DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE PORT-HARCOURT
CHAPTERONE
1.1BACKGROUNDTOTHESTUDY
THE NEED FOR A DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE
Disaster means a progressive or sudden, widespread or localised, natural or human caused occurrence which causes or threatens to
cause; Death, injury or disease, Damage to property, infrastructure or the environment, Disruption of the life of a community; and is of the
magnitude that exceeds the ability of those affected by the disaster to cope with its effect using only their own resources. A disaster
management centre is needed to:
- Toimplementan integrated and coordinate disaster management policy that focuses on preventing or reducing the risk disasters,
mitigating the severity of disasters, emergency preparedness, rapid and effective response to disasters and post disaster recovery.
- Topreparethe document that will identify risks, assess risks, risk response development and risk response control.
- Thepurposeof centre is to outline policy and procedures for both proactive disaster prevention and the re-active disaster response and
mitigation phases.
The disaster management centre functions are as follows:
- Mustspecialise in issues concerning disasters within Rivers State.
- Actas a repository and conduit for information concerning disasters.
- Mustperformit functions and exercise powers as stipulated section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 57 of 2002.
- Mustliaise and co-ordinate its activities with those of National, State Management centres.
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1.2STATEMENTOFARCHITECTURALPROBLEMS
Architecture is an abstraction from nature and intuition with possibilities of aesthetic accompaniments for overall ambient satisfaction
(Fashuyi, 2004). Nevertheless, this ideological perception must graft with sensitive issues bordering on culture, economy before Architecture
1.4AIMS
- Toprovidea facility that will improve response to disasters for an initial period after which other sources would assist.
- Toreduce confusion on the part of all personnel concern in disasters.
- Toenhance the role of rapid deployment of its personnel in response to emergency
- Preventingor reducing the risk of disasters and mitigating the severity or consequences of disasters
- Arapid and effective response to disasters and post- disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
- Toensurethe survival of the maximum possible number of victims, keeping them in the best possible health in the circumstances.
- Tore-establish self-sufficiency and essential services as quickly as possible for all population groups, with special attention to those whose
needs are greatest: the most vulnerable and underprivileged.
- Torepairor replace damaged infrastructure and regenerate viable economic activities. To do this in a manner that contributes to long-term
development goals and reduces vulnerability to any future recurrence of potentially damaging hazards.
- Incasesinvolving population displacements (due to any type of disaster) the aim is to find durable solutions as quickly as possible, while
ensuring protection and assistance as necessary in the meantime.
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1.5OBJECTIVES
- Tocreatea building for imparting training in disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, relief and rehabilitation and also to undertake
research studies, documentation and development of database.
