International Journal of Disaster Risk Management
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A Systematic Collaboration of Volunteer and Professional Fire Units in Hungary
Get PDFVolunteer firefighter units provide fire protection and rescue in many countries, while efforts to ensure safety often fall under the competencies of municipalities and local communities. Hungary, a Central European country centralised a large portion of its public services in the past decade, fire safety and rescue became the competence of a centralised professional governmental agency with national coverage. Although policy builds on a central professional organisation, the volunteer firefighting movement gained importance and has grown significantly recently. This paper investigates the collaboration between private volunteer firefighting brigades (local associations) and the central governmental disaster management agency of Hungary. We apply a case study approach to understand how volunteer units are integrated into the professional system. Our research is based on the analysis of policy documents, key informant interviews and Freedom of Information data requests. Findings show that volunteer units contribute to the safety and resilience of local communities in Hungary, but their engagement is not sustainable due to demographic and societal challenges, as well as the policy contradictions identified. The majority of the research on the role of volunteer firefighters covers decentralized countries with subsidiary systems. This current case study provides an addition to the discourse around the involvement of volunteers in fire safety with the evaluation of a collaboration between a centralized professional authority and localized, individual volunteer fire associations
Optimising Disaster Resilience Through Advanced Risk Management and Financial Analysis of Critical Infrastructure in the Serbian Defence Industry
Get PDFThis paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial factors and risk management strategies essential for optimizing disaster resilience within the Serbian defence industry\u27s critical infrastructure. The significance of this sector is multi-faceted, impacting national security, economic stability, and technological advancement. Primarily, the Serbian defence industry ensures the preservation of vital defence interests, maintaining Serbia\u27s independence from foreign sources for weapons and military equipment in both peacetime and wartime. Economically, it is a significant employer of the working-age population, directly affecting local employment rates, fostering economic development, and ensuring the sustainable growth of this crucial sector. This, in turn, stimulates broader economic activity and enhances social cohesion while strengthening the national balance of payments through increased export potential. From a technological perspective, the defence industry drives scientific, technological, and industrial development, reinforcing Serbia\u27s global political and military standing within the Western Balkans and on the international stage. Consequently, the paper aims to examine the risk management and protection of the Serbian defence industry\u27s critical infrastructure, offering concrete and actionable measures to improve and develop these systems with a particular emphasis on security. The research\u27s utility and contribution lie in identifying similarities and differences in the operational performance of defence industry companies, a vital segment of the national economy. The presentation of these findings focuses on the protection of critical infrastructure. The results will form the basis for further investigation into the underlying causes of business performance and the effective management of critical infrastructure security
Changes in Lulc and Drainage Network Patterns the Cause of Urban Flooding in Karachi City
Get PDFKarachi is a strategic city in Pakistan that was once known as a fishing village. An increase in industrialization and urbanization had been seen in the city. Karachi\u27s land use, land cover as well as drainage networks have been changed because of Industrialization and urbanization. Flooding in Karachi because of late summer season monsoon rainfall has resulted in urban flooding. Poor urban planning and management had severely affected both rivers and linked tributaries. This study used secondary data that shows changes in LULC and poorly maintained drainage networks are the factors that caused urban flooding in Karachi. DEM, GIS, and SRTM have been used to mark the boundaries of Karachi and drainage networks on the digitized map. These maps could be utilized for improving the natural drainage networks as well as flood mitigation and preparedness measures. This study may provide a guideline to disaster planning, management, and development authorities
The Contribution of Roads to Forest Fire Protection in Tamza Municipality, Northeast Algeria
Get PDFWith rising forest fire frequency due to climate change, countries are advancing measures for prevention and faster emergency response. In Algeria, efforts centre on improving access to at-risk forests by expanding forest roads and paths. This study focuses on Ain Mimoun, Tamza in Khenchela Province, examining the role of these routes in forest protection. Using Geographic Information Systems (Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS) alongside field surveys, it identifies areas impacted by the 2021 fires through the difference normalised burn ratio (dNBR) and assesses road proximity to affected zones. Using a cartographic approach, this study highlights road density in fire-hit areas, revealing several constraints limiting the roads\u27 effectiveness as fire barriers. Factors such as tree types and terrain influence fire spread, while fires near forest entrances impede firefighting vehicles due to risks from visibility and respiratory hazards. Maintenance issues further limit the utility of forest paths, and outdated forest road maps complicate firefighting efforts. Proposed solutions include upgrading the firefighting fleet with advanced tools like aircraft for isolated areas, intensifying forest road maintenance, and increasing forest monitors. Additionally, the study suggests exploring fire-resistant plant species, adopting strategic afforestation, and using Geographic Information Systems alongside advanced technologies like drones. These drones, which can provide real-time monitoring of fire and road conditions, support timely decision-making for rescue, evacuation and emergency response
Centres or Units: Making Sense of Decentralisation of Disaster Management in South African Municipalities
Get PDFDisasters can shake institutions and their adaptive strategies temporarily and often in the aftermath of a disaster. Disaster events, such as floods and epidemics, unceasingly demonstrate that disasters provide an avenue for a "litmus test" for institutional effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. Therefore, this study examines municipalities’ receptivity to their role in an integrated disaster management system. Based on the literature and 25 interviews in three research areas: (1) legislative understanding and legislative implementation, (2) the establishment of disaster management centres as units and (3) relevance of institutional capacity [decision-making powers of the head of centres]. This study established that the disaster management centres are established in various municipalities as units supported by Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 as amended by Act 16 of 2015. This is very solid legislative support, but practical implementation problems persist, especially concerning coordinating disaster management activities and financial accountability at the municipal level. Whereas the framework has sought to ensure a standardised method of governance, the decentralisation process has ensured disparities in municipalities’ resource base and procedural practices. Deep-rooted power differences and tightly embedded hierarchies can restrict collaboration and slow decision-making. Given these findings, it is recommended that attention be directed at the following areas: i) developing more effective mechanisms for compliance with standardised disaster management guidelines; ii) planning and operationalising policies to ensure equitable resource distribution; and iii) introducing reforms into existing systems to make disaster management structures more transparent and equitable. Furthermore, the head of the centre should be fully delegated with disaster management power and authority as enshrined in Section 44(3) of the Disaster Management Act 2002, as amended in 2015, to strengthen various stakeholders\u27 internal and external collaboration.
Business Continuity Planning for the Hazardous Chemical Handling Industry: A New Conceptual Approach
Get PDFThe conceptual approach of handling an on-site emergency and continuity of the business in difficult circumstances has been presented. The framework defines the various teams, which are involved in handling an emergency like an explosion of one of our chemical manufacturing units, which has caused due to the uncontrolled reaction of the 4-Nitro-N-Methyl phthalimide reaction. The firefighting team along with the state emergency rescue team have been involved in controlling the emergency. The various steps which are taken in handling the emergency have been informed to the management team through the management representative. After ascertaining the situation, the management team permits activating the business continuity plan and shifting the men, materials, and machinery to one of the new units located at Atchutapuram, Visakhapatnam, India, to continue the business. There were some delays during the transition stage. After erecting the process equipment, pre-start-up safety reviews have been conducted and resumed production, thus meeting the production goals leading to sustainable business in difficult circumstances.  
Flood policy in Algeria
Get PDFThrough this research, we try to identify the policy of prevention and management of disasters related to the risk of flooding in Algeria, especially by knowing the degree of integration and interest of the State in this risk, and by examining the completeness of legislation and regulation, their complementarity or not, their realistic effects, and the extent of effective control over the phenomenon, and from there, the research focused on various legislation related to land use, insurance, institutional organization, legislation on water evacuation, dam safety, construction techniques for protection, infrastructure, public hygiene, environmental protection, organization of emergency response, first aid, warning systems, information methods, control and maintenance, attempts to raise awareness and rehabilitation. And the construction laws and the knowledge of their real weight. The research has shown late interest in this aspect, as it has clarified some of the problems that prevent finding practical ways to protect cities, such as the lack of plans indicating areas at risk of flooding, the lack of real programming of these plans, the lack of control of irregular urban expansion, the lack of separation and detail in the general guidelines for cities and rural areas in the field, and the lack of control of the tasks assigned to the Local authorities in this aspect in the legal texts, especially with regard to the municipality, the absence of private institutions for insurance for this type of risk and the absence of specialized teams for disaster relief. The research also indicates some means that allow better protection of the risk, such as the possibility of relying on historical plans as a temporary and conditional measure for areas that have been exposed to floods in order to pass the prevention policy on the ground and try to exploit remote sensing techniques and develop modelling methods to achieve real predictions and simulations of areas at risk
Students’ perception of police readiness to respond to disasters caused by a COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has pointed out the need to examine the role of the police in emergencies caused by various infectious diseases as much as possible. The aim of the study is to determine the perception of students of the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies, who are studying to become police officers, about the actions of the police in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e. the readiness of police officers to respond in the current as well as in the future pandemics. The research used a modified survey questionnaire from the previous research. The survey was anonymous. All respondents voluntarily agreed to participate in the research conducted from May to June 2022. The research data were collected from 105 students of the University of Criminal Investigation and Police Studies. According to the respondents, the police officers did well in the new circumstances given the lack of protective equipment and insufficient training for such situations. It was assessed that the police are one of the key entities in opposing the COVID-19 pandemic. Research findings can help police organizations plan their work during infectious disease pandemics. Above all, in the planning of the procurement of protective equipment, in education of future police officers by introducing new topics in training related to the work of the police in infectious disease pandemics, such as improving communication with citizens, and its implementation in online format. The findings of the study can be an incentive to other researchers as a basis for further research in the field of police work in emergencies because there are few of them in the scientific literature, and those related to police work in a pandemic are almost non-existent
Social capitals and earthquake: A Study of different districts of Tehran, Iran
Get PDFEarthquakes occur suddenly and cause much physical and socioeconomic damage, especially in less developed countries. Many studies and strategies related to earthquake management in Iran emphasize the physical-based infrastructure, such as National Building Regulations or planning to renovate existing buildings. However, the relevance of social factors has been widely neglected. Addressing this gap, the present paper argues that social capital can play a vital role in different stages of natural disasters, such as preparedness, response, and recovery. Focusing on Tehran, that due to urban decay and geological fault lines is highly earthquake-prone, this study used secondary analysis to examine the data obtained from large cross-sectional studies conducted by Tehran Municipality in 2010 on social capital survey in Tehran and 2017 on quality of life in Tehran The present study is descriptive-analytical and applied research. Univariate analysis including measures of central tendency and dispersion was used to achieve the objectives of this research. The analyzed data show that four urban districts in Tehran (3, 21, 13, 4) have low bonding social capital, while the others have moderate bonding social capital. Moreover, four districts (9, 16, 19, 12) have very low bridging social capital, and the rest of the 22 districts have low bridging social capital. Demonstrating the relevance of social capital for preparing and supporting vulnerable communities during natural disasters, this study suggests social policies that would increase social cohesion, enhance generalized trust and strengthen social networks. 
A Predictive Model of Community Disaster Resilience based on Social Identity Influences (MODERSI)
Get PDFThe territory of Serbia is vulnerable to various types of natural and man-made disasters. The risk is not equal across the entire territory, depending on the type of hazard and the expected potential for damage. So far, the level of community disaster resilience has not been determined in Serbia. There are no scientific preconditions for its improvement to reduce the future material and intangible consequences of disasters. Regarding that, the project’s main objective is to develop and validate a predictive model of community disaster resilience based on social identity influences through an investigation impact of social identity indicators on the level of community disaster resilience in Serbia. The project is based on the upcoming research on whether the level of community disaster resilience can be predicted based on social identity indicators, how social identity indicators affect different dimensions of community disaster resilience, and how disasters shape social identity. The project is based on multimethod research in which quantitative (face-to-face interviews in 40 of the 191 municipalities), and qualitative (semi-structured interviews) research methodology will be applied. A developed predictive model with an index of community disaster resilience in Serbia will empower the creation of preconditions for designing public policies, strategies and procedures for improving resilience and reducing the consequences of disasters on people and their property and enhancing citizens’ security. The project will encourage the prediction of community disaster resilience based on social identity indicators, improving disaster foresight and preparing to limit disaster losses. Based on the development of analytical frameworks for understanding community disaster resilience and social identity in disasters, essential preconditions for designing innovative information systems will be created to enable local communities to increase their level of resilience