EHS 639 - Catastrophe Preparation and Response

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Catastrophes are defined as a disaster of such magnitude and complexity that the resources of the entire nation are not sufficient to mount an effective response and recovery. As such the assumptions embedded in the plans for disaster response for a given jurisdiction or nation are rendered futile, necessitating a different approach to responding to the needs of the affected population in a scenario of long-term deprivation and inadequate resources. Recent examples of catastrophes are the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and, perhaps, the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake/tsunami/nuclear plant meltdown. This course addresses new ways of planning for events that require more resources than the nation can provide in a timely and effective manner. It requires rethinking the relationship between those affected by the event and the drive to minimize suffering and losses, and does so within a multidisciplinary examination of policies, legal structures, financial organization, social cohesion, public health means and methods, different collaboration/logistics modalities, and methods of effectively incorporating outside resources. It also proposes new emphases on local self-reliance