UNIT 7: Disaster Management

Disaster Management

Q: From which year was awareness about disaster started by the U.N.O?

Ans :  1990-2000.

Q: Which Indian organization is contributing to disaster management?

Ans : Home Ministry, Central Aid and Rehabilitation Department.

Q:  In which year was a course on disaster management included in the CBSE curriculum.

Ans : 2005

Q: What would you do if during a disaster electricity fails?

Ans : There should be an alternative provision for it. Solar energy and other such kind of energy should be utilized for it.

Q: Do you see any change of mind in the case of residents of disaster affected areas?       

Ans : Can be possible                             

Q: What is the role of regional disaster management?  

Ans : Map of hazardous zone

Q: What do you mean by disaster management? Explain.

Ans: A disaster, whether it is a man made or due to natural causes, may have devastating effects, We cannot stop the loss or damage caused by disaster. But it can be reduced to some extent. This is called disaster management. Disaster is a sudden occurrence and it does not give any kind of warning before its occurrence. Earthquakes, floods, soil erosion, big industrial accident, deforestation caused by fire, volcanic eruption, cyclical storm, cyclical sea waves, hail storm, Tsunami Tides, thunder­storm, drought, terrorist attack, natural or man made accidents are all different forms of disaster. Men's varicc s activities are to some extent responsible for the occurrence of a disaster that causes loss or damage to lives and property But precautions/preventions if taken in advance can reduce the impact of disaster to some extent. For this we should take methodical and pre-planned steps. Skilled planning can also prevent in reducing the impact of disaster. Different kinds of disaster need different measures or precautions to prevent or reduce their impact. The U.N.O in 19-87 took a very important proposal in this regard. According to this proposal, the 1990-2000 decade was declared as the International Natural Disaster Prevention decade, this proposal consists of the following:

a.     Every state should increase its capability of predicting a disaster and organizing its management.

b.     The loss or damage caused by Natural disaster should be minimized. The present and future scientific measures for prediction of such disasters should be expanded.

c.     Analysis of natural disaster, its solution and future prediction should be given the priority..

d.     There should be a provision of possible guidelines and planning regarding disaster management.

Q: Write a short note on the measures to be taken during a disaster.

Ans: There should be proper planning for the post disaster measures so that the loss can be minimized. Some of the steps that are to be taken after a disaster are—

a.     To rescue people from the calamity as fast as possible (ii) To identify the living, injured and the dead people and to keep their records.

b.     To keep the communication network" from getting disrupted. To guard against the possible theft of essential articles.

c.     To arrange temporary relief camps and to provide drinking water, medicine and electricity.

d.     To ensure the supply of essential things like food, woolen/ warm clothes, bedding, utensils etc.

e.     To ensure adequate transport facilities in the affected areas. To check the loss of lives and damage.

f.      To arrange the rehabilitation of the affected people and to take steps to bring back normalcy.

g.     To prepare a detailed report of loss and damage.

Relief Camps: Establishing and organizing relief camps after a disaster takes place is very important. The affected people need special help for rehabilitation after a disaster. For instance, after a disaster, first aid, drinking water, food, seeds for cultivation etc are some of the important items needed by the disaster affected people. Under these circumstances the government and NGOs should act together in organizing the relief camps and the government should provide the necessary first aid, relief materials, rescue materials, food and medicines to the organizations managing the relief camps.

Resources: During the disaster period the flow of required funds to deal with the loss and destruction will depend on the supply of the funds by the public and private organizations. To ensure the flow of . funds in the post disaster periods the following steps need to be taken:

a.     Every government should have some special funds to be spent for relief measures for disaster.

b.     It should be strictly monitored so that the funds are. utilized only for the disaster affected areas and for the specific purpose. The amount offund needed for pre- disaster and post disaster periods will be determined by proper guidelines

c.     Special insurance schemes should be made for disaster prone areas.

d.     Special funds are to be allotted for relief measures (v) The various industrial and commercial organizations, educational institutions ,private companies etc are to be encouraged for forming relief funds.

e.     The financial institutions disbursing loans for constructing houses should ensure that necessary precautions are taken in constructing house.        

Things that are Needed During a Disaster : During the post disaster "period certain essential things are required and providing these essential things is one of the major tasks. Some of the essential things are- food, water bottles, warm cloths, radio, paper, pen, old newspapers, soap, tooth paste, tooth brush, things that are used by small kids, heavy shoes, candle, knife, etc.

To provide, the above mentioned things, disaster management committees should appoint some organizations and trained workers who can act and distribute the relief materials as per requirement to the victims.

Providing Relief after a Disaster: To provide relief after a disaster is the primary responsibility of the National Crisis Management Committee under the central Government. Apart from that, various social groups and organizations have been playing an important role. It is essential to have co-ordination among all these groups to mitigate a disaster. Particular attention is to be given to the following in the post disaster period:

(i) Improvement in transport and communication

(ii) Providing safe drinking water

(iii) Maintaining proper electricity, telephone and sanitation

(iv) Managing the required food, shelter and clothes,

(v) To keep accurate account of loss and damage

(vi) To ensure the supply of seeds for cultivation and other facilities.

Q: What is an emergency aid? Discuss some emergency aids during a disaster?

Ans : After a natural disaster, emergency services should be provided to the living and the injured people or animals who are badly affected by disaster. Whether an earthquake or any other form of disaster occurs or not, the level of preparedness of the disaster management authority department depends on how they keep ready the materials for rescue operations, how the damage or loss of lives is controlled and hotf? far they could-'4flswe the supply of drinking water, electricity, first aid; public relation and emergency services.

(i) Supply of Water: In case-of disaster, like flood, supply of drinking water is necessary and for that the mouth of the tube well should be closed and bleaching powder is to be put in the well etc. Water should be taken after boiling and if required alternative wafer supply is to be arranged.

(ii) Supply of Electricity: Usually electricity is disrupted during and after the disaster Therefore there should be an alternative provision for it. Alternative sources of power such as solar energy should be utilized for it. Electricity should be restored immediately. The electricity department should be prepared to restore.etectricitjvFor this, special training should be given to the employees. During a disaster, there is a possibility of short circuit to avoid that the buildings should have provision for fire - extinguishers. If possible, the supply of electricity should be stopped for that period. Torch light should be kept ready by everyone so that it can be used during the disaster. Additional battery set, torch light, hurricane lamp are to be kept ready.

(iii) Infrastructure: Generally, during a disaster, infrastructures and the roads in particular suffer extensive damage. In case of Assam, flood affects the roads and causes communication problems. Storm destroys me newly built roads. Therefore life Public Works Department should remainprepared to face such an eventuality of loss or damage caused by hazards. The earthquake in 1950 in Assam brought massive destruction to the railway tracks and caused big craters on the roads. The engineers and the staff of the PWD Department should be given proper training to remain vigilant against disasters and it is one of the important aspects of disaster management.

(iv) Relief Camps: After a disaster organizing relief camps and their- management become absolutely necessary. In particular during floods, shifting the flood affected people) and animals to higher grounds is imperative. Volunteer groups] should be formed for managing the relief camps,. Separate toilets for males and females, drinking water, medicine, bleaching powder, brooms, tent, dry food, gas lamp, torch etc are; necessary. These are the some of the things are to be arranged. The names of the refugees in relief camps should be systematically recorded. Special care needs to be taken fox-women ,children, elderly persons and who are sick.

(v) First Aid : Sudden disaster causes loss of human lives, physical injuries, and also diseases. Sometimes dispensaries are also affected. So to mitigate such disaster, some medicines and trained staff should be made ready.. First aid kit should be kept ready and such kits contain: Cotton cloth and pashmina cloth

(a)    Adhesive tape

(b)   Crepe Bandage

(c)    Sterile dressing

(d)   Triangular Bandage

(e) Thermometer

(f)    Scissor

(g) Glasses/ Gloves

(h) Soap

(i) Pain reliever

(j) Antacid

(k) ORS Packet

Along with the doctor, there should be an ambulance. If required, provision should be there to shift patients from relief camps to hospitals for better treatment. It is essential to form a group for prevention of contagious diseases and the members should be given proper training for the purpose. Besides, necessary food items are to be kept in store for future use if an epidemic occurs.

Q: Explain with examples the role of voluntary organizations and the society in general in disaster management?

Ans : In order to survive at the time of disasters it is important for the various communities in the society to remain alert. In this case, the NGOs are expected to take important steps. Those who are engaged in disaster management are to be properly trained and well prepared. In this respect the participation of voluntary organizations, NGOs and sections of the society may make positive impact. The voluntary organizations and the different communities need to share mutual cooperation for this. For its effective implementation the concerned people are to be particularly responsible for and aware about the immediate rescue operations , rehabilitation and improvement of the environment. For this is needed a year long plan of action as well as the competence to tackle the situation immediately. The voluntary organizations should remain ever ready to create an awareness among the different sections of the society. For example, during the monsoons advance warning about floods about to occur, relief steps to recover the losses etc can be imparted to the people besides ensuring the distribution of relief materials, medicines, seeds and othefrthings. The poor people have to suffer untold miseries during a disaster, caused by destruction of houses and land becoming unfit for cultivation. The voluntary organizations are to extend both long term and short term help in this situation.

Q: Write a short note on Regional Disaster Management and Planning Commission.

Ans : Disaster management in general is a united effort of different departments through effective coordination. National Disaster management involves the planning for preparedness, prediction, warning for disaster, relief and rehabilitation, repair and reconstruction. For this different departments are to be involved at different levels and made ready through proper training for disaster management. The administrators, scientists, planning officers and various sections of the society have to play a vital role in this. Organisations and various social institutions should be engaged in coordinated work before and after a disaster. For this in different levels, training is to be conducted for readiness for a disaster. In this regard, administration, (Science; planning commission, NGO and various communities play a very important role. Already Natural Hazard Management Authority (NHMA) has identified probable hazards and have informed public. This organization of govt, of India has adopted various schemes end works in association with NGOs in this regard. It includes baps of hazardous risk zones, etc. In urban areas, guidelines of hazard proof houses and bridges are to be prepared.

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