Disaster situational assessment
Disaster situational assessment refers to the process of evaluating the impacts that a hazard has imposed on a particular society (Paton & Moore, 2006). It also entails determining the needs and priorities that are required for immediate emergency strategies in order to rescue the lives of people involved in a disaster and control the damage to property during disasters. Disaster situational management is an essential management task that is required for an effective decision making process, planning and control of the disaster response measures (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007). Disaster situational assessment should be undertaken on all the phases of disaster that are identifiable in order to ensure that the planning and recovery strategies are effective. In addition, the assessment offers vital information that can be used in the resource allocation during instances of disasters because entails an identification of the key characteristics and vital process for effective emergency response and long term disaster recovery (Rodriguez, 2007). This means that the focus of the focus of the disaster situational assessment is subject to change at the different levels of as the response strategies changes in all the phases of disaster. Therefore, it can be argued that disaster situational assessment is the process through which the decision makers reorganize and eliminate the chaos that was imposed by a disaster. Disaster situational assessment activities offer important information that can be used to facilitate the process of emergency decision making and long-term disaster recovery planning (Rodriguez, 2007).
Approaches for disaster situational analysis
The process of disaster situational analysis has to be planned and managed carefully, implying that the activities of each phase have to entail detailed planning. In most cases, the process of disaster situational assessment begins with the identification of the information needs and the credible sources of data. Potential sources of data could be from local authorities, the community that is vulnerable to the disaster and emergency response organizations within the area (Paton & Moore, 2006).
The next step involves gathering of the data from the reliable sources. The data gathered usually entails information of the available resources for disaster mitigation within the community, the frequency of the disasters, the potential hazards imposed by the disasters and the information regarding the damages to property, loss of lives and the duration of disruption of normalcy. In addition, data collection entails gathering information concerning the emergency response and long-term recovery plans that are deployed within the community (Paton & Moore, 2006).
The next step involves an analysis and interpretation of collected data. This involves the evaluation of the effectiveness of the current disaster management strategies that are used in the community. In addition, data analysis is used to determine the readiness of the community in case of a disaster strikes. The last phase of disaster situational analysis entails reporting the conclusions, establishing a forecast and developing alternatives for the planners and decision makers. The findings and the conclusion are used for the designing and modification of the disaster response strategies (Paton & Moore, 2006).
Key event characteristics to look for in the event of a disaster
The most important characteristic to look for during a disaster is the extent to which the disaster imposed loss of lives, fatal injuries and minor injuries. For the purposes of complimenting this, the extent of the property damage is also analyzed during a disaster. It is also vital to identify the priorities of the people affected by the disaster and the entire magnitude of damage associated with the disaster. This is vital in the risk analysis of an area towards disaster. In addition, it can be used in determining the effectiveness of the current disaster mitigation approaches (Rodriguez, 2007).
The next key characteristic to take note of during a disaster is the time duration for the disruption of normalcy and the provision of critical services as a result of the disaster such as disruption of water and electricity supply. This is important in ascertaining the criticality of the hazard, which in turn can be used in the development of long term and emergency response strategies (Paton & Moore, 2006).
The third key characteristic to take into account in the event of a disaster is to evaluate whether there are any emergency response strategies on the ground and their relative effectiveness in handling the disaster. This involves identifying the local emergency response capacity, organizational, medical and the logistical resources that are available during the disaster. This is vital during the process of designing or modifying emergency response and long term disaster recovery planning. Another important characteristic to be taken into consideration in the event of a disaster is the disaster preparedness of the whole community (Rodriguez, 2007).
Instructions for responders in any disaster scenario
Prior to the disaster:
i. Determine the level to which the communities affected by the disaster are deploying strategies aimed at protecting their lives and property prior to an anticipated disaster.
ii. Ensure that disaster preparedness strategies are operational prior to the disaster.
During the emergency phase:
i. Determine the reported emergency and magnitude of the damage imposed by the disaster
ii. Identify the populations that are at high risks during the disaster
iii. Help in the definition and prioritization of the strategies and resources during the disaster in order to reduce the risk
iv. Assess the capacity of the local emergency response organizations
During the rehabilitating phase:
i. Determine the priorities of the people affected by the disaster
ii. Determine the government policies regarding any assistance after instances of disasters
iii. Evaluate the outcome and effectiveness of the rehabilitation strategies and cases of any relief
During the recovery phase:
i. Determine the extent to which the disaster imposed damages on economic resources that are significant
ii. Determine the impact of the disaster on the development initiatives that were underway
iii. Determine any potential opportunities that the disaster has created

References
Paton, D., & Moore, D. (2006). Disaster resilience: an integrated approach. New York: Charles C Thomas Publisher.
Rodriguez, H. (2007). Handbook of Disaster Research. New York: Springer.
Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2007). Mitigation. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from www.fema.gov/media/top-disasters.shtm