How to Do a Qualitative Analysis of a Disaster Plan
Disasters, from fires and floods to earthquakes and terrorist attacks, can occur at any time, without warning. This means communities must be prepared to respond to protect the public and minimize damage. Drafting an emergency management plan is an important step. However, the plan should undergo an annual analysis to ensure it remains adequate. Because much of the impact associated with disasters may be difficult to quantify, a qualitative analysis of a disaster plan is appropriate.
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Instructions
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Read the disaster plan thoroughly. Search the document for the plan's objectives, and for the officials responsible for implementing it during an emergency. These people may include the mayor and city council members, city manager, emergency management director, area hospital administrators, and public safety officials such as the police and fire chiefs. Identify these stakeholders to be interviewed as part of the analysis.
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Conduct a review of the key literature on disaster planning and emergency preparedness to identify the names and contact information of nationally known experts in emergency management. Interview as many of them as possible on the elements of an effective disaster plan. Their responses will provide the basis for developing data collection instruments, such as interview forms and checklists, for analyzing a disaster plan and assessing the ability of a community to implement it.
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Develop those data collection instruments. Important themes in a disaster plan analysis checklist include types of disasters and the level of threat each one represents to the community. An interview form should record how key officials are intended to respond to different emergencies, the distribution of responsibilities in an emergency, and perceived strengths and weaknesses of the disaster plan.
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Collect information for analysis through interviews and review of plan documents. Follow a somewhat structured approach, but be open to conducting additional interviews as a review of checklists and interview notes reveals emerging themes and patterns that may give rise to new issues to explore. In qualitative analysis, data collection and analysis often overlap.
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Write a report that summarizes the analysis of the emergency plan, assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and recommends improvements.
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