Citation

Yew YY, Castro Delgado R, Heslop DJ, Arcos González P. Prehosp. Disaster Med. 2019; ePub(ePub): 1-12.

Affiliation

1Universidad De Oviedo-Campus El-Cristo,Unit for Research in Emergency and Disaster,Faculty of Medicine,Oviedo,Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S1049023X18001115

PMID

30600793

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of a seismic occurrence, but it does not feasibly quantify the magnitude of the "disaster" at the point of impact in real humanitarian needs, based on United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR; Geneva, Switzerland) 2009 Disaster Terminology. A Disaster Severity Index (DSI) similar to the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale has been formulated; this will quantify needs, holistically and objectively, in the hands of any stakeholders and even across timelines.

BACKGROUND: An agreed terminology in quantifying "disaster" matters; inconsistency in measuring it by stakeholders posed a challenge globally in formulating legislation and policies responding to it.

METHODS: A quantitative, mathematical calculation which uses the median score percentage of 100% as a baseline, indicating the ability to cope within the local capacity, was used. Seventeen indicators were selected based on the UNISDR 2009 disaster definition of vulnerability and exposure and holistic approach as a pre-condition. The severity of the disaster is defined as the level of unmet needs. Thirty natural disasters were tested, retrospectively, and non-parametric tests were used to test the correlation of the DSI score against the indicators.

RESULTS: The findings showed that 20 out of 30 natural disasters tested fulfilled the inability to cope, within local capacity in disaster terminology. Non-parametric tests showed that there was a correlation between the 30 DSI scored and the indicators.

CONCLUSION: By computing a median fit percentage score of 100% as the ability to cope, and the correlation of the 17 indicators, in this DSI Scale, 20 natural disasters fitted into the disaster definition. This DSI will enable humanitarian stakeholders to measure and compare the severity of the disaster objectively, as well as enable future response to be based on needs.Yew YY, Castro Delgado R, Heslop DJ, Arcos González P. The Yew Disaster Severity Index: a new tool in disaster metrics.

Language: en

Keywords

ANOVA Analysis of Variance; CRED Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters; DSI Disaster Severity Index; EMDAT Emergency Events Database; OFDA Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance; UNISDR United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; UNOCHA United Nations Office for Coordination in Humanitarian Affairs; disaster severity score; exposure; hazard; natural disaster; vulnerability