2002 - A year of calamities. The Romanian experience

Abstract

A short history of the major abnormal weather phenomena that occurred in Romania in 2002 is described in this short article. Although perhaps less harmful then in the rest of the continent and mainly local or in small regions, their unusual frequency and rapacity stimulated the local people to call the year 2002 a year of calamities. During all the extreme weather events, local Disasters Defense Committees are created to minimize losses, to repair the damages, but mainly to help local people with supplies, medicine, safe drinking water and hospitalization. The general health measures in cases of disasters are presented. They are classified as applied on-place and in-hospitals. The specific emergency measures discussed in this chapter include: drinking water, water and sewerage infrastructure, chemical hazards as well as other implications. Finally, two important education problems are mentioned which were put in evidence by the inappropriate behaviour of the population under calamities and the rather poor efficiency of the medical personnel in case of disasters. © 2005 World Health Organization.