DISASTER MANAGEMENT

AN OVERVIEW
BY
BRIG. D.V.RAO, V.S.M., (Retd)
CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT & DISASTERS
A. P.A.R.D.

Damage
Potential

CYCLONE

Society

Poorer than
before

Elements at Risk

Huge Losses/
Damages

Disruption of
Normal life &
Development
Suffers

Damage
Potential

HAZARD

Awareness- Effect
on Elements

Society
Action
Plans

Quicker
Recovery

Elements at Risk

Huge Losses/
Damages

Reduced
Losses

Communities
More
Resilient
More Stable Society

Damage
Potential

HAZARD

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

Stages of Disaster
Cyclone

BEFORE
Jan - Apr

DURING
MAY

AFTER
June- Oct

Well Before
Weeks-Months
Just Before Hours

Rescue

Actual Time
Period

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
Assessment

Planning

Institutional
Framework

Information
System

Resource
Base

Warning
Systems

Response
Mechanisms

Public
Education
and Training

Rehearsals

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
Everything in the
flood plain.
Earthen or soluble
structures
Buried services
and utilities
Food stores
Crops and
livestock

Main Mitigation
Strategies.
Land use control
Engineering of
strictures
Elevation of structures
Flood control
structures
Reforestation projects
(watershed
management)

Strong Winds
Elements at Risk
Lightweight structures.
Elevated utilities
(Power and
communication lines)
Fishing boats and
other maritime
industries.

Main Mitigation
Strategies.
Structural
engineering
measures.
Planting of
windbreaks.