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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

What I'm Reading: Disaster Training

During the past couple of days I have been sitting through a series of training classes for Disaster work - specifically deployment to international disaster events. 

The Sphere Project's Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response has been our primary text  and, nerd that I am, I have really appreciated reading it. 

This guide book is intended as a tool to measure success.  How do we evaluate the work that we do?  What does success in a disaster event like the Haitian earthquake or Pacific Tsunami?  This guide was crafted by a committee of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization) to provide common standards for NGOs (like the Salvation Army, Red Cross, etc...) providing relief.
These are basic and universal  human rights - essential to a life with dignity.


How much water per person per day? (15 litres)
How many calories per day? (2,100 kcals per day - 10 - 12% from proteins and 17% from fats)
How much shelter space per person is appropriate? (3.5 covered square meters per person.)

It's detailed.  It's specific.  With it we can describe with transparency to our donors and partners what we were able to provide to those affected by a disaster event. 

In the next few weeks I'll probably be heading off to disaster work again - probably up in Fargo and Jamestown, North Dakota.  We're anticipating record water levels this year. There's already 60+ inches of snow on the ground.  The ground is already 100% saturated.  Last year the Red River crested at about 40 feet.... the city of Fargo is preparing for 44 feet this year. It could be bad.

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