Disaster is a calamity which is sudden, brings huge damage, loss,
destruction and devastation to life and property. Any occurrence
which causes mass destruction, huge loss of properties , loss of
human life, calamities of ecological destruction, health problems
which is on a large scale and requires help from outside with immediate action is defined as disaster by WHO.
Immeasurable damage is caused by disaster which in unanticipated
and unexpected, depending on the geographical location loss of life
and property varies which impacts day to day life causing severe
pandemoneum in socio-economic, political and cultural activities.
Interactions with the outside world seeking help and reaching to more
and more organizations which quickly respond is the only remedy to
look for, to resolve the situation. On line connectivity through
video conferencing will be of great help provided proper measures are
taken to restore locations of conferencing to withstand disasters
inorder to provide connectivity to the outside world.
Disaster effected areas are deprived of normal needs and regular
processes like food, shelter and health. Electricity, communication
systems are totally effected creating uncertainity and chaos.
Connectivity to the the outside world through sofisticated means line
video conferencing is most required as any disaster is a situation
which is unpredicatable, give no time to understand, happens at a
rapid speen, unfamiliarity of the situation creating disorganized
functings of services, uncertanity, demanding ungency of health
services fear of threat of more and more loss of life.
Following methods can be followed using Video conferencing to
instruct people in the disaster struck areas:
Earthquakes:
Severe destruction is caused during earthquakes and
people get buried live. Quick help is required for the people struck
in the debris, machines to remove the destructed building has to be
moved. Setting up video conferencing in earthquake areas is possible
as the technology connects from any where and any device like laptop
or a mobile. It gives clear idea of the situation and passes
information of what are the requirements and what kind of help is
required at a particular place.
Cyclone:
Using Video conferenicng one can send alerts before the cyclone.
Health remedies and advices from Doctors will save many lives.
But required number of doctors or health assistants cannot be
provided at a stretch. The Doctor being at his place can instruct
the people at multiple locations in the same time. He can give the
necessary precautions to be taken to avoid diseases predicted during
cyclones.
During Floods:
Using Video conferencing for interacting with people and giving
instructions to volunteers in case of unpredicted problems plays a
crucial role in improving the conditions quickly. Video conferencing
facility helps volunteers to interact with eminent doctors to get
information regarding instructions about drinking water, food,
medical remedies and precauations of susceptable diseases in flood
areas.
The author Shelly Desuza is working with Peoplelink Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd, a eminent provider of Boardroom Video Conferencing In India also provides audio conferencing and multimedia products.