DISASTER MANAGEMENT

James Owuor
Optometry
 TOPICS TO COVER
 Introduction to disaster management
 Definition of terms
 Natural hazards
 Disaster crunch Model
 Linking disaster and development
 Phases of a disaster
 Disaster management cycle
 Learning objectives
• Define key terms of disaster management
• Identify types of natural and non-natural
disasters
• Describe the causes of disaster vulnerability
• Describe disaster management cycle.
• Describe ways in which disasters disrupts
development
 Definition of terms
Hazards
• “ a rare or extreme natural or human-made event
that threatens to adversely affect human life ,
property or activity to the extent of causing a
disaster”
Disaster
• “ a serious disruption of functioning of a society ,
causing widespread human , material, or
environmental losses which exceeds the ability of
the affected society to cope using only its own
resources”
Cont…..
Emergency
“ an extraordinary situation where there are serious
and immediate threats of human life as a result of
:-
 Disaster
 Imminent threats of a disaster
 A cumulative process of neglect” Civil conflict
 Environmental degradation
Cont…..
VULNERABILITY
• “Human vulnerability is the lack of capacity of
a person or community to anticipate, cope
with, resist and recover from the impact of a
hazard”
Cont…..
RISK
“This is the expected losses to a community
when a hazard event occurs, including lives
lost, persons injured, property damaged and
economic activities or livelihoods disrupted.”
 NATURAL DISASTERS

 This types of disaster naturally occur in

proximity to or pose a threat to people,
structures, or economic assets
 NATURAL DISASTERS
• EARTHQUAKES
• VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
• FLOODS
• LANDSLIDES
• STRONG WINDS
• TROPICAL STORMS
• TSUNAMIS
• DROUGHTS
• WILD FIRES
 HUMAN MADE DISASTERS
• These are disasters or emergency situations of
which the principle direct causes are
identifiable human actions, delibarate or
otherwise.
• It mainly involves situations which civilian
populations suffer causalities, loses of
property, basic services and mains of
livelihood
 HUMAN MADE DISASTERS
• War
• Civil strife or other conflicts
• Policy implementation
• Air plane crush
• A major fire
• Oil spill
• Terrorism
 Implications of a Disaster in your
region or Environment
• Infrastructure damage
• Telecommunication loss
• Flooding
• Landslides
• Power disruption
• Water problems
• Agricultural damage
• Disruption of standard of living
 The disaster problem
Disasters are not events divorced from
“normal life
Disasters and emergencies are fundamental
reflection of normal life.
They are consequences of the ways societies
structure themselves
 Economically and socially
 Cont…..
The way societies and state interact
example; a flood or an earthquake is not a
disaster in and of itself but..communities settle
in
River banks
Volcanic areas
 THE PROGRESSION OF
VULNERABILITY
• Underlying Causes
Deep rooted set of factors within a society
that together form and maintain vulnerability

• Dynamic Pressures
A translating process that channels the effects
of negative causes into unsafe conditions
• Unsafe Conditions
The vulnerable context where people &
property are exposed to the risk of disaster ,
eg. Fragile physical environment, unstable
economy & low income levels
 CAUSAL FACTORS OF DISASTERS
• The magnitude of each disaster measured in
death , damage, or cost in developing
countries, increases with increased
marginalization of populations
This is caused by;
 High birth rates
 Problem of land Tenure and economic
opportunities
 Misallocation of resources
 POVERTY

• This is the most important single influence on

the impact of a disaster

• The wealthiest either survive the disaster

unaffected or are able to recover quickly

• Across the broad spectrum of disaster ,

poverty generally makes people vulnerable
 POVERTY
Explains why :
• People in urban areas are force to live on hills,
prone to landslides
• Settle near volcanoes or rivers
• Drought claims poor peasant farmers as
victims and rarely the wealthy
• Famine is not the result of lack of purchasing
power to buy food rather than absence of it.
 “Disaster Crunch model”
Underlying Dynamic Unsafe Hazards
causes pressures conditions
DISASTER
Poverty Lack of; Fragile Disaster Trigger
Limited access -Local physical = events
to; institutions environ Vulnerability Earthqu
-power -education -dangerous + akes
structures -training locations High
Hazards
--resources -appropriate -dangerous winds
-Ideologies buildings& Flooding
skills infrastructure
-Economic -local Volcanic
systems Fragile local eruption
investment economy s
Press -livelihoods at
freedom Land
risk slides
-low income Drought
levels
 PHASES OF A DISASTER
Disaster can be categorized as;
• Slow onset
• Rapid onset
Disaster can be viewed as a series of phases on a
time continuum
This helps to describe disaster related needs and
conceptualize appropriate disaster management
activities
 SLOW ONSET
ncy
erge
Em

Em
er
ge
nc
y
rel
ief
preparedness

mitigation rehabilitation
 Examples of Slow Onset

• Environmental—Drought, Famine,
Environment, Degradation, Desertification,
Deforestation, Pest infestation
 RAPID ONSET

ster
isa
D

preparedness
relief

mitigation

Reconstruction rehabilitation
 Examples of Rapid/sudden onset

• Geological - Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Volcanic

Eruptions, landslides
• Climatic - floods, Tropical Storms
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
 4Rs is a term used to describe the Disaster
management cycle. The four phases are
known as;

 Reduction = Mitigation
 Readiness= Preparedness
 Response
 Recovery
 DISASTER
REDUCTION/MITIGATION
 These are activities designed to provide
permanent protection from disasters.
 Not all disasters, particularly natural disasters,
can be prevented, but the risk of loss of life
and injury can be mitigated with good
evacuation plans, environmental planning and
design standards.
Cont…..
The Physical Measures include:
 Strong construction and engineering works
 Land zoning (Physical planning measures)
 Building codes, retro-fitting for earthquakes,
Fires ........
Cont…..
 Keeping high density population away from
hazards proximity
 Regulating land-use and resettlement plans
 Policies – e.g. occupational safety policy of
Government …..
 Speed governors in transport vehicles
Cont…..
Other measures would include:
 Diversity in Business and Agriculture (when
one fails, the other survives)
 Insurance cover and economic incentives e.g.
agricultural inputs etc.
 Disaster management policies and Institutions
 Public sensitization and awareness
Cont…..
 Research and development
 Flood levies
 Strengthening the capacity of responders and
decision-makers
 Conflict management
 Early warning systems.
 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
 Disaster preparedness activities are also aimed
at reducing the impacts, losses and damages
from a disaster that may occur in future by
government, organizations, communities and
individuals.
 These activities are designed to minimize loss
of life and damage..............
Cont……
 Disaster contingency funds
 Removing people and property from a
threatened location
 Having integrated disaster plans –
Immunization, quarantine…..
 Building of resource base such as personnel
and equipment
Cont……
 Training of personnel in anticipation of future
disasters
 Having disaster organization at all levels
 Rehearsals – general and specific………..
 Disaster teams and committees at all levels
eg. KFFSG
 DISASTER RELIEF/ RESPONSE
 Disaster response are measures taken
immediately prior to, during and following
disaster event
 Such measures are directed towards saving of;
life, protecting property and dealing with
immediate damage.
Cont…..
This is likely to include:
 Mobilization of the necessary emergency
services and first responders in the disaster
area.
 Established command
 Fire-fighters, police and ambulance crews
 Facilitating timely and effective rescue and
relief ..........
Cont…..
 Rapid assessment of damage/infrastructure
 Relocation of communities
 Providing food and water
 Preventing disease and disability
Cont…..
 Repairing vital services such as transportation
transport and hospitals
• Repairing vital services such as
telecommunications and transport
 Providing temporary shelter and emergency
health care.
 DISASTER RECOVERY
Once emergency needs have been met and the
initial crisis is over, the people affected and
the communities that support them are still
vulnerable.
Recovery activities include:
 Relief supplies – Food, Blankets………..
 Rebuilding infrastructure, resettlements,
restocking......
 Health care and rehabilitation
Cont….
 Restoration and physical reconstruction
 Medical counseling.
 Amending policies and practices to suit
changing situations in future.
• Disaster kits which may include items such as
sleeping bags or other necessities that will
help displaced persons to cope with the after
effects of the disaster.
DISASTER AND DEVELOPMENT
DEV REALM

Disasters can
NEGATIVE R EALM

POSITIVE REALM
Dev can increase provide dev
vulnerability opportunities

Dev can reduce

Disaster can set back
vulnerability
dev

DIS REALM
 ++ Development Reduce
Vulnerability
• Housing projects constructed under building
codes will withstand;
• Earthquakes
• Tropical storms
• High winds
- + Disaster provides Development
• After a disaster , finances are mobilized
creating employment, e.g. HIV/AIDS, El-nino
and construction of roads, Dams ……
• An Earthquake destroying houses,
rebuilding of better houses
 --Disaster set back Development
• In the event of disaster, all development
initiatives are destroyed.
• Destruction of houses by an Earthquake
• Loss of livestock/crops during drought
• Loss of crops during floods
• Loss of man power as a result of HIV/AIDS
related deaths
 +- Development Increasing vulne
• Industrial development leading to pollution
• Livestock development leading to overgrazing
which leads to desertification
 Disaster management in Kenya

• Disaster management in Kenya falls under

the national Disaster executive committee
chaired by the President with cabinet level
members
At the forefront of Disaster management in
Kenya are the following ministries:
 SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
 PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
 AGRICULTURE AND IRRAGATION
 HEALTH
 ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS
 EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
 HOUSING
 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
 FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
 DEFENCE

Specific bodies include...........................

NATIONAL DISASTER OPERATION CENTRE
To monitor, co-ordinate response and mobilize resources for response to
disaster incidents in the country
KENYA FOOD SECURITY STEERING GROUP (KFSSG)
The overall role of the KFSSG is to act as a technical ‘think tank’ and advisory
body to all relevant stakeholders on issues of drought management and
food security.
NATIONAL DROUGHT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY:
The Authority is the successor to Arid Lands Resource Management Project.
Mandate: To ensure that drought does not become famine and the impacts
of climate change are sufficiently mitigated...
NATIONAL ENVIROMENTAL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NEMA)
Promote the integration of environmental considerations into development
policies, plans, programmes and projects, with a view to ensuring the
proper management and rational utilization of environmental resources,
on sustainable yield basis, for the improvement of the quality of human
life in Kenya.
TRANSPORT LICENSING BOARD
…. National Transport and Safety Authority….
 Promotion of road safety by effectively administering of the Traffic and
Transport licensing.

THE KENYA RED CROSS

 The Kenya Red Cross Society is constitutionally mandated with the
responsibility of assisting the Kenyan Government carry out humanitarian
work in times of peace or conflict. Natural disasters such as drought,
famine, floods etc

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 The Kenya Defence Forces draws its authority to provide support to civil
authority from section 3 (2) of the Kenya Armed Forces Act, Chapter 199 of
the Laws of Kenya. This support transcends security operations to socio-
economic mitigation and/or development interventions
Others
 NATIONAL AIDS CONTROL COUNCIL
 NATIONAL IRRIGATION BOARD
 KENYA FOREST SERVICE
 KENYA MEDICAL SUPPLIES AGENCY
 WATER SERVICES REGULATORY BOARD
 KARI and associated food Security organisations
 KEMRI
 National Produce and Cereals Board....
 National Construction Authority......
INTERNATIONAL
• Food and Agricultural organisation
• UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF.................
• IGAD, AMREF
• UN –Habitant, WHO
• Various NGOs and Religious Organisations

 Occupational Health and Safety policy – In the Public Service

 WIBA
 GPA
 NHIF – Civil servants cover

 Private Sector initiatives - Drought insurance, Livestock insurance, HIV and

so on…..
 Turkana MPESA initiative
 Disaster Management
assignment
- Discuss the preparedness and mitigation
measures that Kenya put in place to avert
disaster during the El Nino Rains
-Discuss the importance of disaster
preparedness, disaster response and recovery
activities for health care providers.
Should not be more than two pages each
 REFERENCES
 Disaster Management @wisegeek - Website
 Disaster Management @ The World
Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) –
Website
 Risk and Disaster Management – A Case Study
of Nairobi, Kenya; Paper presented by Wafula
Nabutola at the 3rd FIG Regional Conference
Jakarta, Indonesia, October 3-7, 2004
 Preparing for disasters @ The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red crescent
Societies (IFRC) – Website
 ICT for Disaster Management @wikibooks -
Website
 Emergency management @wikipedia- Website
 Disaster management @lambet kenya
community - Website
 National Disaster Management Policy, 2009 –
on the web
 FRAMEWORK FOR
DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN KENYA
Cont……
NATIONAL DISASTER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(NDEC)
This is the highest Disaster Management
decision-making body. It is at the Cabinet level
and is chaired by H.E the President.
Cont……
NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATING
COMMITTEE
(NDCC) is the executive arm of the NDEC. NDCC
is at the Permanent Secretary level and its
Chair is the Head of public service.
Cont……
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION
The National Platform for Disaster Risk
Reduction is a stakeholder’s forum for
consultation, negotiation, mediation and
consensus building on disaster risk reduction.
Cont……
NATIONAL DISASTER OPERATION CENTRE
The National Disaster Operation Center (NDOC)
was established in 1998 to act as the focal
point for coordinating emergencies and
disasters in Kenya. It is on constant standby,
with a reporting centre running 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week……
Kenya Government Policy (National Disaster
Management Policy, 2009) statements on disasters
are as follows:
 Establish a framework for managing disasters in
Kenya that takes into account the difference
between rapid onset and slow onset of disasters.
 To ensure that disaster management is coordinated
and focuses on both risk reduction and maintaining
an efficient disaster response capacity.
 To outline appropriate institutional structures and
formalize partnerships between all spheres of
government and with different stakeholders.
• Provide adequate and sufficient resources to
ensure the effective implementation of the
policy and subsequent strategies and
programmes.
• Promote disaster management training and
community awareness.
• To integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and
Disaster Management into National
development planning at all levels.
 To integrate Disaster Management into
National Education Curriculum, so as to
become part of National Education System.
 To systematically monitor and evaluate the
trends and status of climate change and its
impacts on the various types of disasters and
development issues.