Green Technologies: Smart and Efficient Management-2012, SLIET Longowal

Disaster Management Its Significance & Scope

Mrs. Khan Tarannum M. R, Mr. Anirudh Pandit, Mohd. Majid
Abstract- Almost all of us can think of several disasters that have occurred in the recent past. Earthquakes, industrial accidents, oilspills, forest-fires, terrorist activities etc. are some of the more commonly encountered disasters. There are certain types of disasters, where, the loss during the actual event is not necessarily as high, but, the losses become very high due to inability to manage the situation in a timely manner. More often than not, it happens due to confusion and chaos in the context of too much loss, and, inefficient utilization of resources - which are already strained. The Indian subcontinent has a highly diversified range of natural features. The Himalayas, which are the young fold mountain and where the phenomena of stress release is very common together with the uncertain monsoon winds make the region highly prone to natural disasters. The region being the most populous in the world further adds to the damage caused by the natural disasters. Drought, Floods, Cyclones, landslides and Earthquake are the major types of disaster phenomena occurring in the region. Almost all parts of India experience one or more of these disasters. Based on the frequency of occurrence and vulnerability to natural disasters, the entire country may be classified into three broad categories. The first is the Himalayan region spreading over 500000 square km. This region is prone mainly to Earthquakes,, Landslides, Avalanche and bush fire. The second category is the north and central Indian Plains. The region is having some great river systems and a rich source of water for drinking and irrigation. However, these rivers, during the monsoon period usually carry water in excess to their capacity causing flood phenomena. The same region also experiences droughts when the rainfall is less. The third category is the great coastline of India which is prone to devastating cyclonic winds emerging in the oceans. Keywords: strategy, proactive, post active, impact, Types of disasters, Disaster recovery, Disaster Relief, Disaster preparedness.

socio-economic, political and cultural state of the affected area. Generally, disaster has the following effects in the concerned areas, 1. It completely disrupts the normal day to day life. 2. It negatively influences the emergency systems. 3. Normal needs and processes like food, shelter, health, etc. are affected and deteriorate depending on the intensity and severity of the disaster. It may also be termed as a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources. Thus, a disaster may have the following main features: Unpredictability Unfamiliarity Speed Urgency Uncertainty Threat Thus, in simple terms we can define disaster as a hazard causing heavy loss to life, property and livelihood. e.g. a cyclone killing 10,000 lives and a crop loss of one crore can be termed as disaster. "Disaster" may be taken as: "a sudden accident or natural event that causes great damage or loss of life" - Oxford Dictionary. So, as can be seen, disaster by definition itself is "sudden" and causes immense damage to property and/or life. Disasters themselves are not limited to specific parts of world, though, certain areas might be more prone to certain specific type of disaster, e.g. area around Bay of Bengal is more prone to hurricanes and floods, some coastal areas are more prone to cyclones, and, some areas are more prone to floods. However, the more advanced a nation is, typically, their level of preparedness is higher. This higher level of preparedness allows them to have a better control over the loss. Another thing which causes a lot of loss during certain kind of disasters is the inability to properly manage and secure the utilities, like: electricity, gas, water etc. On one side, each of these utilities are very important, and, on the other side, due to leakages/ruptures, some of these might come in contact with each other, when they should not - causing further damage. Thus, the main motivation behind disaster management is to

Introduction

Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage,

loss, and destruction and devastation to life and property. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of vulnerability. This influences the mental,
Mrs. Khan Tarannum M.R. is with Dept. of Management Aryabhatta College, Barnala, Punjab, Pin: 148101, India (aaminahk70@gmail.com). Mr. Anirudh Pandit is Research Scholar with PTU Jallandhar (anirudh_24jan2@yahoo.com). Mohd. Majid is Assistant Professor with Department of Mechanical Engineering, SLIET Longowal. (mohdmajid_2004@rediffmail.com)

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Green Technologies: Smart and Efficient Management-2012, SLIET Longowal minimize the losses at the time of a disaster as well as ensure most efficient utilization of resources - which are already scarce. Types of disasters There is no country that is immune from disaster, though vulnerability to disaster varies. Although, all kinds of disasters require more or less similar skill-sets and rescue-efforts at least a few days after the event, it is important to understand various kinds of disasters. Depending upon the actual nature of disaster, the immediate reaction needs to be different. Also, the first few moments of disasters are distinctly different for each kind of disasters. Thus, understanding of each kind of disaster might also help in identifying the onset of a disastrous event, so that a trained person can undertake some key actions, during the initial few moments. This could have a major impact on the final outcome in terms of amount of final loss. There are two main types of disaster. Natural These are primarily natural events. It is possible that certain human activities could maybe aid in some of these events, but, by and large, these are mostly natural events. These disasters include floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, Typhoons, Cyclones and volcano eruptions that can have immediate impacts on human health, as well as secondary impacts causing further death and suffering from floods causing landslides, earthquakes resulting in fires, tsunamis causing widespread flooding and typhoons sinking ferries Pandemic emergencies: Are a type of natural disasters. These emergencies involve a sudden onset of a contagious disease that affects health but also disrupts services and businesses, bringing economic and social costs. Risk: Risk is a measure of the expected losses due to a hazardous event of a particular magnitude occurring in a given area over a specific time period. Risk is a function of the probability of particular occurrences and the losses each would cause. The level of risk depends on: Nature of the Hazard Vulnerability of the elements which are affected Economic value of those elements Vulnerability: It is defined as the extent to which a community, structure, service, and/or geographic area is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of particular hazard, on account of their nature, construction and proximity to hazardous terrain or a disaster prone area Hazards Hazards are defined as Phenomena that pose a threat to people, structures, or economic assets and which may cause a disaster. They could be either manmade or naturally occurring in our environment. The extent of damage in a disaster depends on: 1) The impact, intensity and characteristics of the phenomenon and 2) How people, environment and infrastructures are affected by that phenomenon Any disaster can interrupt essential services, such as the provision of health care, electricity, water, sewage/garbage removal, transportation and communications. The interruption can seriously affect the health, social and economic networks of local communities and countries. Disasters have a major and long-lasting impact on people long after the immediate effect has been mitigated. Poorly planned relief activities can have a significant negative impact not only on the disaster victims but also on donors and relief agencies. So it is important that physical therapists join established programs rather than attempting individual efforts. Local, regional, national and international organizations are all involved in mounting a humanitarian response to disasters. Each will have a prepared disaster management plan. These plans cover prevention, preparedness, relief and recovery. Disaster management cycle Disaster management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters. Disaster management is linked with sustainable development, particularly in relation to vulnerable Complex emergencies: These emergencies involve a break-down of authority, looting and attacks on strategic installations. Complex emergencies include conflict situations and war.

Man Made These are mostly caused due to certain human activities. The disasters themselves could be unintentional, but, are caused due to some intentional activity. Most of these are due to certain accidents which could have been prevented if sufficient precautionary measures were put in place. Nuclear Leaks Chemical Leaks/Spill over Terrorist Activities Structural Collapse Man Made emergencies can be further sub divided into: Environmental emergencies: These emergencies include technological or industrial accidents, usually involving hazardous material, and occur where these materials are produced, used or transported. Large forest fires are generally included in this definition because they tend to be caused by humans.

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Green Technologies: Smart and Efficient Management-2012, SLIET Longowal people such as those with disabilities, elderly people, children and other marginalized groups.

1. Disaster preparation These activities are designed to minimize loss of life and damage for example by removing people and property from a threatened location and by facilitating timely and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Preparedness is the main way of reducing the impact of disasters. Community-based preparedness and management should be a high priority in physical therapy practice management. 2. Disaster response/ relief This is a coordinated multi-agency response to reduce the impact of a disaster and its long-term results. Relief activities include rescue, relocation, providing food and water, preventing disease and disability, repairing vital services such as telecommunications and transport, providing temporary shelter and emergency health care. 3. Disaster recovery Once emergency needs have been met and the initial crisis is over, the people affected and the communities that support them are still vulnerable. Recovery activities include rebuilding infrastructure, health care and rehabilitation. These should blend with development activities, such as building human resources for health and developing policies and practices to avoid similar situations in future. 4. Disaster mitigation Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of hazards through proactive measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs. Disaster prevention & safety measures These are activities designed to provide permanent protection from disasters. Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters, can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life and injury can be mitigated with good evacuation plans, environmental planning and design standards. In January 2005, 168 Governments adopted a 10-year global plan for natural disaster risk reduction called the Hyogo Framework. It offers guiding principles, priorities for action, and practical means for achieving disaster resilience for vulnerable communities as follows.

Hyogo framework The HFA is the first plan to explain, describe and detail the work that is required from all different sectors and actors to reduce disaster losses. It was developed and agreed on with the many partners needed to reduce disaster risk - governments, international agencies, disaster experts and many others bringing them into a common system of coordination. The HFA outlines five priorities for action, and offers guiding principles and practical means for achieving disaster resilience. Its goal is to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 by building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. This means reducing loss of lives and social, economic, and environmental assets when hazards strike. Priority Action 1: Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Priority Action 2: Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning. Priority Action 3: Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels. Priority Action 4: Reduce the underlying risk factors. Disaster safety measures Earthquakes: Earthquakes usually give no warning at all. An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and sometimes displacement of the ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides, and occasionally volcanic activity. Before the earthquake is the time to formulate a safety plan for you and your family. Consider the following safety measures: Always keep the following in a designated place: bottled drinking water, non-perishable food, first-aid kit, torchlight and battery-operated radio with extra batteries. Teach family members how to always turn off electricity, gas, etc. When not required. Identify places in the house that can provide cover during an earthquake. Safeguard your house: Consider equipping your house with earthquake-safety measures. Reinforcing the foundation and frame could make your house quake resistant. During quake: Earthquakes give no warning at all. Sometimes, a loud rumbling sound might signal its arrival a few seconds ahead of time. Those few seconds could give you a chance to move to a safer location. Take cover. Go under a table or other sturdy furniture; kneel, sit, or stay close to the floor. Try to run outside if you are inside. Never use the lift.

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Green Technologies: Smart and Efficient Management-2012, SLIET Longowal If outdoor move into the open, away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. Do not re-enter damaged buildings and stay away from badly damaged structures. If in a moving vehicle: Move to a clear area away from buildings, trees, overpasses, or utility wires, stop, and stay in the vehicle. Once the shaking has stopped, proceed with caution. Avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged by the quake. After the quake After the first tremor, be prepared for aftershocks. Though less intense, aftershocks cause additional damages and may bring down weakened structures. Aftershocks can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake. Check for fire hazards and use torchlights instead of candles or lanterns. Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals Look for electrical system damages - if you see sparks, broken wires, or if you smell burning of amber, turn off electricity at the main. Cyclone: A cyclone is a storm accompanied by high speed whistling and howling winds. It brings torrential rains. Before the cyclone get to know the nearest cyclone shelter / safe houses and the safest route to reach these shelters, prepare an emergency kit containing: non perishable food items and first aid kit. Check the roof and cover clear your property of loose materials that could blow about and cause injury or damage during extreme winds. If your area is prone to storm surge, locate safe high ground or shelter. When the cyclone strikes disconnect all electrical appliances and turn off gas. After the cyclone: Check for gas leaks. Do not use electric appliances, if wet. Beware of fallen power lines, damaged bridges, buildings and trees, and do not enter the floodwaters. Floods: A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. If your area is flood-prone, consider alternative building materials. Have an emergency kit. Keep vigil on flood warning given by local authorities. Dont believe in rumours and dont panic. Fire accidents: Pull the fire alarm near the closest exit, if available, or raise an alarm by warning others. Leave the building by the stairs. Never take the elevator during fire. Leave the door closed but do not lock it. To keep the smoke out, put a wet towel in the space at the bottom of the door. Call the emergency fire service number and tell them your apartment number and let them know you are trapped by smoke and fire. It is important that you listen and do what they tell you. Stay calm and wait for someone to rescue you. Dont use water to put out a grease fire. Landslide: A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments. Be aware that intense, short bursts of rain may be particularly dangerous, especially after longer periods of heavy rainfall and damp weather. In areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to do so. Listen for any unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and for a change from clear to muddy water. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly. Be especially alert when driving. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible debris flows. Conclusion Drought, Floods, Cyclones, landslides and Earthquake are the major types of disaster phenomena occurring in the region. Almost all parts of India experience one or more of these disasters. Based on the frequency of occurrence and vulnerability to natural disasters, the entire country may be classified into three broad categories. The first is the Himalayan region spreading over 500000 square km. This region is prone mainly to Earthquakes,, Landslides, Avalanche and bush fire. The second category is the north and central Indian Plains. The region is having some great river systems and a rich source of water for drinking and irrigation. However, these rivers, during the monsoon period usually carry water in excess to their capacity causing floods. The same region also experiences droughts when the rainfall is less. The third category is the great coastline of India which is prone to devastating cyclonic winds emerging in the oceans. At times of disaster, impacts and losses can be substantially reduced if authorities, individuals and communities in hazard-prone areas are well prepared and ready to act and are equipped with the knowledge and capacities for effective disaster management. References
[1] http://karimganj.nic.in/disaster.htm [2] http://www.icm.tn.gov.in/dengue/disaster.htm [3] http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/ [4] http://www.unisdr.org/jobs [5] http://ndma.gov.in/ndma/index.htm

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