Disaster management

- Definition of ‘Disaster’.
- What is a disaster management cycle?
- What are the types of Disasters?
- What is vulnerability and risk?
- What is a Hazard? How is it classified?
- Use data, pictures, pie charts, bar diagrams

1. DISASTER MANAGEMENT

2. WHAT IS A DISASTER ? A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins .  

3. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE Disaster management integrates the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all the humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in order to lessen the impact of disasters. Elimination or reduction of the impacts and risks of hazards predict and, where possible, prevent disasters warning/evacuation, search and rescue, providing immediate assistance set of policies, tools and procedures to enable the recovery

4. TYPES OF DISASTERS There are two main categories of disasters . Natural disasters A natural disaster is a natural phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, cyclones and pandemics are all natural disasters Man made disasters Human-instigated disasters are the consequence of technological or human hazards. Examples include stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills, terrorist attacks, nuclear explosions/nuclear radiation. War and deliberate attacks may also be put in this category.

5. VULNERABILITY Vulnerability is the inability to resist a hazard or to respond when a disaster has occurred

6. HAZARD A natural hazard  is a natural phenomenon that might have a negative effect on humans and other animals, or the environment. HAZARD ELEMENTS OF THE HAZARD VULNERABLE AREAS PREVENTION EXAMPLES PHYSICAL Wildfire fuel, oxygen, and a heat source California ,Canada , Mediterranean ,Siberia,Australia Report unattended fires. Extinguish fire pits when done.Don't throw lit cigarettes .Use caution when using flammable liquids. Australian forest In 2019 CHEMICAL Human error, manufacturing defect, improper manufacturing China , India , USA , Italy Use of PPE kits Avoid housing near industries Proper labeling of chemicals Bhopal gas tragedy BIOLOGICAL Virus   bacteria ,  viruses , insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans Any crowded area with lack of awareness Sanitation Social distancing Vaccination COVID -19

7. THE ERRATIC EARTHQUAKE

8. An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves . The 2011 Sikkim earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and was centered within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, near the border of Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim. Earthquakes are caused by a sudden release of stress along faults in the earth's crust. The continuous motion of  tectonic plates  causes a steady build-up of pressure in the rock strata on both sides of a fault until the stress is sufficiently great that it is released in a sudden, jerky movement.

9. DO’S AND DON’TS • During the event, the safest place is an open space, away from buildings. • If you are indoors, take cover under a desk, table, bed or doorways and against inside walls and staircase. Stay away from glass doors, glass panes, windows or outside doors. Do not rush to go out of the building, to avoid the stampede. • If you are outside, move away from buildings and utility wires. • Once in the open, stay there till the vibrations stop. • If you are in a moving vehicle, stop as quickly as possible and stay in the vehicle. • Free all pets and domestic animals so that they can run outside. • Do not use candles, matches or other open flames.

10. Prevention and mitigation NDRF team consists of 45 men, including a doctor and paramedic, a structural engineer, dogs, and four search and rescue teams, with hand-held disaster management equipment for collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR) and medical first response (MFR). The local community consisting of young men and women who formed volunteer teams and helped in search and rescue, guided the first responders from outside the state, and also helped in the cremation of the dead. They also managed the make-shift relief camps for those community members whose houses had either been destroyed, developed cracks, or had been declared unsafe to live in.

11. LURCHY LANDSLIDE

12. Landslide refers to several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows  1968, a torrential rainfall had unleashed about 20,000 landslides, killing thousands and breaching the Darjeeling-Sikkim road at more than 90 places . L andslides  can be initiated in slopes already on the verge of movement by rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water level, stream erosion, changes in ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity, disturbance by human activities, or any combination of these factors.

13. DO’S AND DON’TS Be observant. Many landslide and debris flow casualties occur when people are sleeping. Listen to radio for warnings of intense rainfall. Unusual sounds might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. A trickle of flowing or falling mud or debris may precede larger landslides. Be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow in streams or channels. Such changes may indicate landslide activity upstream, so be prepared to move quickly If you live in areas susceptible to landslides and debris flows, consider leaving if it is safe to do so. If you remain at home, move to a part of the house farthest away from the source of the landslide or debris flows, such as an upper floor, but keep an escape route open should it become necessary to leave the house. Be alert when on the roads. Embankments along roadsides are particularly susceptible to landslides. Watch the road for collapsed pavement, mud, fallen rocks, and other indications of possible landslides or debris flows.

14. PREVENTION The Project entitled “Treatment of Landslide & Erosion Control work” under Technology Development and Extension & Training Programme ”, A Central Sector Scheme for Wasteland Development is one amongst the effort to combat this natural disaster in Sikkim. Certain preventive measures have been undertaken under this scheme. To immediately arrest soil erosion, stabilize failure sites, reduce potential for additional mass wastage, reduce stress on agricultural land, minimize sediment production and delivery to streams thereby reduce the risk of damage to fish habitat or domestic water supply. Promote awareness, education and extension programs.

15. FEROCIOUS FOREST FIRE

16. Forest fire a large, destructive fire that spreads over a forest or area of woodland . Forest fires are caused by Natural causes as well as Man made causes Natural causes  - Many forest fires start from natural causes such as lightning which set trees on fire. However, rain extinguishes such fires without causing much damage. High atmospheric temperatures and dryness (low humidity) offer favorable circumstance for a fire to start. Man made causes  - Fire is caused when a source of fire like naked flame, cigarette or bidi , electric spark or any source of ignition comes into contact with inflammable material.

17. DO’S AND DON’TS To keep the source of fire or source of ignition separated from combustible and inflammable material. To keep the source of fire under watch and control. Not allow combustible or inflammable material to pile up unnecessarily and to stock the same as per procedure recommended for safe storage of such combustible or inflammable material. To adopt safe practices in areas near forests viz. factories, coalmines, oil stores, chemical plants and even in household kitchens. To incorporate fire reducing and fire fighting techniques and equipment

18. Fires are frequent in the subtropical Sal forests in Sikkim and occur in the winter months. Earlier, winter precipitation used to prevent these fires, however, with the change in the climatic pattern, winters are becoming increasingly warm and dry. In Sikkim out of 45.97% of forest cover 40% of forests are susceptible to forest fires for a period of 5 months, i.e., November to March

19. PREVENTION AND MITIGATION The Government of India is considering setting up of a National Institute of Forest Fire Management with satellite centres in different parts of India to bring the latest forest fire fighting technologies to India through proper research , training of personnel and technology transfer on a long-term basis. Remote sensing has been and is also being widely used for accurate monitoring of fire frequency and extent of forest area burnt in Sikkim. Much more details and data have to be collected for the entire state to understand the fire behaviour under Sikkim conditions.

20. EMERGENCY KIT Water : You must keep enough supply of water as it is essential for your survival and is a basic need. And you will require it for drinking as well as sanitation. Food : You must include non-perishable food in your emergency supply kit. Also, keep food items which are easy to prepare. Flashlight : As the power supply may get disrupted, thus it is advisable to keep a flashlight for your safety. First aid kit : Keeping a first aid kit should be your utmost priority. It may include medicines, bandage strips, hand sanitizer, band-aids, etc. Other tools  like extra batteries, whistle to signal other people during the time of emergency, candles, scissors, knife, personal hygiene items etc. must be kept. You must have enough supply of  medicines  and also carry your personal identity documents with you which may include address proof, insurance policies, etc Cash  is mandatory and you must carry extra cash as you may require it during the crisis and ATMs may not be operational.