Presentation on Technology and disaster management

Technology and Disaster

1. Technological Technological
DisastersDisasters

2. Are they the same as Are they the same as
“natural” disasters?“natural” disasters?

3. ExamplesExamples
Love Canal (chemical hazards)Love Canal (chemical hazards)
Three Mile Island (1979,radiation)Three Mile Island (1979,radiation)
Chernobyl (1986, Ukraine, nuclear Chernobyl (1986, Ukraine, nuclear
accident)accident)
Bhopal, IndiaBhopal, India

4. Disaster AgentDisaster Agent
Who or what caused the disaster?Who or what caused the disaster?
Who is to blame?Who is to blame?

5. ““Natural” DisastersNatural” Disasters
AltruismAltruism
SupportSupport
CamaraderieCamaraderie
Enact SolidarityEnact Solidarity

6. Therapeutic CommunityTherapeutic Community
““Community of Sufferers” (Fritz)Community of Sufferers” (Fritz)
Emergence of ConsensusEmergence of Consensus
Expansion of citizenship roleExpansion of citizenship role

7. Technological Technological
Disasters = Disasters =
Nontherapeutic Nontherapeutic
CommunityCommunity

8. Nontherapeutic Nontherapeutic
CommunityCommunity
Considerable conflictConsiderable conflict
Conflictive AdaptationConflictive Adaptation
Disaster Agent not randomDisaster Agent not random

9. BlameBlame
InjusticeInjustice
Not defined as a disasterNot defined as a disaster
Damage is invisibleDamage is invisible

10. AmbiguityAmbiguity
Nature of disaster agentNature of disaster agent
ConsequencesConsequences

11. VictimsVictims
Who are the true victims?Who are the true victims?
Conflict between victimsConflict between victims
Views of industry personnelViews of industry personnel
RelocationRelocation

12. 2 Types of Victims2 Types of Victims
Hazard-endangered victimsHazard-endangered victims
Hazard disclaimer victimsHazard disclaimer victims

13. Time DimensionTime Dimension
Chronic, ongoing eventsChronic, ongoing events

14. Chronic Technological DisastersChronic Technological Disasters
WarningWarning
Threat Threat
ImpactImpact
InventoryInventory
RescueRescue
RemedyRemedy
RecoveryRecovery
Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

15. Normal AccidentsNormal Accidents
Charles PerrowCharles Perrow

16. High Risk TechnologiesHigh Risk Technologies
Increased riskIncreased risk
Catastrophic potentialCatastrophic potential
Accidents inevitableAccidents inevitable

17. Interactive ComplexityInteractive Complexity
Failures can interactFailures can interact
Systems are “tightly coupled”Systems are “tightly coupled”
Failed parts cannot be isolatedFailed parts cannot be isolated
Operators, safety systems make it worseOperators, safety systems make it worse

18. Normal AccidentsNormal Accidents
Initiating event can be trivialInitiating event can be trivial
Problems happen fast Problems happen fast

19. NA-TECH DisastersNA-TECH Disasters
Natural Disasters trigger Technological Natural Disasters trigger Technological
DisastersDisasters
J. Steven PicouJ. Steven Picou
Enormous damageEnormous damage
OverlookedOverlooked

20. Fukushima, JapanFukushima, Japan
March 2011March 2011
Earthquake – Tsunami – Nuclear Earthquake – Tsunami – Nuclear
MeltdownMeltdown
Decades to decontaminateDecades to decontaminate
Long term psychological consequencesLong term psychological consequences