-A Vital Role in Emergency Response
By Morgen Makombo Sikwila
Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can strike at any time, posing significant threats to communities and businesses alike.
In the face of such emergency situations, professional security services play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and property by helping to control crowds, manage traffic, and provide support to emergency response teams. The collaborative efforts of security personnel, first responders, and other stakeholders in disaster management are essential for an effective, well-coordinated response that minimizes risks and ensures the safety of those affected.
Climate change has become the defining challenge of our era. While climate-related disasters will invariably increase costs to society, it is best to prepare for these impacts and mitigate their effects by strengthening security institutions focusing on disaster preparedness, climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In this write up, the writer will explore the essential role of security services in disaster management, highlighting how their expertise and skill-sets contribute to a successful emergency response. Will also delve into the various aspects of disaster management where professional security personnel always make a difference.
In emergency situations, there can be a significant influx of people, resulting in crowded and potentially chaotic health conditions. Effective crowd control is essential to keep the affected population safe and maintain order during disaster response operations. Security personnel play a vital role in ensuring the orderly movement of people, preventing stampedes, provisions of health services and other displacement-related hazards. They are trained in techniques such as communication, crowd dynamics analysis, provision public health services, physical intervention to diffuse tension and promote cooperation among the public.
Security services can also assist in implementing temporary access control measures to restrict entry to designated safety zones or evacuation centers, ensuring that only authorized individuals can enter these areas. Additionally, security personnel can help facilitate the distribution of essential supplies, such as food, water, and medical supplies to affected persons in an organized and efficient manner.
During road traffic disasters, highways, and roads may become congested with increased vehicle traffic, including emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars. Security personnel can help mitigate traffic jams by using their knowledge of traffic management and control. They can create temporary emergency routes, directing traffic away from accident scenes, and ensure prompt access for first responders to reach affected areas. Effective traffic management by security professionals can save precious minutes in the event of a disaster, enabling emergency services to arrive on the scene more quickly and potentially preventing further damage or loss of life.
In disaster management, the collaboration between security services and emergency response agencies is critical. Security personnel work together with first responders, such as firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, to support activities during disasters. This may include providing information on building layouts, assisting in search and rescue efforts, or serving as communication liaisons between various agencies.
By offering their expertise and assistance, security professionals help emergency responders in their efforts to save lives, protect property, and restore normalcy to affected areas as quickly as possible.
Disasters can create an environment where criminal activities or violence may occur, taking advantage of the chaos and confusion that often accompanies emergency situations. Security personnel can identify and assess potential security risks during disasters, such as looting, vandalism, or assault. They can implement appropriate measures, such as increased patrolling, surveillance, and visible security presence, to deter potential criminal activities and safeguard lives and property.
In cases where disasters result in damage to infrastructure, such as buildings or utilities, security personnel can help manage access control to prevent unauthorized entry and ensure the safety of both first responders and civilians during the recovery process. One of the most critical aspects of successful disaster management is preparedness. The true value of security services in disaster response is realized when security personnel are well-trained, knowledgeable, and have the necessary skills to handle emergency situations.
Our professional security service providers, invest in continuous training and development of their personnel, equipping them with the expertise to handle various types of disasters and emergencies. This includes training in first aid, health delivery, emergency response procedures, communication skills, and coordination with first responders with unimaginable swiftness. Cyclone IDAI Disaster Management comes to mind!
By partnering with a security service providers that emphasize preparedness, businesses can ensure that their security teams are ready to respond effectively during disasters, contributing to a more efficient and coordinated effort in dealing with emergency situations.
Creating a comprehensive security plan that includes provisions for disaster management is essential for businesses to minimize risks and ensure the safety of their employees, customers, and property during emergencies. This plan should involve the assessment of potential risks, the development of disaster response procedures, and coordination with local emergency response agencies.
Incorporating the services of a professional security providers, such as the Military and Police, can significantly enhance businesses disaster management capabilities. Security personnel can offer valuable insights in developing a robust plans and provide support during disaster response operations.
The convergence of natural disasters and conflict is increasing. With the expanding role of the military and police to take up civilian functions in key government offices, the space for NGOs and civil society also shrinks. In situations of climate change, almost certainly it can lead to an increased need for humanitarian assistance that will sometimes be needed in areas that are also impacted by ongoing conflict. In these cases, principled humanitarian civil-security forces coordination is essential to the safety and security of humanitarian aid workers and the impartial delivery of assistance. The heavy use of military and police officials as heads of civilian government agencies responsible for disaster preparedness and response could well ease the work of the humanitarian sector by imposing quick decisions or measures such as registration, reporting obligations, permit system, and accessing to funding at a time when more, not less, independence of humanitarian actors will be needed to meet the disasters of the present and near future.
The role of security services in disaster management is multifaceted, ranging from crowd control to traffic management, health services delivery and from supporting emergency responders to assessing and mitigating security risks. To ensure optimum protection during times of crisis, seek the services of professional security providers, who possess the expertise and resources necessary to contribute effectively to disaster management efforts.
Whereas the Security Forces of Zimbabwe will continue to play an important role in responding to major disasters, it is civilian institutions that should be strengthened to manage the far more common small-scale disasters that collectively cost society millions of dollars annually in losses. Civilian agencies are also best positioned to plan, train, and invest in disaster preparedness measures at the local levels. When major disasters do occur, principled humanitarian civil-military engagement should be the playbook for response.
Morgen Makombo Sikwila
MSc Peace and Governance
BSc Counselling
Diploma in Environmental Health
Certificate in Marketing Management
email address: morgensikwilam@gmail.com
Phone Number: 0772823282
