DISASTER MANAGEMENT

DR. TAPAS HALDER

SR. M.O.
Northern Coalfields Ltd.
 THE DEFINITION

• W H O : Any occurrence that causes

damage, ecological disruption, loss of
human life and deterioration of health
and health services on a scale sufficient
to warrant an extraordinary response
from outside the affected community.
 THE DEFINITION

• P A H O : An overwhelming ecological
disruption which exceeds the capacity
of a community to adjust and
consequently requires assistance from
outside.
 THE DEFINITION

• W. Nick Carter : It is an event,

natural or manmade, sudden or
progressive, which impacts with such
severity that the affected community
has to respond by taking exceptional
measures.
 IN SIMPLE WORDS

• It is a catastrophe, a calamity
or a cataclysm which results in
loss of life and property.
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT

IT IS THE DISIPLINE THAT

• DEALS WITH AND AVOID RISKS AND IMPACT OF A

DISASTER.
• INVOLVES IN PREPARING FOR DISASTER BEFORE
IT HAPPENS.
• RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY TO THE OUTCOME PRIOR
TO AND FOLLOWING A DISASTER .
• DEALS WITH THE PROCESS OF SUPPORTING AND
REBUILDING SOCEITY AFTER A DISASTER.
• IS AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHICH
IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS INVOLVING
INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND COMMUNITY TO
MANAGE HAZZARDS.
 THE EQUATION

DISASTER produces HAZARD makes population

VULNERABLE .
R h = Hazard Specific Risk
V h = Hazard Specific Vulnerability
H = Hazard

Rh=HXVh

More vulnerability means more risk. Disaster plans

are made according to the risk involved.
 CLASSIFICATION
A simplified observation

DISASTER

NATURAL MANMADE
 NATURAL DISASTER

Meteorological Disasters : various kind of storms, cold spells,

drought, heat waves

Typological Disaster : avalanches, landslides, floods

Telluric and Teutonic Disasters : earthquakes, tsunamis,

volcanic eruptions

Biological Disaster : insect swarms, epidemics of communicable

diseases
 MANMADE DISASTERS

Civil Disturbances : riots, demonstrations etc.

Conventional Warfare : bombardment, siege etc.

Non Conventional Warfare : nuclear, biological, chemical,

terrorism

Refugees : forced movements of large population usually across

frontiers.

Accidents : transport (land, air or sea), collapse of structures

(building, dam etc.).

Technological Accidents : leak in a chemical plant, mine accident,

nuclear power plant accident etc.
 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DISASTER

GEOGRAPHY

 Impact area : where maximum damage is done by the

impact agent.

 Filter area : the relatively undamaged zone from which

reserves, rescue workers enter, evacuation done.

 Community aid area : outside the filter area from which

the community, special teams, organizations operate, control and
monitor the rescue and rehabilitation works.
 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DISASTER

HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

 The Victim : delusion of personal vulnerability.

 Disaster Syndrome : due to stress or shock –
acute disorientation and apparent loss of individual purpose or
direction.

 Counter Disaster Syndrome :some uninjured

or mildly injured persons vigorously involved in rescue work.
 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DISASTER

CONVERGENCE

• PERSONAL CONVERGENCE : physical movement of

people.

• METERIAL CONVFRVGENCE : physical movement

of supplies and equipments.

• INFORMATION CONVERGENCE : verbal,

telephones, wireless etc.
 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DISASTER

LEADERSHIP

• It must be shared.

• It must be clear and well defined.

• Higher level of leadership should have

recognised authority under existing law.

• It must understand the principles of

organisations and delegation of authority.

• It should have an open ended management.

 SOME MAJOR DISASTERS

FLOOD CHINA 1887 9,00,000

CYCLONE BANGLASESH 1970 3,00,000

EARTHQUAKE CHINA 1976 2,90,000

VOLCANO COLOMBIA 1985 25,000

TSUNAMI SOUTH - EAST ASIA 2004 1,50,000

GAS LEAK BHOPAL 1984 2,500

(3,00,000)
NUCLEAR PLANT CHERNOBIL, UKRAIN 1986 56 DIRECT
EXPLOSION 3,36,000

NUCLEAR HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI 1945 2,20,000

BOMB
 DISASTER PROCESS

FOUR PHASES

• MITIGATION

• PRERAREDNESS

• RESPONSE

• RECOVERY
 PHASES
( PROFESSIONAL LEVEL)

MITIGATION
Long term preventive measures taken by local authority, govt.
NGO, various Disaster Management organizations to eliminate /
reduce risk on community

NON-STUCTURAL
• FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES
• IDENTIFFING HIGH RISK ZONES
• LAYING VARIOUS SAFETY CODE OF CONDUCT e.g.
construction rules in high seismic zone

STUCTURAL
• ESTABLISHMENT OF MONITORING SYSTEM e.g. P.T.W.S.
• CONSTRUCTION OF DISASTER SHELTERS
 PHASES
( PROFESSIONAL LEVEL)

PREPAREDNESS

• MAKING VIABLE DISASTER PLAN TO RESPOND

RAPIDLY AND EFFECTIVELY

• ASSEMBLING ADEQUATE RESOURCES

• COLLECTING STOCKS OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS

• TRAINING OF PERSONNEL
 PHASES
( PROFESSIONAL LEVEL)

RESPONSE
TO SAVE LIFE AND PROTECT PROPERTY

• MEASURES TAKEN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO AND

FOLLOWING DISASTER
• PROPER AND TIMELY WARNING USING MEDIA,
ROVING LOUDSPEAKERS etc.
• DEPLOYMENT OF SKILLED PERSONS
• RESCUE WORK
• MEDICAL CARE
• DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
• RESTORE ALL SORTS OF COMMUNICATION
 PHASES
( PROFESSIONAL LEVEL)

RECOVERY

• AIM IS TO RETURN TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS

• ASSISTED BY COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS

• IT IS A LONG PROCESS OFTEN TAKES YEARS

 PHASES
( PERSONAL LEVEL)

• MITIGATION –
safety measures while building a house

• PREPAREDNESS –
72 hour kit, fire extinguisher, emergency tel. nos.

• RESPONSE –
home confinement or home evacuation

• RECOVERY –
not only properties but also physical and mental
 DISASTER PLANNING
PRINCIPLES
 IT SHOULD BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS.

 IT SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO FORESEE ADVERSE SITUATIONS.

 IT MUST EVOKE PROPER RESPONSE.

 IT MUST BE BASED ON VALID KNOLEDGE.

 IT SHOULD SERVE AS AN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY.

 IT MUST BE REALISTIC AND ADAPTABLE.

 IT MST USE EXISTING STRUCTURE INSTEAD OF CREATING NEW ONE.

 IT MUST BE CLEARLY WRITTEN.

 IT MUST BE TESTED.

 IT SHOULD BE HARMONISED AT EACH LEVEL WITH THE HIGHER LEVEL.

 DISASTER PLANNING
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERITY

 DIRECT IMPACT
 POPULATION DENSITY

 POPULATION DISPLACEMENT

 DELAY IN EVACUATION

 DISRUPTION OF PRE-EXSISTING FACILITIES

 CLIMATE EXPOSURE

 LACK OF FOOD AND NUTRITION

 INCREASED VECTOR BREEDING

 NON-AVAILABILITY OR INADEQUATE MEDICAL CARE

 DISASTER PLANNING

MASS CASUALTY MANAGEMENT

• DO THE BEST FOR THE MOST with available resources.

• TRIAGE throughout the chain of treatment.

• FIRST AID measures carried out at the earliest. Only

monitoring and resorting vital functions at the site.

• Simple and standard therapeutic measures to be

adopted
 DISASTER PLANNING

MASS CASUALTY MANAGEMENT

(PHASES)

• RESCUE

• FIRST AID OR PRE- HOSPITAL CARE

• TRANSPORTATION

• DEFINITIVE TREATMENT OR HOSPITAL CARE

 DISASTER PLANNING

RESCUE

• it is mostly done by the survivors of

the impact area and filter area. Rescue
team helps the community with their
skill and equipments.
 DISASTER PLANNING

MEDICAL RELIEF
(pre-hospital care)

• FIRST-AID TEAM

• MOBILE HOSPITAL

• EVALUATION AND CASUALTY CLEARING TEAM

• COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, CONTROL

 DISASTER PLANNING

MEDICAL RELIEF
(pre-hospital care)

PREMILINARY PHASE
• On site analysis of the situation

• On site first aid treatment – limited to

primary life support measures e.g.
maintain airway, control bleeding if any.

• Stabilization

• Transport for selective care.

 DISASTER PLANNING

MEDICAL RELIEF
(transportation)

• Triage or sorting out : evaluation based on chance of survival and

priority of treatment
Category 1(immediate treatment) :severely injured, immediate
transport.
Category 2(delayed treatment) : urgent but less serious requires
surgery in 8 to 12 hrs.
Category 3(minimal treatment) : walking wounded, can be
transported in a group in any vehicle.
Category 4(injuries) : simple injuries, can be sent to home after
primary treatment.
• Handling with utmost care

• Preventive measures to avoid spinal injury

• Adequate space in the transport vehicle

 DISASTER PLANNING

MEDICAL RELIEF
(hospital care)

DEFINITIVE CARE PHASE

• Continuation of treatment

• 2nd stage diagnosis

• Need based treatment at emergency room,

intensive care etc.

• Definite diagnosis and treatment

 DISASTER PLANNING

MEDICAL RELIEF

• RECUPERATION AND REHABILITATION PHASE :

continues for a long period of time even for years
e.g. in nuclear or chemical disaster.
HOSPITAL DISASTER PLANNING

 Main role of a hospital in disaster

management is in preparedness and
response .

 The purpose of a hospital is to serve

maximum number of people require
medical care promptly and effectively to
minimize the number of death and
disability.
 HOSPITAL DISASTER PLANNING

(OBJECTIVES)
• TO PREPARE STAFFS AND RESOURCES OF THE
HOSPITAL TO PERFORM OPTIMALLY.

• TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF THE

IMPORTANCE, BENEFITS AND WAYS OF
EXECUTION.

• TO TRAIN THE STAFFS AS PART OF

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

• TO CONDUCT PERIODIC DRILLS.

• EVALUATION REGULARLY FOR UPGRATION.

 DISASTER COMMITTEE

• CHIEF OF THE HOSPITAL may act as DISASTER

CO-ORDINATOR

• HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR

• IN-CHARGE OF CASUALTY / EMERGENCY DEPT.

• H. O. D. s

• NURSING SUPERINTENDENT

• STAFF REPRESENTATIVE
ORGANISSATIONAL STRUCTURE OF
DISASTER COMMITTEE

DISASTER
COORDINATOR

ADMINISTRATOR

NURSING
H. O. D. s
SUPER.

MEDICAL STAFF NURSING STAFF

 SOME IMPORTANT DEPARTMENTS
IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

• CASUALTY / EMERGENCY

• RADIOLOGY AND IMAGING

• CRITICAL CARE UNIT

• O. T. COMPLEX

• LABORATORY
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(PREPAREDNESS)
• TRIAGE or SORTING AREA :

- attached with Emergency Services

- triage team consist of physician, surgeon, nursing

staff who first handle the incoming casualties

- rapid assessment of the severity

- sending to appropriate treatment area

 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(PREPAREDNESS)

• PRIMARY TREATMENT AREA :

- immediate care area with resuscitation facility to
restore airway, control bleeding, support
fractures, treat shock > CATEGORY 1 cases.
- urgent care area : primary management of less
severe cases > CATEGORY 2 cases.
- non-urgent care area for CATEGORY 3 cases.
- special care area for nuclear or chemical disaster
victims, burns.
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(PREPAREDNESS)

• SECONDARY TREATMENT AREA :

- C. C. U.
- I. C. U.
- O. T.
- diagnostic dept. e. g. radiology.
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(PREPAREDNESS)

• IN-PATIENT EVACUATION HOLDING AREA

- pre-evacuated special ward for disaster victims

- deployment of manpower easier

- deployment of equipments easier

- additional beds should be made available

 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(PREPAREDNESS)

• DISASTER MANUAL

- Hospital Policies and Procedures

- Disaster Notification
- Casualty / Emergency department
- Dept. Duties and Responsibilities
- Special Duties and Responsibilities
- Nursing services
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(RESPONSE)

• GRADED ALERT SYSTEM : according to

increasing severity –

Green Alert

Amber Alert

Red alert
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(RESPONSE)
• ALERT AND RECALL :

- first and most important part of response

- the designated person who first receives the

disaster alert is responsible to recall the staffs

- systems used – public address system

coded light system
personal paging system
telephones
siren system etc.
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(RESPONSE)

• DEPLOYMENT :

- rule out confusion

- action cards are very useful tool

- simple and clear instructions

- separate plan for holidays / Sundays and for

night
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL
(RESPONSE)

• ADDITIONAL FACILITIES :

- control room
- staff report board
- information centre
- volunteer reception
- relatives’ waiting room
- media room
 DISASTER FACILITIES
IN A HOSPITAL

• DISASTER DRILL :

- to test preparedness and response

- should be well organized

- an opportunity to deal with the community and local

/ state authorities

- proper evaluation
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN INDIA

NATIONAL LEVEL

• BASIC ROLE of CENTRAL GOVT.: mainly supportive

through information, finance, material, technical .
• CONTINGENCY ACTION PLAN FOR NATURAL CALAMITIES
issued by Ministry of Agriculture, GOI is the basic guideline .
It is a relief oriented programme.
• ORGANISATIONAL COMPONENT consists of :
- Cabinet Committee headed by P. M.
- National Crisis Management Committee chaired by Cabinet
Secretary.
- Crisis Management Group chaired by Cabinet Relief
Commissioner.
- Calamity Relief fund, Prime Minister Relief Fund for
financial support.
 STATE LEVEL

• Each State Govt. has different policies, plans and ways of

functioning

• Responsible for preparedness, relief works and rehabilitation

• State Crisis Management Group headed by Chief Secretary

• District Relief Committee is responsible for plans, response,

coordination, supervision and monitoring

• District Control Room for day to day information and monitoring

 SOME DISAATER MANAGEMENT
ORGANISATIONS

• Emergency Management and Research

Institute ( India )
• International Association of Emergency
Managers ( education & training )
• National Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies
• World Bank
• United Nations
• Indian Army – largest disaster management
organisation and rescue operator in India
 DISASTER WILL HAPPEN BUT
THE POINT IS HOW PREPARE WE ARE AND
HOW RAPID AND EFFECTIVE OUR RESPONSE WILL BE

‘IF YOU KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND KNOW YOURSELF,

YOU NEED NOT FEAR THE RESULT OF A HUNDRED BATTLE’

SUN YZU (500 B.C.)