CONCEPT OF

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
What is disaster management
 “A disaster can be defined as any occurrence that
cause damage, ecological disruption, loss of human
life, deterioration of health and health services on a
scale, sufficient to warrant an extraordinary
response from outside the affected community or
area”.
(W.H.O.)

 “A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either

nature or manmade that causes human suffering
and creates human needs that victims cannot
alleviate without assistance”.
American Red Cross
(ARC) ’
 CHARACTERISTIC OF
DISASTER

 Predictability
 Controllability
 Speed of onset
 Length of
forewarning
 Duration of impact
 Scope and intensity
of impact
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
 Disaster management planning should focus on large-scale

events.

 DM planning should recognize the difference between

incidents and disasters.

 DM planning must take account of the type of physical

environment and the structure of the population.

 DM arrangements must recognise the involvement and

potential role of non- government agencies.

 Dealing with and avoiding both natural and man made
disasters.

 Preparedness before disaster.

 Rebuilding and supporting society after natural

disasters.
PHASES OF
DISASTER
DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

Emergency Response

Disaster

Preparedness Response/ Relief

Prevention/ Rehabilitation
Mitigation

Reconstruction
Pre-disaster: risk reduction
Post-disaster: recovery
PHASES OF DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Disaster preparedness
Preparedness should be in the form of
money, manpower and materials
 Evaluation from past experiences about risk
 Location of disaster prone areas
 Organization of communication, information
and warning system
 Ensuring co-ordination and response
mechanisms
Contd….
 Development of public education
programme
 Co-ordination with media
 National & international relations
 Keeping stock of foods, drug and other
essential commodities.
Disaster impact
Disaster response

 Epidemiologic surveillance and disease

control
 Vaccination
 Nutrition
Rehabilitation phase

 Water supply
 Food safety
 Basic sanitation and personal hygiene
 Vector control
Disaster Mitigation
 This involves lessening the likely effects of emergencies.

 These include depending upon the disaster, protection of vulnerable

population and structure.

Eg. improving structural qualities of schools, houses and such other buildings
so that medical causalities can be minimized.

 Similarly ensuring the safety of health facilities and public health services
including water supply and sewerage system to reduce the cost of
rehabilitation and reconstruction.

This mitigation compliments the disaster preparedness and disaster

response activities.
DISASTER-EFFECTS
 Deaths
 Disability
 Increase in communicable disease
 Psychological problems
 Food shortage
 Socioeconomic losses
 Shortage of drugs and medical supplies.
 Environmental disruption
 NEEDS IN DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
 Activating an Early Warning System network and its close monitoring

 Mechanisms for integrating the scientific, technological and administrative

agencies for effective disaster management

 Terrestrial communication links which collapse in the event of a rapid onset

disaster

 Vulnerability of critical infrastructures (power supply, communication, water

supply, transport, etc.) to disaster events

 Contd…
 Funding : Primacy of relief as disaster response.
 Preparedness and Mitigation very often ignored.
 Lack of integrated efforts to collect and compile data,
information and local knowledge on disaster history and
traditional response patterns.
 Need for standardized efforts in compiling and interpreting
geo-spatial data, satellite imagery and early warning
signals.
 Weak areas continue to be forecasting, modeling, risk
prediction, simulation and scenario analysis, etc.
Contd…
 National level, state level, and district level directory of experts and inventory of resources.

 National Disaster Management Plan, and State level and district level disaster management

plans.

 Sustainability of efforts

 Effective Inter Agency Co-ordination and Standard Operating Procedures for stakeholder

groups, especially critical first responder agencies.

 Emergency medicine, critical care medicine, triage, first aid

TYPES OF DISASTER
Environmental Disaster
 Disaster to the natural environment due to human activity, which distinguish it from the concept of
natural disaster
 It can have an effect on
 Agriculture
 Bio diversity
 Economy
 Human Health
 Causes
 Due to Air Pollution
 Depletion of Natural Resources
 Due to Industrial Activity
DISASTER TYPES
 Environmental Stress
 Caused by Human Activities ( generation of Pollution)
 Natural Events ( Occurrence of Drought)

 Stress of Environment
 Physical Stress – Kinetic Energy developed in the earth by volcanic
Eruptions, Wind Storms & Explosions.
 Wild Fire Stress– Forest Fires

 Pollution Stress – Caused by pollutants such as oxides of N, S, C,

CFC’s, Pesticides, Sewage etc.
 Thermal Stress – Discharge/ Runoff of heated water from industrial
process into water bodies leads to aquatic life losses
 Radiation Stress – Release of Radio Active Material into the environment

from nuclear fuels, use of isotopes I the industry, medicine & scientific research

 Climatic Stress – Changes to average weather – temperature, wind pattern and

rainfall because of global warming, late arrival of rain.

 Biological Stress – Results from complex and diverse interactions that occur

among organisms of same and different species – due to non native species.
 All Stress if exceeds the limit – leads to Disaster
 A Disaster occurs when the impact of a hazard on a section of society ,
such that people are unable to cope with the event, causing death, injury,
loss of property and/or economic loss.

 Vulnerability
 It is the condition determined by physical, social, economic and
environmental factors which increases the susceptibility of the community
to the impact of hazard
 In terms of vulnerability, young children, elderly, physically challenged
are the ones who are likely to be affected more.
 Risk
 Probability of harmful consequences or energy losses such as death, injuries, loss
of livelihood, disrupt in the economic activity.

Risk often exits in social systems

 Eg. Better employment opportunities attract people from rural to urban areas.
Therefore lack of adequate financial resources and high land prices in the city
often force these migrants to settle in slum that are unsafe.

Level of Risk depends on :

 Nature of Hazard
 Vulnerability of the elements which are affected
 Economic Values of those elements.
 Human Ecology
What is ecology?
Ecology is usually defined as the study of interactions of organisms with their
environments and each other. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes
biology, geography, and Earth science.

What is human ecology?

Human ecology is the study of the interactions of humans with their
environments, or the study of the distribution and abundance of humans.
Human ecology is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study of the
relationship between humans and their natural, social, and built environments.
Human ecology may be defined
A. From a bio-ecological standpoint as the study of man
as the ecological dominant in plant and animal communities and systems;

B. From a bio-ecological standpoint as simply another

animal affecting and being affected by his physical environment; and

C. As a human being, somehow different from animal life

in general, interacting with physical and modified environments in a
distinctive and creative way.
 Different Approaches & Relation With
Human Ecology

-A large number of disasters are caused due to human activity and

the exploitation of the environment by the humans.
-Activities like Deforestation, Urbanization, Pollution are causing
disasters.
-There are several approaches to use the environment and the earth
natural resources to control and reduce disasters.
These are
Landscape Approach
Ecosystem Approach
Perception Approach
 Landscape Approach
“Landscape approaches” seek to provide tools and concepts for
allocating and managing land to achieve social, economic, and
environmental objectives in areas where agriculture, mining, and
other productive land uses compete with environmental and
biodiversity goals.

[Link]

The landscape approach relates to conservation, agriculture and other

land uses.
 Landscape Approach
Landscape approach is being flexible enough to adapt to change, and
integrating multiple objectives for the best possible benefits.

Landscape of man as an environment that has been shaped and

managed by human activity. There are very few landscapes globally
that have not been influenced by humans.

It seeks to address the increasingly complex and widespread

environmental, social and political challenges that transcend
traditional management boundaries.
 Landscape Approach
[Link]

There is no new land and water resources are limited so we have to manage the
land and water resources we have sustainably and for multiple stakeholders
and benefits.

The landscape approach enables progress between different interests and

drivers.

The landscape approach is promoted and used mainly within the agriculture and
forestry sector, and sustainable water management has so far has not been a
key focus.
 Landscape Approach
Tenure and rights issues critical for landscape approaches to work.

Empowerment of local communities must be central to sustain natural

resources for future generations.

Youth and women have to be integrated in land use planning initiatives.

Integrating water management in the landscape approach discourse will

make it even more effective.
 Ecosystem Approach

An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of living communities, including

micro-organisms, plants, animals and humans, and their nonliving
environment interacting as a functional unit in a given area.

Ecosystems are thus viewed as integrated human-ecological systems

that work together to provide the range of goods and other benefits
necessary to support life, livelihoods and human well-being.
 Ecosystem Approach
The Ecosystem Approach can make a valuable contribution to
managing disaster risk and mitigating the impacts of disasters.

An ecosystem approach to disaster risk reduction is one where

ecosystems make a key contribution to enhancing people’s livelihoods.

The Ecosystem Approach is an effective strategy to manage or restore

ecosystems and their services while focusing on human livelihood
needs.
 Ecosystem Approach
Ecosystems provide valuable protective services, including buffers such
as mangrove forests and coastal wetlands.

Better management of ecosystems can assist disaster-ridden societies in

alleviating poverty and achieving economic growth.

Taking ecosystem management into account in disaster preparedness

and post-disaster situations can decrease the vulnerability of people’s
lives and livelihoods.
 Ecosystem Approach
There are five reasons to integrate ecosystem-based management in
disaster risk reduction and development planning:

1. It can decrease vulnerability to natural disasters.

2. Natural disasters have a high cost.

3. It costs less to prevent disasters than it does to fix the damage they
cause.

4. At-risk populations depend on ecosystems for their livelihoods.

5. Natural disasters and the responses to them have a negative impact on

biodiversity.
Ecosystem Approach
Ecosystem management can contribute to more effective reduction of
disaster risk in two major ways.

Well-managed ecosystems can mitigate the impact of most natural

hazards, such as landslides, hurricanes and cyclones.

In addition, productive ecosystems can support sustainable

income-generating activities and are important assets for people and
communities in the aftermath of a disaster.
 Ecosystem Approach
For ecosystems to make these contributions, it is essential that they
be factored into relief and rebuilding efforts in the post-disaster
response phase.

Not taking care of critical ecosystems after a major disaster can

cause significant economic and environmental losses, and impose
hardships on already vulnerable communities.
 Ecosystem Approach
Why it is important to integrate ecosystems and long-term livelihoods
concerns into disaster risk reduction?

1. It can decrease vulnerability to natural disasters like climate

change increasing frequency of extreme hydro-meteorological events
such as heat and cold waves, Cyclones, windstorms and flooding.

2. Natural disasters have a high cost. Natural disasters have a

negative impact on economic growth and disproportionately affect the
poor. More impact on less developed countries and poor populations.
 Ecosystem Approach
3. It costs less to prevent disasters than it does to fix the damage they cause.
Natural barriers are cost-effective insurance against many types of natural
disasters.
Preventing loss is significantly less expensive than reconstituting
livelihoods, and prevention measures need to be mainstreamed into disaster
risk reduction.
Such measures include investing in ecosystems such as sand dunes,
mangrove belts, coral reefs, wetlands and use of forested slopes as barriers.
Community preparedness and reducing population vulnerability through
development planning are also important.
 Ecosystem Approach
[Link]-risk populations depend on ecosystem services for their livelihoods.
Poor populations are more vulnerable to natural disasters; they
depend on environmental resources for protection and livelihoods.

Therefore, investing in natural barriers and mainstreaming disaster

risk and ecosystem management in development planning is likely to
make a major contribution to the goal of achieving sustainable
livelihoods for the poor.
 Ecosystem Approach
5. Natural disasters and the responses to them have a negative impact on
biodiversity.
Disasters can affect biodiversity through the spread of invasive species,
mass species mortality and loss of habitat.
Poorly planned post-disaster response and reconstruction work often do
more damage to biodiversity than the disaster itself.
This in turn threatens the ecosystem services — including food and
medicinal plants and animals, clean water and air and buffers from
extreme natural events — that are critical to people’s livelihoods.
 Ecosystem Approach
Eight practical recommendations Ecosystem Approach for implementing
an integrated approach to disaster management.

[Link] in effective early warning and preparedness measures.

[Link] effective emergency response procedures which include a

basic three-point environmental contingency plan (protecting water
supplies, safeguarding hazardous materials, and protecting critical
ecosystems for human well-being and biodiversity).
 Ecosystem Approach
3. Engage in rapid environmental assessments and post-disaster clean-
up operations that include minimum environmental standards to
minimize long-term recovery problems.
4. Integrate long-term development planning — particularly related to
site selection, construction materials, waste management and zoning —
into recovery and reconstruction initiatives.
5. Rehabilitate and restore ecosystems for livelihoods. Invest in
restoring and maintaining ecosystems for protection, provisions and
biodiversity and ensure the participation of local people in this work.
 Ecosystem Approach
6. Invest in mitigation strategies to strengthen natural and artificial
defences and invest in local capacity-building(developing and strengthening
the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources).

7. Coordinate risk reduction measures at the regional, national and

local levels.

8. Institutionalize and integrate ecosystem-based management,

development planning and disaster management.
 Perception Approach
 Risk perception research began with an early focus on understanding
why experts and laypeople had such contrasting viewpoints on risk.

 Why, for example, the layperson (who is not trained, qualified, or

experienced)was far more fearful of a less likely risk, such as a nuclear
meltdown, in comparison to more common risks such as driving.

 The technical study of risk perception deepened scientific

understanding of how factors such as probability, likelihood,
magnitude, consequence (e.g. outcome) and aggregation of risks may
influence a person’s risk perception.
 Perception Approach
 Early hazards research in the 1930s focused on individuals and
households and centred on hazard education as a vehicle for risk
reduction through preparedness.

 Increasing a person’s knowledge regarding the hazard was assumed

central for reducing risk.

A paradigm shift in the 1990s towards vulnerability analysis

focused more on the social production of risk, asserting that
inequalities in exposure to hazards needs to be better accounted for
in risk management.
 Perception Approach
 In the health sciences, a paradigm shift from a focus on disease
diagnosis and identification of risk factors to greater
consideration of social and environmental conditions causing
disease also occurred in the 1990s.

 As a result, there is no consensus on the phrase ‘risk perception’,

nor is there a simple answer linking risk perception to
preparedness behaviour and no singular perspective or scale from
which preparedness is viewed.
Disaster Reduction Day
 National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM) observed
"Disaster Reduction Day" on the 12th October
 Rallies and special lectures were organized in the universities
and colleges to mark the initiatives of awareness for disaster
reduction amongst youth & children
 Children's Colour Activity Book for Disaster Preparedness
 India’s Vulnerability to Disasters

57% land is vulnerable to earthquakes. Of these, 12% is vulnerable to

severe earthquakes.

68% land is vulnerable to drought.

12% land is vulnerable to floods.

8% land is vulnerable to cyclones.

Apart from natural disasters, some cities in India are also vulnerable to
chemical and industrial disasters and man-made disasters.
Seismic Activity in India 180 AD - 2004
Distribution of epicenters of earthquakes greater than magnitude 5.0 for
the period 1976-2000, South East Asia and Indian Ocean