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Paper presented by Vasant Dave in Seminar organised by Disaster Management Institute, Baroda, India (June, 1993)

Communication in Disaster Management

How the Public views Toxic Disasters

Mankind accepts a natural disaster as an act of God, inescapable. In contrast, a technological disaster is viewed as an avoidable scourge unleashed by a socially irresponsible business organisation. Even among technological disasters, man dreads most those involving radiation and toxic substances. Toxics commence disintegrating body tissues often before the victims realise it. They contaminate air, water, land, the entire environment. They may even affect the generation yet unborn. Bhopal has taught the common man to distrust government officials and industry experts, to doubt science and technology, and to lose confidence in logic and reason.

Implications to Management

Such feelings possess a potential for dangerous mass hysteria. Various interest-groups can trigger it to deal deadly blows to authorities and organisations in the form of

Communication to the Rescue

In hazardous industry the world over, in spite of the most stringent safety measures, one can never say when a catastrophe may strike. It may be building-up right now --- like a tidal wave beyond the horizon. In such an eventuality, faster the authorities respond, lower is the loss of life and property. Fortunately those decisive seconds can be saved by proven communication technology that includes computers, telemetry, radio-paging, video-broadcast and satellite.

Disaster Communication System

A communication system designed to address specific requirements of disaster management should essentially have the following features:

Various activities of Disaster Management and the communication equipment essential for each activity are tabulated below:

Activity

Communication Equipment

  • Accident Site to Company's own Operation Control Room (OCR)

Intercom
Wireless (Stationary/Vehicle-mounted/Walkie Talkie)
Radio Pager (Pocket/ Wall-mounted)

  • OCR to other departments in the Company

Intercom
Wireless
Siren/ Public Address

  • OCR to Complex's Central Control Room (CCR)

Normal Telephone Line
Hot line
Wireless
Radio

  • CCR to OCRs of sister organisations

Normal Telephone Line
Hot Line
Wireless
Radio
Siren/ Public Address

  • CCR to Collectorate, City Fire Brigade, Railways, Hospitals, Police, Army/ Airforce, Local Radio TV stations, Top management of all member Organisations

Normal Telephone Line
Hot Line
Radio

  • CCR to villages and residential areas

Normal Telephone Line
Wireless
Siren/ Public Address

  • CCR to disaster management experts

Radio Pager
Mobile electronic news gathering & video transmission van

  • Disaster management experts in CCR to operational personnel at accident site

Radio

  • Localised gas/ smoke detectors to own OCR and OCR to CCR

Telemetry and data acquisition & monitoring computer

  • CCR to pollution monitoring agency at State Capital and onwards to Delhi

Satellite

Human Aspect in Advanced Technology

In spite of all this, we may still not achieve the desired results if the 'human aspect' is overlooked. Firstly, the personnel should be thoroughly trained in operation and maintenance of equipment. Secondly, the oral communication should be such that there is little room for vagueness, ambiguity, or misunderstanding.

Conclusion

An integrated communication system for Baroda such as the one proposed may cost several millions. It is possible only if all of us cooperate to share the expense. While we hope that the proposed system is never put to test, it may prove itself a good investment in case we face a disaster.

© Vasant Davé

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