Syllabus Module 4: Impacts and assessment: Risk Management and
Assessment and Disaster Management cycle. SWOT Analysis- basic concepts,
uses, limitations and advantages. Disaster management
Structural and Non-structural Measures
Natural hazards cannot be prevented but damage and disruption due to natural
hazards can be minimized by proper disaster management and planning.
Mitigation measures which are an important part of disaster management mainly
focuses on eliminating or reducing the risk from the hazards. Mitigation measures
can be classified into:
● Structural Measures ● Non-structural Measures
Structural Measures
Structural measures are defined as any physical construction, i.e., natural or
artificial to decrease or eliminate the losses due to disasters. It is the
implementation of engineering methods to build hazard resistant structures to
protect from hazards. The examples of structural measures are
earthquakeresistant construction, ocean wave barriers, flood levies, dams, and
evacuation shelters
Non-structural measures
Non-structural measures are defined as the measures which include policies and
laws, plans and regulations, building codes, land use planning, laws and their
enforcement, public awareness, training and education, warning system, financial
measures, and good management practices. These are useful to minimize the risk
and impact from the hazards. Non-structural measures do not include physical
construction.
Structural and Non-structural measures for specific disasters
Structural and Non-structural measures are followed for specific disasters as they
relate to specific hazards. Some of major disasters are discussed below:
1. Earthquake : The structural and non-structural measures used for Earthquake
resilience are discussed below:
Structural measures
• Structures and Buildings must be designed as per building bye laws and IS
Codes to withstand ground shaking.
• Improving the building design and construction practices.
• Analysing the soil properties before construction.
• Retrofitting of the existing buildings to strengthen their resistance to
earthquake forces.
Non-structural measures
• Public awareness and Education: Training programs should be
conducted for Engineers, Architects, Contractors, Builders, Policy
makers, Masons, Government functionaries, NGO’s, etc.
• Community preparedness: Community preparedness plays an
important role in disaster mitigation measures. It includes educating
the communities with evacuation maps, shelters and encouraging them
to maintain food reserves.
2. Flood
The structural and non-structural measures used to safeguard against flood
are discussed below:
Structural Measures
The following structural measures which are useful to reduce the losses caused
due to floods. are:
• Reservoirs, Dams, and other Water Storage
• Embankments
• Channel Improvements
• Drainage Improvement
• Diversion of Flood Water// Interlinking of Rivers
• Catchments Area Treatment/Watershed Management
• Sea Walls
• Coastal Protection Works
• Anti-Erosion Works
Reservoirs, Dams, and other Water Storage
Reservoirs, Dams and other water storage whether they are natural or manmade can
reduce the intensity of flood or flood peaks in the river. Reservoirs, dams, and tanks can
store water during the flood. The water thus stored is released after the critical flood
condition is over. Water stored in the reservoirs, dams can also be used for power
generation, irrigation purposes, drinking water needs and other purposes.
Embankments
The embankment system is the one of the structural measures of flood in which the river
gets confined to its existing course and therefore restricts the flood flow, thereby reducing
the damage. This measure was used extensively in the past because of it being an
inexpensive and quick method of flood protection. Generally, embankments are
constructed with earth but in developed areas, concrete or masonry floodwalls are also
constructed.
Channel Improvements
The objective of channel improvement is to increase their carrying capacity through
stabilized river channel and reduced bank erosion. This measure is adopted to a very
limited extent due to constraint of topographical condition and high cost.
Drainage Improvement
The aim of Drainage improvement is to prevent congestion and flooding in downstream
areas. This can be achieved by improving the capacity of existing channels or constructing
new channels to facilitate the continuous draining of water and thus prevent flooding.
Diversion of Flood Water/Interlinking of Rivers
In this flood control measure, flood waters are discharged into natural or artificial
constructed channels which may be lying within or outside the floodplain. This flood
control measure is effective to prevent flooding in urbanized areas. The Interlinking of
Rivers is also a flood control measure for division of flood.
Catchments Area Treatment/ Watershed Management
In this measure, protection is provided to catchment areas through measures such as
afforestation. The measures of watershed management which includes increasing the
vegetative cover through conservation of soil cover, afforestation and structural works
like diversion channels and detention basins, check dams, etc. These measures are helpful
in controlling the flood.
Sea Walls/Coastal Protection Works
The construction of seawalls and other coastal protection works serve as effective
measures to prevent the flooding from the sea water and also helps to prevent erosion of
land in the coastal region.
Anti-Erosion Works
Alluvial rivers are characterized by their meandering nature. They raise problems of
erosion from concave bends and deposition at other locations. This leads to loss of
valuable land. Anti-erosion works are generally used for protection of towns, industrial
areas, railway lines and roads, etc.
Non-structural measures
Non-structural measures are important aspects to reducing the impacts of Flood. These
also reduce the adverse effects on the environment. Non-structural measures to reduce
or prevent the impacts of flood are:
● Flood Plain Zoning
● Flood Forecasting and Warning
● Flood Proofing
● Flood Insurance
● Control of flood plain development
● Adherence to Coastal Zone Regulations
Flood Plain Zoning
The aim of flood-plain zoning is to identify zones which are likely to be affected by floods
based on the flood frequencies or probability level for the region of interest. It is useful to
regulate land use for various developmental activities in order to minimize or prevent the
damages due to floods.
Flood Forecasting and Warning
Flood forecasting and warning is one of most significant non-structural measures for
flood control. This system has been developed by the Central Water Commission (CWC)
in India and the CWC is responsible for forecasting floods and issuing warnings in India.
The CWC issues flood forecasts at 325 stations according to the Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP’s).
Flood Proofing
It is defined as “the modification of buildings and structures and their immediate
surroundings to reduce damage during flooding.” These measures include raised
platforms for shelter to population, raised platforms for houses and buildings, etc.
Flood Insurance
Flood insurance provides immediate and temporary relief due to damage caused by flood.
This measure differs from the other non-structural measures of flood. While other
measures enable cost reduction due to flood damage, Insurance doesn't reduce the long
term-cost of flood damage.
Control of flood plain development
Floodplains are generally low-lying areas next to waterways. These lands are subjected to
flooding periodically. To protect these areas from the flood, following techniques can be
used:
● Zoning
● Floodplain regulations
● Building Codes
● Development policies
Adherence to Coastal Zone Regulations
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued a Coastal
Regulations Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019. The aim of this regulation is to protect
ecologically sensitive coastal regions from flooding. Enforcement of this notification will
save the community and reduce the impact of floods.