Preparedness Measures for Emergency and Disaster Response

Abstract

Quantitative preparedness measures can be used to calculate the level of preparedness for handling disasters or emergencies. They are useful for evaluating plans and preparations, and for comparing areas and organizations with each other. This chapter gives an introduction to the construction and use of such measures, and proposes a general methodology that can be applied when developing them. The methodology is exemplified on two case studies, the first concerning disaster preparedness, and the second daily events. In the first case study, a hurricane disaster risk index is developed to compare the preparedness for handling hurricanes in different counties. The second case study describes the development and validation of a preparedness measure for emergency medical services, which is used to support decisions about ambulance dispatch and relocation.