DISASTER MANAGEMENT

A disaster is that sudden calamity which brings misfortune and miseries to humanity.
Disasters have serious impact on human life, economy and environment.

A disaster may be defined as "an occurrence of immensely damaging nature that causes
ecological disruption, deterioration of health of a very large number of people, and loss
of human life in such a scale that warrants response from outside areas other than the
affected regions."

Disaster is generally not confined to a local area or particular region. It can occur anywhere
and at any time. “Tsunami' is a very recent example of a disaster. The disasters may be
caused due to natural reasons or man-made reasons. Natural disasters may be broadly
grouped into major and minor types depending upon their potential to cause damage to
human life and property.

Disaster management is defined as, "the effective organisation, direction and utilization of
available counter-disaster resources.”

Aspects of Disaster Management

There are three basic aspects of disaster management. These are (1) disaster impact and
response, (2) disaster preparedness and (3) disaster mitigation.

1. Disaster impact and response: The disaster impact and response aspect includes the
following operations:

i. Search and rescue

ii. First aid

iii. Triage and stabilisation of victim

iv. Hospital treatment

V. Identification of dead

vi. Relief phase

vii. Managing humanitarian supplies like food, water etc.

viii. Reconstruction and rehabilitation.

2. Disaster preparedness: The disaster preparedness is a programme of long-term

development activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a
country to manage efficiently all types of emergencies. The objective of disaster preparedness
is to ensure the following tasks.

i. To evaluate the risk of a particular region or the country as a whole to disaster

ii. To organise communication, information and working systems.

iii. To ensure the availability of financial and other resources.

iv. To co-ordinate information with news media.

V. To organise disaster simulation exercises to test the response mechanisms.

3. Disaster Mitigation: Mitigation means lessening the negative impact of the natural
hazards. It is defined as sustained action taken to reduce long term vulnerability of human life
and property to natural hazards. These actions include:

i. Risk assessment and vulnerability analysis

ii. Promote appropriate land use planning

iii. Promote the knowledge of disaster-resistant design and construction

iv. Reduce the vulnerability of existing buildings through alterations and

V. Protection of vulnerable population.

Mitigation complements the disaster preparedness and disaster response activities. Disasters
cannot be totally prevented. However, early warning systems, careful planning and
preparedness on part of the vulnerable community would help in minimising the loss of life
and property due to disasters.

Management of Floods

Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters. Though it is not possible
to control the flood disaster totally, by adopting structural and non-structural measures, the
flood damages can be minimised.

Flood control refers to all methods used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood
waters. Some of the common techniques used for flood control are installation of sandbags,
maintaining normal slopes with vegetation or application of soil cements on steeper slopes
and construction or expansion of drainage channels. Other methods include levees, dikes,
dams, retention or detention basins.

Measures to be taken to control floods

1. Introduce better flood warning system: Advance warning and pre-planning can
significantly reduce the impact of flooding.
2. Construct building above flood levels: As far as possible, construction of all new
building should be done atleast some meters above the ground level, to prevent flood
damage.
3. Modification of buildings: Existing buildings should be modified to make them
withstand floods.
4. Creation of wetlands: The creation of more wetlands acts as sponges to slow down
water from river overflows.
5. Restore rivers to their natural courses: Many river channels have been straightened to
improve navigability. This is a reason for flood. By introducing their bends, their
length increases and can delay the flood flow.
6. Improving water storage areas: Water storage areas in any form may be improved, so
that, more water can be stored in case of any flood.
7. Improved soil condition: Well drained soil can absorb huge quantity of rain water,
preventing from running into rivers.
8. More Govt. spending: Govt should spend more amount to put up more flood barriers
and improving flood defence mechanisms.

Earthquake

Earthquake refers to sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic
waves through earth's rocks. Seismic waves are produced when some form of energy
stored in earth's crust is suddenly released. It happen when masses of rock straining
against one another suddenly fracture and slip. The study of earthquake is called
seismology.

Earthquake is one of the most devastating natural disasters on earth. Its effect cover
hundreds of thousands of square kilometers causing damage to structures or
infrastructures facilities. It also results in loss of life and injury to any number of people,
and disrupt the social and economic functioning of the affected area. Although it is
impossible to prevent earthquake from occurring, it is possible to mitigate its effects and
to reduce loss of life, injuries and damages.

Causes of Earthquakes

Earthquakes are caused by disturbances in the interior of the earth and other causes.

1. Tectonic movements: The disturbances inside the earth are called tectonic movements.
These forces bring about changes on the earth surface and physical features like
mountains, plateaus and rift valleys are formed. Most disastrous earthquakes are caused
by tectonic forces.

2. Volcanic eruptions: The volcanic eruptions are often very violent and cause vibrations
in the earth's crust. Sometimes the vent of a volcano is blocked temporarily and explosive
eruption takes place suddenly causing tremors in the earth crust.

3. Other reasons: The roofs of underground caves sometimes give way and release great
force to cause minor tremors in the earth crust. Nuclear explosions also release massive
energy to cause tremors in the earth crust.
Effects of Earthquakes:

1. Loss of Property: Severe earthquakes reduce to rubble human structures ranging from
huts to palaces and single storey to multi storied buildings.
2. Loss of Life: Earthquake takes the lives of thousands of people. Many people have
been rendered homeless or suffered injuries in various ways.
3. Changes in the course of rivers: On account of the impact of earthquakes, sometimes
rivers change their courses. Consequently, when floods come, they play havoc with
peoples lives.

4. Tsunamis: The earthquakes in the sea generate massive waves called Tsunami. It
sometimes rises to the height of 20-25 metres. It causes great damage to life and property
of people living in coastal areas as well as to tourists.

5. Mud fountains: On account of earthquakes of high intensity, warm water and mud
fountains also burst.

6. Cracks in earth crust: Earthquake cause cracks in earth's crust anywhere in fields,
roads, parks and even hills. They are thus rendered useless.

Cyclone

Cyclone is a violent wind that moves in a circle causing a storm. Cyclone refers to any
inner spinning storm that rotates around a low pressure centre. The low pressure centre is
also referred to as 'eye' of the storm. A cyclone refers to any low pressure area with winds
spiralling inwards.

Types of Cyclones

The main types of cyclones are:

1. Tropical cyclone: Tropical cyclones are those cyclones that occur over tropical ocean
regions. Hurricanes and Typhoons are actually the different types of tropical cyclones.

2. Polar cyclones: these occur in the polar regions like Siberia,Antartica etc.

Meso cyclone: This is formed when part of the thunderstorm cloud starts to spin which
eventually lead to tornado.

Management of Cyclones

Natural Disaster Management Authority is mandated to deal with the disaster

management in India. It has prepared National Guidelines on management of cyclones.
National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) was launched by Home ministry to
upgrade the forecasting, tracking, and warning about cyclones in states. The management
of cyclones may be brought under (i) structural measures, (ii) non-structural measures.

i. Structural measures:
Structural measures include construction of cyclone shelters, construction of cyclone
resistant buildings, road links, bridges, canals, drains, saline embankments,
communication and power transmission networks etc.

ii. Non-structural measures

a. Early warning dissemination systems, management of coastal zones, awareness

generation and disaster risk management and capacity building of all the stakeholders

involved.

b. These measures are being adopted and tackled on State to State basis under National
Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) being implemented through World Bank
Assistance.

Landslides

A landslide refers to the sliding or dislodging of a large mass of rocks, materials, soils,
etc. down the side of a mountain or cliff. It is a form of 'mass wasting' which denotes any
down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity.

Causes of Landslides

The causes of landslides can be categorised under two heads. They are natural causes and
human causes.

A. Natural causes:

1. Earthquakes: When earthquakes occur on areas with steep slopes, the soil slips causing
landslides.

2. Heavy rainfall: When sloped areas become completely saturated by heavy rainfall,
landslides can occur.

3. Climate: Long-term climatic changes can significantly impact soil stability. When
sloped areas are completely saturated with ground water, landslides can occur. If there is
absence of mechanical root support, the soils start to run off.

4. Volcanoes: Volcanic eruptions can trigger landslides. If an eruption occurs in a wet

condition, the soil starts to move downhill leading to a landslide.

5. Forest fires: Forest fires instigate soil erosion and bring about floods, which might lead
to landslides

6. Gravity: Steeper slopes coupled with gravitational force can trigger a massive
landslide.

B. Human causes:
 1. Clearcutting for human settlement: One of the main causes for landslides is clearing of
trees. Clearing destroys the existing mechanical root structure in the area.

2. Mining: Mining operations that use blasting technique often cause other areas that are
at the risk of sliding, to slide due to vibration under the soil.

Climate change:

Climate refers to the representative or characteristic atmospheric conditions at a place on

earth. Weather is the day to day state of atmosphere. Human activities have adversely
affected climate. The effects of climate change on human life are as follows:

1. Affects human health: The health of human beings will be seriously affected by
extreme climates. A changing climate brings about changes in the intensity of these
extremes causing serious effect on human health.

2. Affects suitable living conditions: To a large extent, public health depends on safe
drinking water, sufficient food, secured shelter, and good social conditions. All these
factors are affected by climatic changes.

3. Contamination of water: Water can be contaminated and sewage systems may be

damaged. Freshwater supplies may be seriously affected, reducing the availability of
clean water for drinking and washing during drought as well as floods. The risk of spread
of infectious diseases will tend to increase.

4. Food production: Food production will be seriously reduced in vulnerable regions

directly and also indirectly through an increase in pests and plants or animal diseases. The
local reduction in food production would lead to starvation and malnutrition with long-
term health consequences, especially for children.

5. Leads to conflicts: Food and water shortages may lead to conflicts in affected regions.
Starvation may lead to looting, rioting, killings, etc.

Greenhouse effect and global warming:

Greenhouse effect and global warming are serious environment problems. Increasing
concentration of CO2and other greenhouse gases due to industrialisation,urbanization and
population explosion enhance greenhouse effect and cause global warming.

Greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared
range. Greenhouse effect is the natural process of warming the earth’s surface by trapping the
sun’s heat by gases in the earth’s atmosphere. Human activities mainly burning of fossil
fuels, deforestation etc strengthen greenhouse effect. This makes the earth much warmer.

Global warming is the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere
generally attributed to the green house effect caused by the increased levels of different
pollutants, many of them released by human [Link] greenhouse gases causing global
warming include nitrogen oxide, chlorofluorocarbons,sulphur dioxide etc. Global warming is
the increase in the earth’s temperature mainly due to an increase in the amount of green house
gases.

Effects of global warming:

The effects of global warming are detrimental to environment and living beings. Main
amongst these are the following.

1. Average temperature of earth will go on rising above the normal temperature, causing
tremendous changes in climate and weather, natural resources etc.
2. The existing eco-system will be imbalanced.
3. This may lead to melting of glaciers and polar ice caps which consequently, will
result into flooding of many coastal low lying areas, submergence of many islands
and cities nearby the ocean.
4. The excess of CO2 will result into respiratory disorders and suffocation.
5. Warming may be more in higher latitudes than in tropics.
6. Increase in global average temperature will adversely affect the food production. The
fertile lands will shift towards poles.
7. There may be more storms of severe intensity.

8. Some ecosystems and biological species may either be dislocated or extincted.

9. There may be alteration in hydrological cycle also.

Remedial measures (i.e., control) of global warming

Since CO2 is main source of greenhouse gases, mainly it is responsible for global warming.
Therefore, use of such energy sources should be avoided or minimized. Hence, the remedial
measures to control the global warming may be suggested as follows:

1. Energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind, solar, tidal, biomass, nuclear etc.
should be made more popular.
2. Technology should be developed to prevent release of greenhouse gases into
atmosphere.
3. Aforestation or reforestation should be undertaken at a large scale.
4. Refrigerators and ACs should be used for limited durations.

Ozone layer depletion:

Ozone layer depletion is the wearing out of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. Ozone is
an allotropic form of O2 and exists in the stratosphere at a height of 15km to 40kms. It
absorbs the UV radiations coming from sun thereby saving organic material essential for the
life on earth. Ozone is formed when oxygen gas absorbs the UV light.

Effects of ozone layer depletion:

1. Damage to plants
2. DNA breakage
3. Causes skin cancer
4. Sun burns are caused
5. Visual impairment
6. Premature ageing of skin
7. Swelling of skins
8. Burning sensation
9. Dizziness
10. Climate changes

Remedial measures for controlling ozone layer depletion:

Since discharge of freons and halons are responsible for ozone layer depletion we must
minimize their uses. A limiting ban may be imposed upon the use of refrigerators, ACs etc.

Environment Protection Act:

The environment protection act, 1986 was enacted in India in response to the United Nations
Conference on Human Environment at Stockholm in [Link] act empowers the central
government to prevent, control and abate environmental pollution. For the effective
implementation of the act, various provisions of this act has been amended from time to time.