Pre-disaster preparation Warning Impact Emergency Recovery This chronological organisation of disaster activities is helpful because it provides an outline by which to develop disaster plans, to assign tasks and responsibilities and to set priorities for activities in logical sequence.

The phase before a disaster strikes is of critical importance because it, more than any other phase, determines the impact of the disaster on the community.

During this stage, a community undertakes the task of assessing its disaster potential by conducting geological hazard surveys and risk assessment for severe storms, hazardous materials, accidents, fire and so forth.

An effective disaster plan is developed, distributed, tested in "Mock Disaster'' exercises, revised and refined and kept up to date. Disaster training is provided to all response agencies to familiarise them with the disaster plan, their roles and responsibilities, and the new tasks or demands generated by a disaster. An important part of the pre-disaster preparation is to educate the public and to encourage individual preparedness.

Too many organisations and communities fail, however, to take full advantage of this pre-disaster period. It is usually not until after a disaster that the full resources of the community are devoted to preparation for the next disaster.

The warning phase is the period of time from the first possible danger signal to the moment of impact. With the aid of satellites and networks of weather stations, many meteorological disasters (eg. hurricanes, tornadoes, severe winter storms, etc.) can be predicted. In addition, it is possible to predict conditions conducive to avalanches and landslides. In these situations warnings can be the most important aspects in minimising the loss of lives and in mitigating damage.

It is important that a community be well informed about the possibility of a disaster occurring, its intensity, and its duration of scope. Several problems may arise during the warning phase. First, many disasters do not permit dissemination of vital information either because communications systems are inadequate or because there is not enough time. Second, when warning is possible the community must recognise the threat as legitimate and serious.

Impact is the phase in which the disaster actually strikes and in which little can be done to mitigate damage or to increase the number of survivors. It is essentially a period of enduring the disaster's effects and "holding on''.

The impact phase can last anywhere from a few seconds or minutes (earthquakes, plane crashes or explosions) to a few days or weeks (floods and heat-waves) to several months (droughts and epidemics). People within the disaster area may not fully comprehend the scope of the disaster. It is essential that a preliminary damage assessment be conducted during the impact phase (if possible) or immediately afterwards to determine emergency response priorities, needs and limitations.

The emergency phase begins at the end of the impact and continues until the immediate threat of additional destruction has passed and the community is organised for recovery and rehabilitation. Recovery begins during the emergency phase and ends gradually with the resumption of normal community order and functions. For the persons in the impact area, recovery is a long -- perhaps lifelong -- readjustment, and assistance may be required to meet their welfare demands. Permanent repair and rebuilding of damaged property, (replanting of crops) and the restoration of all public services must take place.

Throughout the decade, the second Wednesday of October has been designated as an International Disaster Reduction Day. This year it will fall on October 13.

A recommendations guide for celebrating this special day was prepared during an International meeting of the "Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction'' committee. The slogan for the day this year will be: "STOP DISASTER! A FOCUS ON SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS'' Jacqueline Lightbourne Chief Nursing Officer Department of Health.