Environmental Studies

Module 5. Environmental pollution

Lesson 21
DISASTER MANAGEMENT

21.1 Disaster Management

Disaster management refers to effective management of counter measures that are taken in order to mitigate the effect natural calamities that lead to desperate situations after calamities such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, etc. Although these sudden calamities are natural geographical processes that have been taking place from beginning and have played important role in shaping of earth, these geographical activities are wreck havoc and bring misfortune to people in region affected. Among the 36 states and Union territories in the country, 22 are prone to disasters. Among all the disasters that occur in the country, floods are the most frequently occurring natural disasters, due to the irregularities of the Indian monsoon. About 75 percent of the annual rainfall in India is concentrated in three to four months of the monsoon season. As a result there is a very heavy discharge from the rivers during this period causing widespread floods. Approximately 40 million hectares of land in the country has been identified as being prone to floods. Major floods are mainly caused in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin which carries 60 percent of the total river flow of our country.These processes inflict huge losses to life and property and it can take years for life to take normal shape.

Every region of the world will confront disaster in some way or other. As these disasters are sudden and rarely predictable, best way to mitigate their effect is to be prepared to them. This requires preplanning and professional approach.

Disaster management pivots around preplanning, which includes

• Organizing general disaster management teams to respond to any general disaster and in any terrain.
• Organizing special quick response teams that are highly specific to nature and region of disaster.
• Most important part is indentifying threats that a particular region is most venerable to. This involves setting up of research stations that study the terrain, climate and underground seismic activities of the region.

Following diagram is self explanatory regarding steps involved in Disaster management at authority level.

Fig 21.1. Self explanatory regarding steps involved in disaster management at authority level

21.2 Major Causes for Disasters

1. Anthropogenic activities such as Impoundment of huge quantities of water in the lake behind a big dam e.g. Koyna Dam in Maharashtra have created few incidence of minor and major earthquakes., under ground nuclear testing e.g.Pokharan II testing at desert of Rajasthan, Deep well disposal of liquid waste.
2. Due to heavy rainfalls or sudden snow melt can swell the rivers disproportionately- causes a great economic loss and health related problems.
3. Landslides occur when coherent rock of soil masses move down slope due to gravitational pull. Water and vegetation influence landslides. Chemical action of water gradually causes chemical weathering of rocks making them prone to landslides.

Here are some control measures that are disaster-type specific.

21.3 Earthquake

In order to abate the effect of earthquakes, these precautionary measures must be taken.

• People should evacuate buildings and stay in open until the time, tremors have ceased.
• In case people are unable to get out of the buildings, they should try and stay in corners of the rooms.
• People using transport should stop vehicles and wait for tremors to subside.
• Buildings should be made by using construction material that is recommended by authorities.
• Design of the houses and buildings must be approved by authorities. Rectangular building design is most effective design that can withstand earthquake.
• People should help each other and provide first aid to the victims and not just wait for disaster management teams to arrive.
• Temporary relief camps and rehabilitation centres should be provided to people who have been affected.
• Compensation should be given to people who lost their house and livelihood.
• People should be made aware and trained through campaigns to tackle adversities as it is not possible for disaster management teams to reach everywhere.

21.4 Cyclones

In order to abate the effect of cyclones, following measures are advised.

• With help of technology, advent and paths cyclones can be predicted to some extent. First and foremost measure is to vacate the region that is predicted to be affected.
• People should be warned about cyclones through weather news, internet, newspapers, radio broadcast, etc.
• People should take to shelter in safe buildings during cyclones. Storm shelter should be constructed by authorities.
• Fisherman should be warned not to go to sea.
• Electricity supply should be cut off to the region that is affected.
• Temporary relief camps and rehabilitation centres should be provided to people who have been affected.
• Compensation should be given to people who lost their house and livelihood.

21.5 Floods

In order to pacify the effects of flood disaster, following steps must be taken.

• Floods in general are caused by heavy and concentrated rains. Therefore best defence is to study and predict weather developments and issue early warnings through broadcast and print media.
• People should be evacuated to safer places and relief camps should be provided.
• People who could not be evacuated should move to relatively higher places.
• Dams and embankments must be constructed by the government to check the flow in regions frequently affected by flood disasters.
• Floods often result in breaching of canal embankments and river embankments. Strength of these embankments must be periodically evaluated by authorities so that they can withstand deluge.
• Sand bangs must be used to repair temporary breaches in canals during floods.

21.6 Landslides

In general the chief mitigatory measures to be adopted for landslide areas are

• Drainage correction,
• Proper land use measures,
• Reforestation for the areas occupied by degraded vegetation
• Creation of awareness among local population.

The most important triggering mechanism for mass movements is the water infiltrating into the overburden during heavy rains and consequent increase in pore pressure within that overburden. When this happens in steep slopes, the safety factor of the slope material gets considerably reduced causing it to move down. Hence, the natural way of preventing this situation is by reducing infiltration and allowing excess water to move down without hindrance. As such, the first and foremost mitigation measure is drainage correction. This involves maintenance of natural drainage channels both micro and macro in vulnerable slopes.

The universal use of contour bunding for all types of terrain without consideration of the slope, overburden thickness and texture or drainage set-up needs to be controlled especially in the plateau edge regions. It is time to think about alternative and innovations, which are suitable for the terrain, to be set up. It need not be emphasized the governmental agencies have a lot to contribute in this field.

21.7 Agencies Working on Disaster Management

21.7.1 National disaster management authority (NDMA)

NMDA is headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the Apex Body for Disaster Management in India. The setting up of the NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005. NDMA as the apex body is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.

21.7.2 International association of emergency managers (IAEM)

IAEM is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the goals of saving lives and protecting property during emergencies and disasters. The mission of IAEM is to serve its members by providing information, networking and professional opportunities, and to advance the emergency management profession. It currently has seven Councils around the World: Asia, Canada, Europa,International, Oceania, Student and USA.

21.7.3 Red cross/Red crescent

National Red Cross/Red Crescent societies often have pivotal roles in responding to emergencies. Additionally, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC, or "The Federation") may deploy assessment teams, e.g.Field Assessment and Coordination Team – (FACT) to the affected country if requested by the national Red Cross or Red Crescent Society. After having assessed the needs Emergency Response Units (ERUs) may be deployed to the affected country or region. They are specialized in the response component of the emergency management framework.

21.7.4 United nations

Within the United Nations system responsibility for emergency response rests with the Resident Coordinator within the affected country. However, in practice international response will be coordinated, if requested by the affected country’s government, by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), by deploying a UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team.