MCN301: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT - 1

1. Identify 5 potential hazards and their sources in and around your community. Include the
following details: a. Your place name
b. List of hazards identified and their sources
c. Include photos and diagrams for each of the identified hazards and their sources

a. Manimala
b.
Hazards Sources

Floods Heavy rainfall

Noise Congested Traffic, Election

Campaigns

Covid - 19 Virus, Social Negligence

Road Accidents Reckless driving , Avoiding safety

gears

Lightning Electric discharge caused by the

imbalance between storm clouds
and the ground.

c. Photos and Diagrams:

 2. Create a risk assessment matrix in the following format for the all the hazards identified in
Question No. 1:
A.Hazards B. Hazard C. Impact D. Risk Score E. Priority
Livelihood Security BxC
0 Low - 5 is High (Vulnerability/R Priority
esources)
0 Low - 5 is High

Floods 1 2 2 3

Noise 4 4 16 1

Covid - 19 4 3 12 2

Road Accidents 3 3 9 2

Lightning 3 4 12 2

3) Identify the following for the given disasters: a) Volcanic Eruption, b) Road Accidents

i. preventive measures ii. mitigation measures

iii. preparedness measures

a) Volcanic Eruption

A volcano is a vent in the Earth’s crust from which eruptions occur. There are about 1500 potentially active
volcanoes worldwide. When volcanoes erupt they can spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava and rock that
can cause disastrous loss of life and property, especially in heavily populated areas. Volcanic activities and
wildfires affected 6.2 million people and caused nearly 2400 deaths between 1998-2017.
If a lahar, pyroclastic flow, or lava flow is headed toward you
● Leave the area immediately. If you are warned to evacuate because an eruption is
imminent, evacuate.
● If you can drive rather than walk, use your vehicle to evacuate. When driving keep doors
and windows closed, drive across the path of danger if you can or away from the danger
if you can not, and watch for unusual hazards in the road.

If you are indoors

● Close all windows, doors, and fireplace or wood stove dampers.
● Turn off all fans and heating and air conditioning systems.
● Bring pets and livestock into closed shelters.

If you are outdoors

● Seek shelter indoors.
● If caught in a rockfall, roll into a ball to protect your head.
● If near a stream or river, be aware of rising water and possible mudflows in low-lying
areas. Move up-slope as quickly as possible.
● Seek care for burns right away. Immediate care can be life saving.
● If your eyes, nose, and throat become irritated from volcanic gases and fumes, move
away from the area immediately. Your symptoms should go away when you are no longer
in contact with the gases or fumes. If the symptoms continue, consult your doctor.

Protecting yourself during ashfall

● Stay inside, if possible, with windows and doors closed.

● Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
● Use goggles to protect your eyes.If ash is continually falling, you may not be able to
shelter indoors for more than a few hours, because the weight of the ash could collapse
the roof of your building and block air intakes into the building. Listen to authorities for
advice on leaving the area when ashfall lasts more than a few hours.
● Exposure to ash can harm your health, particularly the respiratory (breathing) tract. To
protect yourself while you are outdoors or while you are cleaning up ash that has gotten
indoors, a disposable particulate respirator (also known as an “air purifying respirator”)
may be considered. An N-95 respirator is the most common type of disposable
particulate respirator and can be purchased at businesses such as hardware stores. It is
 important to follow directions for proper use of this respirator. If you don’t have a
particulate respirator, you can protect yourself by using a nuisance dust mask as a last
resort, but you should stay outdoors for only short periods while dust is falling. Nuisance
dust masks can provide comfort and relief from exposure to relatively non-hazardous
contaminants such as pollen, but they do not offer as much protection as a particulate
respirator. Cleanup or emergency workers may need a different type of breathing
protection based on their work activity. Note that disposable particulate respirators do not
filter toxic gases and vapors.
● Keep your car or truck engine switched off. Avoid driving in heavy ashfall. Driving will stir
up ash that can clog engines and stall vehicles. If you do have to drive, keep the car
windows up and do not operate the air conditioning system. Operating the air
conditioning system will bring in outside air and ash.

Mitigation

There are four main ways in which we can attempt to mitigate volcanic hazards:

1: Volcanic hazard assessment

2: Volcanic monitoring and eruption prediction
3: Geological engineering activities to reduce volcanic hazard
4: Civil evacuation of hazardous areas
Volcanic hazard assessment

Volcanic-hazards studies have to be built on a strong foundation of research on volcanoes which

includes geologic and geophysical mapping, petrologic and geochemical characterisation of
eruptive products (e.g. tephra, lavas) and the dating of samples whose stratigraphy is
established. An effective programme to mitigate volcanic hazards must include; identification of
high-risk volcanoes; hazards assessment and zonation; volcano monitoring and eruption
forecasting; and volcanic emergency management.

iv) PREPAREDNESS MEASURES

Be prepared either to shelter or to evacuate. Develop an evacuation plan and a sheltering
plan for yourself, your family, and others in your household. Review the plans and make
sure that everyone understands them. If you haven’t already done so, put together an

. Supplies should include the following:

 ● Flashlight and extra batteries
● First aid kit and manual
● Emergency food and water
● Manual (nonelectric) can opener
● Essential medicines
● Sturdy shoes
● Respiratory (breathing) protection
● Eye protection (goggles)
● Battery-powered radio

Exposure to ash can harm your health, particularly the respiratory (breathing) tract. To
protect yourself while you are outdoors or while you are cleaning up ash that has gotten
indoors, use an N-95 disposable respirator (also known as an “air purifying respirator”).
N-95 respirators can be purchased at businesses such as hardware stores. It is important
to follow directions for proper use of this respirator. For more information, see
NIOSH-Approved Disposable Particulate Respirators (Filtering Facepieces) . If you don’t
have an N-95 respirator, you can protect yourself by using a nuisance dust mask as a last
resort, but you should stay outdoors for only short periods while dust is falling. Nuisance
dust masks can provide comfort and relief from exposure to relatively non-hazardous
contaminants such as pollen, but they do not offer as much protection as an N-95
respirator. Cleanup or emergency workers may need a different type of breathing
protection.

b) ROAD ACCIDENTS
Road accidents are undoubtedly the most frequent and, overall, the cause of the most damage. The
reasons for this are the extremely dense road traffic and the relatively great freedom of movement given to
drivers. Accidents involving heavy goods vehicles (especially coaches and lorries with trailers) occur all too
frequently despite caIls for responsible behaviour, for respect of the loading regulations and the highway
code, as well as the obligation for drivers to adapt their speed, which affects stopping distances, to the
traffic and weather conditions (rain, ice, fog, etc.). The prevention of road accidents is also extremely
important and will be ensured by strict laws, by technical and police controls, ongoing training for drivers
(especially those involved in the transport of dangerous substances) and, if need be, by legal and
administrative penalties for those responsible.

i) PREVENTIVE MEASURES

The control of all accidents is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the commander (chief) and
personnel of the affected means of transport. It is up to them to limit the resulting damage as much as
possible. Passengers must obey the directives of the personnel on board (protective and rescue
measures) and behave as they are instructed by the regulations on disaster situations, especially air,
rail or maritime disasters. As far as search, rescue and assistance operations are concerned, the
means or system of transport involved and the area (country) where it occurs will determine who is the
person in charge at the disaster site.

Ii) MITIGATION MEASURES

Roads and roadsides to be designed, built and maintained to reduce the risk and severity of crashes.
Develop a state road safety improvement with a detailed understanding of the causes of accidents
and hotspot areas
Disaster Management Plan -Department of Transport 21
Assess the road safety implications for the all the National and State Highways of the state
Conduct road-safety audits in all the state and national highways
Prevent road accidents through more safety-conscious planning, design, construction and
maintenance and improve hazardous location
Improve the design and safety features of new roads through the review of highway design
standards and the introduction of proven approaches such as Road Safety Audit
Identify roads that need improvement for pedestrians
Road design and geometric improvements to compensate for inadequacies of road users.
Warning signs for road users.
Accident blackspot investigation and rectification through road design.

ii) PREPAREDNESS MEASURES

Drive in the prescribed speed limits on the various roads. Always remember that “Speed thrills
 but kills”.Always put on helmets, seat belts and other safety equipments before driving a bicycle/
motor cycle/vehicle. Always remember that “Safety saves”.Do not drink and drive. Always
remember that “You cannot hold a pen properly after two pegs, what about the driving
wheel?”Never use mobile phones or ear phones while driving. Always remember “A mobile call
on the road may be the last call of your life”.Know the traffic signs, signals, lights and traffic safety
rules before you hit the road. Always remember that “Road safety rules are best tools to avoid
accidents”.Do not drive for long hours in a stretch. Have a proper beaks after every 2 hours of
continuous driving. Always remember that “Man is a man and not a machine”.

4. Describe the responses required in addressing the impact of the disasters: a) Volcanic
Eruption, b) Road Accidents

a) Volcanic Eruption
Listen to alerts. The Volcano Notification Service provides up-to-date information about eruptions.

Follow evacuation orders from local authorities. Evacuate early.

Make plans to shelter with friends or family, if that is a feasible and safe option, or to a public shelter.
Check with local authorities to determine which public shelters are open.

If you must stay at a public shelter or other public facility, take steps to keep yourself and others safe
from COVID-19. Wash your hands often, maintain a physical distance of at least six feet between you
and people who are not part of your household, and avoid crowds and gathering in groups. When
possible, wear a mask. Masks should not be worn by children under two, those who have trouble
breathing, and those who are unable to remove them on their own. Avoid touching surfaces and your
eyes, nose, and mouth.

Review the CDC’s guidelines for “Going to a Public Disaster Shelter During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

Avoid areas downwind, and river valleys downstream, of the volcano. Rubble and ash will be carried
by wind and gravity.

Take temporary shelter from volcanic ash where you are if you have enough supplies. Cover
ventilation openings and seal doors and windows. Wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six
feet between yourself and those who are not a part of your household to slow the spread of
COVID-19.

If outside, protect yourself from falling ash that can irritate skin and injure breathing passages, eyes,
 and open wounds. Use a well-fitting, certified face mask such as an N95. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) has a list of certified masks and the maker’s instructions on how to use
the masks. Use a cloth mask to protect yourself for shorter periods of time.

Avoid driving in heavy ash fall.

b) Road Accidents

Coming across an accident while out on the road can be a frightening and stressful experience. Not only is
it a dangerous environment to disembark from your vehicle but the sight of injured, bleeding people or
children can induce panic in the toughest of people.

Paramedics at ER24 deal with such incidents on a daily basis and are specifically trained and equipped to
cope with and treat patients on such scenes. But what happens if you are the first person to come across
the accident? What do you do if you actually see the accident happen in front of you? Whom do you call and
what do you do first while you wait for the emergency personnel to arrive?

The following segment comprises a few important principles and pieces of advice to help you to calmly,
safely and carefully look after yourself, the patients and the accident scene while waiting for the emergency
services.

If you have a First Aid kit, take it out of your vehicle. Put on the rubber gloves that are inside the first aid kit.

Calm and reassure the people that have been involved in the accident. Make them aware you have called
the emergency services and that help is on the way. This may be the only thing AND the most important
thing you can do to help someone involved in an accident.