SECTION

Introduction to
Disasters

CHAPTER

Disasters: Concept and Overview

GOAL
This chapter presents the concepts and overview of the disasters.
It discusses in detail the meaning of disaster and explains global
and Indian scenario. Boxes are provided with recent information
pertaining to the topics.
OBJECTIVES
1. Develop an awareness of disasters.
2. Explains the historical perspectives of the disasters.
3. Understand Global and Indian scenario.
INTRODUCTION
Disasters are affecting mankind form ages. The disaster event
concerns every community and no community is immune from it.
According to the Greek Philosopher Empedocles, the universe consist
of five elements the Earth, Fire, Air, Sun and Water from which
come the manifestation of violence such as earthquake, volcanoes,
cyclones, droughts and floods. There were millions of disasters took
place in last few decades. Peoples and properties are at risk not only
from man-made disasters but also
natural disasters. Recent examples
Box 1.1
are earthquake, tsunami as well as Mumbai terrorist attacks
Bhopal gas tragedy which killed on 26 November 2008
thousands of people.
killed at least 173 people
Disaster is trail of devastation and injured at least 308
which leaves behind people in to a (Press Information Bureau
state of confusion, helplessness and - Govt of India)
suffering. It disrupts the ordinary Source: Press information Bureau
life of people, disorganizes public Govt of India

Section I

Introduction to Disasters

services and causes physical damage. Natural disasters often increase

morbidity and mortality rates. Regular channel of communication
and life support services like medical facilities are jeopardized in
the event of a disaster. People suffer from mental shock, panic
and confusion prevails. A prompt response must provide first aid
and organize a system of care to victims before they are moved to
hospitals. Emergency medical assistance is and should be an integral
part of the overall disaster management approach. The treatment of
the wounded and injured in the immediate after math of a calamity
significantly reduces the number of deaths and disabilities and brings
about recovery.
Disasters triggered by natural hazards have claimed more than
600,000 lives and affected more than 2.4 billion people worldwide
over the past few decades. In fact the human toll and economic losses
have escalated. Recognizing the need of the hour it has been felt
that our efforts to reduce vulnerability needs to be accelerated and
incorporated in any developmental planning at the global as well as
national level. India as a nation is prone to various hazards due to its
unique geoclimatic conditions. About 60% of the landmass is prone
to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone
to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68%
of the area is susceptible to drought.
Experience and knowledge of the On May 17, 2008 China
past shows that when attention has suffered from massive
been given to adequate preparedness attack of earthquake of
measures, the loss of life and property 6.1 richter scale and
has considerably reduced. Therefore, killed more than 50,000
disaster risk reduction activities is people including school
the best available options. So, India children (Sakal, Pune
as a nation is strongly adhering to May 18, 2008)
incorporate the culture of timely
Box 1.2
Earthquake of 7.0 magnitude occured at HaitiUSA on
12/01/2010 at least 52 after shocks recorded 3 million peoples
affected, 2,30,000 died 30,000 commercial bldg collapsed.
Source: Press information 6/10/2010

Disasters: Concept and Overview

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
Over the ages, man has ceaselessly endeavored to create himself a
better world. In the process, remarkable progress has been achieved
in science and technology, medicine, agriculture, commerce
and industry, in fact in all spheres of human activity. All these
achievements developed painstaking over generations, however, can
be wiped out in a flash. All it takes is a violent storm, a severe
earthquake, a volcanic eruption, tidal waves or a man- made disaster.
Unfortunately, countries in South-East Asia region frequently witness
such disasters which wreck havoc on already strained economies,
taking a heavy toll of life and property.

Chapter 1

preparedness and mitigation activities in its endeavor by giving strong

emphasis on its institutional and policy framework for disaster risk
reduction.
The importance of disasters as a public health problem is now
widely recognized. We now know much about the cause and nature
of disasters and about populations at risk and the knowledge allows
us to anticipate some of the effects a disaster may have on the public
health of an affected community. Understanding the way that people
are killed and injured in disasters is a prerequisite for preventing or
reducing deaths and injuries during future disasters.
Effective medical and health problems as they arise and delivering
the appropriate interventions at the precise times and places where
they are needed most. After a disaster, the pattern of health care
needs will change-rapidly in sudden impact natural disasters, more
gradually in famine or refugee situations- from casualty and acute
patient care management toward provision of primary health services
(maternal and pediatric health care, services to people with chronic
diseases).
Priorities also shift after the emergency phase from health care
to environmental health concerns, i.e. supplying water, disposing
of excreta and solid waste, ensuring food safety, providing shelter,
attending to personal hygiene needs and vector control, treating
injuries that occur as result of cleanup activities and conducting public
health surveillance. Mental health interventions and rehabilitation
planning are frequently required as well.

Section I

Introduction to Disasters

Today, the world is facing disasters (Table 1.1) shows that number
of disaster events in last century on an unprecedented scale: more
than 255 million people were affected by natural disasters globally
each year, on average, between 1994 and 2003, with a range of
68 million to 618 million. During the same period, these disasters
claimed an average of 58,000 lives annually, with a range of 10,000
to 123,000. In the year 2003, 1 in 25 people worldwide was affected
by natural disasters.
In 2007, 414 natural disasters were reported. They killed 16847
persons, affected more than 211 million others and caused over US$
74.9 billion in economic damages.
In 2005, 675 natural catastrophes were happened, which includes
earthquake (Pakistan) hurricane (Mexico, USA, Caribbean) flood
(India).

MEANING
Disaster means sudden or great misfortune and heavy impact on
community.
The word disaster derives from the 16th century French word
desastre. It is extremely worst situation causes harm and damage
to human life, property and society at large.
DEFINITION
1. The definition given by the organization of economics and
development is: Anything that befalls of ruinous or distressing
nature: a sudden or great misfortune mishap, or misadventure,
a calamity.
Table 1.1:Disaster events from 19001990
Region

Europe
South-East Asia
Africa
America
Source: WHO Bulletin 1991

Number of events
1900-1960 1960-1990
495
384
645
560
850 734
1048 823

Disasters: Concept and Overview

CHANGING CONCEPT OF DISASTERS

The natural disasters of high magnitude and epidemics, which
were earlier considered inevitable disasters or acts of God changed
with scientific development. The concept of disaster changed from
physical force of the events to its magnitude and resultant damage to
social issues with focus on collective ability to meet the requirements
of these situations. The disaster concept is a very complex and
multidimensional phenomena. An event may be a disaster along
certain dimensions such as ecological, economical, material,
physiological or social but not along all of these in any one event.
Often the number of human lives lost is an important criterion

Chapter 1

2. Internationally, the generally accepted definition is An occurrence

arising with little or no warning which causes or threatens serious
disruption of life, and perhaps death or injury to large numbers
of people, and requires therefore a mobilization of effort in excess
of that normally provided by the statutory emergency services?
3. Disaster: Anything that is ruinous or distressing in nature; a
sudden great misfortune, mishap or misadventure; a calamity.
International definition: An occurrence arising with little or no
warning which causes serious disruptions of life to large number
of people and requires mobilization of efforts in excess.
4. Disaster is defined as any occurrence that causes damage,
ecological disruption, loss of human life, deterioration of
health and health services, on a scale sufficient to warrant an
extraordinary response from outside the affected community or
area. The present century has added a new ecological dimension
to the defi
nition of disaster: Chemical and nuclear catastro
phes, oil spills, air, water and soil pollution, desertification, the
greenhouse effect and environmental refuses.
5. Defines a disaster as an occurrence, either natural or man-made
that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victims
cannot alleviate without assistance.
American Red Cross (ARC)
6. An occurrence of a severity and magnitude that normally results
in death, injuries and property damage that cannot be managed
through the routine procedure and resources of government.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Section I

Introduction to Disasters

for defining a disaster. The understanding of social interactions

of a disaster situations and common characteristics of disasters are
crucial for clear understanding to develop plans, policies for disaster
preparedness, prevention and response.
There are no recognizable pattern to disaster events, each disasters
is different to last. All disasters are unpredictable. The amount of
damage from the forces of nature is generally increasing 90% of total
fatalities occur in less developed countries. The most obvious reason
is the rise in the population which is concentrated in less developed
countries.
Natural hazards have always been part of human history. But in
the modern world death and destruction associated with extremes
of nature. Recent emergence of man-made threats arises from
the misapplication (Fig. 1.1 shows that extent of damage during
Earthquake at Bhuj 2001) and failure of technology. People are
now at risk not only from geophysical events, such as earthquake
and floods, but also from industrial explosions, transport accidents,

Fig. 1.1: Damage of house in Bhuj Earthquake2001

Disasters: Concept and Overview

GLOBAL SCENARIO
Each year, on average, disasters worldwide kill more than 600,000
people, and affects more than 2.4 billion people worldwide,
and cause tens of billions of dollars worth in property damage.
Disasters are a global problem, resulting in widespread human
suffering, financial loss, and sometimes political instability. Reducing
disaster losses is a fundamental goal for
most governments. In the last 100 years, BERLIN
(AFP)
1 million people have died in earthquake, Natural disasters
1 million in cyclone, 9 million in floods, killed
over
millions of death from disease. In last 220,000 in 2008
decade, 3 millions of lives were lost in natural
disasters and 800 million people were adversely affected. At the close
of 20th century, more information about disasters and hazards is
being produced than ever before.
INDIAN SCENARIO
India is one of the most disaster prone country in the world. India
manifests natural disasters like floods , earthquake, cyclone, (Fig. 1.2)
world map showing number of disasters worldwide during 1976-2005
droughts regularly due to its variation in geography and climatic
conditions. Communal riots, conflicts, fire, epidemics and other
disasters compound the countrys chronic troubles.
In the decade 1988-97, disasters in India affected on an average
over 24 million people. In 1998, disasters affected 34,112,566 people
in India and killed 9,846. Between 1985 and 1995, disasters caused
an annual economic loss of about US$ 1,883,93 million. The
omnibus disaster situation in the country is worsening. The Central
Water Commission, a nodal government agency, has noted that 11.2
percent of India is flood-prone. In 1998, floods inundated 37 percent
of India.3
A study (Table 1.2) showing distribution of natural disasters by
origin shows that human-made structures, including canals, dams,

Chapter 1

terrorist attacks etc. the year 1984 was clear turning point with several
major industrial accidents, including the release of methyl isocyanides
(MIC) at Bhopal, which alone claimed over 2000 deaths.

10

Section I

Introduction to Disasters

Fig. 1.2: Map showing number of disasters worldwide

Table 1.2: Distribution of natural disasters by origin

1970-
1980-
1990-
2000-
Total
1979 1989 1999 2005 (century)

Hydrometeorological 776 1498 2034 2135 7486

Geological
124 232 325 233 1252
Biological
64 170 361 420 1083
Total
964 1900 2720 2788 9821
Source: Disaster statistics: International strategy for disaster reduction-2005

and embankments, have worsened the flood situation all over the
country. On an average the area affected by floods annually is about
nine million hectares and accounts for one-fifth of global death due
to floods. The countrys 7,516-km coastline is continuously under
high-velocity winds that pummel the east-coast states of Orissa and
Andhra Pradesh every year, causing incalculable damage. Despite a
early warning systems that facilitate early evacuation, cyclones still
kill hundreds and destroy entire fishing fleets and communities every
year.

Disasters: Concept and Overview

INDIA: A PROFILE
As for non-conventional disasters: The cost of road accidents is
equivalent to 1 percent of a countrys GNP and India is no exception.
The transport enable-and-control mechanism in India is about to
crack. Four-wheeled vehicles increased by 23 percent to 4.5 million
between 1990 and 1993 and it have been forecast that 267 million
vehicles will be on the roads by ad 2050.
The country is, on the face of it, (Tables 1.3 and 1.4) shows
the number of disasters and extent of damage by Disasters in India
a dismal picture. With a mounting human cost and a barrage

Chapter 1

Earthquakes raze the northern Himalayan region and the

Deccan plateau in southern and central India. An earthquake in
the Deccan in 1993 killed over 10,000 people. Another earthquake
that hit Jabalpur in central India in May 1997 showed up the dismal
inadequacy of relief and shelter, despite the potential for resource
mobilization. Legal activists point out the need to relate to relief as
a right than as charity. It is estimated that 57 percent of India is
earthquake-prone. Compounding the variety of natural disasters is
the heterogeneity of human-made disasters. Communal and caste
riots pepper the country. The virtual militant-security forces siege
in the Kashmir valley and the north-eastern states has left entire
generations of ordinary people as collateral damage.
India has about 56.3 percent of its total area amounting 3.3
million square kilometer as vulnerable to seismic activity of varying
intensity. India is a land of geographical and climatologically
extremes, so it comes as no surprise that of its total cultivable area
an estimated 28 percent is drought-prone. The earthquake in Gujarat
on 26th January 2001 flattened the Bhuj area resulted in death toll
approx 30,000 and huge economic loss. Seismicity is most serious
natural hazard in India. Earthquakes raze the northern Himalayan
region and the Deccan plateau in southern and central India. An
earthquake in the Deccan in 1993 killed over 10,000 people. Another
earthquake that hit Jabalpur in central India in May 1997 showed
up the dismal inadequacy of relief and shelter, despite the potential
for resource mobilization. Legal activists point out the need to relate
to relief as a right than as charity. It is estimated that 57 percent of
India is earthquake-prone.

11

Source: EMDAT

US, Canada, Mexico and India

Mumbai, India
Orissa, India
North-eastern states, India
Bihar
Assam
South Asia
AP, TN, Kerala, Pondicherry
Bhuj, Gujrat

AprilOctober 2009
26 November 2008
19 September 2008
16 June 2008
25 August 2008
10 September 2007
30 July 2007
26 December 2004
26 January 2001

Swine flu pandemic

Terrorist attack
Climatic: flood
Climatic: flood
Flood
Flood
Flood
Tsunami
Earthquake

Disaster type

Table 1.3: Recent disasters in India

City/Country

Date

1000 died
173 died, 308 injured
56 killed
50 killed, 2 million homeless
90 killed
10 killed
1,100 killed
10,749 killed and 5460 missing
16480 killed 1,67000 injured

Victims and damages

Section I
12
Introduction to Disasters

13

Disasters: Concept and Overview

Date
Magnitude Location
(Richter
Scale)
April 6, 2006
January 26, 2001
March 29, 1999
September 30, 1993

5.5
7.7
6.8
6.4

Death Casualties

Saurashtra, Gujrat
Bhuj, Gujrat
16480 1,67,000
Chamoli, Uttarakhand
103
Latur, Maharashtra
7928
30,000

of criticism, even government experts agree today that a shift of

emphasis towards disaster preparedness and better advance work at
the grassroots is imperative to stem the rot.
A multi-sectoral approach, involving the government, NGOs,
academics, and the affected communities is slowly gaining currency
in India. To unitedly meet the challenge of preparing, responding
to and equipping the community to deal with a cocktail of disasters
will be the greatest humanitarian challenge for India in the coming
millennium.
In India, between 1988 and 1997, disasters killed 5,116 people
and affected 24.79 million. In 1998, 9,846 people died and 34.11
million people were affected by disasters. Experience and study tell
us that the actual figures greatly exceed the documented ones.
India has been witnessing an increasing incidence of manmade disasters. India faced one of the worst man-made disaster on
3 December 1984 when Bhopal gas tragedy occurred. The train
accidents, bus accidents, missile failures, aircraft accidents, fire in
schools are ever increasing disasters.

SEISMIC ZONE MAP OF A COUNTRY

Seismic zone map of a country is a guide to the seismic status of a
region and its susceptibility (Fig. 1.3) shows clearly earthquake zone
map of India to earthquakes. India has been divided into five zones
with respect to severity of earthquakes. Of these, zone v is seismically
the most active where earthquakes of magnitude 8 or more could
occur recent strong motion observations around the world have
revolutionized thinking on the design of engineering structures, placing

Chapter 1

Table 1.4: Earthquakes in India

Introduction to Disasters

Section I

14

Source: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/

Fig. 1.3: Seismic zone map of India

emphasis also on the characteristics of the structures themselves it

should be realized that in the case of shield type earthquakes, historic
data are insufficient to define zones because recurrence intervals are
much longer than the recorded human history this may often give
a false sense of security. Occurrence of the damaging earthquake at
Latur, falling in zone I is a typical example of this situation.