FUNDAMENTALS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT By Prof. Ravinder Kaur Department of Geography ChandigarhDISASTER m Disaster is an event or series of events, which | gives rise to casualties and damage or loss of property, infrastructure, environment, essential Common Natural Disaste services or means of livelihood on such a scale which is beyond the normal capacity of the affected community to cope with. Disaster is also sometimes described as “a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area”. SYJ LIST OF VARIOUS JISASTERS 1 Water and climate related disasters 2 Geological related disasters 3 Chemical, industrial and nuclear related disasters 4 Accident related disasters 5 bh Biological related disasters Floods and drainage manag yclones Tornadoes and hurrican Hailstorm Cloud burst Heat wave and cold way ‘Snow avalanches Droughts Sea erosion Thunder and lightenin, ‘Tsunami Landslides and mudfior Earthquakes Dam failures/ Dam burs Minor fires Chemical and industrial dist Nuclear disasters. Forest fires Urban fires Mine flooding Oil spills Major building collaps« ‘Serial bomb blasts Festival related disaste Electrical disasters and fi Air, road and rail accider Boat capsizing Village fre, Biological disasters and epid Pest attacks Cattle epidemics Food poisoning.- HAZARD Arare extreme natural or human made event that threatens to adversely affect human life, property or activity to the extent of causing disaster. A hazard is a natural or man-made phenomenon which may cause physical damage, economic losses, or threaten human life and well being if it occurs in an area of human settlement, agricultural, or industrial activity. Hazard is an event or occurrence that has the potential for causing injuries to life and damaging property and the environment. = Examples of natural hazards are typhoons, tsunamis, earthqui eruption, which are exc ake and volcanic Jusively of natural origin. EeeTYPES OF HAZARDS = Biological hazards are of organic origin or conveyed by biological vectors, including pathogenic microorganisms, toxins and bioactive substances. Examples are bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as venomous wildlife and insects, poisonous plants and mosquitoes carrying disease-causing agents. Environmental hazards may include chemical, natural and biological hazards. They can be created by environmental degradation or physical or chemical pollution in the air, water and soil. However, many of the processes and phenomena that fall into this category may be termed drivers of hazard and risk rather than hazards in themselves, such as soil degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, salinization and sea-level rise.PES OF HAZARDS...continued = Geological or geophysical hazards originate from internal earth processes. Examples are earthquakes, volcanic activity and emissions, and related geophysical processes such as mass movements, landslides, rockslides, surface collapses and debris or mud flows. Hydro-meteorological factors are important contributors to some of these processes. Tsunamis are difficult to categorize: although they are triggered by undersea earthquakes and other geological events, they essentially become an oceanic process that is manifested as a coastal water-related hazard. Hydro-meteorological hazards are of atmospheric, hydrological or oceanographic origin. Examples are tropical cyclones (also known as typhoons and hurricanes); floods, including flash floods; drought; heatwaves and cold spells; and coastal storm surges. Hydrometeorological conditions may also be a factor in other hazards such as landslides, wildland fires, locust plagues, epidemics and in the transport and dispersal of toxic substances and volcanic eruption material. Technological hazards originate from technological or industrial conditions, dangerous procedures, infrastructure failures or specific human activities. Examples include industrial pollution, nuclear radiation, toxic wastes, dam failures, transport accidents, factory explosions, fires and chemical spills. Technological hazards also may arise directly as a result of the impacts of a natural hazard event.A VULNERABILITY Vulnerability is a set of prevailing or consequential conditions that adversely affect people’s ability prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to hazardous events. These long-term factors, weaknesses or constraints affect a household or community’s ability (or inability) also to absorb losses after disaster or to recover from the damage. Vulnerabilities precede disasters contribute to their severity, impede disaster long after a disaster has stuck. Vulnerability is one of the defining components of disaster risk. response, and may continue to existsS OF VULNERABILITY ere are four main types of vulnerability: Physical Vi ili “4 Re eh may be determined by aspects such as population density levels, remoteness 4 Jettlement the ste; design anc materials used for eiealinfastucture and foc bousing (UNISDR, : as are vulnerable t cyclons. Wooden homes are less lik SRR E GC Lacrabic tote, s are less likely to collapse in an Social Vulnerability refers to the inability of people, organizations and societies to withstand adverse impacts to hazards due to characteristics inherent in social interactions, institutions and systems of cult values. It is linked to the level of well being of individuals, communities and society. It includes aspect related to levels of literacy and education, the existence of peace and security, access to basic human rights, systems of good governance, social equity, positive traditional values, customs and ideological beliefs and overall collective organizational systems (UNISDR). Example: When flooding occurs som citizens, such as children, elderly and differently-able, may be unable to protect themselves or evacuat necessary. Economic Vulnerability. The level of vulnerability is highly dependent upon the economic status of individuals, communities and nations The poor are usually more vulnerable to disasters because they I the resources to build sturdy structures and put other engineering measures in place to protect themsely from being negatively impacted by disasters. Example: Poorer families may live in squatter settlement: because they cannot afford to live in safer (more expensive) areas. Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key aspects of Environmental Vulnerability. % Je: Forest degradation makes the slopes vulnerable to landslides; et environmental vulnerability. Examp!Ie potential loss of life, injury, or destroyed or damaged assets which could occur to a system, society or a community in a specific period of time. = Itis determined probabilistically as a function of RISK (or DISASTER R hazard, exposure, vulnerability and capacity. sea Risk can be calculated using the following ee equation: Risk = Probability of Hazard x Degree of Pe Vulnerability. ‘ Vulnerability ‘There are different ways of dealing with risk, such as: ‘Climate Variability dl Risk Acceptance: an informed decision to accept the possible consequences and likelihood of a particular z Hazard risk. re Risk Avoidance: an informed decision to avoid + involvement in activities leading to risk realization. onan a onl ; eee Cane reg Risk Reduction refers to the application of appropriate Kee techniques to reduce the likelihood of risk occurrence and its consequences. Risk Transfer involves shifting of the burden of risk to another party. One ‘of the most common forms of risk transfer is Insurance. —————— STwoe TYPES OF DISASTER RISK = Acceptable risk, or tolerable risk, is therefore an important sub-term; the extent to which a disaster risk is deemed acceptable or tolerable depends on existing social, economic, political, cultural, technical and environmental conditions. In engineering terms, acceptable risk is also used to assess and define the structural and non-structural measures that are needed in order to reduce possible harm to people, property, services and systems to a chosen tolerated level, according to codes or “accepted practice” which are based on known probabilities of hazards and other factors. Residual risk is the disaster risk that remains even when effective disaster risk reduction measures are in place, and for which emergency response and recovery capacities must be maintained. The presence of residual risk implies a continuing need to develop and support effective capacities for emergency services, preparedness, response and recovery, together with socioeconomic policies such as safety nets and risk transfer mechanisms, as part of a holistic approach.DISASTER MANAGEMENT (DM) STRUCTURE ae SNe Disaster Management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters. DM involves a continuous and integrated process of planning, organizing, coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary or expedient for: Prevention of danger or threat of any disaster. Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or consequences. Capacity building including research and knowledge management. Preparedness to deal with any disaster. Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster. Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster; Evacuation, rescue and relief. Rehabilitation and reconstruction.PreparednessPHASES OF DISASTER MANAGEMEN1 Disaster Management 0 = f anagem Hi Pre-disaster or During disaster or Post-d cs Preparedness phase Response phase Reeovi debi UMMAH Hazard, Risk and vulnerability Rescue Rehabi analyses Mapping of dangerous areas Relief Recon: Pre-disaster planning (prevention Disaster assessment and mitigation activities) Predictions and forecasts Warning, preparedness and evacuationNT DISASTER RISK REDUCTION = The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts, to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved preparedness for adverse events. = Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) refers to the conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development.THE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT Gs FRAMEWORK = The purpose of Disaster Risk Management is to reduce the underlying factors of tisk and to prepare for and initiate an immediate response should disaster hit. The Disaster Risk Management Framework (DRMP), illustrated next slide Figure, considers conceptually, DRM as a continuum, and thus as an ongoing process of interrelated actions, which are initiated before, during or after disaster situations. The framework is aiming, in particularly, at countries and regions, which face recurrent exposure to natural hazards. = DRM actions are aimed at strengthening the capacities and resilience of households and communities to protect their lives and livelihoods, through measures to avoid (prevention) or limit (mitigation) adverse effects of hazards and to provide timely and reliable hazard forecasts.Disaster risk reduction continuum Ongoing development activities - Ongoing DRM aspects in development programme Risk assessment — Diagnostic process to identify the risks that a community faces Prevention — Activities to avoid the adverse impact of hazards Mitigation - Structuralnon-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impax LEMENTS OF Preparedness - Activities and measures taken in advance to ensure effective response DISASTER Early waming - Provision of timely and effective information to avoid or reduce risk Immediate disaster response RISK Evacuation - temporary mass departure of people and property from threatened loca AANAGEMENT Sita people and lvelboods - Protection of people and livelihoods during emergen Immediate assistance - Provision of assistance during or immediately after disaster (DRM) Assessing damage and loss - Information about impact on assets and loss to pr FRAMEWORK (tessa conten Ongoing assistance - Continued assistance until a certain level of recovery Recovery — Actions taken after a disaster with a view to restoring infrastructure and s Reconstruction - Actions taken after a disaster to ensure resettlement/relocation Economic & social recovery - Measures taken to normalise the economy and societal | ‘Ongoing development activities — Continued actions of development programmes assessment - Diagnostic process to identify new risks that communities may agaiDISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (DRM) Disaster risk management is the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing disaster risk and manage residual risk, contributing to the strengthening of resilience and reduction of disaster losses. Annotation: Disaster risk management actions can be distinguished between. prospective disaster risk management, corrective disaster risk management and compensatory disaster risk management, also called residual risk management. Prospective disaster risk management activities address and seek to avoid the development of new or increased disaster risks. They focus on addressing, disaster risks that may develop in future if disaster risk reduction policies are not put in place. Examples are better land-use planning or disaster-resistant water supply systems.ASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (DRM)....continued Corrective disaster risk management activities address and seek to remove or reduce disaster risks which are already present and which need to be managed and reduced now. Examples are the Tetrofitting of critical infrastructure or the relocation of exposed populations or assets. Compensatory disaster risk management activities strengthen the social and economic resilience of individuals and societies in the face of residual risk that cannot be effectively reduced. They include preparedness, response and recovery activities, but also a mix of different financing instruments, such as national contin, gency funds, contingent credit, insurance and reinsurance and social safety nets. Community-based disaster risk management promotes the involvement of potentially affected communities in disaster risk management at the local level. This includes community assessments of hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities, and their involvement in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of local action for disaster risk reduction. Local and indigenous peoples’ approach to disaster risk management is the recognition and use of traditional, indigenous and local knowledge and practices to complement scientific knowledge in disaster risk assessments and for the planning and implementation of local disaster risk management.a Media ResponseSOME MORE TERMS Capacity: The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a community, society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals. a. Emergency management: The organization and management of resources and Tesponsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and initial recovery steps. Resilience: The ability of a system, community or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management.Crisis Management Plan * To counter any looming crisis, a proper process and plan must be used for effective crisis management. A cri De td of a process to follow for an organizé to respond effectively to a crisis. Crisis management planning will focus mainly on building infrastructures that help the company negate possibly risks and how to respond to crises shoulé they occur. It also involves the organization workforce and the crisis management team in testing the methods and having regular internal training on the processes. Coy Cosa Identification