Emergency preparedness: A challenge for rapidly urbanizing regions of the world

The proposed presentation will focus on the best practices and strategies needed for rapidly urbanizing regions of the world to prepare for an effective and safer response to a terrorist attack, a natural or man-made disaster. Major areas that must be address to allow an urbanizing region to maintain a safe emergency preparedness plan will be presented. The five major factors determined through case study analysis to be effective in supporting a safer and more effective response when multiple units or organizations are responding will be discussed by the researcher. Factors to improve response including: familiarity and trust, effective communication, boundaries and resilience, collaborative training, drills/exercises, and the stress factor will be described. Documented examples of poor collaboration and the lack of preparedness by responders will also be outlined. Best practices for facility emergency preparedness will also be presented. These practices will focus on measures needed to safely and effectively evacuate and or safely shelter in place within response facilities. Specific examples of challenges urbanizing regions in emergency preparedness will be provided from at risk areas of India, the United Arab Emirates and China as well as other regions experiencing rapid growth. A 10-point Emergency Preparedness Check List designed by the presenter to meet the needs of facilities located in urban regions typically housing response agencies to assess preparedness levels will also be presented and a copy provided to session participants to assist future efforts to assess the emergency preparedness of their facility.