The damage caused by Hurricane Katrina was a very serious one and an eye opener to the emergency medical service providers and the fire department. Indeed it was the most powerful hurricane to have ever hit the United States. The fire departments are traditionally the first responders to many of such incidences of disaster and accidents. The fire department not only responds to hurricanes but to all kind of emergency circumstances including bomb attacks as the one the US experienced on September 11th 2001.
due to the fact that fire department are the first responders to emergency calls, the medical emergency services have joined the panoply and are part of the fire brigade or come as a third party. During a disaster incidence, many governmental and non governmental bodies turn out to assist in the management of the problem. This has stimulated the incorporation of public works departments into disaster response as the need for a combined effort and coordinated operation is critical in the event of a disaster.
It can be remembered that the fire department along with its emergency medical service team was the first organized group that responded to the bombing of the world trade center in New York City. Other responses were from individuals from police, security guards, and maintenance staff. The organized response was more effective as the fire department and emergency medical services had brought protective gear, garments and equipments.
Organized response is usually very efficient because of the preparedness they portray in terms of discipline, command and the proper equipment for carrying out the job of emergency service provision.