Adequacy and effectiveness of disaster and emergency communication tools in the Management of disaster risk incidents in calabar south local government, cross river state, Nigeria

Author: 
Elenwo, E.I and Iwara, M.C.

This study examined the adequacy and effectiveness of disaster and emergency communication tools in crisis situation in Calabar South local government. Study method was the cross sectional survey involving the use of questionnaires. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to the sampled communities and key informants to elicit responses. The data collections were grouped according to research questions. The data were organized and presented in tables. Frequency counts of agree and disagree responded were obtained and mean scores were used for data analysis. Risk characterization using Risk Assessment Matrix was used to ascertain the level of probable risk residents may face in the event of emergencies or disaster incidents. Table 3 in the study shows the total sum for agree was (100), with a mean score of (20), while the total sum for Disagree was (300) and the mean score was (60).This result shows that the respondents admit strongly on the non-availability of the modern emergency communication tools, and also strongly disagrees on adequacy and the effectiveness of the available ones in the management of disasters in Calabar South local government Cross River State. Table 4 of the research also shows that residents are not aware of some of the modern emergency communication tools and how they are utilized during disaster situations in the local government. The study recommends that Emergency Management Agencies should improve on their communication level with the public to bridge the poor communication gap between the agencies and the people. This will improve on the level of helplessness and hopelessness of the residents to disseminate information during disasters. This assertion corroborates with the study by United States Centre for Disease Control which states that the most valuable way of information transformations and dissemination are based on a new key player in emergency management – ‘the public’.

Paper No: 
2531