Disaster management

 Disaster management (or emergency

management) is the creation of plans through which
communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope
with disasters.
 It does not avert or eliminate the threats, instead it
focuses on creating plans to decrease the impact of
disasters.
 Failure to create a plan could lead to damage to assets,
human mortality, and lost revenue.
Organisations
 As an increasing number of people are being affected
by natural hazards,
 there is growing recognition by governments and
organizations that building resilient communities and
reducing disaster risk is a core initiative.
 UNISDR - United Nations International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
 UNDRO - United Nations Disaster Relief
Organization
 DRR - Disaster Risk Reduction
 IDNDR - International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction
The Union Carbide
On the night of December
Gas Leak
2, 1984, the Union Carbide
pesticide plant in Bhopal,
India began to leak methyl
isocyanate gas and other
poisonous toxins into the
atmosphere. Over 500,000
were exposed and there
were up to 15,000 deaths at
that time. In addition,
more than 20,000 people
have died since the
accident from gas-related
diseases.
Gulf of Mexico, April 20,
2010
The Kuwait Oil
The Gulf War oil spill is
Fires
the largest oil spill in
history making it one of
the 10 worst man-made
disasters of all time. In
1991, following the
invasion of Kuwait,
Hussein sent men in to
blow up the Kuwait oil
wells. They managed to set
over 600 ablaze and these
burned for over seven
months. The oil spill that
resulted from the fires
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
On March 24, 1989, the
American oil tanker the
Exxon Valdez collided
with the Bligh Reef. This
created an oil spill with far
reaching consequences in
the Prince William Sound
in Alaska. Over 11 million
gallons of oil spilled over
nearly 500 miles polluting
the coastline. Over a
quarter million birds were
killed and countless other
wildlife. Over 11,000
people aided in the clean
up process.
 The United Nations General Assembly designated the
1990s as the International Decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction (IDNDR).
 Its basic objective was to decrease the loss of life,
property destruction and social and economic
disruption caused by natural disasters, such
as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods,landslides, volcanic
eruptions, droughts, locust infestations
( locust plague in Madagascar ), and other disasters of
natural origin.
 Natural Disasters -
Classification
Hydro-metereological based
Zones / Geographical based
Hydro-Metereological Disasters
 Cyclones
 Floods
 Drought
 Desertification
Zones / Geographical based
Disasters
Earthquake
Tsunamis
Landslides
Avalanches
Flood
 Floods - most frequent and costly natural disasters.
 Cause: heavy or steady rain for several hours or days
that saturates the ground.
Types of Floods

Flash Floods:
 Floods occurring within 6 hours /heavy rainfall
associated with towering cumulus clouds,
thunderstorms, tropical cyclones or during passage of
cold weather fronts / dam failure /river obstruction.
 requires rapid localized warning system.
River Floods:
 caused by precipitation over a large catchment’s
area / melting of snow or both.
 may continue for days or weeks.
 factors - moisture, vegetation cover, depth of
snow, size of the catchment’s basin, etc.
Coastal Floods:-
 associated with cyclonic activities like
Hurricanes, Tropical cyclones, etc.
Urban Flood

 land - converted from agricultural fields/ woodlands

to roads and parking lots - loses its ability to absorb
rainfall.
 Urbanization decreases ability to absorb water 2 - 6
times over what would occur on natural terrain.
 During urban flooding, streets can become swift
moving rivers, while basements can become death
traps as they fill with water.
Ice Jam:
 Floating ice accumulates at a natural or human-
made obstruction and stop the flow of water
thereby causing floods.
 Flooding too can occur when snow melts at a very
faster rate.
Glacial Lake Outbursts Flood (GLOF):
 big glaciers melted rapidly and gave birth to the
origin of a large number of glacier lakes.
 Due to the faster rate of ice and snow melting,
possibly caused by the global warming, the
accumulation of water in these lakes has been
increasing rapidly and resulting sudden discharge
of large volumes of water and debris and causing
flooding in the downstream.
Characteristics of flood
 Depth of water
 Duration
 Velocity
 Frequency of occurrence
 Seasonality
Primary causes for Floods

 Intense rainfall + river is flowing full.

 Excessive rainfall in river catchments + river carrying flows
in excess of their capacities.
 Cyclone + very intense rainfall
 Synchronization of flood peaks in the main rivers or their
tributaries.
 Landslides - obstruction of flow & change in the river
course.
 Poor natural drainage system.
Flood prone areas
 India - one of the most flood prone countries
 reasons : monsoon, highly silted river systems, steep
and highly erodible mountains
 average rainfall in India is 1150 mm
 annual rainfall along the western coast and Western
Ghats, Khasi hills and over most of the Brahmaputra
valley > 2500 mm.
 Most of the floods occur during the monsoon period
 Brahmaputra, Ganga, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi,
Krishna & Cauvery are the most flood prone areas.
Survey by Rashtriya Barh Ayog in 1980 says that 40
million hectares areas are flood affected.
 Heavy rain in Himalayas during South west monsoon
causes flood in the rivers of U.P., Bihar, W.Bengal &
Assam while Central & Southern rivers get flooded by
heavy rainfall due to depression in Bay of Bengal
during south-west monsoon season.
 In Bihar 100% and in U.P. 82% flood is caused due to
land depression and well marked low pressure.
 In W. Bengal main reason for flood is cyclonic
circulation. Whereas in Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan &
Jammu & Kashmir the main reason is low pressure
areas.
 Flood in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh is due to
monsoon depression.
Flood Preparedness and
Mitigation
 Since ages, people have coped and learned to live with
floods.
 generally settled in areas away from flood and have
adapted agricultural practices which can sustain in
flood waters.
 Traditional methods based on locally available
resources have been used to minimize the damages
during flood.
 With the increase in population, flood prone areas
have been occupied and this is a principal factor in the
huge losses presently seen.
 The various mitigation measures for flood can be
categorized into structural and non structural
measures.
Regulation and Enforcement
 Unplanned and unregulated developmental activities
 encroachments into the waterways - led to increase in
flood risk.
Capacity Development
 flood education, target groups for capacity
development, capacity development of professionals,
training, research and development and
documentation with respect to flood management.
 proposals for strengthening the existing systems
Flood Response
 An effective and prompt response to floods is very
important for minimising the loss of lives and
properties and providing immediate relief to the
affected people.
 The role of communities and NGOs is vital in search,
rescue and relief operations.
 Immediate medical assistance to the affected people
and steps for prevention of outbreak of epidemics after
the floods are essential components of flood response.
 As per provisions of the DM Act, 2005, the GOI has
constituted National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
for the purpose of specialised response to disasters.
Structural Measures
Embankments

 river is restricted to its existing course and prevented

from overflowing the banks.
 constructed with earth /masonry / concrete walls
Dams, Reservoirs and other Water
Storage Mechanism
 Dams, reservoirs and other water storages - effective
means for reducing flood peaks in the rivers.
 operation and regulation of reservoirs takes into
account the international, inter-state and inter-
regional aspects.
Channel Improvements
 The aim of Channel Improvements is to increase the
area of flow or velocity of flow or both to increase
carrying capacity.
 Normally this measure involves high cost and there are
also problems of topographical constraints to execute
such a measure.
De-silting and Dredging of Rivers
 de silting and dredging of rivers can be adopted.
Drainage Improvement
 construction of new channels or improving capacity of
existing channels to decongest and prevent flooding.
Diversion of Flood Water
 This involves diverting all or part of flood water into
natural or artificial constructed channels
 Usually effective to prevent flooding around cities
 flood spill channel for Srinagar and the supplementary
drain in Delhi are examples
Catchments Area Treatment
 afforestation which minimize siltation of reservoirs
and silt load in the rivers.
 control flood peaks and suddenness of run offs.
Sea Walls/Coastal Protection
Works
 prevents flooding from Sea water.
 highly cost
Non-Structural Measures
Flood Plain Zoning

 to regulate land use in the flood plain in order to restrict the

damages.
 determines the location and extent of areas for developmental
activities so that damage is minimized.
 It lays down guidelines for various types of development so that
adequate mitigation is built for the worst flood scenario.
 one can locate parks, playgrounds etc. for area which have a up to
10 year frequency while prohibiting residential colonies,
industries, etc. and allowing residential and other public utilities
with specific design guidelines in areas which have a 25 year
frequency.
Flood Forecasting and Warning
 developed by Central Water Commission (CWC) &
States
 forecast for water level (stage forecast), discharge (flow
forecast) and area to be submerged (inundation
forecast).
 The forecast when carries definite risk information is
called warning.
 The flood forecasting services involve collection of
hydrological data (gauge, discharge), meteorological
data such as rainfall.
Flood Proofing
 measures designed to minimize the impact when
flood water comes such as raised platform for shelter
to population, cattle etc., raised platform for drinking
water hand pumps, bore wells above flood level,
house/building architecture, provision for relocating
vial installation such as communication, power etc.
Flood Safety Tips
Before
 All the family members should know the safe routes to
nearest shelter/raised pucca house.
 If the area is flood-prone, consider suitable flood
resistant building materials.
 Tune to the local radio/TV for warnings and advice.
Have an emergency kit ready.
 Keep dry food, drinking water and clothes ready.
 Drink preferably boiled water.
 Keep your food covered, don't take heavy meals.
 Do not let children and pregnant woman remain on
empty stomach.
 Be careful of snakes - snake bites are common during
floods.
After
 Pack warm clothing, essential medication, valuables,
personal papers, etc. in waterproof bags, to be taken
with your emergency kit.
 Raise furniture, clothing and valuable onto beds, tables
and in attic.
 Turn off the main electricity power supply.
 Do not use electrical appliances, which have been in
flood water.
 Do not get into water of unknown depth and current.
 Do not allow children to play in, or near flood water.
Drought
 1. Meteorological : They are related to climatic conditions
and deficiency in rainfall . The deficiency may be for
specific divisions or areas and not the country as a whole.
The deficiency is measured as a deviation from the mean
rainfall over a particular region
 2. Hydrological: Surface and ground water depletion and
drying up of fresh water bodies such as rivers , lakes and
ponds
 3. Agricultural: The moisture content of the soil decreases
and causes great stress to the crops and eventual failure
results in lowering of agricultural productivity.
Drought in India
 India Meterological Department (IMD) declared that
255 districts of the country recorded deficient (-59 to -
20 per cent) or scanty (-99 to -60) rainfall, many state
governments are yet to declare drought in their
respective states.
 These districts account for 31 per cent of all districts
in India where drought has been declared on the
pretext of a deficit Southwest monsoon.
 More than 50 per cent of the districts in Bihar,
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu,
Meghalaya, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh and Goa
received deficient rainfall.
 Some states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand
declared drought.
Places that are officially drought
hit
State Districts Talukas

Karnataka 23 86

Maharashtra 37 151

Andhra Pradesh 6 NA

Odisha 9 66

Jharkhand 18 191

Bihar 23 206
 According to a new manual on drought management
issued by the Union Ministry of Agriculture in
December 2016, the Centre will only provide funds to
state governments in case of "Severe" drought, not
"mild".
 Since the yardstick to measure the severity of drought
is stricter, the new conditions make it more difficult
for the states to prove "severe" drought and get relief
from the Centre.
 In Maharashtra, 639 farmers committed suicide
between March and May this year due to crop failure,
debt and inability to repay bank loans.
 In 2014, the National Crime Records Bureau
of India reported 5,650 farmer suicides.
 There are accusations of states manipulating the data
on farmer suicides.
 As of 2018, the Indian government has not published
data on farmer suicides since 2015.
Monitoring of Drought

 Rainfall and other associated weather parameters

 Crop health (based on satellite derived datas and field
reports)
 Available ground water and surface water resources
 Migration and impact on community
Mitigation
Judicious use of surface and groundwater
 less exploitation of groundwater
 Salt concentration
 fluorides and nitrates in water
 lack of availability/reduced availability of drinking water
for animals in natural storage structures such as ponds,
lakes etc
Cloud seeding in Drought Prone regions
 a form of weather modification, is the attempt to change
the amount or type of precipitation that falls
from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that
serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter
the microphysical processes within the cloud.
 Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra since 2003
 induced rain in the drought-hit Anantapur district
Micro Irrigation Systems
 conventional methods of water conveyance and
irrigation - highly inefficient - wastage of water, water
logging, salinisation and soil degradation
 drip & sprinkler irrigation - only alternative for efficient
use of surface as well as ground water resources
 evapo-transpiration losses could be minimized and crop
yield optimized
Post Harvest Management
 India suffers food grain and agriculture produce loss of
Rs 50,000 crores/year due to the lack of adequate post
harvest infrastructure - pests
 35-40% loss of the fruits and vegetable - loss estimated
at Rs 40,000 crores per year - pre cooling, cold storages
and refrigerated transport
Nutritional Aspects of Food Security
 Govt schemes - Integrated Child Development Service
(ICDS) - pre-school children
 Mid-Day Meal scheme - school-going children
Water Conservation, Storage Structures and
Management

 Water harvesting and conservation

Availability of Inputs

 increase production and productivity

 State Seeds Development Corporations (SDC),

Marketing Federations (MARKFED), and Cooperative
Oil Federations (OILFED)
Afforestation
 Forest - provide fuel, fodder, small timber, food and income to the
tribals and the rural poor

 illegal logging and forest fire – 2 major causes of deforestation.

 degradation of forests - shifting cultivation, over exploitation of Non-

Timber Forest Produce - resulted in disappearance of roots and tubers
in Anantapur District of AP, and has affected the nutritional standards
of the population.

 According to the statistics of the Forest Department, Government of

A.P., for the year 2001, 19.49 million hectares of soil has been eroded
due to deforestation
Public Distribution System

 scheme under which food grains and certain other non-

food products are supplied to persons at subsidized costs
through fair price shops (FPSs).

 Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) - ensures that

essential commodities are accessible to households which
are BPL and to the “poorest of poor” sections thus
promoting household food security amongst economically
poor sections.
Crop Insurance

 to combat the adverse financial impact of droughts on the

farmers
 not very successful

 All-India Comprehensive Crop Insurance Scheme (CCIS) -1985. ]

 National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) -1999

 Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC) - 2003

Drought management in India
 Union Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal Ministry in
respect of monitoring and managing drought
conditions.
 drought of 1965–1967 encouraged the ‘green
revolution’
 1972 drought employment generation programmes
were developed for the rural poor.
Present drought management
strategy
 Institutional mechanism
 National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State
Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) constituted under
2005 Disaster Management Act, provide immediate
drought relief to the affected people.
 For combating the adverse financial impacts of
drought, the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme
(NAIS) was introduced in 1999 and Weather Based
Crop Insurance Scheme in 2007.
 Drought Management Group was constituted to
coordinate the efforts to deal with drought in various
states.
 The National Disaster Management Cell monitors the
drought situation in different states,
 National Calamity Contingency Fund from the
Government deals with calamities of severe nature.
 DroughtProne Area Development Programme and
Desert Development Programme use the plans
prepared on the basis of the integrated estimation.
 Research institutions like the International Crops
Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT);
Central Arid Zone Research Institute; Indian
Grassland and Fodder Research Institute; Indian
Council of Forestry Research and Training etc. are
some of institutes that are involved in drought
management.
Employment generation and social welfare
practices
 National Mission for Green India, aims at improving
the quality of forest cover - 2.8 million hectares (mha)
of degraded lands and enhance livelihoods of the
people dependent on them.
 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has a strong focus on
land, water and afforestation activities
 Integrated Watershed Management Programme
(IWMP) has targeted development of 75 million
hectares of rainfed/degraded area in a phased manner
during 2007-2027.
 India’s draft National Water Policy addresses issues such as
water scarcity, inequities in its distribution and the lack
of planning, management and use of water resources
 Other programmes include the
National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed
Areas,
National Food Security Mission,
National Horticulture Mission ,
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana,
National Mission on Micro Irrigation.
 Community participation
Under this Gram Sabha/Panchayat recommend relief
works, Districts and Block-level committees are
involved in sanctioning and monitoring of relief works
and NGOs play a significant role in training and
motivation.
Operation of Drought Early
Warning Systems (EWS)
 EWS has two components: drought forecasting and
drought monitoring.
 IMD and the National Centre for Medium Range
Weather Forecasting offer meteorological information
support for drought preparedness and early warning.
 For drought monitoring, the National Agricultural
Drought Assessment and Monitoring System
(NADAMS) project provides near real-time
information on prevalence, severity level and
persistence of agricultural drought .
Conclusion
 need to emphasize more on environmental
conservation and management like using modern
technologies for rainwater harvesting and
groundwater recharge, water conservation at basin or
micro level etc.
 need to enhance capacity building
Drought Safety Tips -
Do’s and Dont’s

 Never pour water down the drain, use it to water your

indoor plants or garden.
 Repair dripping taps by replacing washers.
 Check all plumbing for leaks and get them repaired.
 Choose appliances that are more energy and water
efficient.
 Plant drought-tolerant grasses, shrubs and trees.
 Install irrigation devices which are most water efficient
for each use, such as micro and drip irrigation.
 Consider implementing rainwater harvesting wherever
it is suitable
 Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily
 Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth,
washing your face or shaving.
Cyclone
Case study - Hudhud ravages Vizag
- Oct 12, 2014
 Cyclone Hudhud battered Visakhapatnam (Vizag),
Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts in Andhra
Pradesh
 Two died after trees fell on them
 one was killed when a compound wall collapsed in
Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts, respectively
 wind damaged electric poles and mobile towers,
affecting power supply and communication in the
region.
 winds stormed at 180-190 km/hr and torrential rains
hit the coastal districts
 uprooted trees, torn and scattered flex boards and
pieces of roof tops lying on roads, Visakhapatnam
looked devastated.
 complete cut off in power and communication
facilities
 authorities had stopped the supply of electricity to
avoid electrocution
 Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports are paralysed.
 Whilethe outdoor harbour ships at Visakhapatnam
have been shifted to deep sea,
 Gangavaram port has suspended port operations and
ships have been shifted to anchorage.
 Over 550 of 600 mechanised boats at the
Visakhapatnam fishing harbour have returned to
anchorage.
 The 50 boats that had gone to Odisha have been asked
to stay put at Paradip port.
 heavy to very heavy rainfall for 4 days
 floods in the low-lying areas, leading to destruction of
crops
 authorities had evacuated more than 300,000 people
to safer placesby
 40,000 in relief camps
 state administration succeeded in protecting its people
through coordinated disaster management efforts and
accurate weather forecasting.
 districts had listed 520 villages that would be worst
affected by the cyclone.
 officials were asked to step in with evacuation and
relief measures.
 More than 370 shelters were readied with food and
medicines to last a month.
 As many as 45 rescue teams of national and state
disaster response forces, besides the Army, Navy and
Coast Guard, were on stand-by for emergencies.
 nightfall has not deterred the efforts of these teams,
Cyclone Hudhud damages Visakhapatnam Airport, flood water
enters runway
 also damaged Visakhapatnam Airport, snapping the
air connectivity
 damaged the roof of the airport building
 Flood water also entered the runway, forcing the
authorities to suspend all operations.
 airport in the past used to get frequently inundated
due to heavy rains.
 In 2005, it was shut for more than 10 days due to
flooding.
 However, the authorities have since taken measures to
prevent inundation.
 Learning to deal with disasters has not been easy for
the state
 Andhra Pradesh is extremely vulnerable to cyclones,
storm surges and floods.
 The state faces cyclones of moderate to severe
intensity every two to three years.
 Since 1975, the state had faced more than 60 cyclones.
 As a precautionary measure, airport authorities had
cancelled all flights to and from the city
 cyclone damaging the facility, it may take more time
for restoration of services.
 Visakhapatnam airport is the biggest domestic and
international airport in Andhra Pradesh.
 The deadliest cyclone that struck the Andhra coast in
November 1977 killed about 10,000 people.
 About 250,000 cattle heads perished, one million
houses were damaged and 1.35 million hectares (ha) of
land with crops were destroyed that year.
 Cyclone -winds equal or exceed gale force (minimum
of 34 knot, i.e., 62 kmph).

 low pressure centre + thunderstorms  strong winds +

flooding rain.
 Meteorological Department of India (IMD) to classify the low pressure systems
in the Bay of Bengal and in the Arabian Sea as adopted by World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO) are as under:

Type of Disturbances Associated Wind Speed in the Circulation

Low pressure Area Less than17 knots (<31 kmph)

 Depression 17 to 27 knots (31 to 49 kmph)

 Deep Depression
 Cyclonic Storm
 Severe Cyclonic Storm
 Very Severe Cyclonic Storm
 Super Cyclonic Storm
28 to 33 knots (50 to 61 kmph)
34 to 47 knots (62 to 88 kmph)
48 to 63 knots (89 to 118 kmph)
64 to 119 knots (119 to 221 kmph)
120 knots and above (222 kmph and above)
 Cyclone warning system in India - India Meteorological
Department - more than 135 years old

 Tropical cyclone warnings in India - three Area Cyclone Warning

Centres (ACWCs) located at Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai
 three Cyclone Warning Centres at Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam
and Ahmedabad.

 entire cyclone warning work is coordinated by the Deputy

Director General of Meteorology (Weather Forecasting) at Pune
and Deputy Director General of Meteorology (Services) at New
Delhi.
Tracking of tropical cyclones

 Conventional surface and upper air observations from

inland and island stations, coastal Automatic Weather
Station (AWS), ships and buoy observations;
 Cyclone detection radar including Doppler Weather
Radar;
 Satellite cloud pictures from the Geostationary
Satellite (INSAT 3A & Kalpana1).
Tropical cyclone warnings

 Warning bulletins for shipping on the high seas.

 Warning bulletins for ships plying in the coastal
waters.
 Port warnings.
 Fisheries warnings. (Fishermen & Fisheries Officials)
 Four stage warnings for the State and Central
Government officials.
 Warnings for recipients who are registered with the
department (Designated/registered users).
 Aviation.
 Warnings for the general public through All India
Radio, Doordarshan and the Press.
 Warning for Indian Navy.
 Bulletins for Print / Electronic media.
Structural Mitigation Measures
 ensures availability of adequate numbers of shelters,
community centres/school buildings, places of
worship, etc., which can be utilised for moving people
from vulnerable areas to safety.

 structural safety of various infrastructure such as

roads/culverts/bridges, communication and
transmission towers, power houses, water towers and
hospitals will be ensured
 electricity and water supply systems do not break
down

 communication system at all levels remains useable

Safety Tips -
Do’s and Don’ts
Before and During

 Listen to radio or TV weather reports and alert everyone

through a loud speaker or by going home to home.
 Identify safe shelter in your area. These should be cyclone
resistant and also find the closest route to reach them.
 Keep your emergency kit and basic food supply, medicines,
torch and batteries etc. ready.
 Doors, windows, roof and walls should be strengthened
before the cyclone season through retrofitting and
repairing. Store adequate food grains and water in safe
places.
 Conduct Mock Drills for your family and the community.
 Do not venture into the sea. Stay Indoors under the
strongest part of the house if not moved to the cyclone
shelter.
 Remain indoors until advised that the cyclone has passed
away.
After
 Do not go out till officially advised that it is safe. If
evacuated, wait till advised to go back.
 Use the recommended route to return to your home.
Do not rush.
 Be careful of broken powers lines, damaged roads and
house, fallen trees etc.
Heat Wave
 heat wave - prolonged period of excessively hot
weather, which may be accompanied by high
humidity.

 World Meteorological Organization is when the daily

maximum temperature of more than five consecutive
days exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5
°C (9 °F)
Criteria for Heat Waves
 Severe heat wave:
 Departure of maximum temperature by 5°C for
regions where normal temperature is above 40°C;
+7°C for regions where normal maximum is less
than 40°C.
 Heat Wave:
 Departure of maximum temperature by 3 to 4°C or
more for regions above 40°C.
 Heat Index:
 A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how
hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the
air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can
increase the heat index by 15 degrees.
 Heat Cramps:
 Muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion.
Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are
often the first signal that the body is having trouble
with the heat.
 Heat Exhaustion:
 It typically occurs when people exercise heavily or
work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are
lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin
increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the
vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If
not treated, the victim's condition will worsen.
Body temperature will keep rising and the victim
may suffer heat stroke.
 Heat Stroke:
 Heat stroke life-threatening condition. The victim's
temperature control system, which produces
sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body
temperature can rise so high that brain damage and
death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
Effects

 Heat-related illness is Hyperthermia, also known as

heat stroke.
 Heat Cramps
 Heat syncope is believed to result from intense
sweating, which leads to dehydration
 Severe Sunburn
 Mortality
Preparedness

 Install window air conditioners snugly; insulate if

necessary.
 Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
 Install temporary window reflectors (for use between
windows and drapes), such as aluminum foil-covered
cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
 Weather-strip doors and sills to keep cool air in.
 Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with
drapes, shades, awnings, or louvers. (Outdoor awnings or
louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80
percent.)
Do's and Don’ts
 Before
 Install temporary window reflectors, such as
aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back
outside.
 Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun
with drapes, shades.
 Listen to local weather forecasts and make yourself
aware of upcoming temperature changes.
 Know those in your neighborhood who are elderly,
young, sick or overweight. They are more likely to
become victims of excessive heat and may need help.
 Get trained in first aid to learn how to treat heat-
related emergencies.
During

 Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.

Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to
the sun.
 Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.
 Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals.
 Drink plenty of water; even if you do not feel thirsty.
 Persons with epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease;
are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with
fluid retention should consult a doctor before
increasing liquid intake.
 Protect face and head by wearing a hat or cloth.
Cold Wave
 cold wave - cooling of the air.
Cold wave in India
 northern parts of India, specially the hilly regions and
the adjoining plains

 Maharashtra and Karnataka

 Uttar Pradesh and Bihar rank the highest in terms of

casualties from cold wave and this could be due to
poor level of development and lack of shelters to the
outdoor workers and farmers.
Criteria for cold wave
 Severe Cold Wave: -5 C deviation from normal for
regions where normal temperature is less than 10.
 Cold Wave: Departure of minimum temperature
by -3 to -4 C from normal where normal minimum
temperature is less than 10 C.
Impacts of Cold Wave

 Exposure to extreme and especially unexpected cold

can lead to hypothermia and frostbite, which require
medical attention due to the hazards of tissue damage
and organ failure.

 death and injury to livestock and wildlife

 death of older people are reported more

 If a cold wave is accompanied by heavy and persistent

snow, grazing animals may be unable find grasslands
and die of hypothermia or starvation
 Extreme winter cold often causes poorly insulated
water pipelines and mains to freeze.
 Even some poorly protected indoor plumbing ruptures
as water expands within them, causing much damage
to property.
 Demand for electrical power and fuels rises
dramatically during such times, even though the
generation of electrical power may fail due to the
freezing of water necessary for the generation of
hydroelectricity.
 Some metals may become brittle at low temperatures.
 Motor vehicles may fail as antifreeze fails and motor oil
gels, resulting even in the failure of the transportation
system.
 Fires, paradoxically, become even more of a hazard
during extreme cold.
 Water mains may break and water supplies may
become unreliable, making firefighting more difficult.
 The air during a cold wave is typically denser, and any
fire hazard can become intense because the colder,
denser air contains more oxygen;
 Cold waves that bring unexpected freezes and frosts
during the growing season in mid-latitude zones can
kill plants during the early and most vulnerable stages
of growth, resulting in crop failure as plants are killed
before they can be harvested economically.
 Such cold waves have caused famines.
 At times as deadly to plants as drought, cold waves can
leave a land in danger of later brush and forest fires
that consume dead biomass.
Counter Measures

 dress appropriately and can even layer their clothing

 stock candles, matches, flashlights, and portable fuel

for cooking and wood for fireplaces or wood stoves
 However use of charcoal fires for cooking or heating within an
enclosed dwelling is extremely dangerous due to carbon
monoxide poisoning;

 gathering people (especially the poor, elderly, homeless) in

communal shelters.
 Hospitals can prepare for the admission of victims of frostbite
and hypothermia;
 schools and other public buildings can be converted into
shelters;
 Exposure to cold mandates greater caloric intake for all
animals, including humans. People can stock up on
food, water, and other necessities

 Vulnerable crops may be sprayed with water that will

paradoxically protect the plants by freezing and
absorbing the cold from surrounding air.
Do’s and Don’ts

Before and During

 Keep ready the Emergency Kit along with snow

shovels, wood for your fireplace and adequate clothing.
 Listen to local Radio Station for weather updates.
 Stay indoors; minimize travel.
 Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent
loss of body heat.
 Watch for symptoms of frostbite like numbness, white
or pale appearance on fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the
tip of the nose.
 Maintain proper ventilation when using kerosene
heaters or coal oven to avoid toxic fumes.
 Go to a designated public shelter, if your home loses
power or heat during extreme cold.
 Protect yourself, from frostbite and hypothermia by
wearing warm, loose fitting, lightweight clothing in
layers.
 Unit 3
 Ten years after tsunami, the investments by GOI in
systems that alert people early about disasters, are
helping save millions of lives.
 1.2 billion - 1/3 of the population lives in coastal areas –
only tsunamis, but also cyclones and storm – these
early warning systems are proving vital time and gain.
 benefits of early warning and preparedness can been
seen in two successive cyclones that hit India’s east
coast
 In Oct 2014, when powerful Cyclone Hudhud struck
Odisha and Andhra Pradesh on the country’s eastern
coast, there was widespread destruction, and 46
people were reported killed.

 a year earlier, Cyclone Phailin

 four days before Phailin struck, area was evacuated
and a staggering 1.2 million people were moved to safer
areas.
 Phailin’s devastating blow caused hundreds of millions
of dollars in damages, and affected the livelihoods of
millions of people, but only 21 people died.
 In contrast, a 1999 cyclone in that very area had a
much more devastating impact, killing 10,000 people.
 Similarly, the 2004 tsunami took the lives of about
10,000 people in India – 75 percent of them women
and children – and wrecked towns and villages in
several coastal states.
 Vulnerability is defined as the characteristics of a
person or group and their situation that influences
their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, and
recover from the impact of a natural hazard.
Population Growth and
Distribution

 increased population density and urbanization, increases

vulnerability to disasters.
 Congestion, limited escape routes, dense infrastructure, and
poverty add to the vulnerability.
 researchers argue that in countries such as China, urban
earthquakes are more dangerous because of the density of the
infrastructure.
 growth of coastal populations raises important concerns about
increased human exposure to coastal flooding, hurricanes, and
tsunamis.
 organization of work and leisure around coastal areas in India
was one of the factors that resulted in high rates of injuries and
fatalities following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Social Diversity

 culture of social groups also plays an important role.

 For eg, Latinos may suffer higher vulnerability to
disasters in the US due to their language abilities.
 Commonly issued in English, disaster warnings may be
misunderstood or not understood at all by Spanish-
speaking individuals.
 migrant workers may also contribute to exacerbating
vulnerability
 poverty is a primary factor that affects how individuals
perceive risk and how well they understand and
respond to warnings.
 Eg. during Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean
tsunami, and the 2009 Haitian earthquake.
 Women tend to be poorer relative to men and may not have
the necessary resources to respond to and recover from
disasters.
 This problem is particularly evident among single mothers,
who must not only protect themselves but must
also safeguard the lives of their children when threats
emerge.
 During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, women and
children were more likely to suffer injuries and fatalities
than men and boys were.
 Women's vulnerability to disasters is also shaped by
traditional gender roles, power and privilege, low wages,
and secondary responsibilities such as child care.
 age and disability - elderly individuals trapped
 Moreover, it is estimated that individuals ages 65 and
older represented over 70 percent of the fatalities from
Hurricane Katrina.
 India – National Policy on DM
 Holistic & proactive approach towards prevention,
mitigation & preparedness
 Each ministry & Dept of Central & State Govt should set
apart adequate funds for vulnerability reduction &
preparedness.
 Mitigation measures should be built into ongoing schemes
& programmes
 Each project in a hazard- prone area should include
mitigation measures & vulnerability reduction

 National disaster mgmt law should be enacted
 Districtwise vulnerability atlas prepared available for
development planners, decision makers, professionals &
ordinary citizens.
 After Gujarat earthquake 2001, GSDMA & national NGO
SEEDS took up school safety initiative in 25 districts.
 Promotes preparedness among school children, teachers,
parents to reduce disaster risk in schools & to make them
act appropriately in an emergency
 Trains teachers to impart disaster edu to children more
effectively
 Forest depts in coastal areas – planting mangroves,
casuarinas trees as a protection against cyclones, tsunamis.
Awareness Campaign Strategy
 public education
 rallies, mass meeting, different competitions like essay,
debate, drawing etc. among school students, posters,
leaflets.
 wall paintings can be done in each village explaining
Dos and Don’ts of various disasters, showing the safe
shelters and safe routes for evacuation etc.
Gender equity in disaster
preparedness and mitigation
 women, disabled persons, children, etc. are more
vulnerable in an emergency situation
 Adequate representation of women in Disaster
Management Committees and Teams shall ensure
their participation in decision
 Special training to women for enhancement of their
capacities to carry out the activities effectively.
 Capacity building of women groups will include skill
up-gradation in use of the latest know-how for
effective response and sustainable recovery in disaster
situations.
Manuals and standard operating
guidelines
 develop training manuals for Village, Gram Panchayat,
Block, District and State disaster management team,
 manuals for development of plans for different hazards
and
 Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs] for all levels.
 manuals - printed in vernacular languages
Formation of Disaster
Management Team/Committees
 Disaster Management Teams (DMT) - State, District,
Municipality, Block, Gram Panchayat, Community and
Ward.
 10-12 people in task-based groups such as Early Warning
(EW), Search and Rescue Operation (SRO), First Aid &
Water & Sanitation (FAWA), Shelter Management (SM),
Trauma Counseling (TC) and Damage Assessment (DA)
groups.
 members from local administrative system like local police,
Medical Officer, Junior Engineer from Rural Water Supply
and Sanitation, Veterinary Assistance Surgeon / Inspectors,
Revenue Inspector, Block Development Officers (BDO) etc.
Training/ Capacity Building
 Training - continuous process
 trained cadre
 Selected village volunteers - training programmes
 women volunteers
 Exposure visit
 Regular studies, research and workshops should be
conducted
 Training manuals, standard operating procedures and
documentation
 mock drills
Emergency Rescue Kits
 boat, portable power generator set, early warning
equipments, tents, power saw etc.
Strengthening state and District Disaster Management
Information Centers
 advance communication equipments such as
computer with internet facilities, FAX etc to the
district control room and state control room and
 training to the functionaries to handle the equipments
during emergency.
Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) aims to reduce the
damage caused by natural hazards like earthquakes,
floods, droughts and cyclones, through an ethic of
prevention.
 How to reduce?
 Reducing exposure to hazards,
 lessening vulnerability of people and property,
 wise management of land and the environment, and
 improving preparedness and early warning for adverse
events.
Safety Culture
 According to OSHA’s definition, in a strong safety
culture, “everyone feels responsible for safety and
pursues it on a daily basis
 OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health
Administration - responsible for protecting worker
health and safety in the United States.
Role of Panchayati Raj bodies in
Disaster Management
 While the government has the duty to help people in
distress, the latter have a greater responsibility to help
the government to cope with disasters.
 The following are the major roles and responsibilities
of the three – tier systems of local self government
before, during and post- disaster management period
Gram Panchayat or Village level

 Convene meetings to ensure timely warning

 Update information on civic amenities/population, etc.

 Select safe locations for people and livestock

 Arrangements to evacuate the elderly, the disabled, children and

women

 Medical and sanitation facilities at relief camps

 Disconnecting power lines during high winds/gales; storing food grain,

drinking water, etc.
Block/Mandal Panchayat
 Supervise preparedness of Gram Panchayats (GP)

 Consolidate village-level information on items listed

under GP
 Assessing preparedness of: primary health
centres/evacuation arrangements, etc.

 Engineering staff at the Block/Mandal level should

repair drainage/canal/roads, etc.
 Contact ex-army/security forces personal/volunteers
to organize task force for assistance

 Procure and keep ready rescue material, including

boats

 Function as link between district and village-level

counter-disaster activities.
Zilla Panchayat or District level
 The District Collector/CEO should convene a meeting
of all District Heads of sectoral departments and ZP
members before the start of likely cyclone periods
(May to June & Oct. to Nov.)

 Initiate all concerned departments to take up

necessary repair and maintenance and related works
for preparedness

 Organize ‘Task Forces’ at district, block and village

levels
 Identify NGOs useful in providing assistance during
disasters

 Check inventories of items required at short notice for

rescue andrelief operations

 At first warning, call meeting of Crisis Management Group

(CMG) and alert blocks/villages

 All CMG members should be asked to keep their personnel

in full preparedness
 District Collector should be made the CMG Leader
and establish a control room managed by senior
officers round the clock during the crisis
Panchayat Role in Rescue and Relief before and during
Natural Disaster
impact:
Gram Panchayat or Village level
 Set up temporary shelters/relief camps after initial
warning/store food and water for people/livestock

 Evacuation of people and livestock should start

immediately after final warning

 Keep rescue volunteers and task forces ready

 District/block medical/relief teams may be asked to take
position at strategic points and coordinate with village
volunteers/task forces

 Organize veterinary aid teams for taking care of livestock

and removal of carcasses

 Disposal of dead bodies and prevention of the spread of

epidemics

 Assessing loss of life, livestock and damage to farming,

property,etc.
Block/Mandal Panchayat

Identify vulnerable areas and send task forces/volunteers to
supervise safety measures

 Evacuate people from these areas and help GPs in

organizing relief camps

 Arrange for emergency communication through police

wireless/hamradio, etc.

 Arrange supply of food and other items to relief camps in

adequate quantities
 Supervise rescue and relief activities with district-level
officers

 Inform CMG if help is needed from police and defense

forces

 Assist armed forces in rescue and relief operations

 Supervise rescue and relief and coordinate with

various agencies including NGOs.
Zilla Panchayat or District level
 Monitor situation, identify blocks and villages most likely
to be affected and issue warnings

 Activate control room and keep a full watch on the

situation

 Arrange emergency communication with the help of police

wireless/ham radio, etc.

 Put CMG on the job of assisting block and village

Panchayats with counter-disaster steps
 Arrange transport for evacuation of people and livestock

 Arrange for temporary shelters/relief camps

 Seek assistance of the armed forces if necessary

 Monitor rescue and relief operations at village and block

levels

 Assist lower Panchayats in mobilizing task

forces/volunteers/ NGOs for rescue and relief
Role of Panchayat in Reconstruction and Long-term
Mitigation Planning:
Gram Panchayat or Village level
 Assist in identifying victims for compensation, and
then in its distribution

 Formulate reconstruction plans for houses,

community buildings,roads, etc. within GP
jurisdiction with the assistance of technical
departments at block and district levels.

Enforce minimum specifications for safe construction.

 Help district and block level organizations in

arranging awareness camps for management and
mitigation of disasters and ensure participation of the
villagers.

 Organize village-level task force/volunteers and train

them in counter-disaster measures.
 Assist in supervising and monitoring reconstruction
and development projects.

 Encourage local people to insure assets/livestock,

which should be mandatory for those who can afford.
Seek government help for those who are too poor to
afford insurance
Block/Mandal Panchayat
 Assist in rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction

 Assist gram Panchayats in identifying victims for payment of

compensation and in its distribution

 Prepare village and block-level Mitigation plans;consolidate/integrate

these with the block plan.
 Enforce minimum safety specifications for construction

 Assist in long-term mitigation planning and its integration with

block/district development plans

 Supervise and monitor reconstruction and long-term mitigation

projects implemented by GPs and Block Panchayats.
Zilla Panchayat or District level
 Planning and implementation of rehabilitation, repair
and reconstruction

 Compensation for loss of life, property, etc.

 Hazard and vulnerability mapping

 Anti-disaster measures to be integrated in all

development projects

 Special funding to use disaster-resistant construction

technologies in vulnerable areas
Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs)
 Promote popular participation through an
institutional framework;
 Act as catalysts to social mobilization process;
 Tap the traditional wisdom of the local communities
to complement the modern practices in disaster
mitigation efforts;
 Provide a base for integration of various concerns of
the community with that of the NonGovernmental
Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based
Organizations (CBOs), which are engaged in various
developmental activities at the grassroots level;
 Sensitize local communities, and through them
develop coping mechanisms in disaster preparedness
and mitigation measures;
 Discuss and evolve strategies to manage crisis
situations effectively;
 Ensure transparency and accountability in the
mitigation efforts;
 Streamline activities like distributing immediate relief
in the form of money, food grains, medical care,
clothes, tents, vessels for drinking water and other
necessities;
 Coordinate activities of restoration, rehabilitation and
reconstruction;
 Act as leaders to the community;
 Gather, analyze and disseminate information;
 Articulate community needs and expectations;
 Converge with local, state, national and international
organizations involved in disaster management;
 Form disaster management task forces;
 Arrange for emergency relief;
 Encourage damage appraisal, vulnerability assessment and
risk reduction strategies;
 Organize awareness campaigns and promote community
education on disaster preparedness;
 Activate disaster management plans;
 Provide for safe disposal of carcasses;
 Arrange for safe drinking water and sanitation;
 Enforce minimum specification for safe
reconstruction;
 Supervise and monitor long-term disaster
management projects;
 Mobilize funds and resources for disaster
management.
Role of the Urban Local Bodies
(ULBs)
Tasks include:
 Maintaining of vehicles, sanitary facilities, food,
shelter and rest facilities, relief and replacement,
personnel and emergency message, contact
arrangement and logistic support; Keeping
unauthorized persons out of the disaster area in order
to prevent looting and decreasing congestion
hampering rescue efforts, and preventing persons
from being injured in the wreckage;
 Handling the dead, as mass disposal poses many
problems in disasters;
 Warning and communicating with the public;
Evacuating neighbourhoods;
 Coordinating with volunteers;
 Acquiring and allocating unusual resources;
 Dealing with livestock or family pets that had to be left
behind;
 Disposing unclaimed valuables and merchandise
found in the rubble;
 Disbursing large amounts of donations;
 Controlling emergency vehicle traffic in order to avoid
blockage of routes by emergency vehicles;
 Maintaining hospital wards for emergencies;
 Checking the hospitals, nursing homes and day care
centres that may need assistance;
 Prioritizing utility sources delivery;
 Enhancing communication that is a recurring
challenge in disaster response;
 Sharing and collecting information on what agencies
have responded to and what resources have they
dispatched;
 Determining the resources needed to undertake the
counter disaster measures;
 Sharing information about the location, scope, and
character of the disaster and damage; Locating and
specifying procedures for obtaining special disaster
resources;
 Sharing information about the state of transportation
route facilities, docking and landing sites;
Pandemics
 Epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of
cases of a disease above what is normally expected.
 Pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over
several countries or continents, usually affecting a
large number of people.
 Generating and sharing predictions about weather
conditions;
 Obtaining information on how to deal with specific
hazardous chemicals.
States, Centre, and other stake-
holders.

 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

 Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
 State Governments
 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
 District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
 District Administration
aims at training the participants who shall further help
the community to undertake required tasks for
effective disaster management.
NDMA
 NDMA has the Prime Minister of India as its Chairman.
 Other members of the Authority, not exceeding nine, are to
be nominated by the Chairman.
 The Chairman of the NDMA may designate one of the
members to be the Vice-Chairman of the NDMA.
 ViceChairman of NDMA has the status of Cabinet Minister
and other members have status of Ministers of State.
 NDMA has been assigned the responsibility of laying down
policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management for
ensuring timely and effective response to disaster.
IGNOU
 IGNOU is also doing extensive work in the area of
disaster management: education and training.
 Faculty of Public Administration started a Project on
Community Awareness on Disaster Preparedness
(CADP) in 2000 in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.
 objective was to generate awareness on the different
facets of disaster management amongst community
members.
 Certificate and Diploma Courses on disaster
management.
 rich component on disaster management in its
Masters Programme in Public Administration
 Faculty of Public Administration has undertaken
serious research in disaster management
 organized two (National and International)
Conferences on Disaster Management.
 HIV, which has killed over 39 million people since 1982.
 The Plague of Justinian of 541 A.D. was attributed to the bubonic
plague and wiped out half of the population of Europe (25 million) in
one year.
 The Black Plague, which stretched from Asia to Europe, killed more
than 75 million people from 1347 to 1353.
 The first cholera pandemic of 1816 to 1824 extended from India to
Indonesia and Russia, killing over 40 million.
 The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 killed well over 50 million people in
one year, including 675,000 Americans.
 The smallpox pandemic of the 20th century claimed between 300 to
500 million lives and as many as 50 million per year until the
development of the Salk vaccine in 1955.
 The ongoing tuberculosis pandemic continues to kill over 1.5 million
people annually.
 In 1999, the World Health Organization (WHO)
released the very first influenza pandemic
preparedness plan in which it outlined the appropriate
response based on six clearly outlined phases.
WHO Stages of a Flu Pandemic

 Phase 1 is the period during which no animal viruses

are reported to cause infection in humans.
 Phase 2 is the first level of threat wherein a virus is
confirmed to have jumped from an animal to humans.
 Phase 3 is when sporadic cases or small clusters of
disease are confirmed, but human-to-human
transmission has either not occurred or is considered
unlikely to sustain an outbreak.
 Phase 4 is the point where either human-to-human
transmission or a human-animal virus has caused a
community-wide outbreak.
 Phase 5 is when human-to-human transmission of the
virus has caused the spread of disease to at least two
countries.
 Phase 6 is the point at which the disease is declared a
pandemic having spread from one country to another.
 The timeframe for each phase can vary from months to
decades.
 Not all will progress to phase 6, and some may even
revert if a virus spontaneously weakens.
What is a complex emergency?

 "any situation in which the lives and well-being of

children are at such risk that extraordinary action,
i.e. urgently required action beyond that routinely
provided, must be mobilized to ensure their
survival, protection and well-being."
 Such “complex emergencies” are typically characterized
by:
1. extensive violence and loss of life; massive displacements of
people; widespread damage to societies and economies
2. the need for large-scale, multi-faceted humanitarian
assistance
3. the hindrance or prevention of humanitarian assistance by
political and military constraints
4. significant security risks for humanitarian relief workers in
some areas
Escaping to Bangladesh from
Myanmar
 During 2017, more than 600,000 people fled to
Bangladesh to escape the violence of a complex
emergency in Myanmar.
 These people, most of whom identify as Rohingya
ethnic group, joined 300,000 others who have sought
refuge in Bangladesh in recent years.
 World Vision Bangladesh quickly provided
humanitarian assistance in informal camps in and
around the Bangladesh
 In conjunction with the Government of Bangladesh
and the United Nations World Food Programme,
World Vision focused on providing life-saving
assistance, including emergency food rations, cooking
utensils and shelters, and addressing needs for water,
sanitation and hygiene.
 World Vision also responded to the needs of mothers
and children by providing baby products, addressing
women’s needs, such as safe toilets and bathing spaces,
and establishing child-friendly spaces where children
get support for the trauma they experienced.
 World Vision is a charity working to improve the lives
and futures of children in need.
Syrian people displaced in their
own country
 The complex emergency in Syria began in 2011 and has had dramatic effects on
people and their human rights.
 Since this time more than 400,000 people have been killed, many more
injured, and 5.4 million people have fled to other countries.
 Of those people who remained in Syria, 45 per cent have been displaced from
their homes and communities.
 By 2016, 85 per cent of Syrians were living in poverty, most as a result of the
complex emergency.
 Destruction of water systems resulted in 70 % of the Syrian population not
having enough drinking water.
 Limited sanitation and rubbish disposal meant there was high risk of illnesses
caused by dirty water, rats and insects.
 World Vision has helped the people of Syria is through a partnership with the
New Zealand Government. This partnership has provided access to safe
drinking water, sanitary toilets and rubbish removal services for people living
in camps and informal settlements in northern Syria.
Fleeing South Sudan for Uganda
 More than 4 million South Sudanese people have fled their homes and
6 million don’t have enough food to eat due to a complex emergency in
South Sudan.
 The world’s youngest nation, South Sudan gained independence from
Sudan in 2011.
 In 2013, South Sudan’s government coalition collapsed with a rift
growing between the President and Vice President who represented
different political parties and ethnic groups.
 This erupted into a conflict along ethnic lines, which quickly splintered
into various factions and armed groups, endangering the population.
 One million South Sudanese people have fled for their lives into
neighbouring Uganda, with 650 more crossing the border each day. It is
estimated that 61 per cent are children.
 Gilbert Kamanga, World Vision Uganda Country Director, says:
“Everyday World Vision is registering more than 100 separated and
unaccompanied minors.”
 In Uganda, World Vision partnered with United Nations agencies to
assist people in Adjumani, Arua, Koboko, Moyo and Yumbe districts.
 New arrivals at the World Vision-managed reception for people
arriving in Uganda received emergency food, as well as cooking sets,
blankets, and monthly food packs or cash allowances.
 World Vision staff supported children who have become separated
from their families, connected them with foster care and provided
psychosocial support through child-friendly spaces.
 In addition, World Vision drilled boreholes and constructed sanitation
facilities to prevent sickness spreading.
 Alongside this emergency response, World Vision planned for
rehabilitation, resilience and self-reliance through a strategy of helping
communities establish agriculture, learn vocational skills and access
credit to establish small businesses.
Unit IV
 Inter-relationship between Disasters & Development
FACTORS AFFECTING
VULNERABILITY

 Human Factors:
 different people, even within the same region, have
different vulnerability to natural hazards.
 Ring of Fire is a major area in the basin of the Pacific
Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions occur.
 large 40,000 km horseshoe shape.
 About 90%[2] of the world's earthquakes and 81%[3] of
the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of
Fire.
 Wealth :
 poor - less able to afford housing and other
infrastructure that can withstand extreme events.
 less able to purchase resources needed for disaster
response
 less likely to have insurance policies that can contribute.
 less likely to have access to medical care.
 Exceptions: some coastal areas contain expensive
beachside real estate populated mainly by the rich,
leaving the rich more vulnerable to tsunamis, storm
surges, and other coastal hazards.
 rich tend to lose more money from disasters, simply
because they have more valuable property at stake.
 Eg. Hurricane Katrina (wealthier area, fewer deaths,
higher monetary damage); Cyclone Nargis (poorer area,
more deaths, less monetary damage).
 Education :
 With education, we can learn how to avoid or reduce many
impacts.
 When populations are literate, then written messages can
be used to spread word about hazards in general or about
specific disasters.
 Even without literacy, it is possible to educate a population
about hazards in order to help it reduce its vulnerability.
 When populations include professionals trained in
hazards, then these people can help the populations with
their hazards preparations and responses.
 Governance :
 Governments can advance policies that reduce
vulnerability.
 They can establish agencies tasked with reducing
vulnerability, such as NDMA.

On 23 December 2005, the Government of India enacted the
Disaster Management Act, which envisaged the creation of the
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by
the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management
Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers, to
spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach
to Disaster Management in India.
NDMA Vision

 "To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a

holistic, pro-active, technology driven and sustainable
development strategy that involves all stakeholders
and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness and
mitigation."
  They can support education and awareness efforts, as
well as economic development to reduce poverty.
 Finally, they can foster social networks and empower
individuals and communities to help themselves to
prepare for and respond to hazards.

without government
 communities can informally engage in many of these
governance activities.
 Often the most vulnerable people are those who are politically
marginalized, because these people have less access to key
resources and opportunities.
 Eg. Myanmar government during Cyclone Nargis. This
government is isolated from the international community
and, thus, was not welcoming to international assistance in
the aftermath of the cyclone.
 Haiti after its 2010 earthquake. Haiti, like Myanmar, is a poor
country, but it has positive and close relationships with the
international community and thus readily welcomed
international assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake.
This assistance saved many lives and is helping Haiti rebuild.
 Technology :
 Technology can improve our ability to forecast extreme
events, withstand the impacts of the events, and recover
afterwards.
 Technology is closely tied to wealth, education, and
governance.
 Wealthier, more educated society's are more likely to
have more advanced technology.
 A society's governance systems play a large role in how -
and how effectively - the available technology is used in
a disaster situation.
 Age:
 Children and the elderly tend to be more vulnerable. They have less
physical strength to survive disasters and are often more susceptible
to certain diseases.
 The elderly often also have declining vision and hearing.
 Children, especially young children, have less education.
 Finally, both children and the elderly have fewer financial resources
and are frequently dependent on others for survival.
 In order for them to survive a disaster, it is necessary for both them
and their caretakers to stay alive and stay together.
 Eg. 2003 European heat wave. About 40,000 people died in one of
the hottest summers ever in Europe. Many of the deaths were
elderly people who were still capable of taking care of themselves.
These people were not able to adapt to the extreme heat and had no
one helping them out.
 Gender :
 Women are often more vulnerable to natural hazards
than men.
 because women are more likely to be poor, less
educated, and politically marginalized.
 Women often face additional burdens as caretakers of
families.
 When disaster strikes, women are often the ones tasked
with protecting children and the elderly.
 This leaves them less mobile and more likely to
experience harm themselves.
Impact of Development Projects
 Dams are massive barriers built across rivers and
streams to confine and utilize the flow of water for
human purposes such as irrigation and generation of
hydroelectricity. This confinement of water creates
lakes or reservoirs.
Embankment
 An embankment dam is a large artificial dam.
 It is typically created by the placement
and compaction of soil, sand, clay, or rock.
IMPACT OF BREACHING
 interfers with the geomorphological processes of the
 River (overtopping, meandering nature of the river,
alignment of embankment, poor maintenance of the
embankment and other anthropogenic activities)

 quality of construction of such embankments is never

uniformly good
 embankments themselves deteriorate with time due to
erosion by rainfall
 interference by humans (e.g., cutting embankments to
allow for the passage of irrigation water in the dry
season), burrowing of animals, and road or other
traffic along and across the structure, etc.

 huge flood water rushing through the agricultural

field and settlements and also has given rise to the
sand incursion over that fertile agricultural fields
making them unproductive.
 the affected people compelled to migrate from one
occupation to other.
Landuse
 Major land–use changes have occurred in the
 United States
 during the past 25 years.
 total area of cropland, pastureland decreased by 76
million acres
 in 48 states
 from 1982 to 2003, while
 total area of developed land increased by 36 million
acres or 48%.
 in Indonesia, about 500 sq km of forest area are
cleared each year,
 replaced with oil palm plantations.
 In many countries, including India, cities are
expanding well beyond their formal limits
 urbanisation,
 transforming land use from agriculture and forests
into industry, residential,commercial buildings, other
infrastructure and horticulture.
 spaces of peri-urban areas (outside city limits) become
sites from which
 groundwater is pumped and transported to the city,
 new industrial zones are developed,
 urban waste is dumped
 vegetables and other high-value crops are grown for
nearby urban centres.
 Land use change is a process by which human
activities transform the natural landscape
 It affects soil properties.
 Depending on the intensity and type of use, soil may
be modified in its
 physical properties (structure, consistency, and density)
 chemical (e.g., cation exchange capacity, pH, soil salinity
etc.)
 bacteria and fungi populations decline - chemical
contamination
 Deforestation caused by an increase in land farming
areas or soil sealing for urban areas and infrastructures.
Effects
 effects on climate change.
 changes in soil properties.
 disruption of soil functions (construction of roads …)
 converting agricultural land for housing or industry,
filling up ponds and building housing complexes on
lake beds, etc. impact ecosystem services
Remedies
 protecting waterbodies,
 conserving groundwater,
 reducing our ecological footprint and
 living in more compact communities are good ways to
address both climate change mitigation and
adaptation, reducing greenhouse gases.
 requires more research to provide guidance to
policymakers.
Socio-economic Impacts

 Conversion of farmland and forests to urban

development reduces lands available for food &
timber production.
 Soil erosion, salination, desertification, and other soil
degradations associated with intensive agriculture and
 deforestation reduce the quality of land resources and
future agricultural productivity
 Urbanization presents many challenges for farmers
 Conflicts with non-farm neighbours and vandalism,
such as destruction of crops and damage to farm
equipment
 Neighbouring farmers often cooperate in production
activities, including equipment sharing, land renting,
custom work, and irrigation system development.
 These benefits will disappear when neighboring farms
are converted to development.
 Urbanization - cause a lack of confidence in the
stability and long–run profitability of farming, leading
to a reduction in investment in new technology or
machinery, or idling of farmland
Remedies
 land use planning and regulation required.
 land use planning protects farmland, forests, water
quality, open space, and wildlife habitat and, at the
same time, increases property value and human
health.
 will ensure the long-term quality of the land for
human use, the prevention or resolution of social
conflicts related to land use, and the conservation
of ecosystems of high biodiversity value.
 uncontrolled development will destroy the natural
environment and long–term economic growth
 Forests provide many ecosystem services.
 supports biodiversity,
 providing critical habitat for wildlife,
 remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,
 causes precipitation, slow down surface runoff, and
reduce soil erosion and flooding.
 These important ecosystem services will be reduced or
destroyed when forests are converted to agriculture or
urban development
Environmental Impacts

 Deforestation, urban development, agriculture, and

other human activities - altered the Earth’s landscape
 disturbance of the land affects ecosystem processes
and services
 Farmland provides open space and valuable habitat for
many wildlife species.
 intensive agriculture - affected ecosystem & caused
water pollution.
 Runoff from agricultural lands - leading source of
water pollution both in inland and coastal waters.
 Conversion of wetlands to crop production, irrigation
water diversions have brought many wildlife species to
the verge of extinction.
 Urban development has been linked to many
environmental problems, including air pollution,
water pollution, and loss of wildlife habitat.
 Urban runoff often contains nutrients, sediment and
toxic contaminants, and can cause not only water
pollution but also large variation in stream flow and
temperatures.
 Habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration
associated with urban development have been
identified as the leading causes of biodiversity decline
and species extinctions.
 Urban development and intensive agriculture in
coastal areas and further inland are a major threat to
the health, productivity, and biodiversity of the marine
environment throughout the world.
Climate change adaptation
 response to global warming
 anticipating the adverse effects of climate change
and taking appropriate action to prevent or
minimise the damage they can cause, or taking
advantage of opportunities that may arise.
 well planned, early adaptation action saves
money and lives later.
 Increased concentration of CO2
 Burning fossil fuels in cars, industry and homes
 Deforestation
 Burning of forests
 Changes in climate are transforming our planet.
Effects of Global Climate Change- Melting Ice
and Rising Sea Levels
 Sea level rise caused in 2 ways
 Thermal Expansion
 Water expands as it warms
 Melting of land ice
 Retreat of glacier and thinning of ice at the poles
 Melting has positive feedback
 Increased melting decreases ice, which decreases albedo
leading to further warming
Effects of Global Climate Change
 Ocean as CO2 sink - excess CO2 is starting to harm
ocean life
Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels
1957

1998
 Case-In-Point Impacts in Fragile Areas
 Eskimo Inuit live traditional
life dictated by freezing
climate
 Climate change is altering
their existence
 Wildlife are smaller or
displaced
 Reduced snow cover and
shorter river ice seasons
 Thawing of permafrost (right)
 Effects on Organisms - Coral Reefs
 Coral reefs can be bleached (right) due to increase in
water temperature
 Affects coral symbiotes and makes them more
susceptible to diseases to which they would otherwise be
immune
Effects on Human Health

 Increased number of heat-related illnesses and deaths

Effects on Agriculture
 Difficult to anticipate
 Productivity will increase in some areas and decrease in
others
 Rise in sea level will inundate flood plains and river
valleys (lush farmland)
 Effect on pests is unknown
 Warmer temperatures will decrease soil moisture-
requiring more irrigation
 Location (i.e. elevation and altitude) where certain
crops can be grown may have to change
 Dealing with Global Climate Change

 To avoid the worst of climate change, CO2 levels must

be stabilized at 550ppm
 50% higher than current levels
 Two ways to attempt to manage climate change
 Mitigation
 Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate
global climate change
 Adaptation
 Focuses on learning to live with to the environmental changes
and societal consequences brought about by global climate
change
Dealing with Global Climate Change-
Relationship Between Mitigation and
Adaptation
 Dealing with Global Climate Change-
Mitigation

 Locate/invent alternative fuels to fossil fuels

 Increase efficiency of cars and trucks
 Sequestering carbon before it is emitted
 Plant and Maintain trees to naturally sequester carbon
Relevance of Indigenous
knowledge
 Indigenous knowledge - knowledge that people in a
given community have developed overtime, and
continues to develop.
 or local knowledge that is unique to a culture or
society.
 local knowledge’, ‘folk knowledge’, ‘people’s
knowledge’, ‘traditional wisdom’ or ‘traditional science
 wound healing properties of turmeric
 Antifungal properties of neem
 Indian Systems of Medicines i.e. Ayurveda, Siddha,
Unani and Yoga – translated into English, Japanese,
French, German and Spanish, with the help of
information technology tools and an innovative
classification system
 Spreading of water on land after ploughing: this
stabilizes the fertile components of the soil by
increasing soil cohesion.
 Use of birds (e.g., starlings) to control insects (e.g.
crickets)
 Building of chimneys in houses to improve ventilation
and thereby reduce summer temperatures
 Application of ash to plants
 Indigenous knowledge
 passed from generation to generation usually by word
of mouth and cultural rituals, and has been the
 basis for agriculture,
 food preparation and
 conservation,
 health care,
 education, and a wide range of other activities
 that sustain a society and its environment in many
parts of the world for many centuries.
 significant resource that could contribute to the
 increased efficiency,
 effectiveness and
 community level decision making in areas pertaining
to food security, human and animal health,
educational resource management and other vital
economic and social activities.
 sustainable development without cost or damage to
the environment.
 formal education systems have disrupted the practical
everyday life aspects of indigenous knowledge and
 ways of learning, replacing them with abstract
knowledge and academic ways of learning.
 Today, there is a grave risk that much indigenous
knowledge is being lost and, along with it, valuable
knowledge about ways of living sustainably.
 In case of desertification & land degradation processes
- traditional knowledge comprises a wide range of
accumulated experience to manage natural resources
in farming, grazing, landscape restoration,
 Drought and flood affects society and its community
by impacting its resources–agriculture & forests,
medicines, livelihoods, industry, etc

 There are also varieties of diseases and pest

infestations
 wells in Rajasthan’s Alwar District - dried up, thrusting
the people - poverty.
 revival of traditional earthen dams to capture
rainwater for recharging the underground water
supply provided tips & brought the wells back to life.
 Jaisalmer in Rajasthan receives few hundred
millimeters of rainfall every year
 yet has been able to meet its water requirements for
centuries using traditional water conservation practices.
 Cherrapunji, on the other hand, has always had such
an abundance of rainfall.
 It never felt the need to value the importance of rainfall
 is now facing serious water shortage after monsoon due
to deforestation.
 They never thought of rainwater harvesting
 Bundelkhand had a rich history of traditional water
harvesting structures;
 people were able to manage their water demands.
 Due to lack of maintenance, structures are in disrepair
and the region is facing consecutive drought since last
five to six years.
 resolved by constructing large tanks and wells
 Here is a lesson to learn that if a society has a good
relationship with its water, respects it, knows how to
store it, and does not pollute it, there cannot be a
shortage of water even in a low rainfall area.
 Even in the 25th century, Rajasthan will continue to
use only indigenous methods of water conservation.
 The knowledge they have gained through experience is
revered.
 Any attempt to introduce non-indigenous technology
is bound to fail.
 Arthasastra” by Kautilya3 - recognized as first known
book on political science and public administration,
 depicts several important provisions and guidelines on
natural resource management and disaster risk
reduction.
 It held strong attitudes on forests, fauna,
punishments, town planning, etc.
 ‘Vrikshayurveda’ or traditional plant science is the
treasure of indigenous knowledge on using various
plant materials in preventing impacts of drought and
flood conditions on crops, other vegetations and post-
harvest products
 Vedas - oldest store house of knowledge - indigenous
methods of forecasting monsoon rains, storms, and
earthquakes rooted in astrology, and folklores, and
rituals including yagnas and chanting of mantras for
minimizing the adverse effects of natural disasters
 Some of the indigenous methods have been found to be
having scientific bases also and hence need to be used in
conjunction with the modern methods.
 Ex: there are many indigenous breeds of cattle which can
thrive in very harsh climatic conditions such as those
prevailing in Rajasthan desert on very low levels of nutrients
and produce reasonably good quantity of milk.
 Similarly, there are many crop varieties which are drought-
and pest-resistant and which can withstand floods and high
levels of salinity.
 We need to conserve and propagate such breeds of animals
and varieties of crops through a national policy.
 India won a crucial patent for treating influenza and
epidemic fever through medicinal formulations using
'pudina' (mint) and 'kalamegha' (Andrographis).
 Department of Ayurveda and Siddha (AYUSH) has
maintained a “Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
(TKDL) set up with CSIR.
 The utilisation of leaves of Centella asiatica, and roots
of Ichnocarpus frutescens in the treatment of jaundice,
diabetes were found to be noteworthy
 Vrkshayurveda (Ayurveda of plants) and the Krishisastra
(science of agriculture) and Mrgayurveda (animal science).
 They provide a wealth of knowledge on such subjects as the
collection and selection of seeds, germination, seed
treatment, soil testing and preparation, methods of
cultivating plants, pest control and crop protection, the
rearing of cows and the care of draught cattle,
 epidemics occur because of imbalances in the ecosystem.
 major causes of such imbalance is human error or living in
the wrong way which leads to an incorrect intervention in
natural processes.
 It is ironical that at a time when the West is seeking
solace in our traditional practices be it medicine,
meditation or Yoga, we, despite having a rich herbal
wealth, have a share in the world herbal market that is
not even 1.5 %.
Appropriate Technology
 Application of Information and Communication
Technology in Natural Disaster Management
 enhances the quality and effectiveness of trade,
manufacturing, services, other aspects of human life such as
education, research, culture, entertainment, communication,
national security, etc.
 advanced techniques of information technology such as
remote sensing, satellite communication, GIS, etc. can help in
planning and implementation of disaster management.
 To achieve this main object, disaster management has to face
challenges for data collection, data management, translation
integration and communication.
Internet
 enhance the capabilities of addressing hazard
awareness and risk management practices before,
during, and following emergency events.
 Internet sites providing an increasing array of
information related to various hazards.
 provides the means of access to more reference and
resource material to more people, in more ways.
 compilation, retrieval and redistribution of
information by centers of interest
GIS and Remote Sensing
 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote
sensing (RS)
 essential as effective preparedness, communication
and training tool for disaster management.
 modeling is incorporated into GIS.
 Modeling allows disaster managers to view the scope
of a disaster, where the damage may be the greatest,
what lives and property at highest risk, and what
response resources are required
 GIS applications
 Hazard Mapping
 Threat Maps
 Disaster Management
 Records Management
 satellites have several limitations
 number of satellites cannot see through clouds.
 cyclones and floods are generally associated with
periods of heavy cloud cover, and consequently the
ability to image the ground is greatly restricted.
Drought
 early warnings of drought conditions will help to plan
out the strategies to organise relief work.
 Satellite data may be used for to target potential
ground water sites for taking up well-digging
programmes.
 National Agricultural Drought Assessment and
Management System (NADAMS) has been developed
by the Department of Space for the Department of
Agriculture and Cooperation
 based on monitoring of vegetation status through
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution (AVHR)
data.
 drought assessment is based on a comparative
evaluation of satellite observed green vegetation cover
of a district in any specific time period, with that of
any similar period in previous years.
Earthquake
 used for preparing seismic hazards maps in order to
assess the exact nature of risks.
Seismological Observations
 36 seismic stations operated by the IMD, which is the
nodal agency.
 Have collected data over long periods of time
Floods
 Satellite data used for mapping and monitoring the
flood inundated areas, flood damage assessment,
flood hazard zoning and post-flood survey of rivers
configuration and protection works.
 Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Water
Resources, issues floods forecasts and warnings.
 These are used for alerting the public and for taking
appropriate measures by concerned administrative
and state engineering agencies in the flood hazard
mitigation.
Cyclone
 can be used to identify the vulnerable population with
the single hazard component.
 Information on cyclone warnings is furnished on a
real-time basis to the control room set up in the
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India.
 High power Cyclone Detection Radars (CDRs) that are
installed along the coastal belt of India have proved to
be a very useful tool to the cyclone warning work.
 These radars can locate and track approaching
Tropical Cyclones within a range of 400 km.
 Satellite imagery received from weather satellite is
extensively used in detecting the development and
movement of Tropical Cyclones over oceanic regions,
particularly when they are beyond the range of the
coastal radars.
 The existing mode of dissemination of cyclone
warnings to various government officials is through
high priority telegrams, telephones, telex and fax.
Landslides
 Landslide zonation map comprise a map demarcating
the stretches or area of varying degree of anticipated
slope stability or instability.
 Location
 Extent of the slope area likely to be affected and
 Rate of mass movement of the slope mass
 GIS cab be used in carrying out search and rescue
operations
 forecasting, monitoring and issuing early warnings
Indian Meteorological
Department (IMD)
 Indian Meteorological Department provides cyclone
warnings from the Area Cyclone Warning Centres
(ACWCs)
 It has made operational a satellite based
communication system called Cyclone Warning
Dissemination System
National Remote Sensing Agency
(NRSA)
 Long-term drought proofing programmes - use of
satellite data
 Also works on monitoring the flood-inundated areas,
flood damage assessment, flood hazard zoning and
past flood survey of river configuration and protection
works.
Disaster alert through cell phones
 Ministry of Science and Technology of India has
developed the world’s first of its kind multilingual
disaster alert system – National Disaster Information
System (NDIS) – that will transmit Tsunami and
cyclone warning through mobile phones in the form of
SMS, within 30 seconds of a weather satellite or an
earthquake observatory giving alert signals.
 The SMS alerts will be made in over 100 languages
including 14 regional languages like Tamil, Kannada,
Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Hindi and Oriya.
 The SMS alerts will be followed by voice alerts on the
mobile phones as well as fixed phones.
 The NDIS server first receives the warning from the
meteorological department alert system before
converting it into an SMS in two seconds.
 In the next 19 seconds, the software translates the alert
into multiple languages. The SMS reaches the user in
30 seconds.
Satellite Radio Application
 Satellite radio can play a key role during both the
disaster warning and disaster recovery phases.
 Its key advantage is the ability to work even outside of
areas not covered by normal radio channels.
 Satellite radio can also be of help when the
transmission towers of the normal radio channels are
damaged in a disaster
 Unit V – Disaster Risk Management in India
 India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of disasters.
 More than 58.6 per cent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of
moderate to very high intensity;
 over 40 million hectares (12%) of its land is prone to floods and river
erosion;
 close to 5,700 kms, out of the 7,516 kms long coastline is prone to
cyclones and tsunamis;
 68% of its cultivable area is vulnerable to droughts; and,
 its hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches. Moreover,
 India is also vulnerable to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies and other man-made disasters.
 Disaster risks in India are further compounded by
increasing vulnerabilities related to changing
demographics and socio-economic conditions,
unplanned urbanization, development within high-
risk zones, environmental degradation, climate
change, geological hazards, epidemics and pandemics.
 Clearly, all these contribute to a situation where
disasters seriously threaten India’s economy, its
population and sustainable development.
Components of Disaster relief
 Relief refers to the provision of essential, appropriate
and timely humanitarian assistance to those affected
by a disaster, based on an initial rapid assessment of
needs and designed to contribute effectively and
speedily to their early recovery.
 Red Cross or Red Crescent National Societies through
their presence in the communities are the front line
providers of relief.
 The International Federation brings all its resources
together to ensure relief is provided as rapidly as
possible.
Food
 Food supplies are frequently part of the Red
Cross/Red Crescent response to emergencies.
 food supply is a correct response
 it is necessary to ensure that food donations are
culturally and nutritionally appropriate for the affected
population
 costs of their purchase, transportation, storage and
distribution is kept to a minimum.
 Food assistance will not be needed where disasters
have no major effect on food stocks or crops, or where
the effect is very localised, and when people are able to
draw on their own savings or food reserves.
three main types of food
assistance
 Short-term assistance - need for short-term food
relief, rapidly followed by rehabilitation and
development activities, is typical of many “sudden”
disasters, including floods, earthquakes, high winds,
fires, pest attacks, short-term civil disturbances etc.
 Deferred assistance. Assistance deferred – until just
before the next harvest, for example –events which
have destroyed crops or food stocks,
 Long-term assistance - assistance is provided over a
long period and combines both relief and self-reliance
development activities.
 due to successive crop failures and most situations
involving refugees or displaced people.
Shelter
 necessary for security and personal safety, protection from
the elements and resistance to ill health and disease.
 Shelter assistance is provided to individual households for
the repair or construction of dwellings or the settlement of
displaced households within existing accommodation or
communities.
 When it is not possible to provide individual shelter,
collective shelter is provided in suitable large public
buildings or structures, such as warehouses, halls or
barracks, or in temporary planned or self-settled camps.
Non-food items
 When people have lost everything in a disaster, they
require basic and culturally appropriate goods and
supplies to maintain their health, privacy and dignity,
to meet their personal hygiene needs, to prepare and
eat food and to achieve necessary levels of thermal
comfort.
 These might include clothing, blankets, bedding,
stoves and kitchen sets, water containers and hygiene
products.
STAKEHOLDERS IN DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
 stakeholders are the institutions, agencies,
organizations, communities and individuals involved
in the task of disaster management.
Who are the stakeholders in
disaster management in India?
 Government Institutions/Agencies
 National Disaster Response Force
 Armed Forces
 Police
 Fire Services
 Communities at Risk
 Corporate Sector and Market Associations
 Media
 Donors, including the UN and other International
Agencies
Institutional Framework
 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
 National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM)
 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
 Disaster Management Dept (DMD)
Disaster Management (DM) Act
2005
 National Authority - Chairman and other members,
not exceeding nine, as may be prescribed by the
Central Government
 The Prime Minister of India, shall be the Chairman of
the National Authority , Other members, not
exceeding nine, to be nominated by the Chairman of
the National Authority.
Functions of National Authority
 responsibility for laying down the policies, plans and
guidelines for disaster management for ensuring
timely and effective response to disaster
 advisory committee - consisting of experts in the field
of disaster management and having practical
experience of disaster management at the national,
state or district levels to make recommendations on
different aspects of disaster management.
 National Authority shall constitute a National
Executive Committee to assist it in the performance of
its functions
 National Executive Committee shall consist of:
(a) the Secretary to the GOI in charge of the Ministry or
Department of the Central Government having
administrative control of the disaster management, who
shall be Chairperson,
(b) the Secretaries to the GOI in the Ministries or
Departments having administrative control of the
agriculture, atomic energy, defence, drinking water
supply, environment and forests, finance (expenditure),
health, power, rural development, science and
technology, space, telecommunication, urban
development, water resources and the Chief of the
Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
Functions of National Executive
Committee
 Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of
National Policy,
 laying down guidelines for ministries for preparing
disaster management plans, providing necessary
technical assistance,
 monitoring the
 implementation of the guidelines laid down by the
National Authority; and
 promoting general education and awareness on
disaster management.
National Policy on DM
 Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and
resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation
and education.
 Encouraging mitigation measures based on
technology, traditional wisdom and environmental
sustainability.
 Mainstreaming disaster management into the
developmental planning process.
 Establishing institutional and techno-legal
frameworks to create an enabling environment and a
compliance regime.
 Ensuring efficient mechanism for identification,
assessment and monitoring of disaster risks.
 Developing contemporary forecasting and early
warning systems backed by responsive fail-safe
communication with information technology support.
 Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring
approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections
of the society.
 Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build
disaster resilient structures and habitat for ensuring
safer living.
 Promoting a productive and proactive partnership
with the media for disaster management.
National Institute of Disaster
Management (NIDM)
 set up in October, 2003 by Government of India
 located at Indian Institute of Public Administration
 Develops training modules at different levels.
 Undertakes training of trainers programmes; and
 Organizes training programmes for planners,
administrators etc
National Disaster Response Fund
(NDRF)
 Fund constituted under Section 46 of Disaster
Management Act, 2005.
 It covers calamities of cyclone, drought, earthquake,
fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche,
cloud burst and pest attack.
State Disaster Response Fund
(SDRF)
 Fund constituted under Section 48 of Disaster
Management Act. The SDRF shall be used only for
meeting the expenditure for
 providing immediate relief to the victims of Disasters,
as identified for NDRF grant.