Disaster Management and Economic Impact

Study Notes

Significant job losses and economic downturns recorded due to the pandemic.
Strain on healthcare systems revealed vulnerabilities in public health strategies.
Global inequalities have been amplified, necessitating a reevaluation of existing approaches.

Defined by the Disaster Management Act of 2005 as a coordinated process of planning, organizing, and implementing strategies.
Aims to prevent disasters, reduce risks, prepare for threats, respond during emergencies, assess impacts, and facilitate recovery.
Includes rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts to rebuild affected communities.

Integrated systems monitoring hazards, forecasting, predicting risks, and assessing vulnerabilities.
Enable timely communication and preparedness, allowing proactive measures by communities and authorities.
Notable examples include:
- Cyclone Warning Systems in India: Effective early alarms for Cyclone Fani in 2019 led to mass evacuations, minimizing casualties.
- Tsunami Warning Systems: Enhanced following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami for better detection and alerts.

Hazard Monitoring: Continuous observation of potential hazards such as earthquakes and storms.
Forecasting and Prediction: Employing data to predict upcoming hazards, considering frequency and predictability (e.g., cyclones vs. earthquakes).

Definition: Catastrophic events disrupting the environment and societal functions, stemming from natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes) or human activities (e.g., pollution).
Disasters arise from hazardous events interacting with exposure, vulnerability, and capacity, leading to severe consequences.

Natural Disasters:
- Geological: Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides.
- Hydrological: Floods, tsunamis.
- Meteorological: Hurricanes, tornadoes.
- Climatological: Droughts, heatwaves.
- Biological: Pandemics, epidemics.
Human-Made Disasters:
- Industrial: Chemical spills, nuclear accidents.
- Environmental Pollution: Oil spills, air and water pollution.
- Technological: Power outages, cyber attacks.
- Socio-Political: Wars, terrorist attacks.

Human Impact: Loss of life and injuries, along with large-scale displacement.
Material Impact: Damage to properties and livelihoods, disrupting businesses.
Economic Impact: Increased response costs and economic disruptions affecting markets and trade.
Environmental Impact: Habitat destruction, pollution, and depletion of natural resources.

Environmental Risk: Potential hazards that threaten the environment and human health, influenced by factors like pollution and urban sprawl.
Environmental Vulnerability: The susceptibility of communities and ecosystems to damage from environmental risks.

Disasters categorized based on origin and impact:
- Natural Disasters: Resulting from natural events such as earthquakes and floods.
- Man-Made Disasters: Arising from human actions, including industrial accidents and pollution.

Floods: Caused by heavy rainfall or dam failures; significant example is the 2013 Uttarakhand Floods in India.
Earthquakes: Sudden energy release in Earth's crust causing destruction; notable is the 2010 Haiti Earthquake (7.0 magnitude).
Cyclones: Strong storms leading to coastal damage; Cyclone Fani in 2019 affected millions in India.
Tsunamis: Massive sea waves from seismic activity; exemplified by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami with over 230,000 fatalities.