Disaster Management and Mitigation

Measures

Module – III

Dr. Seema Jagtap & Arpit S. Vyas

Department of Civil Engineering

Thakur College of Engineering and Technology
 Module – III
Disaster Management, Policy and
Administration
Disaster management
• A disaster refers to a catastrophe, mishap,
calamity or grave occurrence from natural or
man – made causes, which is beyond the coping
capacity of the affected community.

• Disaster Management‟ means all the aspects

of planning, coordinating and implementing all
measures which are necessary to prevent,
minimize, overcome or to stop the spread of a
disaster upon the people or any property and
includes all stages of rescue and immediate
relief.
Disaster management
• Functions of disaster management
• Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster.
• Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or
its severity or consequences.
• Capacity building including research and
knowledge management.
• Preparedness to deal with any disaster.
• Prompt response to any threat/disaster.
• Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of
any disaster.
• Evacuation, rescue and relief.
• Rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Disaster management Policy
• Need of DM policy –
• In India, we had no DM plans as part of our legal
regime till the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
and tsunami.
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004
• The earthquake
that caused the
tsunami struck
Indian coast line
at 7:58 am on
December 26th
2004
• The earthquake
was caused by
the subduction of
the Indo-
Australian plate
under the
Eurasian plate
240 km off the
coast of
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004
• With a
magnitude
between 9.1
and 9.3, it is
the second
largest
earthquake
ever recorded
• This earthquake
had the longest
duration of
faulting ever
observed,
between 8.3
and 10 minutes.
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004
• It caused the
entire planet to
vibrate as
much as 1 cm
and triggered
other
earthquakes as
far away as
Alaska.
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004
• This earthquake
involved a 20
metre uplift of the
sea floor all the
way along a fault
line which was
over 1000 km in
length
• The uplift of the
sea floor caused a
displacement of
billions of tonnes
of water setting in
motion a tsunami
wave which hit the
coast of Indonesia
within half an hour
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004
• Scientists
detected the
earthquake in
time to warn
people about it.
• But the Scientists
didn’t warn
people to go
away because
they were not
sure about the
effects of the
earthquake and
feared spoiling of
reputation and
potential
Case study on Indian Ocean tsunami 2004

• 2.25 Lk deaths, It was one of the deadliest natural

disasters in history. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and
Thailand were hardest hit.
Disaster management Policy
• Need of DM policy –
• In India, we had no DM plans as part of our legal
regime till the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake
and tsunami.

• The Government of India came up with legislation

with the objective to provide for requisite institutional
mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the
implementation of the disaster management plans to
ensure measures by various wings of Government for
undertaking a holistic, co-ordinated and prompt
response to any disaster situation.
Disaster management Policy
• Need of DM policy –
• Disaster management is a multi disciplinary
activity involving a number of
Departments/agencies spanning across all
sectors of development. Where a number of
Departments/agencies are involved, it is
essential to have a policy in place, as it serves as
a framework for action by all the relevant
departments/agencies.

• The policy proposes to integrate disaster

mitigation into development planning
Disaster management Policy
• Need of DM policy –
• The broad objectives of the policy are,
• To minimize the loss of lives and social, private and
community assets because of natural or man-
made disasters
• contribute to sustainable development and better
standards of living for all, more specifically for the
poor and vulnerable section by ensuring that the
development gains are not lost through natural
calamities/disaster.
Disaster management Policy
• On 23 December 2005, the Government of India
(GOl) enacted the Disaster Management Act,
2005, which envisaged the creation of-
• The National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister
• State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs)
headed by the Chief Ministers
• District Disaster management Authorities (DDMAs)
headed by the District Collector or District Magistrate
or Deputy Commissioner as the case may be to
spearhead and adopt a holistic and integrated
approach to Disaster management.
Disaster management Policy
• Objectives of DM policy-
1. Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience
at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education.
2. Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology,
traditional wisdom and environmental sustainability.
3. Mainstreaming disaster management into the development
planning process.
4. Establishing institutional and techno legal frameworks to
create an enabling regulatory environment and a compliance
regime.
5. Ensuring efficient mechanism for identification, assessment
and monitoring of disaster risks.
Disaster management Policy
• Objectives of DM policy-
6. Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning
systems backed by responsive and fail – safe
communication with information technology support.
7. Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring
approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of
the society.
8. Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build
disaster resilient structures and habitat for ensuring safer
living.
9. Promoting a productive and proactive partnership with the
Disaster management Policy
• Principles of DM policy -
1. Comprehensive approach
2. All hazards approach
3. Local disaster management capability
4. Support by the state group and district groups
to local governments.
Disaster management Policy
• Principles of DM policy -
1. Comprehensive approach
• The comprehensive approach to disaster
management comprises four
phases: prevention, preparedness, response and rec
overy (PPRR) to ensure a balance between the
reduction of risk and the enhancement of community
resilience, while ensuring effective response and
recovery capabilities.
Disaster management Policy
• Principles of DM policy -

2. All hazards approach

• The all hazards approach assumes that the functions and
activities used to manage one event are likely to be applicable
to a range of events, whether natural or caused by human
activity.

3. Local disaster management capability

• Local level capability is recognised as the frontline for disaster
management, primarily due to the benefits of localised
knowledge and networks. As per the DM Act, local
governments are primarily responsible for managing events in
their local government areas and this is provided through their
Local Disaster Management Groups.
Disaster management Policy
• Principles of DM policy -
4. Support by district and state groups
• To ensure the Local Disaster Management Groups are
able to effectively undertake disaster operations,
States are further divided into districts, each headed
by a District Collector (also known as District
Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner). It is the District
Collector who is the focal point at the district level
for directing, supervising and monitoring relief
measures for disaster and for preparation of district
level plans
Disaster management Policy
• Administrative structure for DM-
Disaster management Policy
• Disaster Risks in India –
• Varied geographical and weather patterns makes
India vulnerable to various Natural as well as Man
made disasters
• About 59% of the landmass is prone to earthquake
of moderate to very high intensity
• 12-15 % of land is prone to floods and river erosion

• 76% of our cost line is prone to cyclones and

tsunami
• 68% of the cultivable area is prone to droughts
Disaster management Policy
• Disaster Risks in India –
• Vulnerabilities to disaster risks can be related
to expanding population, urbanization and
industrialization, development within high risk
zones, environmental degradation and climate
change
• In the context of human vulnerability to
disasters, the economically and socially weaker
segments of the population are the ones that
are most seriously affected
Disaster management Policy
• Disaster Risks in India –
• Within the vulnerable groups, elderly persons,
women, children – especially women rendered
destitute, children especially women rendered
destitute, children orphaned on account of
disasters and differently abled persons are
exposed to higher risks.
Disaster management Policy
• Disaster Risks in India –
• Following are some of the threat to people caused
by disasters
• Injury due to debris

• Loss of life

• Damage to buildings

• Disruption to transportation and communication

• Damage to essential infrastructure like electricity,

water, telephones
• Accidental fire due to a disaster

• Disease caused by disasters

Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• Over the years, the Government of India have
brought about a paradigm shift in the approach
to disaster management.
• The new approach proceeds from the
conviction that development cannot be
sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built
into the development process.
Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• Another corner stone of the approach is that
mitigation has to be multi – disciplinary
spanning across all sectors of development.
• The new policy also originates from the belief
that investments in mitigation are much more
cost effective than expenditure on relief and
rehabilitation
Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• On 23 December 2005, the Government of India (GOl)
took a defining step by enacting the Disaster
Management Act, 2005
• This act envisaged creation of the following,
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime
Minister
• State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by the Chief
Ministers
• District Disaster management Authorities (DDMAs) headed by the District
Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner

• These authorities spearhead and adopt a holistic and

integrated approach to DM
Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• The act and creation of the said authorities
brought a paradigm shift in the DM response, it
transformed from the erstwhile relief – centric
response to a proactive prevention, mitigation
and preparedness – driven approach.
• This approach aims at conserving development

gains and to minimize loss of life, livelihood

and property
Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• DM involves a continuous and integrated process
of planning, organizing, coordinating and
implementing measures which are necessary for:
1. Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster.
2. Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or
consequences.
3. Capacity building including research and knowledge
management.
4. Preparedness to deal with any disaster.
5. Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation pr
disaster.
6. Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster.
7. Evacuation, rescue and relief.
8. Rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Disaster management Policy
• Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management–
• Approach for DM:
• A holistic and integrated approach towards disaster
management with emphasis on building strategic partnerships
at various levels.
• The themes underpinning the policy are: Community based
DM, including last mile integration of the policy, plans and
execution.
• Capacity development in all spheres.

• Consolidation of past initiatives and best practices.

• Cooperation with agencies at National and International levels.

• Multi – sectoral synergy

Policy and administration
• Importance and principles of disaster management
policies–
• The institutional and policy mechanisms for carrying out response, relief
and rehabilitation have been well - established since Independence.

• These mechanisms have proved to be robust and effective insofar as

response, relief and rehabilitation are concerned.

• However, the increasing frequency and ferocity, the rising extent and
sweep as well as the mounting human and economic toll has
necessitated a reappraisal and re – orientation of existing institutional
and policy frameworks along with creation of newer frameworks for
holistic disaster management.
Policy and administration
• Importance and principles of disaster
management policies–
• The changed policy/approach mandates a priority to pre –
disaster aspects of mitigation, prevention and
preparedness and new institutional mechanisms are being
put in place to address the policy change
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• The primary responsibility for disaster management is of
the concerned State Governments but the Central
Government plays a key role by providing financial and
logistic support in case of major disasters and co –
ordinate the effort of all Central
Ministries/Departments/Organizations.
• A Cabinet Committee on natural Calamities is formed to
address mitigation and preparedness measures
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• A High Level Committee of Ministers is constituted under
the Chairmanship of State Government to form the
National Calamity Contingency Fund, if the funds available
with the State Governments under Central Relief Fund are
not adequate.
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• The matters relating to nuclear, biological and chemical
emergencies are looked after by the Cabinet Committee
on Security.
• Cabinet Secretary ([Link] Gauba), who is the highest
executive officer, heads the National Crisis Management
Committee (NCMC).
• The NCMC can give directions to any
Ministry/Department/Organization for specific action
needed to meet the crisis situation.
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• The NCMC gives direction to the Crisis Management Group
(CMG)
• The Central Relief Commissioner in the Ministry of Home
Affairs is the Chairman of the Crisis Management Group
(CMG)
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• The CMG’s functions are,
• To review every year’s contingency plans formulated by
various Ministries/ Departments/Organizations in their
respective sectors
• Measures required for dealing with a natural disaster

• Coordinate the activities of the Central Ministries and the

State Governments in relation to disaster preparedness and
relief
• To obtain information from the nodal officers on measures
relating to above.
Policy and administration
• Command and co–ordination in DM
• The CMG, in the event of a disaster, meets frequently to
review the relief operations and extend all possible
assistance required by the affected States to overcome
the situation effectively.
• The Resident Commissioner of the affected State is also
associated with such meetings
Policy and administration
• Rescue operations
• As per the DM Act, handling a disaster is prime
responsibility of the state
• Every state government has a SDRF, In Mumbai the
Disaster response is managed by MCGM (Municipal
Corporation of Greater Mumbai)
Policy and administration
• Rescue operations
• When calamities of severe nature occur, the Central
Government is responsible for providing aid and
assistance to the affected state,
• Deploying, at the State's request, of Armed Forces, Central
Paramilitary Forces, National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF), and such communication, air and other assets, as
are available and needed
Policy and administration
• Rescue operations
• At present, National Disaster Response Force consist of 16
battalions from the BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB and Assam
Rifles.
• Each battalion have 18 self-contained specialist search and
rescue teams of 45 personnel each including engineers,
technicians, electricians, dog squads and medical/paramedics.
• The total strength of each battalion is 1,149.

• All the 16 battalions have been equipped and trained to

respond natural as well as man-made disasters. Battalions are
also trained and equipped for response during chemical,
biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.
Policy and administration
• Rescue operations
Policy and administration
• DM Flowchart