Response to Disasters PDF

RESPONSE TO DISASTERS Faculty- Tulika Kumari Assistant Professor Department of Geography  INTRODUCTION Any sudden adverse unfortunate extreme events or hazards which cause great damage to human being as well as other living organisms is called...

RESPONSE TO DISASTERS Faculty- Tulika Kumari Assistant Professor Department of Geography  INTRODUCTION Any sudden adverse unfortunate extreme events or hazards which cause great damage to human being as well as other living organisms is called disaster. Disasters occur rapidly, instantaneously and indiscriminately. Disasters are an inevitable part of life, and everyone faces some level of personal risk from various types of disasters. Throughout history, disasters have always been a constant challenge for humanity. Generations have endured and recovered from disasters, allowing life to continue. However, despite changes over time, the threat from traditional disasters has not significantly decreased.  RESPONSE TO DISASTERS The disaster response is planned and organized within the paradigm of three phases: pre-disaster, during disaster or disaster impact and post disaster recovery. As a follow up to IDNDR and Yokohama declaration, the Government of India established the National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) to encourage effective training, coordination and planning for disaster response. TYPE OF DISASTER AND NODAL MINISTRY Type of Disaster/Crisis Nodal Ministry Air Accident Ministry of Civil Aviation Civil Strife Ministry of Home Affairs Major breakdown of any of the essential services posing Concerned Ministries widespread and protected problems Railway Accidents Ministry of Railways Chemical Disasters Ministry of Environment Biological Disaster Ministry of Health Nuclear Accident inside or outside the country which poses Department of Atomic Energy health or other hazards to people in India Droughts Ministry of Agriculture Natural Disasters Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Source- Ministry of Home Affairs  STAGES OF NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT The occurrence of disasters and hazards are studied in three stages as follows: 1. Pre-disaster stage 2. On- disaster stage 3. Post-disaster stage Alternatively, these three stages are known as: 1. Anticipatory stage (anticipation of disaster) 2. Participatory stage (participation of community in disaster mitigation) 3. Recovery stage (relief work, rehabilitation and recovery from the disaster) These three stages of natural disaster reduction and management (NDRM) may be combined into two broad stages as follows:  PRE-DISASTER STAGE Pre-disaster stage of disaster reduction and management aims at informing the people of the area to be affected by a hazard and disaster well in advance; Disaster Preparedness (P) preparing the community mentally and practically to handle any emergencies, minimizing likely negative Disaster Mitigation (M) impacts, and preventing hazards or at least reducing their severity or altering their paths, such as with Disaster Prevention (P) hurricanes and other tropical cyclones. This phase involves three primary steps, known as PMP steps: Disaster Preparedness is concerned with measures taken immediately before and after a hazard event, for example, relating to evacuation plans, health and safety, search and rescue etc. Hence the crucial issue would be logistics for which advanced preparations are necessary. Preparedness assumes that certain groups of people or property will remain vulnerable and that preparedness would be necessary to address the consequences of a hazardous event’s occurrence.  IMPORTANCE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS Life Safety: Preparedness measures, such as evacuation plans and emergency kits, significantly increase the chances of survival and reduce injuries during disasters by enabling quick and informed actions. Rapid Response: Being prepared allows for a quicker and more organized response to disasters. This can include timely evacuations, efficient deployment of emergency services, and rapid distribution of aid and resources. Mental Readiness: Preparedness activities, such as drills and education programs, help individuals and communities mentally prepare for disasters. This reduces panic and confusion during actual events, leading to more effective decision-making and actions. Protecting Vulnerable Populations: Preparedness plans specifically address the needs of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, disabled, and children, ensuring they receive the necessary support and protection during disasters. Disaster mitigation is defined as “Measures aimed at reducing the impact of natural or man-made disasters in a nation or community”(Carter, 1991). Mitigation refers to long-term risk reduction measures, which are intended to minimise the effects of a hazard; for example, dam construction is considered an activity that mitigates the effects of droughts. Hence, “Mitigation involves not only saving lives and injury and reducing property losses, but also reducing the adverse consequences of natural hazards to economic activities and social institutions.”  IMPORTANCE OF DISASTER MITIGATION Risk Reduction: Mitigation efforts aim to reduce the risks posed by natural and man-made hazards. By identifying potential threats and implementing measures to address them, communities can significantly lower the likelihood of disaster-related damage. Cost Efficiency: Investing in mitigation is often more cost-effective than responding to and recovering from disasters. Preventative measures can save significant amounts of money that would otherwise be spent on emergency response and rebuilding efforts. Protection of Lives: The primary goal of disaster mitigation is to protect human lives. By implementing safety measures, building resilient infrastructure, and educating the public, the number of injuries and fatalities during a disaster can be minimized.  POST-DISASTER STAGE Post-disaster phase of disaster management reflects the resilience of disaster affected communities towards facing the calamities introduced by a particular or a host of disasters. The post-disaster stage comprises the following steps to absorb the adversaries of natural disasters: a. Relief measures b. Recovery from shocks of disasters, and c. Rehabilitation of displaced communities.  RELIEF MEASURES When a disaster strikes an area, the immediate actions include rescuing people trapped under debris, providing food, drinking water, shelter, and medicine, and restoring power, water supplies, communication, and transport systems. The key components of relief measures during a disaster include the following: social response and action, participants in relief work, organizational involvement, correct picture of nature, magnitude and severity of disasters and necessary requirements, zonation of priority on the basis of magnitude of damages and requirements, and active participation in relief work. Relief Materials: The relief materials include rescue team and necessary equipments for rescue operation, monetary fund, relief commodities as follows: (1) Rescue team: comprising expert team, technicians, heavy equipments in order to rescue the victims buried under rubbles etc. (2) Medical team comprising doctors, nurses, volunteers if demanded by the disaster-hit country. (3) Relief materials comprise food items, safe drinking water, tents, generators, communi- cation devices, lighting items, medical equipments, cooking gas cylinders and stoves, wood, coal, blankets, garments etc. (4) Monetary fund received from individuals, institutions, voluntary social organizations, as donations; government agencies as financial help; and from international communities. Execution of Relief-Work: The supply and distribution of relief materials should be accomplished with the help of local communities and voluntary social organizations under the umbrella of government officials.  RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION Recovery and rehabilitation after a disaster are lengthy, time-consuming, and expensive processes, requiring substantial time and money for successful implementation. Rehabilitation involves renewing disrupted systems, repairing damaged infrastructure, and reconstructing houses, buildings, roads, railways, bridges, and other utilities, as well as providing employment relief. The success of rehabilitating distressed and displaced people largely depends on the economic health of the affected country. It should be noted that regardless of its size, strength, and wealth, no country can handle all aspects of disaster reduction and management solely with its own resources. THANK YOU