Recommendations for the Directing stage

To conduct a good evaluation for the current administrative system, and after determining the points of weakness and strength for the directing stage, a set of recommendations emerged from the responses of the interviewees. In Figure 4.18 below, different sub-themes have been highlighted from these recommendations.

Figure 4.18 Nodes for Directing Recommendations

4.5.3.1 Attention for Obligations

In order to reduce human vulnerability, attention should be given to disaster response rules and principles. Such principles were emerged to address various aspects regarding disaster response. Interviewee E3 highlighted the importance of obligations and following the correct contexts and systems at work. Interviewee E11 agree with this view and asserts on the

“adoption of the orders and instructions contained within the operations leadership curricula

of the fire, rescue, and safety”. Moreover, interviewee E1 put emphasis on “assessing the situation accurately” and “estimating the resources accurately”. Interviewee E3 supports the latter suggestion and added the disaster responders should “rationalise the consumption of resources” as much as they could. Interviewee E3 also asserts the point of “daily inspection of the work requirements” and “giving attention to personal equipment when wearing them and sustain them on a regular basis”. Interviewee E11 highlighted another suggestion, stating that every disaster responders should “focus on the central leadership of all accidents”. Because such centralisation might enhance the directing process. Consequently, the chaos at the scene might decrease significantly.

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4.5.3.2 Coordination with Relevant Organisations

It is widely acknowledged that effective coordination is an essential ingredient for disaster response management. For this purpose, interviewees E10 and E19 recommended: “increasing coordination between organisations while responding to emergency situation”. Such coordination might needs “increase the mobilisation speed of the various relevant agencies in various organisations by updating and test of inter-institutional response” (E4). This mobilisation speed, from interviewee E19 point of view, requires continuing “conducting joint exercises with the relevant organisations”. Interviewees E3 on the other hand stated the need

for “opening up to the countries or supporting organisations, which are related to respond

to the disaster”. Interviewee E6, E22-E24 put emphasis on the necessity of “installing fires nozzles network in public and private places, markets, and shops” and “…..maintaining it regularly” as well as “removing stalls from the road's forbidden hard shoulder that hinders the civil defence teams work”. However, interviewee E8 proposed the idea of providing the buildings with the coding system because of its impact in reducing disaster response time.

4.5.3.3 Providing Modern Technology and Equipment

Once the major event occurs, the response is often quickly and need modern technology and equipment. Therefore, interviewees E3 and E14 proposed the idea of “providing the directorate with modern equipment and devices which keep pace with modern era”. Interviewees E15 and E16 highlighted another suggestion, stating that they would like to see the “install of effective modern Security Cameras System everywhere”. However, interviewee E16 proposed the idea of “using GPS system” while responding to the disaster.

4.5.3.4 Staff and Public Education and Training

It has been reported that to meet the increasing demand caused by hazard impacts on larger populations, response alone is not sufficient. By sharing knowledge between communities and individuals, hazards and risks might be identified quickly and fast action will be taken to build safety and resilience, and reducing future hazard impacts. Interviewees E4, E8, E10, E16, and E19 agree with this view, stating the necessity of educating the public. Interviewees E8, E10 and E19 also emphasise on the dangers of approaching the scene and citizens should not crowd around the scene. Interviewees E4 highlighted the importance of “……. conducting public educational activities” to achieve good public awareness. Interviewees E4 and E8, on the other hand, proposed another idea; “engaging the civil defence material with the curriculum of education and higher educational ministry to increase public awareness”.

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Interviewees E3, E8, E14, and E19 went on to add a suggestion related to staff educating. Moreover, interviewee E3 put emphasis on “the importance of educating the staff about

periodic maintenance of the machines and equipment”. Interviewee E8, on the other hand, stated the need for “increasing awareness about the importance of the security cordon from the concerned authorities”. However, interviewee E3 “emphasis on fitness and continuous exercise” and proposed the idea of “self-development for each member of staff” as well as

“continuing training and development. Do not stop at a certain point”. Interviewee E14

agrees with this suggestion, adding that “increasing training and doing drills, rehearsals and practices, especially on modern instruments and equipment” might decrease the margin of error in responding to the disaster. Moreover, to enhance the directing response process between different organisations, “joint exercises with the relevant organisations should be conducted” (E19).

From the arguments in this section, various suggestions have arisen to enhance the directing process. Figure 4.19 below presented a summary of the directing recommendations’ sub- themes. In the section that follows, a discussion of the controlling stage is provided.