What is the definition of disaster?
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies defines disaster as the sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins.
DISASTER = (VULNERABILITY+ HAZARD) / CAPACITY
What are Vulnerability, Hazard, and Capacity?
Vulnerability - diminished capacity of an individual or group to anticipate, cope with, resist and recover from the impact of a natural or man-made hazard.
Hazard - Threatening event, or probability of occurrence of a potentially damaging phenomenon within a given time period and area.
Capacity - Disaster preparedness refers to measures taken to prepare for and reduce the effects of disasters. That is, to predict and, where possible, prevent disasters, mitigate their impact on vulnerable populations, and respond to and effectively cope with their consequences.
Natural Disaster vs. Man Made Disaster?
Natural Disaster - Natural disasters include all types of severe weather, which have the potential to pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, critical infrastructure, and homeland security.
Man Made Disaster - Man-made disasters have an element of human intent, negligence or error involving a failure of a man-made system, as opposed to natural disasters resulting from natural hazards. Such man-made disasters are crime, arson, civil disorder, terrorism, war, biological / chemical threat, cyber-attacks, etc.
Hurricanes: what are they?
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines Hurricanes as a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. A tropical cyclone is a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts – does not have a boundary.
Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms. When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane.
When is Hurricane Season in the Atlantic?
The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to November 30th. The hurricane season in the Atlantic is 183 days long, which represent 50% of the year.
Historically, the month of May is the least active month, while the month of September is the most active.
What is the difference between Hurricane Warning and Hurricane Watch?
A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible in a specified area. This watch is issued 48 hours before tropical storm–force winds (39 to 73 mph) are expected in an area. (it might hit the area)
A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area – warnings are issued 36 hours before tropical storm force winds are expected in the area. (it will hit the area)
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
What is the FRIEND Miami-Dade County Long Term Recovery Group?
In Miami-Dade County the Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) is known as the Florida Regional Interfaith/Interagency Emergency Network in Disaster, Inc. (FRIEND, Inc.) Miami-Dade Long Term Recovery Group (FRIEND Miami-Dade LTRG).The FRIEND Miami-Dade LTRG is a cooperative body that is made up of representatives from faith based, nonprofit, government, businesses, and other organizations working within a community to assists individuals and families as they recover from disaster. The Goal of the FRIEND Miami-Dade LTRG is to unite recovery resources with community needs in order to ensure that even the most vulnerable in the community recover from disaster.
What does FRIEND Miami-Dade LTRG do?
FRIEND Miami-Dade LTRG is providing overall management of the long-term recovery process to residents of Miami-Dade County, Florida and additional long-term assistance to individuals affected by disasters who do not have adequate personal resources for basic needs because of disasters.