Which of the following is a standard procedure for responding to a disaster?

• A. Evacuating everyone to a safe place
• B. Debriefing after the disaster
• C. Verifying and communicating the critical incident by notifying the control room or a supervisor
• D. Inspecting for structural damage

Answer: (C)

Establishing verified incident awareness and notifying the chain of command is the first step in an effective disaster response. By confirming what has happened and immediately informing the control room or a supervisor, you trigger the facility’s emergency procedures, mobilize the right personnel, and set up unified command. This clears up who is in charge, ensures accurate information is being acted on, and allows rapid deployment of resources and instructions. Evacuating everyone, while sometimes necessary, depends on the situation and authorization and isn’t the initial action you take without confirmation. Debriefing happens after the event, and inspecting for structural damage is important but comes after securing the scene and directing the response. So the best first action is to verify the incident and communicate it up the chain of command.