Order from chaos

• Book ID: 104115279
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 319 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0015-7368
• DOI: 10.1016/s0015-7368(90)73327-0

✦ Synopsis

Disaster planning in Northern Ireland W Rutherford, Adviser to the DHSS on Disaster Planning

Mr Rutherford outlined the difficulties of disaster planning and described the schemes operating in Northern Ireland to prepare the various agencies for a disaster. Difficulties which must be overcome for successful planning include believing that a disaster wuld actually happen, the problems of inter-agency co-operation and understanding, and the boredom aspect of committee meetings and decision-making. Once plans have been agreed, there comes the problem of continuity and awareness, particularly if nothing happens for a long time. It is therefore important to have exercises of one form or another to ensure that everyone is aware of his role and responsibilities.