Aspects of eliminating medical and sanitary consequences of the flood disaster in the Republic of Crimea on June 17–18, 2021

Relevance. In current realities, various models of disaster management and response have been implemented in disaster medicine across regions. In natural emergency scenarios, management and response efforts would hardly ever see functional unity of all the emergency response units of disaster medicine and civil defense with an integral management hierarchy and 24h duty.

The study objective is to assess the efficiency of a new organizational model of disaster medicine service deployed in the Republic of Crimea to eliminate medical and sanitary consequences of heavy precipitation, large-scale flooding and mudslides, that hit the urban districts of Kerch, Yalta, on June 17-18, 2021.

Methods. We studied the operations and response efforts undertaken in natural emergency setting by the Kerch disaster medicine and civil defense service and Yalta ambulance stations, both being part of the Regional Center for Disaster Medicine of the Republic of Crimea. In addition, we analyzed the abnormal atmospheric front passage with heavy precipitation in urban districts of Kerch (17.06.2021) and Yalta (18.06.2021).

Results and discussion. At the very onset of natural emergency situation in the Republic of Crimea on June 17-18, 2021, dispatchers of the disaster medicine service, as well as dispatchers and managers of Yalta and Kerch ambulance stations implemented timely and adequate measures to ensure smooth operation of emergency medical units deployed in the emergency area. Those measures include prompt notification and engagement of management staff, deployment of transport vehicles and workforce to safe areas, recruitment of backup power sources into the grid, mobilized additional ambulance crews, as well as adequate assessment of incurred damages. The study provided the disaster medicine service with an unprecedented opportunity for real-time 24h. monitoring of the civil defense Center for Disaster Medicine operation in a natural emergency.

Conclusion. The study allows to assess the format of integrating civil defense and disaster medicine forces under the shared management by the Disaster Medicine Center of the Republic of Crimea.

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