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We have all heard of the earthquakes in Latur, Bhuj, Kashmir etc. or the coastal regions. think of as many different ways as possible in which people's health would be affected by such a disaster if it took place in our neighborhood.
In a disaster, response agencies and public health departments will manage the crisis and rely on the public to follow instructions and react quickly. To know exactly what to do if a disaster occurs, you will need to monitor TV, radio or on-line news reports for official news. The health department, county emergency management officials and law enforcement agencies will inform you of what your appropriate response should be. They will tell you what level of danger or possible health hazards there may be, where to get medications or vaccines if necessary and where to go for medical help or shelter. They will also help you determine if you should evacuate or remain where you are and shelter in place.

An important part of disaster preparedness is becoming involved with your community.
Sudden-onset natural and technological disasters impose a substantial health burden, either directly on the population or indirectly on the capacity of the health services to address primary health care needs. The relationship between communicable diseases and disasters merits special attention.Disasters related to natural events may affect the transmission of preexisting infectious diseases. However, the imminent risk of large outbreaks in the aftermath of natural disasters is overstated. Among the factors erroneously mentioned is the presence of corpses of victims, many buried beneath rubble. Dead bodies from a predominantly healthy population do not pose a risk of increased incidence of diseases (Morgan 2004). Catastrophic incidence of infectious diseases seems to be confined to famine and conflicts that have resulted in the total failure of the health system.

In the short term, an increased number of hospital visits and admissions from common diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, dermatitis, and other causes should be expected following most disasters (Howard, Brillman, and Burkle 1996; Malilay and others 1996). This increase may reflect duplicate reporting (diarrhea cases were reported through both the emergency and the routine surveillance systems in Maldives after the 2004 tsunami), a temporary surge in surveillance, and medical attention available to an otherwise underserved population rather than representing a genuine change in the epidemiological situation.


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