Disaster Management Cycle

The Continuous Process

The text emphasizes that disaster management is a loop, not a straight line. It involves actions taken
before, during, and after an event to achieve two main goals:
●​ Preventing/Reducing Risk: Protecting the community before something happens.
●​ Recovering: Helping the community bounce back after an event.
The Two Main Phases
The National Policy on Disaster Management divides the continuum into two time-based phases:
A. The Pre-Disaster Phase (Before) This phase focuses on minimizing damage before it occurs.
●​ Prevention: Stopping the threat entirely (if possible).
●​ Mitigation: Reducing the severity or risk (e.g., building stronger houses).
●​ Preparedness: Getting individuals and communities ready to cope (e.g., drills, emergency kits).
B. The Post-Disaster Phase (After) This phase focuses on fixing the damage.
●​ Response: Immediate reaction to save lives (rescue, relief).
●​ Rehabilitation: Short-term restoration of basic services.
●​ Reconstruction: Long-term rebuilding of infrastructure and lives.
The Four-Phase Cycle
1.​ Mitigation: Long-term measures to reduce risk. This happens well before a disaster.
2.​ Preparedness: Planning and "gearing up" right before or in anticipation of a disaster.
3.​ Relief (Response): The immediate actions taken during and immediately after the disaster strikes
to save lives and provide basic needs.
4.​ Recovery: The process of returning the community to normal (or better) conditions. Once
recovery is stable, the cycle moves back to Mitigation to prepare for the future.
Important Note: The text mentions that these phases are not distinct compartments. They
often overlap. For example, you might still be doing relief work (handing out food) while
beginning recovery work (clearing rubble).
The "Four R's"
●​ Reduction (Corresponds to Mitigation)
●​ Readiness (Corresponds to Preparedness)
●​ Response (Corresponds to Immediate Relief)
●​ Recovery (Corresponds to Rehabilitation/Reconstruction)

What is Mitigation?
Mitigation is defined as all measures taken to reduce the risk from disasters. Its primary goal is to
increase the capacity and resilience of individuals and the community so they can withstand threats
better.
Key Aspects of Mitigation:
●​ Structural & Systemic Steps: It involves high-level planning like hazard mapping, vulnerability
analysis, and enforcing building codes to make structures safer.
●​ Economic Resilience: It includes creating alternative economic models to prevent communities
from becoming economically vulnerable if a disaster strikes.
 ●​ Personal Responsibility: The text highlights that "personal mitigation is a key to national
preparedness." This means individuals and families should be trained to avoid unnecessary risks
and assess threats to their own health and property.
Main Objectives:
1.​ Reduce risk from both natural and man-made disasters.
2.​ Analyze risk through hazard mapping.
3.​ Enforce safety through structural measures (like building regulations).
4.​ Control development to ensure safe land usage.
5.​ Protect the vulnerable through specific crop and urban planning.

Detailed Phases of Disaster Management

Hazard Mapping

Hazard Mapping is a crucial tool used in the Mitigation phase of disaster management. It creates a visual
representation of the likely dangers in a specific region, allowing for better planning and prevention.

How Hazard Maps are Created

To build a hazard map, data must be collected from two primary sources:
●​ Recorded History: Experts look at decades of records to see what hazards have occurred
previously. This historical data indicates which hazards are likely to return.
 ●​ Community Knowledge: In areas where official records are missing or incomplete, disaster
managers talk to local residents, especially elders. They gather oral histories and memories of
past events to fill in the gaps.

Example: The text uses Chile as an example of why this is necessary. Chile is a narrow
strip of land exposed to the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. Historical records
show it faces multiple threats: active volcanoes, severe earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and
landslides. A hazard map for Chile incorporates all of these risks based on its history.

The Objectives of Hazard Mapping

There are two main reasons for creating these maps:
1.​ Public Awareness: To inform people living in the region about the specific risks they face.
2.​ Planning: To help disaster managers and stakeholders prepare effective plans before a disaster
strikes.

Single vs. Multiple-Hazard Maps

Generally, a map might show just one hazard (e.g., a flood map or an earthquake map). However, the
document suggests that multiple-hazard maps are often more beneficial.
●​ Why? Because one disaster often triggers another (a "domino effect").
●​ Examples: An earthquake can trigger landslides or avalanches; a bursting dam can cause floods.

From History to Forecast

Simply mapping past events creates a "hazard records map." To make it truly useful for prevention, this
data is combined with scientific analysis (like geological data and terrain features). This combination
allows experts to forecast possible future disasters and take preventative measures.

Vulnerability Analysis
It identifies who or what will be damaged.

This means "Risk" is a function of both the external threat (Hazard) and the internal weakness
(Vulnerability).
●​ Hazard: The event itself (e.g., an earthquake or flood).
●​ Vulnerability: The conditions that make people or buildings unable to withstand that event.
Key Takeaway: You can have a high hazard (like a strong storm), but if the vulnerability is
low (strong buildings, prepared people), the overall Risk is lower.
What Vulnerability Depends On
A. Location-Based Vulnerability
People are vulnerable simply because of where they live:
●​ Low-lying areas: Vulnerable to floods and tsunamis.
●​ Coastal areas: Vulnerable to high tides, cyclones, and storm surges.
●​ Hill slopes/foothills: Vulnerable to landslides and avalanches.
●​ Flood plains: Vulnerable to river breaches, especially as siltation reduces water depth over time.
B. Structural Vulnerability
●​ This refers to people living in homes that are not built to withstand specific disasters (e.g., using
wrong materials or methods for an earthquake zone).
C. Social & Economic Vulnerability
Even in the same location, some people are at higher risk due to their personal circumstances:
●​ Demographics: The elderly, children, and women are often cited as more vulnerable groups.
●​ Economic Status: The poor are more vulnerable because they lack the resources (money,
transport, supplies) to cope or recover.
The Goal of This Analysis
The ultimate goal of Vulnerability Analysis is to create a complete picture of risk. By understanding
exactly which aspects (like poor housing or lack of resources) increase the severity of a disaster, managers
can focus their mitigation efforts precisely where they are needed most.

Mitigation Measures

1. Structural Mitigation (The Building's Skeleton)

This form of mitigation is focused on ensuring that the main structure of a building (houses, offices,
commercial centers) does not collapse during a disaster.
●​ The Goal: To prevent the building's roof or walls from coming down and trapping people under
debris.
●​ The Problem:
○​ Rural vs. Urban: While big cities often have building codes (like the Building Code of
India), rural areas frequently lack them. The text cites the Latur earthquake as a tragic
example where stone buildings with weak cement collapsed, causing massive casualties.
○​ Poverty: The poor are often the most structurally vulnerable because they live in flimsy
homes (like thatched huts) that are easily blown away by cyclones.
●​ The Solution:
○​ Better Enforcement: Building regulations need to penetrate rural areas, not just high-rise
zones.
○​ Retrofitting: This involves strengthening existing buildings that survived past disasters
but suffered minor damage, ensuring they are ready for the next one.
2. Non-Structural Mitigation (The Building's Contents)
A building might remain standing (structurally sound), but the things inside or attached to it can still
injure people. This category addresses those "non-load-bearing" elements.
 ●​ What counts as Non-Structural?
○​ Architectural elements: Walls, partitions, parapets, false ceilings, and windows.
○​ Utilities: Electrical wiring, AC ducts, and fire-protection systems.
○​ Contents: Cupboards, tables, chairs, and wall mountings.

●​ Safety Measures:
○​ Anchoring: Heavy items like cupboards and AC units must be bolted or anchored to the
walls so they don't fall on people during an earthquake.
○​ Securing: False ceilings and ducts must be secured with screws/nuts to prevent them
from shaking loose due to vibration.
○​ Mobility: In plush offices, chairs often have wheels (rollers). If not secured, these can
roll aggressively during a quake and cause injury.
3. Mitigation Infrastructure (The Lifelines)
This refers to the systems that allow a community to function and survive during a disaster, specifically
Communication and Transport.
●​ Why it matters: Roads are critical for two things:
○​ Evacuation (getting people out).
○​ Relief (getting ambulances and food in).

●​ The Risk: Disasters like landslides or floods often destroy the very road networks needed to save
people.
●​ The Strategy:
○​ Alternative Routes: Planners must design alternative road networks so that if one path is
blocked, relief can still get through.
○​ Sea Walls: In coastal areas, building sea walls is a specific infrastructure mitigation to
stop high tides and storm surges from entering homes.

Development Control and Economic Activities

This section outlines how governments must use policy and strict regulations to control where and how
development happens.

Land Use and Zoning

The most effective way to prevent disaster is to simply not build in dangerous places. The document
highlights three critical rules for land use:
●​ Strict Implementation: Governments must use hazard maps and vulnerability analysis to decide
where residential and commercial zones are allowed.
●​ No-Build Zones (Flood Plains): Building houses or industries in flood plains should be avoided
entirely. If industries must be there, they should be types that won't suffer massive economic
losses if flooded.
●​ Hill Slope Restrictions: Construction on hill slopes is "highly risky" and often follows
deforestation, which destabilizes the soil. Approvals for such buildings should only be granted
after thorough geological studies.
Economic Resilience (Protecting Livelihoods)
Mitigation isn't just about saving lives; it's about ensuring people don't fall into poverty after a disaster.
●​ Crop Planning: Farmers should be advised to grow crops that can withstand the specific
disasters likely in their region (e.g., flood-resistant rice).
●​ Diversifying Income: If a family relies solely on agriculture, a single storm can destroy their
entire livelihood. The text suggests creating "alternate income schemes" and providing insurance
so families have a financial safety net.
Infrastructure and Resource Management
●​ Water Management: Rivers naturally fill with silt over time, reducing their depth and causing
them to overflow more easily. Regular de-silting is required to restore their capacity and prevent
flooding.
●​ Critical Infrastructure: Essential services must be specifically protected to prevent heavy
economic losses during a disaster.
Real-World Example: Uttarakhand
The text provides a stark cautionary tale regarding Uttarakhand to illustrate what happens when these
rules are ignored.
●​ The Economy: The region relies heavily on pilgrimage and tourism.
●​ The Mistake: To support this economy, many hotels and infrastructure projects were built on hill
slopes after clearing the vegetation.
●​ The Consequence: During a cloudburst and subsequent floods, most of this infrastructure was
washed away because the natural protection (trees) was gone and the location was hazardous.

While development is necessary, it often comes with severe side effects that can
create new disaster risks if not managed carefully

1. Construction of Dams and Embankments

The document presents dams as a "double-edged sword." While they are built to prevent disasters (floods)
and provide resources, they often create new humanitarian and environmental crises.

●​ The Benefits: Dams are essential for irrigating farmland, generating hydroelectric power,
providing drinking water, and controlling floodwaters to reduce severity downstream.

●​ The Heavy Cost (The Negative Aspect):

○​ Human Displacement: Thousands of people lose their ancestral homes and livelihoods
because their villages are submerged by the dam's reservoir.

○​ Environmental Destruction: Massive areas of forest, along with local flora and fauna,
are drowned, causing huge ecological damage.

○​ The Rehabilitation Failure: The text notes that rehabilitating these displaced people is
the "weak link." Often, people do not get the compensation or support they were
promised to restart their lives.

Case Study: Sardar Sarovar Dam (Narmada River) The text uses this massive project to
illustrate the scale of the trade-off:
 ●​ The Gain: Drinking water for 8,215 villages and 1,450 MW of power.
●​ The Loss: 245 villages affected, over 40,000 families displaced, and over 37,000
hectares of land (including forests) submerged.

2. Land Use Management

This section focuses on how population pressure and economic growth have led to dangerous construction
habits. It emphasizes that where we build is just as important as what we build.

A. Encroachment on River Banks

●​ The Rule: There should be specific "flood lines" near rivers. The first line marks an area where
no construction is allowed; the second marks where only temporary activities are allowed.

●​ The Reality: People frequently build illegal structures inside these zones.

●​ The Consequence: The text cites the heavy flooding in Tamil Nadu (2015) as a direct result of
construction encroaching on river banks.

B. Deforestation and Hill Slopes

●​ Cutting down trees to build on hill slopes removes the earth's natural anchors. This is a primary
cause of major landslides and is considered an ecological disaster in itself.

C. Blocking Natural Drainage (Urban Floods)

●​ The Problem: When cities are built, concrete buildings often block the natural paths where
rainwater used to flow.

●​ The Trigger: Combined with insufficient storm drains, this causes water to back up instantly
during rains.

●​ The Example: The text cites the floods in Gurugram as a classic example of this poor planning.
Mitigation of Man-made Disasters

1. Strategic Industrial Zoning

●​ The Rule: Hazardous industries (factories dealing with chemicals, explosives, etc.) must be
located away from city limits and dense populations.

●​ Future-Proofing: Planners must account for city expansion so that a factory built "far away"
today doesn't end up in the middle of a neighborhood tomorrow due to population growth.

●​ Infrastructure: Even though these industries are remote, they must still be provided with
sufficient infrastructure so they can operate safely.

2. Mandatory Safety Audits

●​ Industries should not just police themselves. Safety audits of premises and processes must be
mandatory.

●​ Government Oversight: These audits must be reviewed by government agencies to ensure

compliance.

3. Fire Prevention (A Major Hazard)

Fire is highlighted as a primary threat in urban areas. The text lists specific technical requirements for
industries and public places (like cinema halls):
●​ Equipment: Installation of smoke alarms and water sprinkler systems is essential.

●​ Electrical Safety: Since short circuits are a leading cause of fires in India, regular audits of
electrical infrastructure are required. This includes checking temporary connections used for
social functions or schools.

●​ Drills: Regular fire drills must be conducted so people know how to escape.

4. Transportation Safety
●​ Road and railway infrastructure must be designed with "stringent safety measures" built in.

●​ Given the high number of road fatalities, the text calls for stricter enforcement of road use
controls to protect both drivers and pedestrians.

5. Public Awareness
●​ The text describes this as the "simplest way" to prevent man-made disasters.

●​ Educating the public on how they can contribute to safety helps prevent accidents before they
start.
What is Preparedness?

Preparedness is the second phase of the disaster management cycle. While mitigation focuses on
preventing the impact, preparedness focuses on readiness. Its main objectives are to ensure that
government agencies, responders, and the public know exactly what to do when a disaster hits.

Key Components of Disaster Preparedness

1. Disaster Management Plan (DMP)
A DMP is a road map created by local governments and communities. It distinguishes between an
emergency (a crisis we can cope with) and a disaster (a crisis that exceeds our ability to cope).

●​ Objective: Identify who is in charge (command structure) and what resources are available.
●​ Key Contents of a DMP:
○​ Objectives & Scenarios: What likely disasters could happen?
○​ Command & Coordination: Who leads the unified command? How do private and
government agencies interact?
○​ Resources: What logistics, healthcare, and warehousing are needed?
○​ Flexibility: The plan must be adaptable based on real-time experiences.

2. Early Warning Systems

The goal is to detect a disaster early and communicate the risk immediately so people can take action.

●​ Lessons Learned: The text cites the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami as a tragic example where the
lack of an early warning system led to massive preventable loss of life.
●​ System Components:
1.​ Hazard analysis (understanding the risk).
2.​ Continuous monitoring (technical detection).
3.​ Communication flow (getting the alert to the people).
4.​ Capacity building (teaching people what the alert means).

3. Evacuation Plans
For predictable events like cyclones, moving people to safety is the priority.

●​ Challenge: Many people refuse to evacuate due to fear of looting or losing their property.
●​ Solution: Plans must include security measures for the homes left behind to reassure evacuees.

4. Shelters and Sheltering Plans

Displaced people need safe temporary housing.

●​ Types: Schools or community buildings are often used. In earthquakes, open-space tent cities are
preferred due to aftershock risks.
●​ Planning: Locations must be identified before the disaster occurs.
5. Inventory of Resources
A central "database" of everything available to fight the disaster.

●​ What is counted: Money, space, equipment, trained personnel (police, fire, military), medical
supplies, and tech tools (GPS/GIS).
●​ Purpose: To quickly deploy the right resources to "ground-zero" without delay.

6. Warehousing of Relief Materials

This applies concepts of Supply Chain Management to disaster relief.

●​ The Issue: You cannot procure massive amounts of food or medicine instantly during a crisis.
●​ The Solution: Stockpiling essential items in strategic locations and ensuring proper storage to
prevent spoilage.

7. Logistics
Logistics is the practical organization that makes the plan work. It involves the movement of people and
materials.

●​ Critical Aspects:
○​ Routes: Mapping road, rail, and air routes.
○​ Alternatives: Planning backup routes in case of landslides or floods.
○​ Transport: Having access to helicopters, boats, and trucks (equipped with GPS).

8. Communication
Standard communication (cell phones, landlines) often fails during disasters.

●​ Redundancy: Key personnel must have backup modes (satellite phones, radio).
●​ Information Management: Clear protocols are needed to prevent rumors and panic. A standard
operating procedure (SOP) ensures everyone knows who talks to whom.
●​ Media: Mass media (TV/Radio) should be used to broadcast verified information repeatedly.

9. Education and Training of Personnel

Disaster management is a specialized skill.

●​ Who needs training?

○​ Government Officials: Need to understand hazard maps, GIS, and risk concepts.
○​ Response Teams: Need specialized search and rescue and first aid training.
○​ Volunteers: Community members need training to assist official forces effectively.
10. Public Awareness Programmes
Disaster management is not a full-time job for the public, so awareness must be refreshed during "peace
times."

●​ Methods:
○​ Mock drills (simulations).
○​ School curricula integration.
○​ Street plays and publicity materials.
○​ Discussion on safety procedures in local communities.
Response
It is an action-oriented phase involving many agencies working together to save lives and minimize
damage.
The primary objectives of this phase are to conduct search and rescue operations and provide immediate
relief to reduce the suffering of affected people.

Search and Rescue (SAR)

This is typically the very first step.

●​ Objective: To find people buried under debris (e.g., in earthquakes) or stranded in isolated areas.

●​ The Responders: While specialized teams with equipment are necessary, the local community
(survivors) are often the actual "first responders" and can save many lives before help arrives.

●​ Challenges: If transportation networks are damaged, aerial searches (helicopters) may be

required to locate victims.

●​ Health Hazards: Teams must also recover dead bodies quickly, as decomposing remains can
become a health hazard.

Medical Care
Once rescued, immediate medical attention is vital.

●​ Triage: Care ranges from immediate first aid for minor injuries to hospitalization for serious
trauma requiring surgery.

●​ Logistics: In remote areas lacking facilities, patients must be transported to nearby towns.

●​ Monitoring: Continuous health monitoring is required for vulnerable groups like children and the
elderly to prevent deterioration due to poor living conditions.

Humanitarian Relief
With homes destroyed, thousands may be displaced. The priority is providing the basic necessities of life:
shelter, food, and water.

●​ Hygiene: Measures must be taken to prevent unhygienic conditions that could lead to disease
outbreaks.
●​ Supply Chain: Interestingly, the text notes that the quantity of relief material is rarely the
problem (donations usually pour in); the real challenge is the warehousing and logistics to
distribute it speedily.

Coordination and Control

Disasters attract many agencies, making coordination key.

●​ Unified Command: To avoid confusion, a single person (usually a government official) must be
identified as the commander of the entire operation.

●​ Control Room: A safe location manned 24/7 serves as the nerve center. It tracks developments
and communicates with field teams.

●​ Communication Network: Standard lines often fail. A fail-safe setup using satellite phones and
internet facilities is critical to avoid hampering response efforts.

Damage Assessment
Simultaneous with rescue, officials must assess the scale of destruction.

●​ Scope: This includes loss of life, private property, and public infrastructure like water supply and
roads.

●​ Evolving Damage: As seen in the Nepal earthquake, aftershocks can cause progressive damage
days after the initial event, requiring constant reassessment.

●​ Goal: Quick assessment allows for faster reconstruction efforts, as people want to return to their
homes as soon as possible.

Role of NGOs
Non-Governmental Organizations are vital partners.

●​ First Responders: NGOs are often already present in the area doing development work, allowing
them to act immediately.

●​ Experience: Their prior experience in humanitarian work makes them valuable assets in
managing the relief efforts.

Media Management
Information is as important as food during a crisis.

●​ Rumor Control: Daily media briefings are necessary to provide correct information and prevent
rumors that cause confusion and panic.

●​ Global Reach: Media channels help inform concerned relatives and friends across the world
about the safety of their loved ones.

●​ Social Media: This is highlighted as playing an increasingly important role in facilitating

information flow.
Recovery
It is the long-term process of bringing life back to normal. It begins once the immediate threat to human
life has subsided.

The Core Objectives of Recovery

The recovery process is often slow and may take years to accomplish. Unlike the response phase where
NGOs are very active, recovery is primarily the responsibility of the government or local
administration.

The main goals are:

●​ Support Displaced Persons: caring for them until they can return home.

●​ Infrastructure Repair: Assessing damage and securing funding for reconstruction.

●​ Livelihood Restoration: Helping people get back to work (economic rehabilitation).

●​ Essential Services: Ensuring water, sanitation, and power are restored.

Key Steps in the Recovery Process

A. Damage Assessment
Before rebuilding, authorities must understand what was lost. The "people-in-charge" must
quantify damage to:
●​ Structures: Collapsed houses and public buildings.

●​ Networks: Roads, railways, and communication lines.

●​ Utilities: Water supply, sanitation, and power grids.

●​ Environment: Loss of trees, animals, and damage to water bodies.

B. Reconstruction (The Hierarchy of Repair)

Reconstruction follows a strict priority list to maximize impact:
1.​ Utilities First: Water supply, sanitation, and power lines are fixed first because they are
essential for survival and hygiene.

2.​ Transport & Communication: Roads and networks are next, as they are vital for
moving materials and services.

3.​ Public Buildings: Schools and hospitals follow to restore a "semblance of normalcy".

"Building Back Better": The text emphasizes that reconstruction should not just replicate the
old structures. It should analyze why the damage happened and incorporate new designs to
prevent similar damage in the future.
 C. Economic Rehabilitation
A disaster often halts manufacturing, trade, and agriculture. Recovery isn't just about bricks and
mortar; it's about income.
●​ Database of Skills: Authorities should create a database of survivors' skill sets to match
them with reconstruction jobs, giving them an immediate income source.

●​ Financial Aid: This includes providing easy loans to restart businesses or adopting
alternative crop patterns for farmers.

●​ Cost Management: Authorities must budget for compensation, debris removal, and
retrofitting partially damaged buildings.

The Complete Disaster Management Cycle

The final document ties all these phases together into a continuous cycle.
●​ Before Disaster: Mitigation and Preparedness.

●​ During/After Disaster: Response and Recovery.

●​ The Feedback Loop: After the four phases are complete, a mandatory evaluation takes place.
This evaluation looks for strengths and weaknesses in how the disaster was handled. These
lessons are then used to update the mitigation and preparedness measures, ensuring the
community is better prepared for the next time.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a written document created to ensure that disaster response is
efficient, coordinated, and free of confusion.

Objective: To clearly list who does what (responsibilities), how to coordinate between departments, and
how to communicate during a crisis.

Scope: In India, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) sets the guidelines, and each State
creates its own SOP. These generally cover natural disasters (cyclones, floods, etc.) rather than man-made
ones, which are harder to predict.

The Five Phases of Disaster Management

The SOP divides disaster management into five distinct phases:
1.​ Preparedness Phase: Planning, training, capacity building, and conducting mock drills before a
disaster strikes.

2.​ Early Warning Phase: Monitoring weather/geological data and issuing timely alerts to prevent
loss of life.

3.​ Response Phase: Immediate search and rescue operations and evacuation of people to safety.

4.​ Relief Phase: Providing essentials like food, water, clothing, and shelter to survivors.

5.​ Restoration Phase: Stabilizing the situation and restoring utilities (electricity, water, roads).

Institutional Mechanism & Infrastructure

To manage these phases effectively, specific structures are put in place:
●​ Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs): Control rooms set up at National and State levels. They
act as the "brain" of the operation, receiving alerts, processing data, and coordinating resources.
They must have fail-safe communication systems.

●​ Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized management hierarchy used to organize the
response. It involves specialist officers handling logistics, planning, safety, and media
management under a single command.

○​ Emergency Support Function (ESF): A plan detailing which agency provides what
resources (manpower, equipment) to support the main response.

●​ Resource Inventory (IDRN): The India Disaster Resource Network is a web portal that tracks
available resources, updated monthly by district authorities.
Early Warning Systems
Different agencies are responsible for specific types of disasters. The SOP lists the "Nodal Agencies":

Disaster Type Nodal Agency

Cyclone, Heat/Cold Waves Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

Floods Central Water Commission (CWC)

Tsunami Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)

Landslides Geological Survey of India (GSI)

Avalanches Snow and Avalanches Study Establishment (SASE)

Warning Signals & Codes: Agencies use color codes or categories to communicate urgency:
●​ Cyclone: Stages range from "Pre-cyclone Watch" (72 hours prior) to "Post-cyclone Landfall
Outlook" (12 hours prior).

●​ Tsunami:
○​ Red: Immediate evacuation.
○​ Orange: Be ready for evacuation.
○​ Yellow: Watch (evacuation not yet required).
○​ Green: Cancellation of warning.

●​ Floods/Landslides: Categorized from IV (Low) to I (Unprecedented/High).

Trigger Mechanism
The "Trigger Mechanism" describes how the system automatically activates.
●​ It is a suo moto (spontaneous/automatic) response.

●​ As soon as an early warning is received or an incident is reported, the response phase initiates
immediately without waiting for orders, to minimize time loss.

Relief and Rehabilitation Protocols

Once the disaster hits, the SOP dictates strictly humane and organized relief measures:

●​ Food: Initially free distribution, moving to dry rations for home cooking as soon as possible.
Food must be culturally appropriate, safe, and address nutritional needs of "at-risk" groups
(children, pregnant women).
●​ Medical Response: Quick deployment of mobile hospitals, disease surveillance (especially
vector-borne and water-borne diseases), and mental health support.

●​ Mental Health: A critical component. Psychosocial first-aid is provided to reduce trauma. Nodal
officers and trained community workers support survivors in relief camps.

●​ Shelter & Relief Camps:

○​ Camps are set up in pre-identified buildings or open spaces (schools are generally
discouraged to avoid disrupting education).
○​ They must have water, sanitation, lighting, and security (police).
○​ Identification cards and bank accounts are set up for victims to facilitate government aid
transfers.