last draft
Students will complete a paper that focuses on ethical preparedness and response practices, investigates the roles of culture, focusing on current disaster research (California wild fires, please narrow it down to a particular type of wild fire the one you talked about was the Napa, Sonoma wilde fire in califorina ), and applying it to local disaster preparedness and response systems. This paper should be no more than 8 pages in length, APA style please see the two attachment below this is a cotinuatuion of it.
Running head: DISASTER 1
DISTASTER 1
Disaster: California Wildfires
Disaster: California Wildfires
Introduction
The state of California has been experiencing several series of wildfires each year due to natural causes. In this year the 2020 California wildfire season, there have been several wildfires burning across the California state. These wildfires have been a natural segment of the California landscape. Climate change has been linked with the increased wildfire trends across California, because they cause an increase to summer as well as spring temperatures which leads to a reduction of the snowpack hence causing extensive dry seasons making forests to be at significant risk of wildfires. However, they tend to have serious negative impacts on the California state residents and the entire United States as a whole. As per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, there has been an approximate total of about 3,484 wildfires as of June 2020 and a total of about 24,3934 acres of land have been burnt, however, no fatalities have been reported.
Physical Impacts
The California wildfires tend to have significant physical impacts on the California state as well as the United States residents. They tend to be quite devastating to both homes as well as businesses leaving a significant population within the United States homeless as well as jobless. For instance, the wildfires in Napa, and Sonoma consumed more than 7000 structures and in turn a population of more than 100, 000 individuals were displaced. Also, they contribute to environmental contamination as the smoke from the fires releases a toxic chemical which pollutes the environment (Liao & Kousky, 2020). Thus, through pollution of the air, the human population, plants as well as other species within this region tends to suffer from polluted air which causes negative health conditions.
Psychological Impacts
Wildfires tend to have several significant threats to public health, as they tend to cause direct as well as indirect harm to millions of people exposed to the fire as well as the toxic smoke. Research indicated that the smoke produced from the wildfires tends to affect about 50 times larger area compared to the area consumed by the wildfire. This raises concerns because the toxic smoke contains health-harming contaminants which cause significant health issues like, cardiac arrest, stroke, low birth weight, lung cancer, exacerbated asthma, mental condition as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Palinkas, 2020). However, the mental conditions are the main psychological impacts that are caused by the wildfire disasters as many people lose their property, jobs, as well as family members through the fires and it turn’s they suffer post-traumatic stress and grief which influences the occurrence of a mental condition.
Social Impacts
A significant impact of wildfires on society is through the disruption of social processes and functions. Often when a wildfire occurs private and governmental property is destroyed and this causes the society to ineffectively conduct its various processes as well as functions. For instance, research findings attained from the wildfire social science indicate that fire events may alter the relationship among the residents as they may feel helpless and at risk of future wildfire (Paveglio et al., 2015).
Conclusion
Wildfires have been a natural segment of the California landscape. However, they tend to have serious negative impacts on the California state residents and the entire United States as a whole. These fires tend to destroy a significant amount of property which leads many individuals homeless and others jobless. Due to this impact of loss, many people tend to suffer from psychological related conditions as they try to cope with life after the fires.
References
Liao, Y., & Kousky, C. (2020). The fiscal impacts of wildfires on California municipalities. SSRN Electronic Journal.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3612311
Palinkas, L. A. (2020). The California wildfires. Global Climate Change, Population Displacement, and Public Health, 53-67.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41890-8_4
Paveglio, T. B., Brenkert-Smith, H., Hall, T., & Smith, A. M. (2015). Understanding social impact from wildfires: Advancing means for assessment. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24(2), 212.
https://doi.org/10.1071/wf14091
Running header:
DISASTER REFLCTION 2
DISASTER REFLCTION 2
Disaster Reflection
Introduction
Natural disasters are dangerous and affects all aspects of life to the people affected. The challenge gets more worse and hard to bear when the disaster becomes a repetitive concepts year and the other year over and over again. The case being illustrated is what happens in California where each year there are fire disasters that affect people in several parts of the nation over and over again. There are actually fire seasons which the people normally face entirely every year and to make the matter worse many in the population of California are normally left homeless and jobless. Climate change is the main reason which makes fire outbreaks to be so rampant due to increase of summers and spring temperatures which makes the forests to be prone to fires. The statistics for instance in 2020 indicate that 3484 wild fires have been reported alone by June this year totaling to 24, 394 acres of land being destroyed by fire although no serious fatalities caused. (Liao & amp, 2020). The research analysis paper focuses at explaining the incidences which happen at California fire disasters each year and how the people are affected by such dangers. It also offers recommendations on what should be done to reduce the rate of fire outbreaks.
Physical effects
The California wild fire massively affected hundreds of thousands of individuals through injuries, deaths, power shortage, pollution, obvious scars on the land and homelessness as houses were destroyed to an unrecognizable state. Air pollution among other effects is detrimental to health. The routes of exposure to smoke in to the body can be through inhalation which is the common method human’s breath, but in this case components of smoke are both taken, ingestion where gastrointestinal absorption of pollutants in smoke occur and dermal absorption through the cell surface. Inhalation of wood smoke increases susceptibility to respiratory infections and may also have carcinogenic effects. Smoke released into the environment contains organic particles and allergens that float in the air during a horrendous inferno which lower the air quality. Trace gases in air pollution arising from fire disasters are associated with weight loss, body weakness and fatigue. Smoke travels thousands of kilometers through the air to distant regions (Palinkas, 2020).
Homelessness and injuries are the immediate effects observed following the wildfire outbreak. For instance, in 2018, It was reported that at least 22,751 structures were destroyed in Napa, Sonoma and other counties and more than 130,000 people were displaced following the fire outbreak. Power shortage are experienced following fire outbreak. When there is no electricity, communication, work and businesses are affected. Following the California wild fire outbreak, thousands of people lost their jobs and various businesses shut down as their business premises we reduced to ashes. The people were left without a livelihood (Palinkas, 2020).
Destruction of the environment and ecosystem where thick layers of ash are the aftermath of fire replacing the beauty of trees and vegetation. Ash contains various toxic and hazardous substances that can be whipped into the air and also washed into the streams following heavy rains. The observed effects downstream on the ecosystem are high as aquatic life is disrupted. Burnt vegetation leaves the soil bare and easily to be eroded. There is also a risk of encountering landslides when floods accompany heavy rains. Nutrient retention and also water infiltration are natively impacted and would require special plants to reset the balance in the soil.
The natural environment that serves as wildlife habitat was altered by the devastative fires and many wild animals died. Native vegetation destroyed could be replaced with invasive weeds and grasses leading to troubles for survival of animals that rely on the native vegetation. Mercury is sometimes present in forest fire smoke and may be deposited in water streams and rivers. Human exposure to mercury can occur through inhalation of biomass smoke and ingestion of fresh water species and wildlife (Kramer et al, 2017).
Physiological Impacts
Physiological effects may vary according to individual’s perception, experience and coping mechanisms. A person’s relationship and social context greatly influence attitudes related to forest fires. The minorities may be more vulnerable to psychological distress.
Air pollution is a source of physiological distress. Carbon monoxide is a major constituent of biomass smoke which when inhaled it displaces blood oxygen and forms carboxyhemoglobin; a compound that induces coughing, deprive oxygen, damages body tissues and cause chest pains. Smoke from the wild fire contains toxic compounds which pose great risk to health. According to health experts, these particles can enter in the respiratory system and even cross into the bloodstream posing a heart risk. Healthy people without underlying conditions after exposure to wildfire air pollution commonly developed itchy eyes, sneezing, and sore throat which can be considered as allergy (Schoennagel et al, 2017). Greater impacts are observed in the elderly, pregnant women, children, those with compromised immune systems and underlying health conditions such as the asthmatic as they develop breathing difficulties. Potential long-term effects from exposure to smoke components have been associated with increases in cardiovascular diseases. When people encounter or imagine of these health complications due to exposure to the smoke, they suffer psychological distress and this may negatively impact their health too (Miller et al, 2020).
Mental conditions from stress and anxiety as property worth millions was lost through the fire are also phycological impacts expected. Having lost jobs, languishing in poverty, reconstructing new houses and the grief for losses incurred leave people with traumatic stress from the disturbing memories. Coping with these stresses is not easy and may bring about health conditions such as depression. Greater time lapse may be required in order to deal with those devastating physiological impacts (Schoennagel et al, 2017).
When people think about a similar wild fire occurrence in the future they may feel insecure. The sight and sounds of sirens of the vehicles of fire management crews arriving to fight fire outbreaks may instill recurrent fear among individuals who have prior experience. Sensory stress may also affect the behavior of people affected making the to feel frustrated easily and have little control. Fire brigades and emergency responders may be affected by long working hours, direct injury, personal loss and stress of responding to the wild fire (Schoennagel et al, 2017).
Social impacts
Evacuations that occur when forest infernos threaten businesses and homes, together with the unhealthy levels of biomass smoke creates psychological stress, panic frustrations and fatigue. During fire outbreaks everything is at risk. Social values and cultural values may also change as people transform symbols and rituals to mark the consequence of natural disaster. For instance, fire fighters have ways implemented on the right way to approach the disaster and the natives there is a way they feel it can be handled to reduce damages and are willing to even help. The effects of how communication is done and what needs be done considering the effects of which are impacted on the people can even affect adversely how people respond and interact between themselves and the firefighters which can hinder even involvement in the future in case of wild fires and ways to stop how people respond to the fires (Schoennagel et al, 2017).
Social communication patterns within communities may change during and after fire disruption of social context, damage to meaningful places, homes and locations is a source of grief. Loss of agricultural produce reduce food availability as equipment, harvest and storage grannies got lost from the disaster. The people are normally left helpless with the effects of the fire which makes up the general formulation of the impacts caused by wild fires on their lives marking histories and legacies which cannot be assumed in the consequences of fire. Trauma is also expected to various individual who had not insured their properties against fire as well as those who had borrowed loans to operate their businesses. Destruction of homes leave families in the open without adequate food supply and proper water supplies. This may usher vulnerable small holder farmers into deep poverty cycle. Additionally, feelings of helplessness due to loss of livelihoods may also impacts relationship as meeting the responsibilities become a challenge leading to divorce and separation in family units (Paveglio et al, 2015).
Physical discomfort and stress that accompany wild fire smoke maybe a factor causing decreased performance. Most of the rural population depend on both non-forest and forest derived products. As the fire destroyed their income resource, the cost of such fire is substantial. Unemployment as a result of the fire outbreak may render many families may remain hopeless.
Community and government response
Wildfires are unplanned occurrences. However, the community and the government can work together and plan safety measures when wildfires threaten. Safety should be the center of all objectives. Individuals can be psychologically prepared on how to respond before, during and after a wild fire outbreak.
The government can respond by:
Providing all necessary resources to ensure that fire suppression efforts are at maximum efficiency. Essential training of the fire fighters, appropriate equipment and resources should be made a priority so as to ensure safe battling of future fires. Also developing and enforcing mutually land-use laws that will provide ecological guideline on use of fire. The government should support research aimed at understanding forest fires ecology, causes and management options. The main concept behind the wild fires is that the response when there are fire outbreaks is what matters than the fire itself. The response team deduce fast and effective methods of preventing fire spread and management to ensure the spread does not affect so many acres of land and that the effects caused do not impact greatly on the entire region affected by fire.
Providing economic assistance to majorly destroyed communities. The restoration and stabilization investments in areas damaged by fire should be made in manner that provides maximum benefit to the affected communities by employing local contractors and utilizing local workforce. Restoration may include planting native species, rehabilitating endangered species habitat and improving the water quality. Stabilization of burnt areas can be done by correcting road drainage and managing water and soil movement after the fires, stabilizing watersheds, steep slopes and terrain which can prevent forest loss and degradation from recurrent disasters.
It is important to note that the government can do more than helping the people affected but through utilizing the forest materials which are normally destroyed by fire to make new sources of renewable sources of energy such as timber and paper. The resources that are destroyed by fire can be utilized to make more revenue and prevent the fire from spreading so fast destroying the vegetation. It can be a win-win situation for fire outbreaks.
Working with local communities directly
Improving local fire protection capabilities through technical and financial assistance, establishment of community warning programme, creating community evacuation programme and supplying emergency requirements such as N95 respirator masks are among various the government can work with the community in ensuring safety in times of disaster. The community has a say concerning how the fire can be addressed. The people need to be prepared. Training the community when the climate is favorable and supplying the needed commodities that the entire community is a workforce and volunteers all trained to put off the fire can help in inclusivity and destruction of property. The people who mitigate the effects of fire at times are affected and become seriously wounded while in other time result to death. Proper training and community involvement can help in such scenarios by implementing the strategies to save lives than lose others in the process.
Investing in projects that reduce fire risks
Identifying and prioritizing community projects most at risk, developing markets for traditionally underutilized biomass and allocating necessary project funds will ensure hazardous fuel management is expeditiously managed in an environmentally friendly way. It is possible to control how fire spread and attacks several counties in California. The federal government and state government and the counties can do more than just allocating finance to help in strategies that prevent fire spread implement policies which can help prevents and secure ecosystems which are sustainable enough to mitigate the risks caused by wild fires.
Community response
Reporting unattended fires through emergency call 911 immediately in order for measures to be taken in advance before massive destruction happens. The strategy means being prepared to take active part in preventing spread of fires (Edgeley & Paveglio, 2017).
Paying attention to local ordinances for trash burning such as restrictions on windy days that could spark wild fires and having a fire extinguisher at hand when burning anything so as to put fire under control if anything happens
Paying attention to the local forecasts and news reports to learn more about fire safety alerts provided, air quality and evacuation orders (Edgeley & Paveglio, 2017).
Avoiding discard of cigarettes and matches anywhere on park grounds and from moving vehicles as they can easily spark into fierce wild fires.
Handling flammable fuels with care. Lighting and heating devices should be cool before refueling, spillages of flammable liquids avoided and fuel storage made away from appliances.
Individual can survive fire outbreaks by evacuating immediately when informed to do so, using N95 masks to keep harmful particles out of the air inhaled, listening to local systems for emergency information and instructions and calling 911 for emergency rescue if trapped (Edgeley & Paveglio, 2017).
Conclusion
California’s fires are disruptive even for long after they are put out because they displace homeowners and entire communities for several years. Changes in climate resulting to global warming make the situation even worse. The residents have responsibility to create a defensible space around their property so as to make their homes fire resistant. Utilities have to ensure wild fire mitigation plan such as shutting off electric power during dangerous weather conditions will not affect emergency rescue. Local governments should adopt enforce and establish wildfire warning center which will provide a defensible space ordinance to effectively predict and share information about weather conditions statewide.
References
Edgeley, C. M., & Paveglio, T. B. (2017). Community recovery and assistance following large wildfires: The case of the Carlton Complex Fire. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 25, 137-146.
Kramer, H. A., Mockrin, M. H., Alexandre, P. M., & Radeloff, V. C. (2019). High wildfire damage in interface communities in California. International journal of wildland fire, 28(9), 641-650.
Liao, Y., & Kousky, C. (2020). The fiscal impacts of wildfires on California municipalities. SSRN Electronic Journal.
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3612311
Miller, R. K., Field, C. B., & Mach, K. J. (2020). Barriers and enablers for prescribed burns for wildfire management in California. Nature Sustainability, 3(2), 101-109.
Palinkas, L. A. (2020). The California wildfires. Global Climate Change, Population Displacement, and Public Health, 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41890-8_4
Paveglio, T. B., Brenkert-Smith, H., Hall, T., & Smith, A. M. (2015). Understanding social impact from wildfires: Advancing means for assessment. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24(2), 212.
https://doi.org/10.1071/wf14091
Schoennagel, T., Balch, J. K., Brenkert-Smith, H., Dennison, P. E., Harvey, B. J., Krawchuk, M. A., … & Turner, M. G. (2017). Adapt to more wildfire in western North American forests as climate changes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(18), 4582-4590.