Preparing for the unexpected: the EADRCC and EADRU

Από http://nrdisaster.blogspot.com/2008/09/preparing-for-unexpected-eadrcc-and.html

When a major disaster strikes in a NATO member or partner country, the Alliance must be able to respond quickly and mobilise resources to help those in need. Organising a large international disaster relief effort requires a lot of coordination, teamwork and planning.The Alliance has been involved with coordinating assistance in response to disasters since the 1950’s. In 1998, it established the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (EADRCC) to coordinate the responses of NATO member and partner countries to disasters occurring in the Euro-Atlantic region. The centre, which is located at NATO HQ in Brussels, is operational 24 hours, ready to respond quickly when needed. Since its inauguration, the EADRCC has been involved in a number of major operations, including floods in Ukraine, relief and humanitarian operations in Albania, Kosovoand the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and earthquakes in Turkey. From http://www.nato.int/science/publication/pdf/earthquake-e.pdf

One of the major responsibilities of the EADRCC during these crises was to serve as a focal point for information-sharing, ensuring that all respondents had accurate and timely overviews of the events as they unfolded. The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Relief Unit (EADRU) is comprised of a variety of national assets and resources that countries are prepared to make available at short notice when a disaster strikes. The existence of this unit has contributed greatly to NATO’s development of responsive and flexible help when it comes to disasters. Examples of specific assets and resources available include medical supplies and equipment, strategic airlift capabilities, temporary housing, and water sanitation equipment.
Pre-disaster planning is essential for successful disaster response. All of these mechanisms of cooperation are used regularly to help NATO member and partner countries develop standard operating procedures to be employed jointly when a disaster occurs. In addition, regular exercises allow countries to practise their skills in a realistic setting and learn how to work together effectively during emergency situations.
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