CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL & PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

TUBMAN BOULEVARD, CONGO TOWN

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE)
MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Sam P. Jallah
GP15968
Candidate M.Sc. ENSC

DISASTER MANAGEMENT – ENSC 610 Assignment #1

PROB: Prepare a summary Approach

DUE: March 6, 2018

LECTURER: Mr. T. Catfish Brownell

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
2.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1) To understand the general and financial impacts of both manmade as well as natural disasters.
2) To analyze the financial implications caused by the impact of disasters
3) To highlight the importance of management of post disaster financial crisis at national level.
4) To evaluate the financial reforms/measures currently present in India for disaster management.
5) To study the role of Government in Disaster Management
6) To study the role of Corporate Sector and NGOs in Disaster Management
7) To understand financial aspects of preparedness and prevention before the disaster occurrence as
compared to the costs of rehabilitation after disaster
8) To study/suggest measures for a proactive and holistic approach of Government, NGOS, corporate
sector, other organizations and individuals to avoid wastages and losses and to achieve effective
management of disasters.

2.2 Hypothesis
1) Financial losses due to disasters are not rising.
2) There is no significant difference in the proportion of people who were of the opinion
that natural disasters cause more financial losses and who were of the opinion that
manmade disasters cause more financial losses.
3) The disaster occurred in one country does not affect the economy of other country.
4) Preparedness and prevention before the disaster occurrence will not keep the disaster
related costs at the minimum as compared to the rehabilitation after disaster.
5) The government should not invest more funds in tools / equipments / technology for
prediction of disasters (e.g. earthquake predicting instruments) as well as to minimize the
impact of disasters.
6) There is no need to have an effective Information System to assess economic loss caused
due to disaster in any area.

2.3 Research Methodology

Since the disaster management is the call of today and its various aspects are emerging as a fast
growing area of research due to their financial implications, there is no dearth of published and
unpublished literature on Disaster Management. The literature available have been reviewed and used
for the purpose of conceptual framework. Primary as well as secondary data has been collected for the
purpose of this study and used in drawing conclusions. The overall research methodology adopted in
this research will be discussed under the following sub heads:

Research Design
The research design is a detailed plan of action for research. It constitutes the blue print for collection,
measurement, tabulation and analysis of the data. Historical research turns history or the past to study
the patterns, their impact on the present, evolutionary process and so on. In this sense, this research
can be termed as a historical research as it is inclined towards the identification and description of
various causes of disasters and their financial implications.
It has also considered financial implications under various phases of disaster management
cycle which incorporates a descriptive research design because this is an area of descriptive
study in the field of Disaster Management.
Research Instrument
This research is based on both types of data i.e. Primary and secondary. The survey method was used
to collect data. The present study has made extensive use of primary data gathered with the help of
well structured questionnaire. The questionnaire includes information on different aspects of research
problem. The secondary data has been collected from various sources such as books, journals and
websites.

Research Area
The study is based on the financial implications of the management of natural as well as manmade
disasters and it was decided to carry it out with focus on disasters in India. The occurrence of disasters
and their implications in other parts of the world have been studied to understand and learn the
different initiatives taken in the past and needed in the future in this field in India.

2.4 Data Collection

Primary Data
This study has dealt with the opinion of citizens in respect of the financial impacts of the disasters and
the measures/ reforms required for keeping the financial wastages/ losses at the minimum. This
process was useful in the specification of a holistic and proactive approach for effective management
of financial crisis caused due to disasters.
In order to study the financial impacts due to disasters and to emphasise the necessity for disaster
management, the research includes primary data collection through a structured questionnaire.

Secondary Data
It includes collection through news paper articles, magazines, books, journals, research reports and
web sites etc.

Sampling plan
For the purpose of this study, a random sample from the city of Mumbai and Pune consisting of
citizens from different age groups and different occupations has been considered. The sample consists
of respondents related to the disaster management activity as well as others who are not directly
related with disaster management initiatives, in order to understand both the perspectives. The
purposive technique was used to collect data. A sample of 50 respondents was selected by the
researcher as per convenience.

Contact Method
In most cases questionnaires were filled through personal visits. In some cases, the questionnaires
were mailed electronically to the respondents and reminders as well as telephonic requests were made.

Analysis of Data
The data so collected via primary resource contains both quantitative and qualitative information. The
classification, tabulations & graphical presentations have been used to arrange the raw data in an
understandable form. The classified and tabulated data have been analysed by using statistical tool and
techniques like Mean, Mode and percentage etc. Z test was also used as the sample size is large.
 2.5 Chapter Scheme
Chapter No. Name of Chapter
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Research Methodology
Chapter 3 Review of Literature
Chapter 4 General and Financial Impacts of Disasters (Analysis of Data)
Chapter 5 Financial Implications of Disasters (Analysis of Data)
Chapter 6 Financial implications of Disasters and Role of Government
(Analysis of Data)
Chapter 7 Existing Financial Measures for Disaster Management
Chapter 8 Role of Corporate Sector and NGOs (Analysis of Data)
Chapter 9 A Holistic and Proactive Approach for Effective Management of
Financial Crisis
Chapter 10 Conclusions and Suggestions
Bibliography
Annexures

SCOPE OF PLAN
1. Analyse the natural and man-made disaster threats to their people and society, economy and

infrastructure, with a view to identifying where and when these threats are likely to occur and
in what frequency.
2. Identify by further detailed analysis who and what are vulnerable to the occurrence of these
threats and how these are likely to be affected by them.
3. Investigate what measures are possible to prevent occurrence of the disaster events, (unlikely
to be possible in the case of the natural phenomenon but possible in the case of man-made
disasters and environmental degradation), what can be done to mitigate the effects of disaster

events and what disaster preparedness measures can be put in place in anticipation of these.
4. Determine where responsibilities for prevention, mitigation and preparedness planning and

action should lie in Government, in the non-government organizations (NGOs) and in the
private sector.

DEVELOPE A DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN OF THE COASTLINE

OF LIBERIA
In accordance with risk management and with the desire to better provide for the
wellbeing of the citizens of Liberia living on the coastline, I am developing a Disaster
Management Plan to ensure preparedness and effective response by the counties and its
citizens along the coastline of Liberia in the event of a disaster.

Again as indicated, this plan will focus on the coastal Zone of Liberia. The coastal zone
is the transitional area between land and sea. It is defined, as a strip of land and sea of
varying width depending on the nature of the environment and management needs. It
seldom corresponds to existing administrative or planning units. The natural coastal
systems and the areas in which human activities involve the use of coastal resources
may therefore extend well beyond the limit of territorial waters and many kilometers
inland.

A disaster is a progressive and sudden, widespread or localized, nature or man-made

occurrence which causes:
 death, injury or sickness
 damage to property, infrastructure or the environment
 disruption of a community, and
 if of a magnitude which exceeds the ability of those who are affected to defend
the results by making use of only their own resources.

Disaster management is a continuous and integrated multi sector, multi disciplinary

process of planning and implementation of measures aimed at-
 prevention or reduction of the risk of disaster;
 relieve of the severity of results of disasters;
 emergency preparedness;
 swift and effective reaction on disasters; and
 After-disaster repair and rehabilitation.

Research has shown that the approach to Disaster Management has been reactive and
relief centric. A paradigm shift has now taken place at the national level from the relief
centric syndrome to holistic and integrated approach with emphasis on prevention,
mitigation, and preparedness. These efforts are aimed to conserve developmental
gains as also minimize losses to lives, livelihood and property.
Based on the kinds of threats experienced by residence on the coastline of Liberia, their
causes and their possible solutions, I which to use the following tools in my plan:
 Coastal Environmental Management
 Planning
 Communication and activating procedure

It is my hope that when the following tools and requisite strategies are used, I hope to
achieve the following:
 To regulate the disaster response to the benefit of the coastline counties’
communities.
 The effective response to the requirements of the individual counties towards the
protection of life and property.
 To help those most vulnerable and at risk.
 The provision of temporary sheltered accommodation, clothing, and feeding
arrangements for persons evacuated, or made temporarily homeless.
 The restoring of normality to the affected community within a reasonable
timescale, dependent on the seriousness of the incident.

The coastal zone serves many functions and activities. Some of which are as follows:
a) beach sand mining
b) transportation
c) recreation
d) solid and liquid wastes disposals
e) supply of fuelwood, charcoal and construction materials
f) supply of food (fishing, etc.)
g) farming