Disaster Management

Disasters and Ways to Deal with Them

Part 2
 Credits
Program Coordinator
Prof. Usha Sharma
Development Committee
Ms. Sangeeta Malik

Review Committee (NDMA)

Mr. Amit Tuteja
Mr. Abhinav Walia
Illustration and Layout
Ms. Varsha
Acknowledgement
Ms. Bhawna Khera
Ms. Richa Dawar
Mr. Mohd. Shah Alam

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 What is a Natural Disaster?
A natural tragic event occurring due to environmental
imbalance or unnatural movement inside the earth, that
causes loss to life and property, is called a natural disaster.
For example, earthquake, drought, lightning, forest fire etc.
(Illustrations of the natural disasters given as examples)

आकााश सेे बि�जलीी काा गि�रनाा भूकं

ू ंप

सूखा
ू ा जंंगल कीी आग

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 Earthquake
The sudden and violent shaking of
the ground caused by the collision
between the tectonic plates present
below the earth’s surface is called
an earthquake. Earthquakes often
come without any warnings which
is why there is an immense loss of
life and property.
Ways to Stay Safe in the event of an
Earthquake

Before an earthquake During an earthquake After an earthquake

• Get the walls and • Do not panic, stay calm. • Do not go inside
roof repaired. • Bend down and get under buildings damaged
• Keep the heavy a table, cover your head or destroyed by
with one hand. earthquake.।
items on the lower • Hold on to the table
shelves in the house. until the tremors of the • Do not light a
• Keep an emergency earthquake subside. matchstick if stuck
kit ready. • Move out of the house under the debris;
• Make an emergency as soon as the tremors cover your face with
subside. a cloth.
plan with your • Use stairs only instead of • Bang on the wall or
family. a lift, if you are in a high-
• Learn the technique rise building. tap, blow whistles.
of ‘bend-cover-hold.’ • Stay away from buildings, Scream only when
trees, walls, and poles once
outside.
• If you are in a car, stop the
car and stay inside until
the tremors subside; avoid
going on bridges etc.
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 Floods
The temporary overflow of a
large amount of water in an area,
massivelyaffecting human life, is
called a flood. There can be many
reasons for the occurrence of
floods, such as excessive rainfall,
breaking of a dam or increased
flow of water in an area.

Preparation to deal with a Flood

Keep an emergency kit ready. Take the cattle and other

Keep your mobile phone animals to safer locations.
charged to stay in contact.

Stay updated on the weather Keep your documents and

conditions through the radio, valuables ready, in a waterproof
TV, and newspaper. packet.

Have complete information Keep enough food and

of the ways to the nearby water with you, sufficient at
shelters beforehand. least for a week.

Always keep necessary items,

such as a torch and extra
batteries, close- at-hand.
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 Drought
The critical situation of having received 25% less rainfall than average with
not enough rainwater stored for irrigation because of the lack of proper
arrangements, is called drought. It may continue for a period of several
months or years. A situation of starvation may arise due to an extreme
shortage of food and water during a drought.

Effects of Drought- Results-

Lack of water for irrigation Withering of crops due to water scarcity

Lack of food and water People starving and migrating in large numbers

Shortage of fodder crop Cattle starving to death

Decrease in activities that require water, such Spreading of diseases

as cooking, bathing and
cleaning
Moral degradation of people due to severe lack Rising cases of suicides, theft and homicides
of money and other resources
Steps taken by the Indian Government to prevent droughts

• Running river-valley projects (building canals to bring water from the

rivers to the villages)
• Developing wells, lakes and other small water bodies in the villages
• Employing special means of irrigation such as drip irrigation, sprinkler
irrigation etc.
• Using scientific methods to create artificial rainfall
• Increasing the availability of water resource and the productivity of
landin the deserts
• Initiating crop insurance schemes to help farmers in drought-prone areas
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 Storm
The state of violent disturbance
in the earth’s atmosphere is called
a storm. It is a combination
of several weather activities
like strong winds, heavy rain,
hailstorm, lightning, thunder etc.

Disruption of
normal everyday Damage to life and
life property
Results of a
storm-
Disruption of
transportation and Lightning or floods
communication

Staying safe during a storm-

• Stay at home during a storm
• Make sure that the children and pets are inside the house
• Keep the doors and windows closed and shut down the power
• Do not stand under or near a tree if outside the house
• 5. If in a lake or a river, come out of it immediately
• 6. Use mobile phone instead of a landline phone
• 7. Stay updated on the latest warnings and information given by the
weather department through radio and television.

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 Natural Landslide
The sliding, rolling or falling off of
the pieces of dry rocks or wet soil
from the slope of a hill is called
a landslide. Excessive rainfall,
tremors and explosions caused
by earthquakes or volcanoes,
abundance of minerals in rocks,
etc. are some of the primary causes of natural landslides.।

Protecting oneself from a landslide

Before a landslide- During a landslide- After a landslide-

• Plant enough trees • Listen carefully to any • Move immediately

to prevent soil unusual sounds, such away from the
erosion. as the sound of falling slopes and paths of
• Stay alert and aware; rocks, sliding debris, landslides.
stay with the family trees breaking or • Help those who are
at a safe place. cracks in the ground, injured or stuck.
• Keep track of the and move away from • Stay safe from the
warnings for heavy such places. flood water if living
rainfall issued • Call the rescue team near a river.
by the weather and help them with the • Do not touch
department. rescue operations. electric wires and
• 4. Keep a battery- • Do not go into poles.
powered flashlight damaged buildings. • Do not drink
ready for the night. contaminated water
from wells, rivers,
springs etc.
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 Lightning
When clouds collide
with each other in the
sky, electrostatic charge
(electricity) is released which
quickly moves towards the
earth. It is during this time
that we hear thunder and
see flashes of light in the sky. This is referred to as lightning.
There is an immense loss of life and property in and around the
area where lightning strikes the ground.
What to do when lightning strikes?
If you are outside, under the open sky, sit down on your toes with your head bowed down.
Do not lie flat nor place your hands on the ground.
Cover your ears with your hands.
Be in as little contact with the earth as you can.
Stay at home in case of adverse weather conditions.
Do not stand or sit under a tree if outside; instead, stay in the open fields.
Do not stand in a group; maintain sufficient distance with other people.
Stay where you are if inside a vehicle.
Move out of a river, lake, or waterfall immediately.
Do not use mobile phones or any other electronic devices at the time of

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 Cloudburst
Heavy rainfall at one place is called cloudburst. It happens when
clouds with a lot of moisture collect at one place and the water
droplets mix with each other. Due to their weight, the density of
clouds increases and it starts raining heavily.

(Newspaper reports of 2-3 major and more recent cloudburst accidents in India)

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 Cyclone Tsunami

The increase in temperature A storm that occurs due to an

on the surface of the sea and a
decrease in air pressure results
in a cyclone.
• When the cyclone moves from the sea
towards the coast, it causes heavy rains
along with strong winds, due to which a
flood-like situation arises.
• Trees are uprooted due to the strong winds.
• Electric poles and phones lines are
destroyed.
• Kutcha houses collapse and huts blow away
in the wind.
• The risk to the lives of sailors increases
immensely.
earthquake or volcanic eruption
under the surface of the sea is
called tsunami.
• A tsunami destroys all the ships and boats in
its way.
• Tsunami waves can reach up to 30 meters high
when they strike the coast.
• A tsunami can drown an entire town. It can
damage and destroy all the
• trees, forests, villages, buildings, vehicles, ports
that come in its way.

Staying safe from cyclones and tsunamis-

• Stay away from the coast in case of bad weather. Sailors and fishermen
• should not go into the sea.
• Move to safer locations on receiving warnings from the government.Protect yourself first
instead of your property and valuables.
• Keep your mobile phones charged to stay in contact. Communicate using S.M.S.
• Always keep a radio set along with extra batteries handy. Stay updated on the latest weather
conditions.

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 Cold Wave
An emergency where the temperature drops several degrees
below average during the winter season, and cold winds disrupt
the everyday work and life, is known as cold wave.

Drink hot drinks Take proper care of the

regularly. Do not drink children and elderly. Stay
alcohol; it can lower indoors for sometimes,
your body temperature. if possible.

Staying safe
during a cold

Have sufficient water at Have enough warm

home as the water in the clothes; wear multiple
pipes can freeze. layers of clothes.

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 Heat Wave
When the temperature of an area increases unnaturally during
the summers, it is referred to as heat wave. Hot winds usually
blow between the months of March and June or July. Several

Avoid going outside in harsh sunlight, especially between noon and 3 pm.
If unavoidable, carry water with you.

Wear light colored cotton clothes. Cover your

head with the help of a cloth, hat, or umbrella
when outside.

Staying safe Drink water at regular intervals.

during a heat
wave-
Take proper care of the children and elderly.
Stay indoors for sometimes, if possible.

If someone gets a heatstroke, give them ORS solution, lemon

water, rice

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 Forest Fires
A critical situation when a
part or whole of the forest
catches fire, is called a forest
fire. In such a situation,
the plants and trees start
burning and the animals
start dying because of the
fire and its smoke. Lightning, friction caused by excessive heat
and human carelessness are some of the main reasons of forest
fires.
वन कीी आग

Protection- Safety-
• Free the cattle and other animals in case • Do not throw
of a forest fire and take them to a safer cigarettes, match
place. sticks or other
• Stay in a lake or a river for sometime smoking items while
instead of running and trying to get passing by the forest
ahead of the fire. areas.
• Cover yourself with a wet cloth, blanket, • Do not burn dry
or soil and stay in a place with less or no waste near forest
forest cover, in case of no water around. areas.

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 Volcanic Eruption
A volcano is a crack or a hole on
the earth's surface, which
when bursts or opens, releases
hot gas, ash, molten rocks, and
lava from within the earth.
Active Volcano
If a volcano is currently erupting or is likely to erupt,
it is called an active volcano.

Dormant Volcano
Types of If a volcano erupted long ago and is no longer
volcanoes- active, it is called a dormant volcano.

Dead Volcano
If a volcano may never erupt, according to the experts,
it is called a dead volcano.

Important information about volcanoes-

• An intense volcanic eruption causes tsunami or earthquake which can

cause great loss to life and property.
• A volcanic eruption disrupts the nearby roads and destroys buildings,
forests etc. The smoke from a volcano pollutes the environment.
• The Andaman Nicobar Islands in India have two volcanoes – Barren
Island Volcano, which is an active volcano, and Narcondam Island
Volcano, which is a dormant volcano.

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Some other measures to deal with disasters

Do not panic during a disaster. Help the injured reach relief

camps.

Important emergency
numbers-
• National Emergency Number-112
• Police-100
• Fire-101
• Ambulance-102
Inform the fire station
immediately in case of fire.

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Shri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016
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For more information, visit – https://ncert.nic.in/cncl/disaster-management.php
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