind. They were all on the same page and finally worked together on one accord. It was the first time in a long time that I saw the fire department, the police department, and the EMTs were using teamwork, communication, and 100% effort. Everyone was so scared that day and it is unfortunate that fear, turmoil, and terrorism is what it takes to bring our safety teams to agreement.

Times in Need Of A Rapid Disaster Response

This one is obvious- a rapid disaster response is what was needed AS SOON AS Hurricane Katrina hit! This is the time where a response is needed and it is needed right away President Bush! This wasn't a time for you to hesitate. Ok, not even just Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami, tornadoes, flash floods, and forest fires are all situations that call for a rapid response of a designated team. That is where organization of our society comes in. We should have designated teams that are prepared for and ready for necessary disaster relief at any given moment. It's like that saying from the Boy Scouts-"always be prepared". Of course, this is stating the obvious.

Rapid Disaster Response - Ministry for Disasters

Awhile back, the Rev. L. George Abrams stood for the final time before his United Methodist congregation in Oregon, and told them he was leaving to follow a new calling.

"I am called to disaster ministry," Abrams said. "I haven't really understood what that means, and then all of the sudden I see this conference advertised on domestic disaster ministry."

Abrams, the disaster response coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Annual (regional) Conference of the United Methodist Church, met in Nashville with peers from other conferences and denominations for the 2008 Church World Service Forum on Domestic Disaster Ministry.

"It's a chance for us to gather and network, to discuss changes and talk about how we can better practice disaster ministry," said Bob Arnold, associate director for training with Church World Service.

"He's worked with us over the last several months to make sure we have a deep theological foundation," said the Rev. Mary Gaudreau of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, who also served on the planning committee.

"We know we have colleagues in other organizations who do (disaster response) just as well as we do," Watson said as the forum began on March 29. "But we have a particular role to play."

Rapid Disaster Response - Arkansas FEMA

Rapid Disaster Response, Torrential downpours in Arkansas have brought many problems, but at least the FEMA is responding well to them said U. S. Sen. Mark Pryor.

"We're seeing a lot of flooding around the state. … The FEMA personnel that have been in Arkansas have been working on this. They've been very proactive and very quick to respond to Gov. (Mike ) Beebe and (the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management), as well as the Arkansas federal delegation. So, I'm very pleased with the response that we're seeing with regard to the floods," Pryor said.

"They have responded very quickly. I think they've been very clear and concise about getting information out to people, and trying to make sure people understand the process - make sure the county judges and the mayors and other elected officials understand the process," he said.

"Everybody needs to know April 8 is … the last day for individuals to apply for FEMA assistance (based on the tornadoes ). That's separate than the floods. But April 8 is the last day to file for any individual assistance on the February tornadoes," he said.

Pryor lauded FEMA Director R. David Paulison and changes in direction at FEMA.

"He's trying to make FEMA once again a proactive agency like it was under (former Director ) James Lee Witt, not a reactive agency. And they've really taken the initiative and made disaster response much, much easier on the states than you saw with the previous two FEMA directors. So like I said, I'm pleased," Pryor said.

"It looks like we're putting together a bipartisan bill on housing, to try to help the housing market in this country. … For a lot of people whose mortgage is not a problem, … I do think it's important for all of us to understand that there will be a big ripple effect throughout the economy as this mortgage crisis spreads. So even if your mortgage is good today and safe today and you're able to make the payments, I think you'll see problems," perhaps including increased interest rates and lower property values, Pryor said.

Rapid Disaster Response - Climate Disaster

Rapid disaster response - Environmental groups haven't been very quick off the mark in responding to climate disaster. Whether it's Katrina, Rita, the 2003 wildfires, 2004 Florida hurricanes, or any of the numerous other climate disasters of recent years, environmental groups have been slow. It's true that you can't tie any particular climate disaster directly to global warming; but it's easy enough to acknowledge that and then talk about how these kinds of disasters will become more frequent and more intense as the climate crisis worsens, and then turn the conversation to solutions...

Rapid Disaster Response - Santa Clara County Instruction

Rapid Disaster Response, he won't say it, but somewhere in his mind Jim Yoke, emergency services coordinator for the Santa Clara County Fire Department, knew exactly what to do when the 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook the South Bay on Oct. 30.

"I grabbed my daughter and I did the duck, cover and hold," he said.

Yoke is an instructor for Saratoga's Community Emergency Response Team, which instructs residents what to do in case a natural disaster strikes.

"The thing you need to do is continue practicing and organizing, so when the emergency happens, you're not scrambling around to see what everybody's doing," he said. "When you have an emergency, there's going to be chaos. The more people who are knowledgeable and know how to help, the better. A lot of the fear comes from not knowing what to do."