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INTRODUCTION

A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving


widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the
ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the consequence of inappropriately managed risk.
These risks are the product of a combination of both hazards and vulnerability. Hazards that strike
in areas with low vulnerability will never become disasters, as is the case in uninhabited regions.
Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits more than 95 percent of all
deaths caused by hazards occur in developing countries, and losses due to natural hazards are 20
times greater (as a percentage of GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized countries.

CHARACTERSTICS OF DISASTER
Disasters are not simply Scale emergencies. Disasters have a number of distinct characteristics
which are normally not seen during emergencies.

1.

THE SCOPE WILL NOT BE KNOWN

With most emergencies, you can look at the situation and determine what happened, whats
happening, what needs to happen and what the appropriate response would Be. With a disaster,
the death and utter devastation that you see may not be the worst hit area. As a matter of fact,
disasters often see that the hardest-hit areas are the last to be responded to because they are
unable to call for help. If you dont know the ENTIRE scope, you cant respond appropriately.
Fire departments are often trained to drive by an injured child after an earthquake; if you
havent checked your entire area, you may help the child, but miss the 50 kids trapped in a
burning school further along.
2 COMMUNCIATIONS WILL FAIL
Every disaster report includes communications failures. Communications failure are almost a
defining characteristic of disasters and initial communications failures often indicate you are
About to lose control

of the situation.

Emergency officials fail

to realize that simple

communications failures are an indication that things are likely to get worse and continue with
their routine emergency response. The problem is, there are multiple types of communications
failures that can be experienced. If you dont know exactly how many types of communications
failure exist, your efforts to fix communications failures may not work. Millions of dollars have
been spent to increase interoperability, but communications failures continue because the one
failure you fixed wasnt actually the main problem.

3. SITUATION CONSTANTLY CHANGING


In an emergency situation, the arrival of the emergency services generally makes
an immediate and marked improvement in the situation.
In a disaster, the initial
emergency response may be entirely appropriate (or inappropriate if they scope
isnt known), but rapid changes in the situation may result in a need to rapidly
change the direction or even the type of response. The emergency response may
have been entirely appropriate for the crash of the jet into the World Trade Centre,
but with the second crash, in one second, the response to the first tower now
needs to be reoriented to multiple events. The incident at the Pentagon means
your response must be reassessed again. The collapse of the first tower means
your response has to completely change in an instant. The crash of the second
tower results in further requirements to change. Every time the situation changes,
you have to reorient yourself to the new situation, determine the scope, reorganize
the response and redeploy.

4. EMERGENCY SERVICES AFFECTED


In emergencies, the emergency responders are unaffected by the event or the incident only
has minor impact. The fire hall is still standing, the police are responding, and the ambulance
service has all their gear. In disasters, the fire hall is destroyed (burned by a wildfire, destroyed
by the tornado, flooded by the hurricane), the police are unable to respond (roads are flooded,
blocked, washed out or white-out conditions are occurring), and the paramedics are unable to
concentrate on their job (home destroyed, spouse missing, children injured, parents missing, co-worker dead). Assumptions about response are based on normal conditions. In a blizzard with
white-out conditions, the ambulance is waiting for the fire department to assist them, the fire
department is overwhelmed with calls, the police car is hung up on a windrow, the snow plows
cant deploy because they might hit a drifted-over car and the sanding truck has slid off the
road. If fire-fighting aircraft are grounded due to extreme winds, why do we think a helicopter
can be dispatched to rescue people?

5. UNUSUAL RESPONSE
If your normal response is not working and lives are at risk, then almost any alternative wil
be considered. Some of the alternatives can be quite innovative; elephants to assist the tow
company, front end loaders and busses driven by fire fighters, beer cans to provide thousands
of people with water,

6.

UNUSUAL LOCATIONS

Along with the unusual response, you will have unusual locations being used; a warehouse or
school room becomes an Emergency Operations Centre. A playground for sand-bagging. An
arena for volunteer coordination. A church for pets and donations. An empty parking lot
becomes a staging area or a triage location or helispot for medical evacuations. A destroyed
building becomes a rest area or command centre. Some locations are required by the
Incident Command System (Incident Command Post, some are pre-planned locations
(helibase, parking lot outside the hospital emergency admitting, or evacuation centre), some
are ad-hoc depending on the needs of the incident (triage, staging area, helispot) and some
locations simply spontaneously develop (media gather, relatives gathering, memorials,
volunteers gathering).

7. USE OF VOLUNTEERS
Normally, for
emergencies,
volunteers
are
sparingly
used
(i.e.
Victim Services) or
discouraged.
In a disaster situation, they become essential to the response.
Attempts to keep volunteers out may cause frustration and anger.
In some cases
the volunteer response has overwhelmed the emergency responders.
If you dont
manage the volunteers and incorporate them in, they will inadvertently interfere with
the response efforts.

TYPES OF DISASTERS
1. EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden breaking and movement of large
sections (tectonic plates) of the earth's rocky outermost crust. The edges of the tectonic plates are
marked by faults (or fractures). Most earthquakes occur along the fault lines when the plates
slide past each other or collide against each other..

2. FLOODS
A flood is an overflow of water that "submerges" land. The EU Floods Directive defines a flood
as a temporary covering by water of land which is usually not covered by water. [9] In the sense of
"flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tides. Flooding may result
from the volume of water within a body of water, such as a river or lake, which overflows
causing the result that some of the water escapes its usual boundaries. While the size of a lake or
other body of water will vary with seasonal changes in precipitation and snow melt, it is not a
significant flood unless the water covers land used by man like a village, city or other inhabited
area, roads, expanses of farmland, etc

3. TSUNAMIS
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Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. Out in the
depths of the ocean, tsunami waves do not dramatically increase in height. But as the waves
travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases. The
speed of tsunami waves depends on ocean depth rather than the distance from the source of the
wave. Tsunami waves may travel as fast as jet planes over deep waters, only slowing down when
reaching shallow waters. While tsunamis are often referred to as tidal waves, this name is
discouraged by oceanographers because tides have little to do with these giant waves.

4. Blizzards
Blizzards are severe winter storms characterized by heavy snow and strong winds. When high
winds stir up snow that has already fallen, it is known as a ground blizzard. Blizzards can impact
local economic activities, especially in regions where snowfall is rare. The Great Blizzard of
1888 affected the United States, when many tons of wheat crops were destroyed, and in Asia,
2008 Afghanistan blizzard and the 1972 Iran blizzard were also significant events.

5. Droughts
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Drought is the unusual dryness of soil, resulting in crop failure and shortage of water and for
other uses which is caused by significant low rainfall than average over a prolonged period. Hot
dry winds, shortage of water, high temperatures and consequent evaporation of moisture from the
ground can contribute to conditions of drought.

6. Sinkholes
When natural erosion or human mining makes the ground too weak to support the structures
built on it, the ground can collapse and produce a sinkhole. For example, the 2010 Guatemala
City sinkhole which killed fifteen people was caused when heavy rain from Tropical Storm
Agatha, diverted by leaking pipes into a pumice bedrock, led to the sudden collapse of the
ground beneath a factory building.

7. Heat waves
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by
high humidity, especially in oceanic climate countries. While definitions vary,[1] a heat wave
is measured relative to the usual weather in the area and relative to normal temperatures for
the season. Temperatures that people from a hotter climate consider normal can be termed a
heat wave.

8. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
A volcanic eruption occurs when hot materials are thrown out of a volcano. Lava, rocks, dust,
ash and gas compounds are some of the materials. Eruptions can come from side branches or
from the top of the volcano. Some eruptions are terrible explosions that throw out huge amounts
of rock and ash and kill many people. Some are quiet outflows of hot lava. Several more
complex types of volcanic eruptions have been described by volcanologists. These are often
named after famous volcanoes where that type of eruption has been seen.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

MITIGATION
Mitigation efforts attempt to prevent hazards from developing into disasters altogether, or to
reduce the effects of disasters when they occur. The mitigation phase differs from the other
phases because it focuses on long-term measures for reducing or eliminating risk Personal
mitigation is mainly about knowing and avoiding unnecessary risks. This includes an assessment
of possible risks to personal/family health and to personal property.
An example of personal non-structural mitigation would be to avoid buying property that is
exposed to hazards, e.g. in a flood plain, in areas of subsidence or landslides. Homeowners may
not be aware of their home being exposed to a hazard until it strikes. Real estate agents may not
come forward with such information. However, specialists can be hired to conduct risk
Assessment surveys. Insurance covering the most prominent identified risks are a common
measure.
Personal structural mitigation in earthquake prone areas include installation of an Earthquake
Valve to instantly shut off the natural gas supply to your property, seismic retrofits of property
and the securing of items inside the building to enhance household seismic safety such as the
mounting of furniture, refrigerators, water heaters and breakables to the walls, and the addition
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of cabinet latches. In flood prone areas houses can be built on poles, like in much of southern
Asia. In areas prone to prolonged electricity black-outs a generator would be an example of an
optimal structural mitigation measure. The construction of storm cellars and fallout shelters are
further examples of personal mitigate actions.

PREPAREDNESS
In the preparedness phase, emergency managers develop plans of action for when the disaster
strikes. Common preparedness measures include:

The Communication plans with easily understood terminology and chain of command

Development and practice of multi-agency coordination and incident command

Proper maintenance and training of emergency services

Development and exercise of emergency population warning methods combined with


emergency shelters and evacuation plans

Stockpiling, inventory, and maintenance of supplies and equipment

An efficient preparedness measure is an emergency operations centre (EOC) combined with a


practiced region-wide doctrine for managing emergencies. Another preparedness measure is to
develop a volunteer response capability among civilian populations. Since, volunteer response is
not always as predictable and plan-able as professional response; volunteers are often deployed
on the periphery of an emergency unless they are a proven and established volunteer
organization with standards and training.
On the contrary to mitigation activities which are aimed at preventing a disaster from occurring,
personal preparedness are targeted on preparing activities to be taken when a disaster occurs, i.e.
planning. Preparedness measures can take many forms. Examples include the construction of
shelters, warning devices, back-up life-line services (e.g. power, water, sewage), and rehearsing
an evacuation plan. Two simple measures prepare you for either sitting out the event or
evacuating. For evacuation, a disaster supplies kit should be prepared and for sheltering purposes
a stockpile of supplies.

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RESPONSE
The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and first
responders in the disaster area. This is likely to include a first wave of core emergency services,
such as fire-fighters, police and ambulance crews. They may be supported by a number of
secondary emergency services, such as specialist rescue teams.
We work in all Phases of Disaster management and through our supported teams we respond in
moments after a disaster hits as well as the other phases to try to reduce the chance of it
happening in the first place or to reduce the impact of a disaster. We can respond worldwide to
LEDCs (Less Economically Developed Countries) as well as MEDCs (More Economically
Developed Countries.

In addition volunteers and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the local Red
Cross branch or St. John Ambulance may provide immediate practical assistance, from first aid
provision to providing tea and coffee. A well rehearsed emergency plan developed as part of the
preparedness phase enables efficient coordination of rescue efforts. Emergency plan rehearsal is

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essential to achieve optimal output with limited resources. In the response phase, medical assets
will be used in accordance with the appropriate triage of the affected victims.
SURVIVAL LAW OF 3S
Sometimes it is useful to remember the survival law of 3s is significant if you consider the
survival profile of the person and the situation and add that to the other important factors in a
survival situation. This works in a displaced wilderness scenario or a disaster, such as
earthquakes in an urban or austere / mountainous environment.
The survival law of 3s is often quoted as:
1. Air

3 Minutes without air

2. Water 3 days without water


3. Food 3 weeks without food

Shelter Finding shelter is important to keep warm or cool and protected.(Some say 3 hours
without shelter in harsh areas)

Health Proper healthy living, nutrition, activity, medical, etc., is needed.

Company / Moral: Some add - 3 months without companny.

Where required, search and rescue efforts commence at a very early stage. Depending on injuries
sustained by the victim, outside temperature, and victim access to air and water, their location,
etc., the vast majority of those severely affected by a disaster may die within 72 hours after
impact. Within a week of a major incident SAR Teams often leave and the incident enters a
Recovery phase. Medical response obviously has obvious important applications in the Direct
Impact phase and the Indirect Impact phase as a secondary result of the incident. (Llike
disease, infection and post trauma treatment.)

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Individuals often feel compelled to volunteer directly after a disaster. Volunteers can be both a
help and a hindrance to emergency management and other relief agencies. A spontaneous,
unaffiliated volunteer can actually harm the effectiveness of coordinated agencies some
earning the term disaster tourists running into an event with preparation, coordination or even
informing anyone of their whereabouts and intentions. However trained and prepared
volunteers under the direction of an organizing agency, such as mobile SAR Disaster Teams, can
provide many benefits to the troubling effects of a disaster.
The response phase of an emergency may commence with a search and rescue phase. However
in all cases the focus will be on fulfilling the basic needs of the affected population on a
humanitarian basis. This assistance may be provided by national and/or international agencies
and organisations. Effective coordination of disaster assistance is often crucial particularly when
many organisations respond and Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) capacity may
be over-stretched and diminished by the disaster itself.
On an individual or personal level, your decision / response can take the shape either of a home
confinement or an evacuation. In a home confinement scenario a you and your family should be
prepared to fend for yourselves in their home for several days without any form of outside
support.
In an evacuation scenario, you and the family evacuates by a vehicle with the maximum amount
of supplies, including a tent for shelter. The scenario could also include equipment for evacuation
on foot with at least three days of supplies and rain-tight bedding a tarpaulin and a bedroll of
blankets, would be the minimum.

RECOVERY
The aim of the recovery phase is to restore the affected area to its previous state. It differs from
the response phase in its focus; recovery efforts are concerned with issues and decisions that
must be made after immediate needs are addressed. Recovery efforts are primarily concerned
with actions that involve rebuilding destroyed property, re-employment, and the repair of other
essential infrastructure.
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An important aspect of effective recovery efforts is taking advantage of a 'window of


opportunity' for the implementation of mitigative measures that might otherwise be unpopular.
Citizens of the affected area are more likely to accept more mitigative changes when a recent
disaster is in fresh memory. The recovery phase starts when the immediate threat to human life
has subsided. In the reconstruction it is recommended to reconsider the location or construction
material of the property.
In long term disasters the most extreme home confinement scenarios like war, famine and severe
epidemics last up to a year. In this situation the recovery will take place inside the home.
Planners for these events usually buy bulk foods and appropriate storage and preparation
equipment, and eat the food as part of normal life. A simple balanced diet can be constructed
from vitamin pills, whole-meal wheat, beans, dried milk, corn, and cooking oil. One should add
vegetables, fruits, spices and meats, both prepared and fresh-gardened, when possible.

4 RS OF RESCUE, RELIEF, REHABILITATION AND


RECONSTRUCTION
The standard time frame of rescue, relief and rehabilitation are usually defined as approximately
7 days, 3 months and 5 years respectively. (This is an approximate rule.)
The rescue operation starts with the local residents, immediately after the earthquake / disaster. It
is usually supported by the trained and skilled staffs from the (Urban) Search and Rescue (SAR)
departments of the governments. These activities can be complemented by the non-government
organizations (NGO).
International Relief Teams arrive in the later stage, usually after 24 hours, depending on the
accessibility, and political relation with the country.

RESCUE PHASE
Rescue phase usually lasts for the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster when the rate of survival of
trapped victims is high. Rescue operations continue for much longer duration, however, after the
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first 2 to 3 day, the resources allocated for rescue are comparatively low since other priorities
take over. Initially Rescue may be 'self-rescue' or the rescue by bystanders or witnesses.

RELIEF PHASE
Relief phase followed immediately after the Rescue phase. During the relief phase, the focus is
to provide basic necessities to victims of the earthquake and to restore social equilibrium.
Detailed assessment of human and other losses is also usually carried out during the relief phase,
which helps in optimal allocation of resources.
Relief phase may last between 1 to 3 months depending on the severity of the earthquake and the
resources of the government. Community, supported by government is usually the central point.
Added resources of the NGOs and the international organization substantiate this effort.

REHABILITATION / RECONSTRUCTION PHASE AIMS


Rehabilitation/reconstruction phase aims to restore the communities to the pre-earthquake status.
During this phase, the social and other infrastructure is restored and economy revitalised. The
rehabilitation/reconstruction phase typically starts at the end of relief phase and may last for
several years.
The short term plans of the recovery process are clearance of debris, building housing units,
restoration of the lifelines and infrastructures, while the long-term objective is to build a safer
and sustainable livelihood. Past experiences show that the efforts are sustainable only with
community / government partnership, while NGOs and international organizations role is
reduced after a certain period.
The Disaster Management Cycle: Therefore, disaster management can be divided in several
phases, (depending on the perspective and definition of each phase).

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PHASAES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT


Disaster Prevention
In most cases, disaster prevention doesn't involve trying to stop a disaster from happening, but
preventing it from having harmful effects on life and property. A flooding river can't be
prevented but an early response from volunteers and agencies such as the Red Cross. They may
evacuate nearby homes and shore the flood area with sandbags. For example, in July 2014,
firefighters in Skippack Township, Pennsylvania, detected an unidentified gas. Rather than wait
until the gas was identified -- a process that could take a full day -- firefighters evacuated 151
homes until the gas dispersed.

Disaster Preparation

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Disaster preparation includes measures an organization uses to make sure people, money,
equipment and supplies are ready when a disaster hits. For this reason, agencies regularly train
volunteers and conduct preparedness drills for disasters that are likely to affect their regions.
They also have plans in place before a disaster strikes so volunteers know which buildings will
be used as evacuation centers. Having food reserves and medical supplies in a safe and secure
area that can be quickly accessed are a part of preparation.

Disaster Relief
The purpose of disaster relief is to reduce the impact of a disaster on people and property and to
reduce its long-term consequences. Evacuating people before a hurricane hits is part of
prevention, while evacuating them after it has hit is part of disaster relief. Relief efforts may
include rescuing and relocating people, providing them with shelter, food, water and emergency
medical treatment. The restoration of vital services such as telecommunication systems,
electricity and road systems sometimes is part of disaster relief.

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Disaster Recovery
After a disaster has passed, victims are vulnerable to aftereffects and the changed circumstances
in their lives. The purpose of recovery is to reduce the risks that come after a disaster and to
restore communities. Depending on the scope of the disaster, recovery may take weeks or years.
After Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in 2013, UNICEF reported that 3,200 schools had
been destroyed and 4.1 million people were displaced four months after the hurricane passed.

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CAUSES OF DISASTERS
Natural disasters happen all over the world, and they can be utterly devastating for peoples lives
and the environments in which they live. Although natural disasters are caused by nature and
there is nothing that we can do to prevent them happening, there are many different natural
causes that lead to natural disasters, and being aware of these causes enables us to be better
prepared when such disasters do arrive.
One common natural disaster is flooding, which occurs when a river bursts its banks and the
water spills out onto the floodplain. This is far more likely to happen when there is a great deal
of heavy rain, so during very wet periods, flood warnings are often put in place. There are other
risk factors for flooding too: steep-sided channels cause fast surface run-off, while a lack of
vegetation or woodland to both break the flow of water and drink the water means that there is
little to slow the floodwater down. Drainage basins of impermeable rock also cause the water to
run faster over the surface.
Earthquakes are another common natural disaster that can cause many fatalities. The movements
of the plates in the earths crust cause them. These plates do not always move smoothly and can
get stuck, causing a build-up of pressure. It is when this pressure is released that an earthquake
occurs. In turn, an earthquake under the water can also cause a tsunami, as the quake causes great
waves by pushing large volumes of water to the surface.
Tsunamis can also be caused by underwater volcanic eruptions. Volcanic eruptions are another
natural disaster, and they are caused by magma escaping from inside the earth. An explosion
takes place, releasing the magma from a confined space, which is why there are often also huge
quantities of gas and dust released during a volcanic eruption. The magma travels up the inside
of the volcano, and pours out over the surrounding area as lava.
One of the most common natural disasters, but also one of the most commonly forgotten, is
wildfires. These take place in many different countries all over the world, particularly during the
summer months, and can be caused by a range of different things. Some of the things that can
start the wildfires can be totally natural, while others can be manmade, but the speed at which
they spread is entirely down to nature..
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IMPACTS OF DISASTER

Deaths
The number of persons whose deaths were directly caused. When final official data is available,
this figure should be included with corresponding observations, for example, when there are
differences between officially accepted figures and those of other sources.

Missing
The number of persons whose whereabouts since the disaster is unknown. It includes people who
are presumed dead, although there is no physical evidence. The data on number of deaths and
number of missing are mutually exclusive and should not be mixed.

Injured, sick
The number of persons whose health or physical integrity is affected as a direct result of the
disaster. This figure does not include victims who die. Those who suffer injuries and or illness if
the event is related to a plague or epidemic, should be included here.

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Affected
The number of persons who suffer indirect or secondary effects related to a disaster. This refers
to the number of people, distinct from victims, who suffer the impact of secondary effects of
disasters for such reasons as deficiencies in public services, commerce, work, or because of
isolation. If the information refers to families, calculate the number of people according to
available indicators

Victims
The number of persons whose goods and/or individual or collective services have suffered
serious damage, directly associated with the event. For example, partial or total destruction of
their homes and goods; loss of crops and/or crops stored in warehouses, etc. If the information
refers to families, calculate the number of people according to available indicators.

Evacuated
The number of persons temporarily evacuated from their homes, work places, schools, hospitals,
etc. If the information refers to families, calculate the number of people according to available
indicators.

Relocated
The number of persons who have been moved permanently from their homes to new sites. If the
information refers to families, calculate the number of people according to available indicators.

Houses Damaged
The number of homes with minor damage, not structural or architectural, which may continue
being lived in, although they may require some repair or cleaning.

Houses destroyed
The number of homes levelled, buried, collapsed or damaged to the extent that they are no longer
habitable.

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Crops and woods (Hectares)


The amount of cultivated or pastoral land or woods destroyed or affected. If the information
exists in another measurement, it should be converted to hectares.

Livestock
The number of animals lost (bovine, pig, ovine, poultry) regardless of the type of event (flood,
drought, epidemic, etc).

Educational centers
The amount of play schools, kindergartens, schools, colleges, universities, training centres etc,
destroyed or directly or indirectly affected by the disaster. Include those that have been used as
temporary shelters.

Hospitals
The number of health centres, clinics, local and regional hospitals destroyed and directly or
indirectly affected by the disaster.

Loss value $
Sum of losses directly caused by the disaster in local currency.

Loss value US$


The equivalent in dollars (US$) of the value of losses in local currency, according to the
exchange rate on the date of the disaster. This figure is useful for comparative evaluations
between databases.

Roads affected (Mts.)


The length of transport networks destroyed and/or rendered unusable, in metres.

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Other losses
A description of other losses not included in the fields of the basic record. For example: religious
buildings and monuments, architectural or cultural heritage buildings, theatres and public
installations, public administration buildings relating to banks, commerce and tourism; vehicles
or buses lost, bridges.

Transport sector
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to the
effects of the disaster on the transport sector: road networks (train or rail), transport stations,
airports, river and sea bridges, sea walls, etc, that have been affected or destroyed.

Communications
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the communication sector: plants and telephone networks, radio and television
stations, post offices and public information offices, internet services, radio telephones and
mobile phones.

Aid organisation installations


Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the emergency response sector, specifically to the aid organisms installations: Fire
fighters and other aid organisms and to entities of public order.

Agriculture and fishing


Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damaged to the Agriculture and Fishing sector: crops, granaries, pastoral zones.

Water supply
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the aqueduct sector: water outlets, water treatment plants, aqueducts and canals
which carry drinking water, storage tanks.
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Sewerage
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the sewage sector: sewage systems and treatment plants.

Education Qualitative field in the database


It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to damages to the Education sector:
everything relating to this sector pre-schools, kindergartens, schools, colleges, universities,
training centres, libraries, cultural centres, etc.

Power/Energy
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the Energy sector: dams, substations, transmission lines, generators, energy
processing plants and combustible stores, pipelines, gas lines, nuclear plants.

Industry
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the Industrial sector: all types and sizes of industry, including agricultural and fishing
plants.

Health Sector
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages to the Health sector: everything related to the health sector, including communication
networks, emergency networks (ambulances), casualty centres, etc.

Other
Qualitative field in the database. It has two options: Affected or Not Affected. It relates to
damages which do not correspond to any of the fields in the basic record.

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ROLE PLAYERS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT


Mayor
The mayor is responsible at the administrative level for the smooth running of the response
effort. He/she convenes the representatives of the various public services who make up the
disaster management team. In view of the mayors administrative responsibility, the municipal
council may call him/her to account for the overall management of the response effort.

Fire service
The fire service is the linchpin in disaster response. The fire chief is charged with the operational
management of the response effort. Everything that occurs in the disaster area falls under his/her
authority. As a member of the disaster management team, the fire chief puts the teams decisions
into practice. He/she also coordinates the work of the emergency services. In the disaster area,
the fire services first duty is to save people and animals. Firefighters also put out fires, of course,
and conduct tests to find out whether any hazardous substances have been released.

Regional accident and disaster medical teams


Anyone injured in a disaster will require medical assistance as soon as possible. Ambulance
paramedics will usually provide first aid and stabilise the injured so that they can be transported
to hospital.

Police
The police will ensure that the fire and ambulance services can do their job. They will cordon off
the disaster area, manage the traffic, and sometimes set up a safety zone around the disaster area.
If victims are difficult to identify, the police will deploy the disaster identification team,
consisting of experts convened on an ad hoc basis. The disaster identification team is part of the
Dutch Police Services Agency (KLPD).

Army
The Ministry of Defence can deploy military personnel to respond to a disaster. Around 4,600 of
them are available to do so. Their duties include evacuating people.

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Municipal services
Behind the scenes, several municipal services play an important role in disaster response,
especially when it comes to the after-effects. If whole streets or neighbourhoods have to be
evacuated, for instance, the municipality is responsible for the residents immediate welfare.
Municipal services will assist in other practical ways, such as providing food and temporary
shelter; they may also offer psychological care. In addition, the municipality will register the
victims and may help them with uninsured damage.

Other services
Which services take part in the response effort will depend on the type of disaster. In the case of
flooding caused by burst dykes or heavy rainfall, the water authorities will play a role. If a
disaster occurs off the coast, the Coastguard will be involved. But other services will also often
take part. The Red Cross cares for the injured in disasters. Canine search-and-rescue teams are
deployed in the search for victims trapped under rubble. And the Salvation Army provides
victims and emergency workers with soup and sandwiches.

INTRODUCTION
Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by area and the 41st most populous country. It is located
in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by China and to the south, east, and west by India.
Nepal is separated from Bangladesh by the narrow Indian Siliguri Corridor and from Bhutan by
the Indian state of Sikkim. Kathmandu is the nation's capital city and largest metropolis.
26

The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the
highest point on Earth, Mount Everest (Nepali: Sagarmth). More than 250 peaks over
20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level are located in Nepal.[11] The southern Terai region is fertile
and humid.
Hinduism is practiced by about 81.3% of Nepalis, the highest percentage of any country.
Buddhism is linked historically with Nepal and is practiced by 9% of its people, followed by
Islam at 4.4%, Kiratism 3.1%, Christianity 1.4%,[2] and animism 0.4%.[12] A large portion of the
population, especially in the hill region, may identify themselves as both Hindu and Buddhist,
which can be attributed to the syncretic nature of both faiths in Nepal.[13]
A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from
1768when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms]until 2008. A decade-long
Civil War involving the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), followed by weeks of mass protests
by all major political parties, led to the 12-point agreement [14] of 22 November 2005. The ensuing
elections for the 1st Nepali Constituent Assembly on 28 May 2008 overwhelmingly favored the
abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a federal multiparty representative
democratic republic. Despite continuing political challenges, this framework remained in place,
with the 2nd Nepali Constituent Assembly elected in 2013 in an effort to create a new
constitution.
On September 20, 2015, a new constitution (Nepali: ) was announced by
President Ram Baran Yadav in the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly was
transformed into a legislative parliament. The new constitution established Nepal as a federal
democratic country by making seven unnamed states
Nepal is a developing country with a low income economy, ranking 145th of 187 countries on
the Human Development Index (HDI) in 2014. It continues to struggle with high levels of hunger
and poverty. Despite these challenges, Nepal has been making steady progress, with the
government making a commitment to graduate the nation from least developed country status by
2022

27

Gorkha District, a part of Gandaki Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal and
connected historically with the creation of the modern Nepal and the name of the legendary
Gurkha soldiers. The district, with Pokharithok (Gorkha), later known as Prithivi Narayan
Nagarpalika as its district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610 km and has a population (2001)
of 288,134.[1] It is the location of the Manakamana Temple.[2] Also, the temples of great sage
Gorakh Nath and goddess Gorakh Kali temple is located in district, after which the district got its
name. Four major rivers run within and along it, they are Chepe, Daraudi, Marsyangdi and Budhi
Gandaki.

ABOUT DISASTER
The Gorkha (Nepal)earthquake(M
w7.8) occurred at 11:56 NST on 25 April 2015 with an epicentre 77 km (48 miles) northwest of
Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, that is home to nearly 1.5 million inhabitants, and at a
focal depth of approximately 10-15km (Figure 1). This earthquake was the one of the most
powerful earthquakes to strike Nepal since the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake (Mw8.1). Based on
the information by the United Nations, eight million people have been affected by the massive
2015 earthquake in Nepal, more than a quarter of the Nepals population.
The April 25, 2015 earthquake occurred about 200 km west of the 1934 earthquake.Nepal
,which constitutesa part of Himalaya region, was also hit by other earthquakes occurred in 1964,
1988 during the instrumental period. The region belongs to Himalaya Arc, which was suffered
very large earthquakes with a moment magnitude of 7.5 or more in 1100, 1505, 1555, 1724,
1803, 1833, 1897, 2005, 1947, 1950,
2005, 1833 during the instrumental period and period, respectively (Bilham, 2004, 2009; Bilham
et al., 2001
The earthquake mainly resulted in about loss of more than 7400 people as of May 4, 2015and it
may rise again in the coming days as collapsed and heavy damaged structures cleared away.
Particularly in Nepal, historic buildings and temples were destroyed, leaving massive piles of
debris in streets.

28

Damage to buildings and historical monuments


This earthquake induced many mass movements in mountainous
areas and resulted in landslide lakes, which could be another cause of secondary disasters. The
mass movements and deformation of weathered soft soil cover are the main causes of the
collapse or heavy
damage to buildings and heavy casualties in mountainous areas (Figure 3a). In addition, the
earthquake also triggered a major avalanche on the south slopes of Mt. Everest, located
approximately 160 km east-northeast of the epicentre. The avalanche destroyed the base
camp of climbers. According to reports, the avalanche killed at least 17 people and injured 61
others. The earthquake also triggered avalanches in Himalayas, killing some people. Some other
adjoining countries such as India, China and Bangladesh were also affectedby the
Earthquake with causalities

29

Damage
Travellers waiting on airport tarmac for flights after aftershocks forced the airport to open all exit
doors.

Damage in the Basantpur Durbar Square.

Before Earthquake

Thousands of houses were destroyed across many districts of the country, with entire villages
flattened, especially those near the epicenter.
The Tribhuvan International Airport serving Kathmandu was closed immediately after the quake,
but was re-opened later in the day for relief operations and, later, for some commercial flights.[95]
It subsequently shut down operations sporadically due to aftershocks, and on 3 May was closed
temporarily to the largest planes for fear of runway damage. Strong aftershocks lead the airport
to open all boarding-lounge exit doors onto the tarmac allowing travellers who were waiting post
security and immigration to flee to the open spaces of the runway tarmac in aftershocks. Many
travellers remained outside as planes were delayed and the Airport swelled to capacity. The
airport facilities suffered damage and there was no running water for travellers waiting in airport
lounges nor operating toilets. Airport workers were not at their posts, either from becoming
earthquake casualties or because they were dealing with its after effects.
Flights resumed from Pokhara, to the west of the epicentre, on 27 April.

Building damage as a result of the earthquake


Several of the churches in the Kathmandu valley were destroyed. As Saturday is the principal
day of Christian worship in Nepal, 500 people were reported to have died in the collapses.[100]

30

Several pagodas on Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, collapsed,[26] as
did the Dharahara tower, built in 1832; the collapse of the latter structure killed at least 180
people,[102][103][104][105] Manakamana Temple in Gorkha, previously damaged in an earlier quake,
tilted several inches further. The northern side of Janaki Mandir in Janakpur was reported to have
been damaged.[106] Several temples, including Kasthamandap, Panchtale temple, the top levels of
the nine-story Basantapur Durbar, the Dasa Avtar temple and two dewals located behind the
Shiva Parvati temple were demolished by the quake. Some other monuments including the Taleju
Bhawani Temple partially collapsed.
The top of the Jaya Bageshwari Temple in Gaushala and some parts of the Pashupatinath Temple,
Swyambhunath, Boudhanath Stupa, Ratna Mandir, inside Rani Pokhari, and Durbar High School
have been destroyed
In Patan, the Char Narayan Mandir, the statue of Yog Narendra Malla, a pati inside Patan Durbar
Square, the Taleju Temple, the Hari Shankar, Uma Maheshwar Temple and the Machhindranath
Temple in Bungamati were destroyed. In Tripureshwar, the Kal Mochan Ghat, a temple inspired
by Mughal architecture, was completely destroyed and the nearby Tripura Sundari also suffered
significant damage. In Bhaktapur, several monuments, including the Fasi Deva temple, the
Chardham temple and the 17th century Vatsala Durga Temple, were fully or partially destroyed.

Outside the Valley, the Manakamana Temple in Gorkha, the Gorkha Durbar, the Palanchok
Bhagwati, in Kabhrepalanchok District, the Rani Mahal in Palpa District, the Churiyamai in
Makwanpur District, the Dolakha Bhimsensthan in Dolakha District, and the Nuwakot Durbar
suffered varying degrees of damage. Historian Prushottam Lochan Shrestha stated, "We have lost
most of the monuments that had been designated as World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu,
31

Bhaktapur and Lalitpur District, Nepal. They cannot be restored to their original states." The
northeastern parts of India also received major damage. Heavy shocks were felt in the states
Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and others. Huge damage was caused to the property
and the lives of the people.

Economic loss

32

Road damage in Nepal


Concern was expressed that harvests could be reduced or lost this season as people affected by
the earthquake would have only a short time to plant crops before the onset of the Monsoon rains
Nepal, with a total Gross Domestic Product of USD$19.921 billion (according to a 2012
estimate),[111] is one of Asia's poorest countries, and has little ability to fund a major
reconstruction effort on its own.[112] Even before the quake, the Asian Development Bank
estimated that it would need to spend about four times more than it currently does annually on
infrastructure through to 2020 to attract investment.[112] The U.S. Geological Survey initially
estimated economic losses from the temblor at 9 percent to 50 percent of gross domestic product,
with a best guess of 35 percent. "Its too hard for now to tell the extent of the damage and the
effect on Nepals GDP", according to Hun Kim, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) official.
The ADB said on the 28th that it would provide a USD$3 million grant to Nepal for immediate
relief efforts, and up to USD$200 million for the first phase of rehabilitation

Damaged house in ChaurikharkaRajiv Biswas, an economist at a Colorado-based consultancy,


said that rebuilding the economy will need international effort over the next few years as it could
"easily exceed" USD$5 billion, or about 20 percent of Nepal's.

Social effects
33

It was reported that the survivors were preyed upon by human traffickers involved in supply of
girls and women to the brothels of South Asia. It was the worst nightmare phase for the people of
Nepal who were in a state of fear.[114] The most affected were the poor communities who lost
their homes.[115]

Minorities/Racial element

Single women face daunting challenges in obtaining resources after the quake.
In bitter fight for supplies, single women have had very little access to post-quakes relief as
dropped or handed out supplies are hoarded by males, where rapes and fear of rapes block
material aid and healthcare services from reaching them, according to a report by the Inter-party
Womens Alliance (IPWA).[116] Additionally, the earthquake has hit certain minorities, TibetoBurman (Oriental) races were hardest hit as they tend to inhabit the higher slopes of mountains
as opposed to the central valleys, and thus are harder to access, less educated and connected, and
are considered lower caste within Nepali society. Malnutrition in children, where 41 percent of
children under five were stunted, 29 percent were underweight and 11 percent were emaciated
according to UNICEF before the quake, has worsened considerably some 3 months after the
quake according to a survey, with the most undernourished being Tamang and Chepang peoples.

Rescue and relief


About 90 percent of soldiers from the Nepalese Army were sent to the stricken areas in the
aftermath of the earthquake under Operation Sankat Mochan, with volunteers mobilized from
other parts of the country.[120] Rainfall and aftershocks were factors complicating the rescue
efforts, with potential secondary effects like additional landslides and further building collapses

34

being concerns. Impassable roads and damaged communications infrastructure posed substantial
challenges to rescue efforts.[121] Survivors were found up to a week after the earthquake.
As of 1 May 2015, international aid agencies like Mdecins Sans Frontires (Doctors Without
Borders) and the Red Cross were able to start medically evacuating the critically wounded by
helicopter from outlying areas, initially cut-off from the capital city, Kathmandu,[17] and treating
others in mobile and makeshift facilities.[125][126] There was concern about epidemics due to the
shortage of clean water, the makeshift nature of living conditions and the lack of toilets.
Emergency workers were able to identify four men who had been trapped in rubble, and rescue
them, using advanced heartbeat detection. The four men were trapped in up to ten feet of rubble
in the village of Chautara, north of Kathmandu. An international team of rescuers from several
countries using FINDER devices found two sets of men under two different collapsed buildings.
Volunteers used crisis mapping to help plan emergency aid work. Public volunteers from around
the world added details into online maps. Information was mapped from data input from social
media, satellite pictures] and drones of passable roads, collapsed houses, stranded, shelterless and
starving people, who needed help, and from messages and contact details of people willing to
help.[134] On-site volunteers verified these mapping details wherever they could to reduce errors.
First responders, from Nepalese citizens to the Red Cross, the Nepal army and the United
Nations used this data. The Nepal earthquake crisis mapping utilized experience gained and
lessons learned about planning emergency aid work from earthquakes in Haiti and Indonesia.[135]
India decided to donate Nepal with $1 Billion. This money was supposed to be donated this
much money directly and also via indirect sources like Materials to build it cities back. India's
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj saidI am happy to announce Government of India's
pledge for Nepal's post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepali Rupees 10,000 crores, equivalent to
one billion US dollars, one fourth of it as Grant,. The International Conference on Nepal's
Reconstruction has been organised by the Nepalese government to raise funds for rebuilding the
country devastated by a powerful earthquake that struck on April 25, killing about 9,000 people
and injuring around 23,000 others besides flattening over five lakh houses.[136]

35

Reports are also coming in of sub-standard relief materials and inedible food being sent to Nepal
by many of the foreign aid agencies.[137][138]
A United States Marine Corps helicopter crashed on 12 May while involved in delivering relief
supplies. The crash occurred at Charikot, roughly 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Kathmandu.
Two Nepalese soldiers and 6 American Marines died in the crash.[139]
Need-fulfillment app, Getmii (app), launched a special pilot version in partnership with the Red
Cross to double daily blood donors at the Kathmandu donation center using the app.[140]
Imaging technologies such as satellites and smartphones, were instrumental to relief efforts in
Nepal

Repair and reconstruction


UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture began strengthening damaged monuments in danger of
collapsing before the monsoon season. Subsequent restoration of collapsed structures, including
historic houses is planned. Architectural drawings exist that provide plans for reconstruction.
36

According to UNESCO, more than 30 monuments in the Kathmandu Valley collapsed in the
quakes, and another 120 incurred partial damage.Repair estimates are $160 million to restore
1,000 damaged and destroyed monasteries, temples, historic houses, and shrines across the
country. The destruction is concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. UNESCO designated seven
groups of multi-ethnic monuments clustered in the valley as a single World Heritage Site,
including Swayambhu, the Durbar squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, and the Hindu
temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan. Damaged in the quakes were the structures in the
three Durbar squares, the temple of Changu Narayan, and the 1655 temple in Sankhu. Drones fly
above cultural heritage sites to provide 3D images of the damage to use for planning repairs.

Precautions for earthquake


What to Do Before an Earthquake

37

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight,

and extra batteries at home.


Learn first aid.
Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake.
Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).
Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor.
Learn the earthquake plan at your school or workplace.

What to Do During an Earthquake

Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.
If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building, stand in a doorway,
or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside

doors.
If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall.
Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on

you).
Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don't mix.
If you're in a car, stop the car and stay inside the car until the earthquake stops.
Don't use elevators (they'll probably get stuck anyway).

What to Do After an Earthquake

Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.
Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves.
Check for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave

immediately, and report it to the authorities (use someone else's phone).


Turn on the radio. Don't use the phone unless it's an emergency.
38

Stay out of damaged buildings.


Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from

cutting your feet.


Be careful of chimneys (they may fall on you).
Stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and seiches sometimes hit after the ground has

stopped shaking.
Stay away from damaged areas.
If you're at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the instructions of the person in

charge.
Expect aftershocks.

Conclusion
Natural disasters were few and rare in the past, but has become more frequent and devastating
recently. This is mainly due to the 'Modern' man indulging in all sorts of practices which are
against natural laws. We human beings must learn how to respect Nature and should not meddle
with the forces of Nature. If we do, it will bring calamity sooner or later. This is one lesson that
we have not learnt so far. Even the modern scientist is sometimes blind to this idea. If you want
to cut down the forests and build houses, there will be famine. It rains too much in some other
part of the country or globe resulting in floods. Climate changes happen in the normal course, but
when we tinker with Nature we see that climate changes are unusual and monsoon advances
39

earlier than normal or later than normal months and this results in disaster again. Even the plants
start giving grains, pulses or fruits out of course and the quality of the products are greatly
affected. Man suffers again.
So the lesson is not to interfere with Nature any time and lead a peaceful life
Natural disasters, however powerful and sudden they may be, are not incapable of being guarded
against. The modern technology has given enough gadgets to people for forecasting, and
lessening if not totally preventing heavy damages inflicted upon by the natural disasters. Only
requirement is that people must take interest in getting as much awareness as possible about the
safeguard measures. It is also important to see that we do not contribute to natural disasters by
polluting the environment and by not living in resonance with nature.
They are unpredictable and cause alot of damage and destruction to life and property but if they
are prepared for and people are aware of their consequences, the impact would be less.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://en.wikipedia.org/
www.ndmindia.nic.in
www.wcpt.org
40

www.disastermgmt.org
cbse.nic.in/
www.geo.mtu.edu
www.hko.gov.hk

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