Response

Response refers to the activities undertaken to counteract the further escalation of a set of events that potentially leads to crisis or disaster. The single most important issue at this point in time ceases to be about planning for some once-distant and unknown disaster; instead, the focus at this stage is to ameliorate the worst effects of an emergency crisis or disaster situation. For this reason, response will comprise activities, often attempts or interventions, aimed at changing the trajectory of a worsening situation.

Crisis makes response necessary. Response—the actions taken to minimize damage—has to be managed. This has resulted in the growth of crisis management studies in recent years. Crisis management, popularized by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, refers to the management and coordination of activities meant to counteract threats or harm with a view to saving lives, property, services, reputation, or image. Thus, staff members of organizations and sometimes of communities who act and react to minimize the worst excesses of harm are called “responders.”

An outbreak of a deadly disease pandemic will need some response involving the mobilization of paramedic or medical personnel. An earthquake disaster of high magnitude striking a city may destroy buildings in the affected area, and thousands of people may have been buried under the rubble and debris or sustained injuries from falling masonry. Faced with these sets of events, it becomes imperative for search and rescue dog handlers to be involved in saving survivors. Thus, it may be necessary to set up field hospitals to cope with the high demand for medical services. During disasters, Critical National Infrastructures (CNI) such as electricity and water supply systems may have sustained severe damage or been severely compromised, such that closing some facilities down until they can operate safely may be necessary to minimize the worst effects of the disaster. A plane suddenly disappearing from the radar screen may necessitate appropriate emergency response in case the plane has crashed. A house or forest catching fire may need fire engines to stop the fire from spreading. A region that had experienced prolonged periods of drought may suddenly display a dramatic change for the worse in the state of food supply availability, resulting in severe food shortages and hunger that may result in the need for emergency food aid, including Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) to combat malnutrition. Thus, emergency relief is part of response.