DISASTER MANAGEMENT
AN OVERVIEW
BY
BRIG. D.V.RAO, V.S.M., (Ret’d)
CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT & DISASTERS
A. P.A.R.D.
Damage CYCLONE
Potential
Poorer than
Society before
Elements at Risk
Disruption of
Huge Losses/ Normal life &
Damages Development
Suffers
Damage HAZARD
Potential
Awareness- Effect
on Elements
Quicker
Society Recovery
Elements at Risk
Action Communities
Plans More
Huge Losses/
Resilient
Damages
Reduced More Stable Society
Losses
Damage HAZARD
Potential
Elements at Risk
Societal Elements
Natural Features People & Live-stock
River/Stream Banks Huts & Semi-permanent Houses
Low-lying Areas Weak Buildings
Sea & Sea-coast Agri. & Horticultural crops
Slopes of hills
Livelihood tools / Equipment
Unsecured personal assets
Public Infrastructure
Scale of Disaster
Is Dependent on :
• Lead Time Available.
• Intensity of Hazard.
• Duration.
• Spatial Extent.
• Density of Population & Assets.
• Time of Occurrence.
• Vulnerabilities existing in the Elements at
Risk.
• Hazard X Vulnerability =
Disaster
ELEMENTS AT RISK
• People
• Livestock
• Rural Housing Stock
• Houses Vulnerable
• Crops, Trees,Telephone, Electric poles
• Boats, Looms, Working Implements
• Personal Property
• Electricity, Water and Food Supplies
• Infrastructure Support
AIMS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
• Reduce (Avoid, if possible) the
potential losses from hazards.
• Assure prompt and appropriate
assistance to victims when necessary.
• Achieve rapid and durable recovery.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
PRE-DISASTER DURING DISASTER
POST-
DISASTER
Stages of Disaster
Cyclone
BEFORE DURING AFTER
Jan - Apr MAY June- Oct
Well Before
Weeks-Months
Just Before - Actual Time
Hours Period
Rescue Relief Rehabilitation Reconstruction
Role Players in Disasters
• People : Individuals, House -Holds,
Volunteers
• Gram Panchayat : Sarpanch, Panchayati
Secretary, Panchayati Members
• Village Elders : Caste/Community/Religious
Leaders, Teachers, Doctors, Engineers,
Retired Army & Police Personnel
• Govt. Deptl. Officers : Agriculture, Medical,
Engineers (Housing, Roads & Buildings,
Irrigation) Revenue Department, Public
Health, Police etc. NGOs
DEFINITIONS OF
“VULNERABILITY”
• “The extent to which a community,
structure, service or geographic area is
likely to be damaged or disrupted by
the impact of particular disaster
hazard…”
• “Vulnerability is the propensity of
things to be damaged by a hazard”.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
• Disaster preparedness aims at minimizing
the adverse effects of a hazard -
• Through effective precautionary actions
• Ensure timely, appropriate and efficient
organisation and delivery of emergency response
following the impact of a disaster.
PREPAREDNESS
• Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping to include
Resources.
• Assess strengthening requirements and execute.
• Funding for preparedness must be arranged.
• Peoples’ cooperation through Political leaders, elders,
Volunteers and NGOs
• Create lead time by interpreting Warnings
• Plan to include movement of resources with time
frame.
• Aim to reduce the destructive potential of cyclones,
timely & appropriate relief to victims and quick &
durable recovery
Disaster Preparedness
Framework
COMPONENTS OF PREPAREDNESS
Vulnerability Planning Institutional
Assessment Framework
Information Resource Base Warning
System Systems
Response Public Rehearsals
Mechanisms Education and
Training
Disaster Response Activities
• Warning
• Evacuation/Mitigation
• Search and Rescue
• Assessment
• Emergency Relief
• Logistics and Supply
• Communication and information Management
• Survivor Response and coping
• Security
• EOC & coordination
• Expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction.
Floods and Water Hazards
Elements at Risk Main Mitigation
• Everything in the Strategies.
flood plain. • Land use control
• Earthen or soluble • Engineering of strictures
structures • Elevation of structures
• Flood control structures
• Buried services and
• Reforestation projects
utilities
(watershed
• Food stores management)
• Crops and livestock
Strong Winds
Main Mitigation
Elements at Risk
Strategies.
• Lightweight structures.
• Elevated utilities (Power • Structural engineering
and communication measures.
lines) • Planting of
• Fishing boats and other windbreaks.
maritime industries.
