DISASTER:- A disaster is a serious disruption in the functioning of a community

and society as a fall-out of widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed
the ability of the affected population to cope with its own resources.

India is a disaster prone country. In fact, there is no country which is immune from disasters.
Decadal average: Annual number of deaths from disasters

The Disaster Management Act of 2005 (DMA 2005) is an act passed by the
government of India for the ‘efficient management of disasters and other matters
connected to it. It came into the news with the onset of COVID-19 and pan-India
lockdown that followed. The lockdown was imposed under the Disaster
Management Act 2005.

o The act aims to establish an efficient disaster management system

for the country in the event of natural and man-made calamities.

o The legislation empowers the central government to declare all or

a portion of the nation impacted by a disaster and to develop
preparations for mitigating the disaster’s “risks, consequences,
and effects.”

o This Act also gives the federal and state governments the
authority to create various authorities at respective levels to seek
 out such management in the event of a disaster to achieve this
goal.

o It covers other things like capacity-building, relief measures, and

mitigation methods.

Disasters can take various forms and profoundly disrupt communities, leading to
significant consequences for individuals, property, businesses, and the environment.
They often test a community’s ability to cope.

Human-caused disasters, resulting from human errors, include incidents like industrial
explosions or structural failures.
Natural disasters stem from physical occurrences such as earthquakes and droughts.
Complex disasters may involve epidemics or armed conflicts.

Disasters can be categorized into different types:

Water-related disasters: These include floods, hailstorms, cloudbursts, cyclones, heat waves, cold waves,
droughts, and hurricanes.

Geological disasters: This category encompasses landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes.

Man-made disasters: These are disasters caused by human activities, such as urban and forest fires, oil spills,
and the collapse of large structures.

Biological disasters: This type involves viral outbreaks, pest invasions, livestock epidemics, and locust
plagues.

Industrial disasters: They encompass chemical and industrial mishaps, mining shaft fires, and oil spills.

Nuclear disasters: This category includes nuclear core meltdowns and radiation-related burns and illnesses.
 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): It is the apex body for disaster
management in India, led by the Prime Minister. It supervises and controls the
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
 National Executive Committee (NEC): It consists of high-profile ministers from the
Indian government. The NEC is responsible for implementing the National Plan for
Disaster Management as per the National Policy on Disaster Management.
 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA): Each state has its own SDMA,
headed by the Chief Minister. The SDMA works with a State Executive Committee
(SEC) to assist in disaster management at the state level.
 District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA): The DDMA is led by the District
Collector or equivalent authority and includes elected representatives from the local
government. Its role is to ensure that guidelines from the NDMA and SDMA are
followed at the district level.
 Local Authorities: Local authorities, such as Panchayati Raj Institutions,
Municipalities, and Town Planning Authorities, are responsible for controlling and
managing civic services in their respective areas.
Prevention
Mitigation and prevention efforts aim to reduce the potential damage and suffering that disasters can
cause. While disaster management cannot prevent disasters, it can prevent them from becoming
compounded as a result of neglecting causal factors and manageable risks. Mitigation specifically
refers to actions taken that can lessen the severity of a disaster’s impact. Investing in measures that
limit hazards can greatly reduce the burden of disasters.

Strategies that disaster management professionals implement to protect vulnerable communities and limit
hazards include the following:

 Raising awareness about potential hazards and how to address them

 Educating the public about how to properly prepare for different types of disaster
 Installing and strengthening prediction and warning systems
Managing hazards and risks means planning to minimize a community’s vulnerability to disasters. This can
involve:

 Encouraging community members to buy appropriate insurance to protect their properties and
belongings
 Educating families and businesses on how to create effective disaster plans
 Promoting the use of fire-retardant materials in construction
 Advocating for capital works initiatives, such as the construction and maintenance of levees
 Building partnerships between sectors and agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to collaborate
 on mitigation projects.

DISASTER MITIGATION
Disaster mitigation is a way of minimizing the damage from a disaster that
cannot be prevented entirely. Mitigation requires weighing and managing risks to
ensure loss of life and economic damage is as little as possible. Similar to disaster
prevention, mitigation requires permanent measures that are taken before
disaster strikes to ensure the community is as safe as possible. Mitigation
measures, like prevention measures, can take numerous forms. They can also be
applied at the household or community level.

PREPAREDNESS

Well-coordinated responses to disasters require prior planning. This helps ensure fast,
effective response efforts and limits duplicated efforts.

 Identify organizational resources

 Designate roles and responsibilities
 Create procedures and policies
 Organize activities that improve disaster readiness

Anticipating the needs of communities that disasters affect improves the quality of the
response efforts. Building the capacities of volunteers, personnel, and disaster management
teams to respond to disasters also makes the response efforts more effective.

Plans may include the following:

 Emergency shelter sites

 Evacuation routes
 Emergency energy and water sources

They may also address:

 Chains of command
 Training programs
 Communication procedures
 Emergency supply distribution
 Stockpile needs
RESPONSE

During and immediately after an emergency, disaster management focuses on delivering help and
interventions that can save lives, safeguard health, and protect buildings, animals, and community
property. Following an initial response, efforts shift toward supporting communities as they rebuild
emotionally, economically, and physically.

Disaster Relief

Disaster relief addresses the immediate and short-term needs of disaster-affected communities. It
can include evacuations, search and rescue missions, and emergency medical assistance.

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 Examples of disaster relief are

 Setting up temporary shelters that provide a safe place to sleep, food, and emotional support
from trained personnel
 Delivering meals and water
 Distributing emergency supplies and necessities, such as toiletries for hygiene and tarps,
shovels, trash bags for cleanup efforts
 Providing emergency health services, such as first aid for injuries and prescription medication
replacements.

Rebuilding

Emergency management helps communities rebuild their lives after trauma. This involves longer-term
efforts to restore:

Housing
Economies
Infrastructure systems
Individual and community health
Federal agencies and supporting organizations help communities with problem-solving and finding
resources as they redevelop and revitalize.

Recovery assistance may include the following:

 Unemployment assistance
 Housing assistance
 Legal services
 Mental health counseling
 Disaster case management
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