1)Disaster cycle UNIT - I Introduction to Disasters

A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or
society (Vulnerability + Hazard) / Capacity = Disaster. Disaster Management :

As per Disaster Management Act, 2005, “disaster management” means a continuous and
integrated process of planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing measures which are
necessary or expedient for

: i. Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster;

ii. Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or consequences

; iii. Capacity-building;

iv. Preparedness to deal with any disaster; v. Prompt response to any threatening disaster
situation or disaster; vi. Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster;
evacuation, rescue and relief;

Key Phases of Disaster Management

1. Pre - Disaster : Before a disaster to reduce the potential for human, material or
environmental losses caused by hazards and to ensure that these losses are minimized
when the disaster actually strikes.
2. During Disaster : It is to ensure that the needs and provisions of victims are met to
alleviate and minimize suffering
 3. Post Disaster : After a disaster to achieve rapid and durable recovery which does not
reproduce the original vulnerable conditions.
1. Pre - Disaster Phase
Prevention and Mitigation-prevention is often used to embrace the wide diversity of
measures to protect persons and property
mitigation should also be aimed at reducing the physical, economic and social
vulnerability

Preparedness
formulation of viable emergency plans, the development of warning systems, the
maintenance of inventories, public awareness and education and the training of personnel
It may also embrace search and rescue measures as well as evacuation plans
All preparedness planning needs to be supported by appropriate rules and regulations
with clear allocation of responsibilities and budgetary provision.

Early Warning
This is the process of monitoring the situation in communities or areas known to be
vulnerable to slow onset hazards,

2. During Disaster Phase

Response -This refers to the first stage response. such as setting up control rooms, putting
the contingency plan in action, issue warning, action for evacuation, taking people to
safer areas
3. The Post - Disaster Phase
Recovery-phases of emergency relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction
Rehabilitation-Rehabilitation includes the provision of temporary public utilities and
housing

2) Types of Disasters
*Natural Disasters*Human - Made Disasters
Natural Disasters
A natural disaster is a natural process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury
or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods

Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes,

tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones are all natural disasters that kill thousands of
people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year
Human - Made Disasters
 Human-instigated disasters are the consequence of technological or human hazards.
Examples include stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills,
terrorist attacks, nuclear explosions/nuclear radiation

Earthquakes
*An earthquake is the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by rapid movement of the
earth’s crust or outer layer
* The earth is primarily composed of three layers : 1. The outer crust, 2. The middle
mantle, and 3. The inner core
* The Earth’s outer layer or crust is made up of a number of zig-saw pieces like
structures that interlock into one another these pieces are called tectonic plates
* Due to this, the rocks are under strain, stress on the rocks exceeds certain limits,
* This sudden rupture of the rocks releases energy in the form of earthquake waves

Grades Effect
s

2.5 Generally not felt, but recorded on seismograph

3.5 Felt by many people

4.5 Some local damage may occur

6 A destructive earthquake

7 A major earthquake

8 and Massive earthquake

above
*Thus earthquake is a form of energy, which is transmitted to the surface of the earth
in the form of waves called seismic waves
 * The exact spot under the earth surface at which an earthquake originates is called the
focus or hypocenter

Impact of Earthquake on the Environment

In the last 500 years, earthquakes around the world have killed several million people

Massive loss of life and property occurs due to collapse of buildings. Besides, roads,
bridges, canals, electric poles, etc

These are places located in the unstable regions of the earth crust, which are subjected to tectonic
activities

Dates Detail
s
Oct, 2005 Jammu & Kashmir, intensity 7.4, about 40000 people
died.
26th Jan, 2001 Gujrat, intensity 7.9, about 20000 people died.

29th March, 1999 Chamoli, Uttaranchal, intensity 6.8, about 1000 people
died.
22nd May, 1997 Jabalpur and Mandala, M.P. about 50 people died.

30th Sep, 1993 Latur and Osmanabad, Maharashtra, about 10000 people
died.
20th Oct, 1991 Uttarkashi, Uttaranchal, intensity 6.6, about 1000 people
died.
Prevention and mitigation of earthquake and hazard reduction programs

 Hence, the occurrence of an earthquake cannot be prevented. However, there are

certain regions that are earthquakes prone, so the administration must work before
hand to minimize the damages due to occurrence of earthquakes in such areas.

 development of critical facilities and proper land use planning.

 Mapping of faults and weak zones in earthquake prone areas
 Buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices, etc. should be in areas away from
active faults
Floods
 Floods occur due to heavy rainfall within a short duration of time in a particular region
which causes the rivers and streams to overflow
 In India, states like Assam, Bihar and parts of Gangetic Uttar Pradesh are quite prone to
floods during the rainy season
 Flooding, in India, is a major problem and some part or the other is affected by the fury
 of floods usually during the months from July to September
 Flood affected areas face acute shortages of food and drinking water
Impact on the Environment
 Though the lives lost in floods may not be as high as in case of earthquakes or
cyclones, the damage to the environment is immense
 Floods cause the spread of many epidemic diseases
 Rapid runoff causes soil erosion
 Manmade structures like buildings, bridges, roads, sewer lines, power lines, etc. are
damaged
Prevention, Control and Mitigation
 Land Use Planning
 Building of Physical Barriers
 Preventing Human Encroachment
Use of technology for relief
 Advanced communication techniques for flood forecasting and warning
 Fast evacuation of people
 To provide relief in temporary shelters
 Immediate supply of medicines, drinking water, food and clothes
 Epidemic diseases must be controlled through spraying, vaccination, etc.

Drought
*Drought is a condition of abnormally dry weather within a geographic region; Drought refers to
the lack or insufficiency of rain for an extended period of time in a specific region.
*During droughts, rainfall is less than normal causing a water imbalance
*Many Indian farmers are still totally dependent on rainfall for irrigation and because of
abnormally dry spells there is extensive crop damage
*The main drought prone areas of the country are parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Karna ,Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh. However, sometimes drought- like conditions
also prevail in the Gangetic Plain also
Impact on the Environment
*Water-supply reservoirs become empty, wells dry up and there is acute water shortage.
*Soil degradation and erosion occurs. Soil cracks because of shrinkage during desiccatio
*There is extensive crop damage
*People become impoverished and there are diseases due to malnutrition
Prevention, Control and Mitigation
* Though, global warming may have changed the pattern of rainfall in the recent times
* Conservation of water through rainwater harvesting, building check dams, bunds, etc
* Construction of reservoirs to hold emergency water supplies
* Increased use of drought resistant crops
* Proper irrigation techniques, such as drip and trickle irrigation that minimize the use of
water
Cyclones
 Cyclone is an area of low atmospheric pressure surrounded by a wind system blowing in
anti-clockwise direction
 In a cyclone, the wind speed must be more than 119 km/hr.
 Cyclones generate in the seas and oceans with a very high speed towards the land
 It strikes the land with a devastating force
Impact on the Environment
* Cyclones are quite common in the Bay of Bengal and often cause much damage in
Bangladesh and coastal areas of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
*Bangladesh has been devastated by cyclones a number of times. In November 1970, a
severe cyclone caused a 6 m rise in sea-level
* Another cyclone in 1971 killed more than one lakh people
* The cyclone that hit Orissa in 1999, is the worst recorded natural disaster in India
* The coastal low lying areas are most affected.
*The affected areas are inundated both with rainfall and the surge of seawater
Prevention, Control and Mitigation
some scientists have speculated that rise in global warming may cause an increased occurrences of
cyclones

 The devastating effects of cyclones can only be controlled and mitigated through some
effective policies such as use of advanced technology
 Satellites can easily forecast the origin of cyclones in advance
 Installation of early warning systems in the coastal areas
 Increasing public awareness regarding cyclones
 Development of underground shelter belts in the cyclone prone area
Landslides
*Landslides refer to a rapid down-slope movement of rocks or soil mass under the force of
gravity
*Landslides may occur when water from rain and melting snow, seeps through the earth on a
sloppy surface
The important factors responsible for landslide
* Stability of slopes
* The type of earth and rock material
* The type of vegetation
Avalanche
*It is a type of landslide involving a large mass of snow, ice and rock debris that slides and
fall rapidly down a mountainside
*It is a type of landslide involving a large mass of snow, ice and rock debris that slides and
fall rapidly down a mountainside
Impact on the Environment
*Malpa landslide in 1999 in the Kumaon hills, took the lives of many pilgrims who were going
to Mansarovar in Tibet
*Uprooted trees and degraded soil
*Buried building and settlements
*Damage to crops and plantation
*Injuries and death to humans and animals
*Prevention, Control and Mitigation
*human activities like deforestation, mining, etc. can also induce landslides.
*Landslides can be controlled by providing slope support and minimizing human
encroachment
*Plantation of trees should be undertaken on the unstable hilly slopes
Man-Made Disaster
When the disasters are due to carelessness of human or mishandling of dangerous equipment’s
they are called man-made disasters
Common examples of these disasters are train accidents, aero plane crashes, collapse of
buildings, bridges, mines, tunnels, etc
Bhopal Gas Tragedy (BGT)
*The most serious industrial disaster occurred on December 3, 1984 at Bhopal, India, which is
known as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (BGT)
*The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred due to leakage of methyl isocyanide (MIC) gas from the
factory
MIC gas is used as an ingredient in pesticides.
*5000 people were killed, half of them due to direct exposure and other half due to after affects
*More than 50,000 people were affected with respiratory, eye, gastric, neurological and
gynecological problems
 Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
*This nuclear disaster occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was one of the
largest power plants in the Ukrainian on April 26, 1986
*It is the worst nuclear disaster recorded in a nuclear power plant
*Around 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled
*The after affects lasted for many years and a rise in the incidence of thyroid and blood cancer
has been observed in a wide group of people
* Other effects on the human health included skin diseases, hair loss, nausea, anemia,
respiratory and reproductive disease

Global Trends in Disasters

Urban Disaster
*Disasters cause serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society
*When disasters affect cities or urban areas, they are referred to as urban disasters
*Urban areas have often expanded into hazard-prone locations, with increasing populations
* Global climate change is shifting hazard levels and increasing disaster risk impacts
Pandemic
* A pandemic is an epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region
* number of pandemics of diseases such as smallpox and tuberculosis.
* The most fatal pandemic recorded in human history was the Black Death (also known as The
Plague), which killed an estimated 75-200 million people in the 14th century.
* Other notable pandemics include the 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) and the 2009
influenza pandemic (H1N1)
Climate Change
* From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase
the risk of catastrophic flooding
*deforestation, and large scale agriculture, quantities of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
have risen to record levels not seen in three million year
* The concentration of GHGs in the earth’s atmosphere is directly linked to the average
global temperature on Earth
* carbon dioxide (CO2), is largely the product of burning fossil fuels.
Dos and Don‘ts during Various Types of Disasters
floods
*Avoid building in flood prone areas unless you elevate and reinforce your home
* Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding
Earthquake
* Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations
* Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
* Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections
*Identify safe places indoors and outdoors
1) Under strong dining table, bed
2) In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, flyovers and
bridges

Landslides
*Avoid building houses near steep slopes, close to mountain edges, near drainage ways or
along natural erosion valleys
* Avoid going to places affected by debris flow
* Avoid river valleys and low-lying areas
* Go to designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate
Droughts
* Repair dripping taps by replacing washers
* Plant drought-tolerant grasses, shrubs and trees
* Install irrigation devices which are most water efficient for each use, such as micro and drip
irrigation
* Avoid letting the water run while brushing, washing or bathing.

UNIT II Approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction

 Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in India

*India is leading a global intervention on bringing down disaster losses which is pushing more
than 26 million people into abject poverty every year hit by natural calamities.

* India is the only country which has drawn a comprehensive national plan on its roadmap to
fully achieve the Sendai framework by 2030 and a short term goal by 2020.
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

* The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- 2030 (hereafter “Sendai
Framework”) adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015
(UNISDR 2015a)
* Two other major international agreements followed it in the same year: the Sustainable
Development Goals 2015 - 2030 in September, and the UNCOP21 Climate Change agreement
* The Paris Agreement on global climate change points to the importance of averting,
minimizing, and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate
change
* These three agreements recognize the desired outcomes in DRR
Information Management in Disaster Risk Reduction
* In recent years, researchers and experts have been developing methods to conduct the
assessment of hazards

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

Disaster Response
* Disaster response work includes any actions taken in the midst of or immediately following an
emergency

* establish disaster preparedness plans into motion

* The focus in the response phase is on meeting the basic needs of the victims until sustainable
community has been achieved

* Response actions carried out immediately before, during, and after a hazard impact are aimed
at saving lives, reducing economic losses

* Increasing security operations

Culture of Safety

Three Aspects of Safety Culture

The model consists of : psychological aspects, behavioural aspects and situational aspects of the
safety culture

* The behavioural aspect is concerned with “what people do” within the organization which
includes the safety-related activities\

* Situational aspects describe, “what the organization has for its policies, operating procedures,
management systems, control systems

* The psychological aspects can be described as how employees see and feel their organization
in the aspect of safety

Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Community Based DRR

* Disaster risk reduction focuses more on reducing underlying risk, encouraging preventive
action before a disaster

* focuses on disaster issues, from prevention and mitigation to relief, response, and recovery

*Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) is an approach that reduces

vulnerabilities

* Minimize human suffering

* fasten recovery

Structural measures

*Any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards

Non-structural measures

* Any measure not involving physical construction that uses knowledge, practice or agreement to
reduce risks and impacts

* Common structural measures for disaster risk reduction include dams, flood levies, ocean wave
barriers

* Common non-structural measures include building codes, land use planning laws and their
enforcement, research and assessment

Panchayati Raj Institutions/Urban Local Bodies (PRIs/ULBs)

* As Local Government in Disaster Management In India, after the 73rd Constitution Amendment
Act, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) have become an opportunity for decision making
processes

* PRIs provide a platform to discuss local developmental problems and community needs,

* Gram Panchayats’ are known as community based organization

* West Bengal has the longest experience of functioning of three tiers Panchayati Raj
Institutions and the structure has been working for flood disaster management.
* gram panchayats had good communication with local officers, doctors, and NGOs for disaster
management
* PRIs and community had successfully taken efforts to supply drinking water during drought
* The collaboration and coordination among the Gram Panchayat, Tata Chemical Company and
villagers for supplying drinking water effectively met the basic needs during drought
* The main focus of the workshop was on post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation
* Gram Sansad Sabha, the members of community share their needs and problems with PRIs

State Disaster Management Authority(SDMA)

* At the State level, the SDMA, headed by the Chief Minister, will lay down policies and plans
for DM in the State

*It reviews the developmental plans of the different Departments of the State to ensure the
integration of prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures
The Environment Protection Act, 1986
* After the Bhopal Gas Leak Tragedy, the Indian Parliament enacted the Environment
(Protection) Act (EPA), 1986 for the purpose of safeguarding and protecting the environment
* It prohibits persons carrying on any industry, operation or process from discharging or emitting
any environmental pollutants
* In the year 1994, a notification was issued by the Central Government under Section 3 of EPA
making it mandatory on the part of all new industrial units

The ‘Manufacture, Storage and Impact of Hazardous Chemical Rules’, 1989

* In the Year 1989, the Central Government framed the “Manufacture, Storage and Import of
Hazardous Chemical Rules‟, 1987 under the EPA.
* objective is preventing of major accidents arising from industrial activity

The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991

* In the year 1991, with a view to protect the fragile ecosystem of the coastal areas in India from
unregulated developmental activities

* Government of India issued Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification under the EPA to
control the developmental activities within 500 meters of High Tide Line (HTL)

Early Warning System

* It describe the provision of information on an emerging dangerous circumstances
* Early warning systems exist for natural geophysical and biological hazards, complex socio-
political emergencies, industrial hazards, personal health risks
Elements of Early Warning

* Risk Knowledge : Risk assessment provides essential information to set priorities for
mitigation and prevention strategies and designing early warning systems
* Monitoring and Predicting : Systems with monitoring and predicting capabilities provide
timely estimates of the potential risk faced by communities, economies and the environment
* Disseminating Information : Communication systems are needed for delivering warning
messages to the potentially affected locations to alert local and regional governmental agencies.
*Response : Coordination, good governance and appropriate action plans are a key point in
effective early warning

Need of Early Warning System

* The purpose of early warning systems is to detect, forecast, and when necessary, issue alerts
related to impending hazard events
* To ensure public safety, and the protection of human lives
* To ensure long term development and economic growth. Conversely, by reducing the impact
of disasters, a government avoids the financial and political- burden of massive
Fire

* The Government of India in 1956, formed a “Standing Fire Advisory Committee” under the
Ministry of Home Affairs

* India for speedy development and upgradation of Fire Services all over the country

* This committee had representation from each State Fire Services, as well as the representation
from Ministry of Home, Defence, Transport, Communication and Bureau of Indian Standards.

Epidemics

*The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is instrumental and responsible for implementation
of various programmes on a national scale in the areas of prevention and control of major
communicable diseases

* This ministry also assists states in preventing and controlling the spread of seasonal disease
outbreaks

* It is actively involved in disease diagnosis during epidemics and outbreaks, operational

research, manpower development,

Forecasting and Warning of Cyclones

* India Meteorological Department is the nodal agency in the country to monitor and predict
the cyclonic disturbances and issue the warning and advisory

* IMD, New Delhi also acts as a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for
providing tropical cyclone advisories to the World Preparedness and Response Meteorological
Organization (WMO)