Unit – II

Disaster Management

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Department of Applied Sciences, BVCOE, New Delhi

 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. 

(VULNERABILITY +  HAZARD )/ CAPACITY   =  DISASTER    
 Types of Disaster
 Natural Disaster : Natural disasters are extreme, sudden events caused
by environmental factors that injure people and damage property.
Earthquakes, windstorms, floods
 Environmental emergency : Disaster resulting from natural or
human-induced factors, or a combination of these, that threatens to cause
severe environmental damage.
 Complex emergencies : It combines internal conflict with large-scale
displacements of people that may be due to food shortage, and failing
economic, political, and social institutions.
 Pandemic emergencies : Pandemic emergencies occurs when a
highly infectious new disease emerges that humans have no immunity
to. The difficulty responding to pandemics is the isolation they cause;
normal emergency assistance is hampered by the need to limit exposure
to infection. 
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT: FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES, CYCLONES,
LANDSLIDES
The Indian subcontinent is very vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones,
earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and forest fires. 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.
• India has a long coastline of 5700 kms, which is exposed to tropical cyclones
arising in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea. The Indian Ocean is one of
the six major cyclone prone regions of the world. In India, cyclones occur
usually between April and May and also between October and December. The
eastern coastline is more prone to cyclones as it is hit by about 80 percent of the
total cyclones generated in the region.
• Droughts are a perennial feature in some states of India. Sixteen percent of the
country’s total area is drought prone. Drought is a significant environmental
problem as it is caused by a lower than average rainfall over a long period of
time. Most of the drought prone areas identified by the Government lie in the
arid and semi-arid areas of the country.
• Earthquakes are considered to be one of the most destructive natural hazards.
Most of the vulnerable areas are located in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan
regions.
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
In simple terms, Disaster Management refers to how we can
protect or preserve maximum number of lives and property
during a natural disaster. But in a broader view, it 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.
 FROM MANAGEMENT TO MITIGATION OF DISASTERS
Disaster management is a multidisciplinary area in which a wide range of issues that range
from forecasting, warning, evacuation, search and rescue, relief, reconstruction and
rehabilitation are included. It is also multi-sectoral as it involves administrators, scientists,
planners, volunteers and communities. These roles and activities span the pre-disaster,
during disaster and post disaster plans.
1.Response-Response measures are usually those which are taken
immediately prior to and following disaster impact.
• Typical measures include :
• Implementation of plans
• Activation of the counter-disaster system
• Search and Rescue
• Provision of emergency food, shelter, medical assistance etc.
• Survey and assessment
• Evacuation measures
2.Recovery-Three main categories of activity are normally regarded as coming
within the recovery segment:
• Restoration
• Reconstruction
• Rehabilitation

3.Prevention & Mitigation-

Prevention : Action within this segment is designed to impede the occurrence of a
disaster event and/or prevent such an occurrence having harmful effects on
communities or key installations.
Mitigation : Action within this segment usually takes the form of specific programs
intended to reduce the effects of disaster on a nation or community. For instance,
some countries regard the development and application of building codes (which
can reduce damage and loss in the event of earthquakes and cyclones) as being in
the category of mitigation.
4.Preparedness-Examples of Preparedness measures are :
• The formulation & maintenance of valid, up-to-date counter-
disaster plans
• Special provisions for emergency action
• The provisions of warning systems
• Emergency communications
• Public education and awareness
• Training programs, including exercises and tests.
 FLOOD
 OCCURRENCE
As water falls onto the earth in the form of rain or snow, it
seeps into the ground, but if the ground is frozen or the
surface is impervious, that is, made of concrete or some other
material which blocks water flow into the ground or the soil
is already saturated then it cannot absorb water faster than it
falls from the sky and this leads to the problem of FLOOD.
 DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOODS
1. Fluvial or Riverine floods – They occur when the water rises and overflows
over the edges of a river or stream. This is the most common and can occur in any
size channel, from small streams to huge rivers.
 2. Flash floods : Flash flooding is characterized by an intense, high
velocity torrent of water that occurs in an existing river channel with
little or no notice . Flash floods are very dangerous and destructive not
only because of the forces of the water, but also the hurtling debris that
is often swept up in the flow.
3. Coastal floods: Along the edges of oceans, and is driven
predominantly by storm surges (waves significantly larger than
normal) and wave damage. This kind of flooding is usually
connected to hurricanes, tsunamis and tropical storms .The extent
of coastal flooding is a function of the elevation inland flood
waters penetrate which is controlled by the topography of the
coastal land exposed to flooding.

4. Due to Engineering Issues: Flooding may also be caused by

manmade issues as well as a weakly constructed dam could
receive a more substantive battering than it was designed for,
creating a flash flood in the regions downstream.
For example :- Kerala flood due to Idukki dam failure.
FLOOD CONTROL AND FLOOD RELIEF

Regulat
Diversi ors
Run off
on
Storag
Structur
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FLOOD
Upgradi CONTRO
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sewerag METHOD Canals
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systems

Dikes Dams
 Preventions to be taken during a Flood
Seek
 higher ground. Do not wait for instructions.
Be aware of flash flood areas such as canals, streams, drainage

channels.
Be ready to evacuate.

If instructed, turn off utilities at main switches and unplug appliances - do

not touch electrical equipment if wet.
If you must leave your home, do not walk through moving water. Six

inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a stick to test
depth.
Do not try to drive over a flooded road. If your car stalls, abandon it

immediately and seek an alternate route.
 Steps to be taken after a Flood
Stay away from flood water - do not walk or drive through the area.
Be aware of areas where water has receded. Roadways may have weakened
and could collapse.
Avoid downed power lines and muddy waters where power lines may have
fallen.
Do not drink tap water until advised by the Health Unit that the water is
safe to drink.
Once flood waters have receded you must not live in your home until the
water supply has been declared safe for use, all flood-contaminated rooms
have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, adequate toilet facilities are
available, all electrical appliances and heating/cooling systems have been
inspected, food, utensils and dishes have been examined, cleaned or
disposed of, and floor drains and sumps have been cleaned and disinfected.
 Flood Hazard Map
Flood Hazard Map (FHM) is defined as a map
1) with anticipated inundation area
2) with information for safe evacuation
3) made by municipality.
Flood hazard maps cover the geographical areas which could be flooded
according to the following scenarios:
a) floods with a low probability, or extreme event scenarios
b) floods with a medium probability (likely return period ≥ 100 years)
c) floods with a high probability, where appropriate.
For each scenario the following elements shall be shown:
d) the flood extent
e) water depths or water level, as appropriate
f) where appropriate, the flow velocity or the relevant water flow.
 How to make FHM
The process of preparing FHM is as follows
1) The administrator of the river provides information on anticipated inundation
area with depth.
2) Show the anticipated inundation area and depth on the topographical map and
discuss necessary information for safe evacuation (by municipal office).
3) Stack above three kinds of information in a map (by municipal office).
Case study: Kerala Floods
(2018)
EARTHQUAKES
 TERMS RELATED TO EARTHQUAKE
 HYPOCENTRE/FOCUS - The focus of an earthquake is where
the earthquake originated from, usually underground on the fault
zone.
 EPICENTRE – The epicentre of an earthquake is the point on the
earth directly above the hypocentre.
 MAGNITUDE – The magnitude is a number that characterizes the
relative size of an earthquake. Magnitude is based on measurement
of the maximum motion recorded by a seismograph.
 INTENSITY – The intensity is a number describing the severity
of an earthquake in terms of its effects on the earth's surface and
on humans and their structures. Several scales exist, but the ones
most commonly used are The Richter Scale and The
Mercalli Scale.
SEISMIC
ZONES
IN
INDIA
 Why earthquakes occurs?

Heat is being constantly produced in the interior of the

earth . This heat develop convection currents in the
molten rocks .
As these currents rise, they cause fractures in the crust.
The crust is divided into various segments (tectonic
plates).
These segments have been moving away from each other
and also coming together, they collide with each other.
The stress caused by collision leads to shaking of the
earth’s crust. We call this shaking and trembling of the
earth’s surface as an earthquake .
 EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS
Primary earthquake hazards are:
 Ground shaking
 Landslides
 Liquefaction – It is the mixing of sand or soil and groundwater during the
shaking of a moderate or strong earthquake. When the water and soil are
mixed, the ground becomes very soft and acts similar to quicksand.
 Surface rupture
Secondary earthquake hazards are those that are caused by the primary
hazards, and may often be more catastrophic:
 Tsunami
 Seiche - Seismic seiches are standing waves set up on rivers, reservoirs,
ponds, and lakes when seismic waves from an earthquake pass through the
area. 
 Flooding
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT STEPS FOR EARTHQUAKES
 BEFORE the earthquake
1.SECURE your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.
2. PLAN to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an
emergency.
3.ORGANIZE disaster supplies in convenient locations.
4.MINIMIZE financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property,
and considering insurance . Survive and Recover

 DURING the earthquake
1.DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON when the earth shakes.
2.IMPROVE safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and
preventing further injuries or damage.

 AFTER the immediate threat of the earthquake has passed

RECONNECT and RESTORE daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage, and
rebuilding community.
 CYCLONE
Cyclone refers to any inner spinning storm that
rotates around a low-pressure centre. The low-
pressure centre is also referred to as the ‘eye’ of
the storm.
 TYPES OF CYCLONES

Tropical Cyclone – Cyclones that develop in the regions

between the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer are
called tropical cyclones.
Polar Cyclones - Polar cyclones are cyclones that occur in
polar regions like Greenland, Siberia and Antarctica.
Mesocyclone - A mesocyclone is when part of a
thunderstorm cloud starts to spin, which may eventually lead
to a tornado.
Extratropical Cyclones – The cyclones occur in temperature
zones and high latitude regions.
 How cyclones are formed
Tropical cyclones form only over warm ocean waters near the equator.
 To form a cyclone, warm, moist air over the ocean rises upward from near the
surface. As this air moves up and away from the ocean surface, it leaves is less air
near the surface. So basically as the warm air rises, it causes an area of lower air
pressure below.
 Air from surrounding areas with higher air pressure pushes in to the low
pressure area. Then this new “cool” air becomes warm and moist and rises, too.
And the cycle continues…
 As the warmed, moist air rises and cools the water in the air forms clouds. The
whole system of clouds and wind spins and grows, fed by the ocean’s heat and
water evaporating from the ocean surface.
 As the storm system rotates faster and faster, an eye forms in the centre. It is
very calm and clear in the eye, with very low air pressure. Higher pressure air
from above flows down into the eye
Structure of Cyclone
 Destruction caused by cyclones
Consequent strong winds. These, in turn generate storm surges.
Abnormal rise of sea level near the coast caused by a severe
tropical cyclone.
Very strong winds may damage installations, dwellings,
communication systems, trees ,etc.
Resulting in loss of life and
property.
Heavy rains due to cyclones
may cause river floods.
 CYCLONES – Do’s & Don'ts
Before the Cyclone season:

 Check the house, secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows.
 Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use.
 Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed.
 Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house or any other things which can
fly in strong winds.

When the Cyclone starts:

 Listen to the radio about weather warnings.

 Keep monitoring the warnings. This will help you to prepare for a cyclone emergency.
 Pass on the information to others. Believe in the official information.
 Ignore rumours and do not spread them, this will help to avoid panic situations.
Landslides
 Landslides
• A landslide is the movement of rock and soil down a slope.
• Landslides range in size from a single boulder in a rock fall
to a debris avalanche, which may have huge volumes of
rock and soil capable of covering many kilometers.
• Landslides occur in a variety of environments,
characterized by either steep or gentle slope gradients:
from mountain ranges to coastal cliffs or even underwater,
in which case they are called submarine landslides.
 Causes for landslides
• Snow melting, or glaciers melting
• Rising of groundwater or increase of pore water
pressure
• Volcanic eruptions
• Loss or absence of vertical vegetative structure, soil
nutrients, and soil structure (e.g. after a wildfire – a fire
in forests lasting for 3–4 days)
• Erosion of soil by rivers or ocean waves
• Deforestation, cultivation and construction
• Blasting and mining
 Action Steps
1) Find out if there have been landslides in your area and
where they might happen again.
2) Have an emergency evacuation plan and a kit of
emergency supplies for your family
3) Check for signs that the ground might be moving:
a) New cracks or strange bulges in the ground, road, or
footpaths
b) Leaning trees retaining walls or fences
c) Springs or waterlogged ground in areas that are not
usually wet
What should you do if you think a
landslide is about to happen ?
 What to do if you think a landslide is
about to happen:
1) Evacuate and take your kit of emergency supplies and
important documents.
2) Contact your local fire, police, or civil defence
emergency management officer.
3) Warn neighbours who might be effected.
4) Do not return until the site has been inspected.
Emergency Management in case
of any disaster
 Emergency Management in case of any Disaster
You should be ready before a disaster happens. Start with these
three steps:
1. Make up a kit of Survival Supplies
It must include:
Food – Canned or dried food. Enough for
three to four days
Water – at least 9l per person in household
Spare batteries, radio and torch
First aid kit
Essential medications
Personal hygiene items – like toothbrush, soap, etc.
2. Make up an Emergency Plan for you and your Family
The emergency plan should answer the following questions:
 Where are your emergency supplies kept ?
 Where are the escape routes if a fire happens in the house ?
 Where are the safest places in your home to shelter in an
earthquake ?
 Where is your nearest Civil Defence Center ?
 Where will you meet family members if an emergency
happens during the day?
 Who has been approved to collect the children from school?
NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND HOLOCAUST

A situation in which an uncontrollable chain reaction

arises in a nuclear reactor.

Holocaust means destruction of life forms at mass

level causing genocide, that is complete destruction of
human civilization due to nuclear explosions.
 Causes of Nuclear Accidents

1. Natural disasters : due to tsunami and earthquake.

2. Improper following of procedures in a nuclear reaction
3. Faulty infrastructure of reactor due to which leakage
of radioactive material
4. Malfunctioning of the system
 Biological Effects
 Thyroid cancer: caused due to radioactive iodine
 Loss of white blood cells and platelets
 Leukemia: skin cancer caused due to exposure of
gamma rays
 Bioaccumulation: of radioactive material in food
chain.
 Genetic mutation
 Non-Biological effects
Loss of infrastructure
Mass destruction of humans and other life forms.
Immediate evacuation of people in affected areas.
Cost of cleanup
Harm to ozone layer
Nuclear winters : The absorption of sunlight
when large amounts of soot are injected into the
atmosphere.
 Kalpakkam powerplant in
1987.

Nuclear Kalpakkam powerplant in

2002.
incidents  in
India Tarapur powerplant in
1989.

Tarapur  powerplant in 

1992.
 Negligence

Relying on older
technology
Main reasons
Not following safety
behind these measures.
incidents Employing unskilled
professionals.

Untimely repairing of
reactors.
 A brief about Fukushima nuclear
accident
Fukushima Daichi nuclear accident was occurred in 2011
at Fukushima powerplant in northern Japan.
The main reason behind this accident was tsunami
occurred on on March 11, 2011 due to major earthquakes .
Due to this the main generators of powerplant get
damaged which cause breakage of cooling operation of
nuclear reactors.
 As of year 2016, among those deaths, 1368 have been
listed as "related to the nuclear power plant" according to
media analysis.
 How susceptible is our India to this type of
disaster?
Most of our nuclear plants are in weak seismic zones but lie
in coastal areas. Their structure is earthquake-resistant but
they have not been tested against tsunami. The entire coastal
region is believed to be vulnerable to tsunami.
India is nuclear power state with a stockpile of fissile nuclear
war heads and shares border with two other nuclear power
states. Thus, the country is under a constant threat with
regards to occurrence of both unintentional as well as
intentional nuclear events.
The risk from nuclear radiation accident in
India is further increased by the region being
endemic for iodine deficiency.
India is also at a risk of nuclear theft such as
terrorist can use this obtain nuclear bomb and
harm us.
India is ranked 19th in the nuclear theft
according to report by NTI.
 Prevention of nuclear accidents
Proper disposal of of radioactive wastes
Awareness among public
Proper transportation of radioactive materials
Ban on nuclear weapons
Making the violation of procedures a criminal
offense
CASE STUDIES
 References
 R. Gadi, S. Rattan, S. Mohapatra, A Textbook of Environmental Studies with experiments, Katson
student Edition, 2016
 E. Barucha, Textbook of Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses, Universities Press
(India) Pvt. Ltd., 2005.
 S. Chawla, A Textbook of Environmental Studies, McGraw Hill Education Private Limited, 2012
 G. T. Miller, Environmental Science, Thomas Learning, 2012
 R. Rajagopalan, Environmental Studies: From Crisis to Cure, 2 nd Edition, Oxford University Press,
2011.
 A.K. De, Environmental Chemistry, New Age Int. Publ. 2012.
 A. Kaushik and C.P. Kaushik, Perspectives in Environment Studies, 4 th Edition, New Age
International Publishers, 2013.
 Wikipedia.com
 Shareinfo.com
 Slideshare.com
 Nuclear.org
 BBC news
 Zero hour-Documentary by Discovery Channel