DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403

GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

UNIT-III
Inter-Relationship between Disasters and Development

Syllabus:

3.1 Factors affecting vulnerabilities,

3.2 Differential impacts,
3.3 Impact of development projects such as dams,
3.4 Impact of development projects such as embankments,
3.5 Changes in land-use etc.
3.6 Climate change adaptation,
3.7 Relevance of indigenous knowledge, appropriate technology and
3.8 Local resources.

1
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

3.1. Factors affecting vulnerabilities:

Vulnerability: The characteristics determined by physical, social, economic and environmental

factors or processes which increase the susceptibility of an individual, a community, assets or
systems to the impacts of hazards.

Vulnerability is one of the defining components of disaster risk.

VULNERA
RISK = HAZARD X EXPOSURE X
BILITY

1. Social: degrading living conditions (housing – health – education – food security)

particularly for poorest

2. Economic: reduced productivity and competitiveness of revenue creating sectors

(agriculture – fisheries – commerce – industry – tourism) in particular increase
joblessness and development of informal sectors.

3. Environmental: degradation and loss of natural resources (ecosystems – biodiversity –

water resources) with impacts on the users.

4. Infrastructure: loss or degradation of public structures (transport and communications –

energy – clean water and sanitation) in particular access to services and increased in cost
of operations.

2
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

3.2. Differential impacts: Natural disasters can have a life-altering impact on the
individuals and families fortunate enough to survive them. But the effect of natural disasters can
be felt at the community, city and state level, or many times can impact an entire country.
Natural disasters can have huge environmental impacts as well, even when human communities
are relatively unaffected. How well the impact of a disaster event is absorbed has much to do
with the intensity of the impact and the level of preparedness and resilience of the subject
impacted.

Some of the impacts of disasters are

1. Loss of resources:

At Individual Impact: At the individual level, the impact can often be felt physically, mentally
and emotionally. Natural disasters cause destruction of property, loss of financial resources, and
personal injury or illness. The loss of resources, security and access to shelter can lead to
massive population migrations in lesser-developed countries.
After experiencing a natural disaster, many individuals develop severe post-traumatic stress
disorders or withdraw into states of depression
Community Impact:
Communities that experience a natural disaster must also absorb the impacts of these destructive
events. Many local communities lose so much in economic resources that recovery becomes
difficult, if not almost impossible.

2. Interruption of program: Interruption of so many developing programs like infrastructure

development, dams, embankments and etc.

3. Negative impact on investment climate: Earthquakes, floods and landslides, etc. are natural
environmental hazards of disastrous consequences.

4. Disruption of the non-formal sector: A climate disaster often has disproportionate impact on
those in the informal sector. Many informal-sector workers, because of their low earning

3
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

capacity, live in less desirable parts of the city including along river banks. Drainage and
infrastructure in such areas are often poor – increasing their vulnerability to climate hazards such
as flooding, earthquakes and landslides etc.

5. Political destabilization: irresponsible or unprepared governments tend to go into react mode

once a disaster hits and people usually suffer or die needlessly as the response is often slow or
inadequate. In some countries where the government has not acted proactively or done a poor job
during a disaster, they may be voted out (in democratic countries at least) or in poorer countries
political unrest may follow

3.3. The relationship between disasters and development

Disasters and development are closely linked. Disasters can both destroy development initiatives
and create development opportunities. Development schemes can both increase and decrease
vulnerability.

A growing body of knowledge on the relationships between disasters and development indicates
four basic themes and they are:

1. Disasters set back development programming, destroying years of development

initiatives.
2. Rebuilding after a disaster provides significant opportunities to initiate development
programmes.
3. Development programmes can increase an area’s susceptibility to disasters.
4. Development programmes can be designed to decrease the susceptibility to disasters and
their negative consequences

4
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Impact of disasters on development projects:

Disasters have a devastating impact on development. Families lose homes, livelihoods and loved
ones, communities lose businesses, jobs and services, children etc.

It has been noticed that disasters expose the cumulative effects of decisions (individual
and collective) taken in terms of land management (including unregulated growth of urban
areas), construction techniques, implementation of sanitation infrastructure and low investment
in educational programs, poverty reduction and social integration, among others. Such decisions
combined with high intensity natural events (e.g. floods, landslides, storms and earthquakes)
provoke an array of socioeconomic and environmental impacts.

5
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Effect on Dams:

Dams and reservoirs have played a key role in economic development, serving a variety of
purposes, including electricity generation, flood control, and irrigation.
The consequences are often aggravated by man-made actions which surpass the capacity
of man's built infrastructure to contain. They result in tragic disturbances in the social and
environmental sphere together with socioeconomic impacts of extreme severity, such as
high levels of material damage, the loss of life and means of subsistence for affected
communities, and the spread of infectious diseases due to the degradation of sanitary
conditions. They are consequently responsible for a series of adverse environmental and socio-
economic impacts due to the way they cause disturbances (or imbalances) in
the environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainability.
Causes of dam failures
 Changes in land use
 Changes in weather patterns
 Out-dated designs
 lack of maintenance an funding
 Floods and Earthquakes

Out of aforementioned failures Disasters plays major role in causing the failure of Dams

List of some of the major failure dams due to Disasters:

Dam Year Location Details

Pratapur 2001 Gujarat,india Breached on account of floods
Nandaghavan 2005 Maharastra,India Excessive rain
Palemvagu 2008 Andhra Pradesh,India Flash flood
Delhi dam 2010 Lowa,U.S Heavy rain flooding.
Bilberry Reservior 1852 Holmey vally,U.K Failed due to heavy rain
Gohna Lake dam 1894 Garhwal, India Failure of a landslide dam
Kaddam Project Dam Andhra Pradesh,India Over toping and floods
1958

6
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

3.4. Effect on Embankments:

Failures of earthen dams, Landslides, and Slope failures are mostly come under embankment
type failures as these are mainly involving with embankment type constructions.

The major causes of the embankment failures are as follows

 Hydraulic
 Seepage
 Structural.

Out above mentioned failures hydraulic type of failures comes under natural disasters as because
over toping and flooding involves in this failures.

Failures of embankment dams due to floods and landslides

1. Overtopping embankment dams are not usually designed as overflow ones, and their
resistance to failures caused by surface erosion is limited. The action of waves here, this
refers to an abrasive process causing the failure of insufficiently lined upstream faces of
dams
2. Failures due to internal erosion may occur in the case of an uncontrollable leakage
through the dam body or through its sub-base. Such failures represent approximately 40
% of all failures of embankment dams.
3. On the other hand, local landslides may shorten the seepage path, increase the hydraulic
gradients, lead to the formation of a privileged path, and consequently result in hydraulic
failure.

Examples of dam embankment failures:

Failure of the Morava River levee near Kvasice due to overtopping

Failure of the Eder concrete dam caused by bombing in May 1943
Failure of the Teton Dam due to piping

7
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Apart from Dam embankments, several places, embankment failures along roadways and canals
were observed. The embankment failures are similar to soil failures having a curved failure
surface and scarps of failures were observable during disasters.

3.5. Changes in Land-Use:

Natural disasters and land-use change are major concerns all over the world, and if these two
concerns exist together in a coastal area, then the consequences for people and the environment
may be severe.

Land and land-use maybe affected differently by various types of disaster. Large areas maybe
left uninhabitable by long-term inundation through flood, storm surge and tsunamis.

Cyclones, tornados and other big wind events do not necessarily have a large physical effect on
land but may cause destruction of houses and resources and displacement of a large number of
people.

Wind and tidal action have immediate or short-term effects, but the effect of erosion and
saltwater intrusion may be long-term, varying from months to year.

Disasters such as floods, drought and tropical cyclones can have potentially severe biological and
epidemiological consequences as secondary effects.

Factors responsible behind major land-use changes

Factors priority description

Political 3 Land grabbing in terms of power and conversion to
shrimp farm
Economical 1 Shrimp (Aqua) culture is profitable comparing to
paddy culture
Natural 4 Water logging due to storm surge and cyclone
resulting in declining agriculture production; decrease
of cattle and tree species

8
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Social 2 One person start shrimp culture in the paddy field at

the beginning then others bound to convert their
traditional practice to shrimp culture due to salinity
intrusion

3.6. Climate change adaptation:

Definition: Climate change adaptation is a response to global warming and climate change, that
seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social and biological systems to relatively sudden change and
thus offset the effects of global warming.

Effect of global warming:

The projected effects for the environment and for civilization are numerous and varied. The main
effect is an increasing global average temperature. The average surface temperature could
increase by 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 1.67 to 5.56 degrees Celsius) by the end
of the century if carbon emissions aren't reduced.[15] This causes a variety of secondary effects,
namely, changes in patterns of precipitation, rising sea levels, altered patterns of agriculture,
increased extreme weather events, the expansion of the range of tropical diseases, and the
opening of new marine trade routes.

Climate change adaptation policies:

There are two main policy responses to climate change: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation
addresses the root causes, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while adaptation seeks to lower
the risks posed by the consequences of climatic changes. Both approaches will be necessary,
because even if emissions are dramatically decreased in the next decade, adaptation will still be
needed to deal with the global changes that have already been set in motion.

The IPCC (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a United

Nations body, founded in 1988, which evaluates climate change science.) describes vulnerability
to climate change as being determined by three factors: exposure to hazards (such as reduced

9
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

rainfall), sensitivity to those hazards (such as an economy dominated by rain-fed agriculture),

and the capacity to adapt to those hazards (for example, whether farmers have the money or
skills to grow more drought-resistant crops.

3.7. Indigenous adaptation and risk-reducing practices:

1. Water resources

Community assets Climatic and non-climatic Indigenous-knowledge practices used in

and infrastructure stress different types of adaptation and resilience-
building responses
Drying up of sources. Protecting forest, planting deep rooted trees,
conserving traditional ponds and wells to
Water resources augment water supply with alternate or
additional sources
Damage to infrastructure Seeking help from modern technology and
(canals, pipelines). integrating it with indigenous-knowledge
practices
Frequent and longer cycle Collaborating with government agencies and/
of floods and drought or upstream communities, soil- and water
conservation farming.
Extreme events. Adaptation and community-based disaster
management.

2. Forest and pasture resources:

Community assets Climatic and non-climatic Indigenous-knowledge practices used in

and infrastructure stress different types of adaptation and resilience-
building responses
Forest encroachment and Social fencing and inclusion of landless and
Forest and pasture overgrazing squatter families into forest-user groups
resources: Habitat destruction and Community protection and enforcement of

10
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

fragmentation. conservation rules; rotation grazing and stall-

Productivity decline.
Forest fire.
Invasive species
Landslides and soil
erosion.
feeding animals.
Planting non-timber and medicinal plants,
broadleaf trees and grasses and restricting
their use
Preventive measures through awareness and
community-based fire management.
Annual cleaning and timber-stand
improvement.
Biological measures, planting of grasses and
shrubs and banning open grazing

3. Rural transport infrastructure

Community assets Climatic and non-climatic Indigenous-knowledge practices used in

and infrastructure stress different types of adaptation and resilience-
building responses
Rural transport Increased number, Responsive adaptation; community-based
infrastructure frequency and source of repair, restoration and maintenance work.
hazards and risks.
Shortage of traditional Joining government- and NGO-supported
skills and raw materials. training and capacity-building activities,
‘learning by doing’ in collective activities,
use of alternative local materials
Extreme events Conserving watersheds, protecting forests
and strengthening river banks using gabion
mesh wire and biological measures
Push for modern Reviving traditional wisdom and integrating
technologies and it with modern technologies.
motorable roads.
Lack of policy support Mobilizing bottom-up public support and
advocating this approach.

11
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

4. Settlements and housing

Community assets Climatic and non-climatic Indigenous-knowledge practices used in

and infrastructure stress different types of adaptation and resilience-
building responses
Settlements and Flash floods and Adapting the design and construction of
housing inundation due to floods. houses to minimize damage (in the hills) or
adapting to live with annual floods (in the
Tarai plains).
Poor design and Retrofitting or revising designs like raising
construction. the plinth level or replacing thatch/mud
houses with flat roof
Landslides and slope Planting grasses and trees reinforced by stone
failures filled check dams
Lack of early warning Using and putting up warning signs,
system (EWS). improving coordination and collaboration
within and outside communities and linking
indigenous knowledge methods with modern
technology such as mobile phones and FM
radios.
Lack of disaster Selecting sites and building temporary
preparedness. shelters; practicing proactive climate-change
adaptation and disaster-risk reduction
measures; planting bamboo around
settlements

12
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

5. Traditional social institutions

Community assets Climatic and non-climatic Indigenous-knowledge practices used in

and infrastructure stress different types of adaptation and resilience-
building responses
Traditional social Lack of awareness Inviting indigenous-knowledge leaders and
institutions regarding climate change climate-change experts to collectively build
the knowledge base and awareness level
Declining participation. Holding annual events, festivals and
entertainment to attract people so information
about the usefulness of indigenous
knowledge can be disseminated
Lack of adaptive capacity Integrating capacity-building activities and
externally-supported events to revive interest
in indigenous knowledge.
Lack of finance. Mobilizing institutions such as Aama Samuha
and Dhikur for raising funds during festivals
and also avoiding flaws in such
arrangements.4

3.8. Local Resources /Local adaptation efforts

Cities, states, and provinces often have considerable responsibility in land use planning, public
health, and disaster management. Some have begun to take steps to adapt to threats intensified by
climate change, such as flooding, bushfires, heatwaves, and rising sea levels in world.

 Installing protective and/ or resilient technologies and materials in properties that are prone
to flooding (Europe)
 Changing to heat tolerant tree varieties (Chicago)
 Rainwater storage to deal with more frequent flooding rainfall – Changing to
water permeable pavements, adding water-buffering vegetation, adding underground storage
tanks, subsidizing household rain barrels (Chicago)

13
 DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
GITAM INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Sub. code:EHS403
GANDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Rev. No.1
(GITAM) Date:04-05-2018
(Declared as Deemed to be University u/s 3 of UGC Act, 1956)
Accredited by NAAC with ‘A+’ grade
Visakhapatnam
Sub code: EHS403
Name of the subject: DISASTER MANAGEMENT
TITLE:EHS403: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

 Reducing paved areas to deal with rainwater and heat (Chicago, Seoul)
 Adding green roofs to deal with rainwater and heat (Chicago)
 Adding air conditioning in public schools (Chicago)
 Requiring waterfront properties to have higher foundations (Chula Vista, California)
 Raising pumps at wastewater treatment plants (New York City)
 Surveying local vulnerabilities, raising public awareness, and making climate change-
specific planning tools like future flood maps (Seattle, Chicago, Norfolk, many others)
 Incentivizing lighter-colored roofs to reduce the heat island effect (Chula Vista, California)
 Installing devices to prevent seawater from back flowing into storm drains (San Francisco)
 Installing better flood defenses, such as sea walls and increased pumping capacity (Miami
Beach)
 Buying out homeowners in flood-prone areas (New Jersey)
 Raising street level to prevent flooding (Miami Beach)

14