CDM

01 FOUNDATION COURSE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Ilisasters. which are often sudden and intense, result i n destruction, ill-jury and death disrupting tlie normal life as well as the process of development. This high lights the i~iipo~-iance of disaster manage~iientand tlie need to learn about it. The Foundation the Course in Disaster Management, among othe, .ilspects, is intended to fan~iliarise learners with the meaning, factors, significance, causes and effects of disasters. Besides providing the Regional and Seasotlal profile of natural disasters in India, the Course also presents a global view of disasters. In keeping with the peculiarities of various disasters, the Course deals with tlie vulnerability, impact and effects, nature of damage, predictability, forecasting aspects of disasters such as Earthqi~ake,Flood and Drainage, Cyclone, Drought and Famine, Landslide and Snow Avalanclie, Fire and Forest Fire, Irid~~strial and Technological disasters, and Epidemics. In order to create and sustain awareness of disasters the community and to upgrade tlie information, knowledge and skills of the Goverrimental atid Non-governmental Organisations' personnel dealing witli disaster mitigation and management, the Course lays emphasis on disaster preparedness. Here we shall be dealing specifically with tlie essentials of disaster preparedness viz. Planni'ng, com~nunication,leadership and co-ordination, and \\arehousing and stock piling. To strengthen the resilience and self-confidelice of local cv~nmunities atid to enable them to develop Co~nmunityAction Plans to deal witli pre ancl post disaster situations, the Course focuses on human behaviour and response, tccliniq~~es for effective community participation and beliefs and myths regarding dis;lstcrs. Further, it aims to present relevant illformation pertaining to disasters and the cl'lbctive dissemination of tlie same. I t is a known fact that various agencies play . ililli.~.entand significant roles in dealing with disaster situations. Therefore, we shall tlcsc~.ibc't11c roles of District Administration, Military and Para-military forces, hlinis~ries and Depal-iments at tlie Centre and State levels, Non-governmental ( )~.~arlisatiobs. International Agencies atid Media.

U N I FD ~ ISASTER : M E ANING , FACTORS

AND SIGNIFlCANCE

Structure
1.0 I .1 1.2

Objectives Introduction Meaning of Disasters

1.2.1 Definitions
' 1.2.2 Distindion between I-lward and Disastrr

1.2.3 Distinction between Natural and Man-made Disasters

1.3 1.4 1.5 l .G 1.7 1.8 1.9

Nature of Disasters Aggravating factors of Disasters Significance and Repercussions Let Us Sum Up Key Words References and Further Readings Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

1.0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit, you should be able to:, discuss the meaning, definitions and types of disasters, describe the nature of disasters, highlight the aggravating factors of disasters, and explain the significance and repercussions,

1 1 INTRODUCTION
I

A disaster is the result of an immediate situation or the rcsult of a long set process which disrupts nonnal human life in its established social, traditional and destruction of environ~nentwhich is caused , economic system. This is due to tl~e by extraordinary natural destructive pl~enomena 01. human-induced hazards resi~ltingin human llardship and suffering beyond recovery ~~nless extertial aid is brought in.

1.2 MEANING OF DISASTERS

'The terns 'Disaster' owes its origin to the French word 'Desastre' which is the combination of the article - 'des' and 'astre' meaning 'star'. In earlier days a disaster was considered to be due to some u~ifavourablestar. Nowadays, the term Disaster' is commonly used to denote ally odd event, be natural or man made, which brings about immense misery to a region. So that it becomes difficult to cope with the situatioli through local resources.

1.2.1

Definitions

The dictionary meanings of Disaster are as follows:

1 ) Disaster is a sudden or great ~nisfortune, calamity. (Concise Oxford Dictionary)

2) Disaster is a sudden calamitous evelit producing great material damage, loss

and distress. (Webster's Dictionary)

CDM

01 FOUNDATION COURSE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

[Iisasters. wliicli are often sudden and intense, result in destruction, ill-jury and death disrupting the normal life as well as the process of development. This highlights the impor-tance of disaster management and the need to learn about it. The Foundation Course in Disaster Management, among othe dspects, is intended to familiarise the learners with the meaning, factors, significance, causes and effects of disasters. Besides providing tlie Regional and Seasonal profile of natural disasters in India, the Course also presents a global view of disasters. In keeping with the peculiarities o r vario~~s disasters, tlie Course deals with the v~lnerabiiit~, impact and effects, nature of damage, predictability, forecasting aspects of disasters such as Earthquake, Flood and Drainage, Cyclone, Drought and Fa~nine,Landslide and Snow Avalanclle, Fire and Forest Fire, Industrial and Technological disasters, and Epidemics. In order to create and sustain awareness of disasters the community and to upgrade the information, I<nowledge and skills of the Governmental and Non-governmental Organisations' personnel dealing with disaster mitigation and management, the Course lays emphasis on disasler preparedness. Here we shall be dealing specifically with tlie essentials of clisaster preparedness viz. Planning, com~nunication, leadership and co-ordination, and \ \ archousing and stock piling. To strengthen tlie resilie~ice and self-confidence of local communities a ~ i d to enable them to develop Community Action Plans to deal with pre t~ncl post disaster situations, the Course focuses on hurnan behaviour and response, tccl~~iiq~tes for effective co~nmunityparticipatio~~ and beliefs and myths regarding tli.;,~stc~-s. Further, it aims to present relevant information pertaining to disasters and the cl'li.cti\~edisseriiination of the same. It is a known fact that various agencies play rlil'ii'~.cn~ and significant roles in dealing with disaster situations. Therefore, we shall ~ I C \ C I - I ~ C tlic roles of District Administratio& Military and Para-military forces, Alinistl-~es and Departments at the Centre and State levels, Non-governmental ( )ryni~:l[ions. International Agencies and Media.

U~~tlerstn~~ of cli~~g
Disasters

Disaster is assessed on the basis of the,followingfeatures:

1) Disruption to nornial pattern of life. Such disruption is usually severe and may

and widespread. also 4e sudden, ~~nexpected

2) Human effects such as loss of life, livelihood and property, injury, liardship and adverse effects on liealtli.

3) Effects on Social Str~lct~11.e such as destruction of or damage to infrastructure, buildings, comni~~nications and other esse~itial services.
4) Com~iii~nity needs SLICII as shelter, food, clotliing, medical assistance and social care.

Tlie severity of a disaster situation is usually recltoned in ternis of loss of life or property or both.
A formal definition of disaster may be "an event, co~icentratedi l l time and space, wliicli threatens a society or a relatively self-sufficient sub-divisio~iof a society with ~iiajor~111walited consequences as a result of tlie collapse of precautions which r a l l y as adequate" (Turner, 1997). had Iiitlierto bee11c ~ ~ l t ~ ~ accepted

1.2.2 Distinction Between Hazard and Disaster

Hazard and disaster are closely related. A liazard is a natural event while tlie disaster is its colisequence. A liazard is a perceived natural event whicli threatens both life and property. A disaster is tlie culmination of such liazard.
A liazard is a potential for a disaster. A liazard becomes a disaster when it hits an area affecting tlie normal life system. If a hazard like a cyclonc hits an unpopulated area, say an ~rnpop~~lated coast. it need not be considerecl as a disaster. However, it will be considered a disaster if life and property are serio~~sly damaged. A hazard ]nay be regarded as pre-disaster situation, in wliicli some I-islc of disaster exists, because tlie human population has placed itself in a situatio~iof risk. .

Disasters are extreme events whicli cause great loss of life a~ld/orproperty ancl create severe disruptions to human activities. They can be created by li~~nian actions, e.g., transport accidents and industrial explosions or natural processes lilic eartliqualtes. A liazarcl is wlien extreme events or process occur in an area of litinian settle~iient and could cause loss of life and cla~iiage to existing constrttctcd resources or infrastructure.

1.2.3 Distinction Between Natural and Man Made Disasters

Disasters are classified ~ ~ n d various er groups wlien studied according to origin or bani fi~nctionalangle. Although both types of disasters (natural or man niade) res~11tin dalnage to life and property, their distinction can be identified by classifying into rnajor gronps:
1. Nat~rral Disasters

i)

Wind related

Storm, Cyclone, Tornado, Storm surge, Tidal waves, Flood, Clo~~dburst, Flash flood, Ewessive rains. Drought. Earthq~~ake, Tsunamis, Volcilnic en~ptions. Avalanclies. Lanclslides,

ii) Water related

iii) Earth related

2. Man Made Disasters i) Accidents: Road, Rail, Air, Sea, Building collapse. ii) Industrial Mishaps: Gas leak, Explosion, Sabotage, Safety. iii) Fire: Building, Coal, Oil. iv) Forest Fire (In tropical counters, forest fires are often manmade\ v) Contaminationffoisoning:Food, Water, IIIiatliquor, Epidemics. vi) Terrorist activities. vii) Ecological: Pollution (Air, Water, Noise), Soil degration, Loss of Biodiversity, Global Warming, Sea level rise, Toxic Wastes, Nuclear accidents. viii)Warfare: Conventional, Chemical, Nuclear.
I

Disaster: Meaning Factors and significance

1.3 NATURE OF DISASTERS

As disasters have profound and often long lasting effects on the people and their safety, if is essential to acquire filllest possible knowledge about their occurrence, impacts and precautions including remedial measures. However, study of Disasters has many facets. While their mechanism requires the study of the scientific aspects of their genesis and life cycle, this impacts on the environ~nent and society also need a multi-disciplinary approach involvil~gthe social and medical services. Hence, scholars for studying disasters have adopted the following six approaches.
1) Geographical Approach
I11 this, social science methods are widely used and emphasis is given to the spatiotemporal distribution of hazard, impacts and vulnerability. Geographers have also given particular thought to.the question of 11ow choices are made between different types of adjustment to natural hazards.

2) Anthropological Approach This approach has focused on the role of disasters in guiding the socio-economic evolution of populations in dispersing them and in causing the destruction of civilizations. A strong concern has led anthropologists to search for the tl~reshold points beyond which local communities can no longer provide the basic requirements for survival of their members.
3) Sociological Approach

In this approach, vulnerability and impacts are cotisidered in terms of patterns of human behaviour and the effects of disasters on community. In addition, psychologists have studied disaster in relation to factors such as a psychologically determined defensive reaction pattern.
4) Developmental Studies Approach

It considers problems of providing aid and relief, migration management, health care and the avoidance of starvation. Over 80 per cent of disasters occur in developing countries, and it is clear that the prevailing poverty increases human vulnerability to natural hazards.
5) Disaster Medicine and Epidemiology

It focuses on the management of mass casualties, the treatment of severe physical diseases' whose trauma and the epidemiological surveillance of co~n~nunicable incidence rates may increase during the disruption of public health measures following a disaster.

'Ulitlerstantlittg of
Disasters

6 ) Technical Approach
Tlie natural and physical scientists emphasise Lipon this approach. Emphasis is given to geological, geotiiorpliological and geophysical approaches to clisasters.
Clleclt Your Progress 1

Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers, ii) . Check your answers with those given at tlie end of tlie unit.

1)

What do you meall by hazard and clisastel-'?

2) Discuss briefly the niajor types of tlie natural disasters.

3) Briefly describe any four approaches regarding nature of disaste~.~.

1.4 AGGRAVATING FACTORS OF DISASTERS

Tlie severity of tlie in~pactsof each disaster is recltoned in terms of deaths, damage, 01' costs whicli are clependent on tlie existing socio-economic conditions of the affected com~nunity. In fact, tlie misery of !.he affected people is iisually increased by the fol lowing aggravating factors.

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Poverty
All disaster studies show that the wealthy aniong tlie population arc less affected and arc able to recover quicltly. However, poverty generally makes people ~ n o r c

vulnerable to all the impacts of disasters. It is only due to poverty that poor people are forced to live in more vulnerable areas such as tlie flood plains of rivers. Usually droughts claim poor peasant farmers as victinis and rarely the wealthy; and famines are the result of a lack of purchasing power to buy food rather than an absence of food. Many people are forced to move from tlieir homes to other parts of their countries or even across borders to survive. Such crisis induced migration poses co~isiderable challenge both in terms of immediate assistance and long term planning for development. Population Growth There is an obvious link between tlie increase in losses from a disaster and increase in population density. If there are more people and structures where a disaster strikes, there will be more impact. Increasing number of people will compete for opportunities) which can lead to conflict. This limited resources (e.g., employ~nent conflict may result in crisis-induced migration. This type of growth occurs countries, wl~ich may aggravate the to disasters. predominantly.in developi~ig Rapid Urbanisation Rapid population growth and migration are closely related to tlie major phenomenon of rapid urbanization. It is characterized by rural poor or people i l l disadvantaged areas moving to urban and nietropolitan areas in search of economic opportunities and security. These people f i n d Ik\\cr options for availability ofsafe and desirable places to baild their houses. Ilerc again, competition for scarce resources can lead to social conflicts. Many of the landslides or flood disasters are closely linked to rapicl and unclieckecl urbanisation whicli forces low-income fanlilies to settle on tlie slopes of steep hillsides or banks of rivers. Transitions in Cultural Practices Many of the inevitable changes that occur in all societies lead to :on increase in their vulnerability to disasters. Obviously, all societies are constantly changing and are in a continual state of transition. These transitions are often disruptive and uneven, leaving gaps in social coping mechanisms and available technology. These transitions include no~nadicpopulation that become sedentary, rural people who move to urban areas, and both rural and urban people who move from one econo~niclevel to another. More broadly, these examples are typical of a shift from non-industrialized to industrialized societies. Environmental Degradation
1

Disaster: Merning

Factors and significance

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Many disasters are either caused or aggravated by environmental degradation. Deforestation leads to rapid rain run off, which coptributes to soil erosion and flooding. The destn~ctionof mangrove swa~nps decreases tlie resistance of tlie coastline to withstand strong winds and storm surges. Drought conditions may be intensified by deforestation, overgrpzing, the stripping of topsoil, poor conservation techniques, depletion of both tlie surface and subsurface water supply and to an extent, uncl;ecked population.
C

Clndel-stancling of
Disasters

Lack of Awareness and Information Lack of awareness and proper infol.rnation usually coriverts a liazard into a Disaster. This ignorance may not necessary be due to poverty, but due to a lack of awareness of what measures can be talien to builcl safe structures on safe locations. Perhaps sonie people did not Icnow about safe evacuation routes and procedures. Other population may not Icnow where to turn for assistance in times of acute distress. In most disaster prone societies, although tliere is a ,traditional wealth of iders erst an ding about disaster threats and responses, yet, they lnay not I ~ I I O W what specific steps they should tale immediately to escape the crisis.
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War alirl Civil Strife

War and civil strife are regarded as hazards, that is, extreme cvents that produce disasters. The causal factors of war and civil strife include competition l i ~ scarce r resources, religious to ethnic intolerance and ideological cliflercnces.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE AND REPERCUSSIONS

Disaster has significance and repercussions in global, national and local ter~ns. It retards the clevelopment process not only in the affected areol~cgionbut extends to the neiglibouring regions or countries as well. In global terms, disasters have serious repercussions for the ri~ture. 'I'lie wol.ld is already facing a range of environmental and subsistence crises. The political, econo~nic and social stability of tlie world depends on bridging l.he socioeconomic gap between developing and developed nations. In national terms, the impact of disasters t~si~ally results in ma-jor setbaclts to thc economy and the developlnental process. It produce the direct loss of existing national assets in various forlns. Also, it diverts national resoilrccs and effort, away from ongoing subsistence and development activities, in order to achieve satisfactory recovery.

In local terms, tlie requirements of the communi~y need realistic assess~nent taking into consideratio11the expected occurrence of tlie types of vulnerability. Enabling I-esourcesto strengthen tlie local coping mechanisms have to be made available.
Checli Your Progress 2
Note:

i) Use the space given below for your answers. ii) Check your answers with those given at tlie elid of tlie LIII it.

1 ) Discuss briefly tlie aggravating factors of disasters.

7) I-low jP0vel-t~is contributing to increasing . - . the ,disasler problems?

'

Disaster: Meaning Factors arttl significance

3 ) Discuss some irnpol-tant areas of the significance and repcl.cussion of disaster

' I n this Unit, we cliscussed the meaning and types of the disasters and the distinction betwecn natural aAcl man-made disasters. 7'lie nature of disasters and the dil'l'erence approa~cliesacloptell to s t ~ ~ d Disasters y have been esplainccl. 'The Unit also highlighted the aggravatini factors of disasters. The sidnificance ancl repercussions of Disasters at global, national and local levels have been i~ldicaled.

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1.7

KEY WORDS

Anthropological: Related to sti~dy of liuman beings with regard to the e+olution of 11~1mtu1 society, customs ancl rituals. Avalanche: rapid and sudden sliding o r large [mass of'a mixture of snow and ice with rock material. Biodiversity: l'hc existence ot'a wide variety of plnrlts and a~~imals.
a

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Cyclone: A severe storm originating on the high sea and moving to the coastal g winds. torrential rain and Iloods. areas, characterizecl by very stro~ Damage assessment: post disaster estimation of physical damage. Disaster assistance: Provision of mensL1res to prevent and reduce'the impact of', and reverse, the effects of disasters; phase include relief, ~+ehabilitation, reconstruction and preparedness, and prevention ancl mitigation,
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Epidemiology: Scierlce of epidemics

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Landslide: rapid movement of soil and rock clow~i11iII. Trauma: Psychological shock of a disastrous evenl. Vulner,ability: Exteot to which n country, area, c o m p ~ ~ n i01. t ystructure. is likcly to be damaged by a Disaster

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1.8 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READINGS

Carter, W.Nick, 1991. Di.scrsier Mclnuge/net?l: A Di.scr.stcv M L I I I L . ~ fI~m~/boo/c, ~~Y:Y Asian Development Banlc, Manila. Mishra, Girisli K, and G.C. Malli~~r (Eds.), 1993. NLIILI~LII Di.s~~.stev R~LIUCI~OYI, Rel ianEe Publishing House, New Del hi. Pralcasli, Indu, 1994. Dzsuster Mcn~trge~iic~rr, Raslitra Praliari Gliaziabad. Prakaslian,

Tlio~iias, Babu, 1993. Dis~isicr Re,spon.se :A fIut~dhoo/r,for En~ergerrcir,~, Church's Auxilia'ry for SocialAction, New Delhi. Turner, Bar~yA, and Nick, F. Pidgeon, 1997. Mrrn n~acleDDis~~ster, Bzri~crtvorthI ~ ~ ~ I I ~ I Oxford. IILINII:

1.9 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS EXERCISES

1)

Y O L answer I~ S ~ O L I I C I include tlie following points:

A liazal-d is a natural event while tile clisaster is its consequence.
A hazard becornes a disaster when it hits an area affectiiig tlie normal life system and the comm~~nity needs external assistance to cope with t h e situation.

2) Y O Lanswer I~ should include tlie following points: Wind relaled disasters. Water related disasters. Earth related clisasters.

3) YOLII. answer sho~~lcl include tlie following points:

The Geographical approach The Anthropological approach 'The Sociological approach The Developmental approach Checl<Your Progress 2

1 ) Your answer should include tlie following points:

Povel-ty Population growth Rapid ~lrbanisation Transition in CLII~LI~-ZII practices Environnlental degl-adation b c l c of awareness and information War ancl civil strife

2) Your answer should include tlle following points:,

0
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Wealthy populatio~~ is able to recover quickly f?om a disaster situation. Due to poverty people are forced to live in areas that are prone to disasters.

Fa~~lines are the resillt of a lack of purchasing power to buy food.

e

Migration.

j)
1

YOLII* answer should inclucle the following pofnts:

0

In global terms, disasters lead to the wideni~lgof the socioeconomic gap between developed and developing nations. On the national level, disasters result in m+jor setbacks to Ihc national economy and the developmental process.

On the local level, the requireme~~ts of the c o n ~ m ~ ~ ~ need i i t y tealistic assessment and provision on the basis of the expecl.ed disasters a11cl the local v~~lnerability.