DISASTER MANAGEMENT

“A major event brought about by the natural processes of the earth that causes
widespread destruction to the environment and loss of life is known as the natural
disaster.”
Natural disasters are catastrophic events that result from any of the earth’s natural
phenomena. These can range from floods and hurricanes to tsunamis and earthquakes.
The earth, over its 4.5 billion year history, has seen many natural disasters. Some of
these disasters have led to several mass extinctions and drastic repercussions for various
surviving species.

2011 Japan Earthquake

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Hazard Disaster
A dangerous situation that poses a threat An event that completely causes damage
to human life. to human life and property.
Has less critical consequences. Has more critical consequences and is
more catastrophic.
Takes its full shape after a series of Often happens in a short time, causing
events, which might have led it to happen. more severe effects.
Example - Nuclear Radiation Example - Volcanic Eruption
Types of disasters:
a) Natural Disasters - A natural disaster is defined as an event of nature, which
overwhelms local resources and threatens the function and safety of the community.
Natural disasters are caused due to different reasons like soil erosion, seismic activity,
tectonic movements, air pressure, and ocean currents etc. Natural activities taking place
in the earth's crust, as well as surface, are the main reasons for these disasters. Examples
include firestorms, dust storms, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, etc.
b) Man made Disasters - Man-made disasters are extreme hazardous events that are
caused by human beings. Human-Caused disasters have an element of human intent,
negligence, or error involving a failure of a man-made system, as opposed to natural
disasters resulting from natural hazards. Some of the man-made disasters are: bomb
explosions, terrorism, war or civil war, leakage of poisonous chemicals, breach in dams,
air or water pollution, industrial accidents and epidemics.

Classification of natural disasters:

a) Geological Disasters - A geological disaster occurs when natural geological processes
impact on our activities, either through loss of life or injury, or through economic loss. A
geological hazard is a potential disaster.
Types of geological disasters:-
i) Landslide - A landslide is a type of geological natural disaster that includes mass
wasting events like rock falls, debris flows, mudflows, slope failures, and more.
Landslides are more common in mountainous and hilly areas.

ii) Avalanche - An avalanche is a deadly natural disaster where masses of snow move
down the slopes of a mountain or a hill and bury everything that comes in its path.
Avalanches might be triggered by various forces like heavy snowfall, melting of snow due
to solar radiation, earthquakes, rain, rockfall, etc.

iii) Earthquake - Earthquakes are another type of geological disaster. Such natural events
of mass destruction are caused by a sudden energy release in the ground that gives rise
to seismic waves. Shaking, vibration, and occasionally ground displacement are the
common signs of an earthquake.
iv) Sinkhole - A sinkhole results when a hole or depression is formed on the ground due
to the collapse of the surface layer of soil. Such holes are most common in karst
landscapes. Here, water seeping underground often erodes the underlying limestone
bedrock. Thus, with the chemical dissolution of the underlying layer, the surface layer of
rock collapses leaving gaping holes on the surface.

v) Volcanic eruptions - Volcanic eruptions are one of the deadliest forms of geological
natural disaster. Such events can cause wanton death and destruction in several ways.
First of all, the eruption itself may cause damage due to falling rocks and the exploding
debris. Secondly, lava flow on the surface of the earth will kill every life form in its path.
b) Hydrometeorological Disasters - Process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological
or oceanographic nature that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts,
property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage are hydrometeorological disasters. Types of hydrometeorological
disasters are:-
i) Tropical cyclones

ii) Thunderstorms

iii) Tornados
iv) Hailstorms

v) Floods

c) Biological Disasters - Biological disasters are natural scenarios involving disease,

disability or death on a large scale among humans, animals and plants due to
microorganisms like bacteria, or virus or toxins.
Effects of natural disasters on earth, life of people, property, economy:
In a disaster, we face the danger of death or physical injury. We may also lose our home,
possessions, and community. Such stressors place us at risk for emotional and physical
health problems. Stress reactions after a disaster look very much like the common
reactions seen after any type of trauma. Disasters destroy homes and displace residents,
so it's expected that they would have a strong effect on the housing market. When
residents lose their homes, they need to find a new place to live, and they typically stay
within the local area to remain with family, jobs and their familiar community. The
economic damage caused by disasters varies. Capital assets and infrastructure such as
housing, schools, factories and equipment, roads, dams and bridges are lost. Human
capital is depleted due to the loss of life, the loss of skilled workers and the destruction
of education infrastructure that disrupts schooling.
Prediction of each type of disaster:
Good predictions and warnings save lives. Predictions and warnings can reduce damage
and economic losses. Scientific and technological advances in recent decades have
greatly improved the nation's capability to predict most natural hazards and disseminate
warnings based on those predictions. The government operates several systems to
monitor natural hazards and make predictions. For example, an extensive weather
monitoring and forecasting network covers the nation. Warnings are disseminated
through a joint public-private partnership. Continuous radio and television broadcasts
make both routine weather forecasts and severe weather warnings accessible to
everyone. Televised weather programs have improved through the use of meteorologists
and advanced presentation technology.

Sensor networks helping predict and respond to natural disasters.

Preparedness of each type of disaster:

Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of
hazards through proactive measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs. The
disaster preparedness are:
i) Communicate where you will be
ii) Know the warning signs and alert signals for your area
iii) Check your emergency survival kit
iv) Collect emergency building materials
v) Fuel up your vehicles and equipment
vi) Secure all outdoor objects or move them inside
Concept of disaster management:
Disaster management is how we deal with the human, material, economic or
environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the process of how we “prepare for, respond
to and learn from the effects of major failures” . Though often caused by nature, disasters
can have human origins. According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red
Crescent Societies a disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people. The
combination of hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative
consequences of risk results in disaster .

The 4 Phases of disaster management:

Phase 1: Mitigation
The “mitigation” phase occurs before a disaster takes place. Here, an organization will
take steps to protect people and property, while also decreasing risks and consequences
from a given disaster situation. The organization’s main goal is to reduce vulnerability to
disaster impacts (such as property damage, injuries and loss of life).
Phase 2: Preparedness
The “preparedness” phase also occurs before a disaster takes place. Here, an organization
attempts to understand how a disaster might affect overall productivity and the bottom
line. The organization will also provide appropriate education while putting preparedness
measures into place.
Phase 3: Response
The “response” phase occurs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Organizations
must focus their attention on addressing immediate threats to people, property and
business. Occupant safety and wellbeing largely depends on its preparedness levels
before disaster strikes.
Phase 4: Recovery
The “recovery” phase takes place after a disaster. This phase is the restoration of an
organization following any impacts from a disaster. By this time, the organization has
achieved at least some degree of physical, environmental, economic and social stability.
Cyclone Yaas:
Type of disaster - Very severe tropical cyclone
Date of occurrence - 26th May 2021
Affected areas - Odisha, Bangladesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, Andaman
and Nicobar Islands

Damages occurred - Farmlands throughout Odisha, West Bengal, and some in Jharkhand
were affected. Electrical lines in these states were knocked down causing thousands of
power outages. More than 4500 villages were damaged in the state of West Bengal. The
state of Odisha was heavily affected, with 120 village settlements being flooded and
heavily damaged by the rains.
Amount of loss in terms of economy - The total damages in West Bengal, the most
heavily impacted Indian state from Yaas, were estimated to be around ₹20 thousand
crore (US$2.76 billion). The cyclone also caused an estimated ₹610 crore (US$83.63
million) in damage in Odisha.

Steps taken to manage the disaster - The NDRF had deployed 65 teams with another 20
teams on reserve. Also, NDRF deployed 115 teams in 5 states. Rescue and relief teams of
the Indian army, navy, and the coast guard have also deployed over the coastal districts
of Odisha and West Bengal. Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation(CESC) stayed on guard
for the cyclone to ensure uninterrupted service especially for major hospitals and critical
establishments like drainage pumping stations. The Indian Meteorological Department
(IMD) issued an orange alert on May 25 on Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khordha, and Puri
in Odisha, citing the threat of Yaas' s rainfall. Meanwhile, a red alert was raised by the
department for Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore on the same day due to
the system. Evacuations were also started on May 24 for the coastal and low-lying areas
in East Midnapore and West Midnapore and Jhargram, with over a million people being
evacuated. Meanwhile, as Yaas weakens over Jharkhand, evacuations were ordered due to
the threat of strong winds and heavy rainfall from the system.[34] Over 600,000
individuals or 6 lakh were instructed to move to disaster shelters provided by the
authorities due to the storm's approach.
Disaster Area Affected Year Casualties
Sikkim Earthquake West Bengal, 2011 111 dead
Sikkim
Himalayan Floods Uttarakhand, 2012 31 dead, 40 missing
Himachal Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir
Cyclone Helen Andhra Pradesh 2013 11 dead
Malin Landslide Maharashtra 2014 151 dead, 100
missing
Indian Swine Flu Throughout India 2015 33761 infected,
Outbreak 2035 dead
Uttarakhand Forest Uttarakhand, 2016 9 dead
Fires Himachal Pradesh
West Bengal Floods West Bengal, 2017 152 dead
Jharkhand
Indian Dust Storms Uttar Pradesh, 2018 125 dead
Rajasthan
Cyclone Fani Odisha, West 2019 89 dead
Bengal, Andhra
Pradesh
Visakhapatnam Gas Andhra pradesh 2020 11 dead
Leak