CSI College Of Engineering, Ketti

Presentation
Types of Disasters- natural, human induced and climate change
induced. Earthquake, landslide, flood, drought, fire.
Subject Title: Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Subject Code: MX3084
Dept/Year: B.E CSE - 3rd Year

Done by:
Fiza.F - 710622104015
Sandhiya.J - 710622104071
Balakamatchi.S - 710622104007
 Introduction
A disaster is a sudden, catastrophic event that causes
significant damage, destruction, and distress, disrupting the
normal functioning of communities and societies. Disasters
often lead to loss of life, damage to property, and adverse
impacts on the environment and economy. The severity of a
disaster is determined by the scale of its impact, the
vulnerability of the affected population, and the capacity of the
community or society to cope with and recover from the event.
Types of Disasters
Disasters come in many forms, from natural events to
those triggered by human activities and climate change.

Disasters can be classified into three main

categories

1 Natural Disasters

2 Human – Induced Disasters

3 Climate Change
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are events caused by natural
processes of the Earth, such as earthquakes, landslides,
floods, droughts, and wildfires. These disasters can have
devastating consequences, causing loss of life, property
damage, and disruption to communities. Factors like
geography, climate, and environmental conditions can
influence the frequency and severity of natural disasters
in different regions.
Natural Disasters
1 Earthquakes 2 Landslides 3 Floods

Sudden and powerful The downward movement of Extreme rainfall or melting

movements of the earth's soil, rock, and debris due to snow that causes rivers,
tectonic plates that can cause gravity, often triggered by lakes, and oceans to
widespread destruction. heavy rainfall. overflow their banks.
Human-Induced Disasters
Human-induced disasters are caused by human activities
or decisions, such as industrial accidents, transportation
incidents, and armed conflicts. These disasters can have
far-reaching impacts on the environment, public health,
and the economy. Addressing human-induced disasters
requires a comprehensive approach, including strict
regulations, robust safety protocols, and a culture of
responsible decision-making.
Human-Induced Disasters

Environmental Pollution Nuclear Accidents Oil Spills

Harmful substances released Uncontrolled releases of Large-scale leaks of crude oil or

into the air, water, and soil by radioactive materials from refined petroleum products into
human activities like nuclear power plants or weapons natural environments, often from
manufacturing and testing sites. tankers or offshore rigs.
transportation.
Climate Change-Induced
Disasters
Climate change-induced disasters are events that are
exacerbated or caused by the impacts of global climate change,
such as extreme weather patterns, sea-level rise, and
ecosystem disruption. These disasters can have cascading
effects on communities, economies, and the environment, and
pose a growing threat to global sustainability. Addressing
climate change-induced disasters requires a global effort to
mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and build resilient
communities.
Climate Change-Induced Disasters

Drought Wildfires Sea Level Rise

Prolonged periods of Uncontrolled, fast-moving Coastal flooding and erosion
abnormally low rainfall fires that can rapidly caused by the expansion of
leading to water scarcity destroy vast areas of warmer oceans and melting
and crop failures. vegetation and property. of glaciers and ice sheets.
Earthquake

1 Causes

Earthquakes are caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, often
due to the movement of tectonic plates. This sudden release of energy can cause
the ground to shake and vibrate, leading to damage to buildings, infrastructure, and
loss of life.

2 Impacts

Earthquakes can have devastating impacts, including building collapse,

infrastructure damage, disruption of transportation and communication systems,
and the potential for secondary disasters like fires, landslides, and tsunamis. The
severity of the impacts depends on the magnitude of the earthquake, the depth of
the epicenter, and the quality of the built environment.

3 Preparedness

Earthquake preparedness involves measures such as reinforcing buildings,

retrofitting infrastructure, developing early warning systems, and conducting
emergency drills. Educating the public on earthquake safety and emergency
response procedures is also crucial for reducing the impact of these natural
disasters.
 Two Massive Earthquakes

1 The 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake (United States)

•Magnitude: 9.2
•Date: March 27, 1964
•Location: Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
•Impact: This is the second most powerful earthquake ever recorded. It
caused widespread damage across Alaska and triggered a massive
tsunami that caused destruction as far away as California.

2 The 1950 Assam-Tibet Earthquake (India)

•Magnitude: 8.6
•Date: August 15, 1950
•Location: Assam, India, and Tibet (now China)
•Impact: This is the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in India. It
caused widespread damage in Assam and Tibet and resulted in significant
loss of life due to landslides and floods triggered by the earthquake.
Landslide
Causes Impacts Prevention
Landslides are often triggered by Landslides can cause significant Strategies for preventing
heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt, damage to buildings, roads, and landslides include slope
earthquakes, or human activities other infrastructure, as well as stabilization, improved land-use
like construction and mining. disrupting transportation and planning, and the
These events can cause soil, communication networks. They implementation of early warning
rock, and other debris to shift, can also lead to environmental systems. Educating communities
slide, or flow down a slope, degradation, such as the about the risks of living in
resulting in destruction of destruction of habitats and the landslide-prone areas and
property and loss of life contamination of water sources. promoting sustainable land
management practices can also
help mitigate the impacts of
 Two Massive Landslides
1 Mount St. Helens Landslide, USA (1980)
•Date: May 18, 1980
•Location: Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA
•Volume: About 2.5 billion cubic meters
•Description: This landslide was triggered by a volcanic eruption at Mount
St. Helens. It is the largest landslide in recorded history in the United States.
The landslide caused the northern flank of the mountain to collapse,
releasing a massive amount of debris that flowed down the mountain and
devastated the surrounding area.

Darjeeling Landslide, West Bengal (1968)

2
•Date: October 4-5, 1968
•Location: Darjeeling, West Bengal
•Volume: Unknown, but extensive
•Description: Heavy monsoon rains triggered a series of landslides in the
Darjeeling region, causing widespread destruction. The landslides affected
the entire region, destroying roads, bridges, and homes, and resulted in the
deaths of over 1,000 people.
Flood

1 Causes 2 Impacts
Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall, Floods can have devastating
rapid snowmelt, coastal storm surges, consequences, including the loss of life,
or the failure of dams and levees. These the displacement of communities, the
events can lead to the inundation of contamination of water supplies, and
low-lying areas, causing damage to the disruption of transportation and
homes, businesses, and infrastructure communication networks. Floods can
also lead to the spread of waterborne
diseases and the destruction of
agricultural lands.

3 Mitigation 4 Recovery
Strategies for mitigating the impact of Recovery from a flood can be a long and
floods include the construction of flood- challenging process, involving the
resistant infrastructure, the restoration of damaged infrastructure,
implementation of early warning the provision of temporary housing and
systems, and the promotion of emergency supplies, and the support of
sustainable land-use practices. affected communities. Effective disaster
Educating communities about flood risks management and long-term resilience-
and emergency response procedures building efforts are crucial for helping
can also help reduce the impacts of communities recover from the impacts
these disasters. of floods.
 Two Massive Floods
1 The 1887 Yellow River Flood
•Date: September-October 1887
•Location: Yellow River, China
•Volume: Unknown, but the flood was one of the most catastrophic in history
•Description: This flood, caused by heavy rainfall and the bursting of dikes, inundated over
50,000 square miles of land, affecting approximately 2 million people. The floodwaters
caused massive destruction, and the death toll is estimated to be between 900,000 and 2
million people. The aftermath of the flood led to widespread famine and disease,
exacerbating the death toll.

2 The Kedarnath Floods, Uttarakhand (2013)

•Date: June 16-17, 2013
•Location: Uttarakhand, India
•Volume: Unknown, but the flood was triggered by a combination of glacial melt and heavy
rainfall
•Description: A massive cloudburst and the subsequent flooding and landslides led to the
devastating Kedarnath disaster. The Mandakini River swelled to unprecedented levels,
sweeping away everything in its path, including buildings, roads, and thousands of people.
The official death toll exceeded 5,700, with many more reported missing. The disaster
significantly impacted the Char Dham pilgrimage, one of the holiest circuits in Hinduism.
Drought
Adaptation

Strategies for adapting to droughts include the

diversification of water sources, the implementation of
water conservation measures, the promotion of drought-
resistant crops, and the development of early warning
systems. Investing in sustainable agriculture and water
Mitigation
management practices can also help communities
become more resilient to the impacts of droughts. Mitigating the long-term impacts of droughts requires
addressing the root causes of climate change, such as
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting
sustainable land-use practices. Policymakers, businesses,
Impacts and communities must work together to develop and
implement comprehensive drought management
strategies. Water conservation, drought-resistant
Droughts can have far-reaching consequences, including agriculture, and long-term planning to ensure
food insecurity, economic losses, and the displacement of sustainable water supplies.
communities. They can also lead to the exacerbation of
other disasters, such as wildfires and dust storms, and the
spread of diseases. Crop failures, livestock deaths,
water shortages, increased risk of wildfires, and
damage to ecosystems.
 Two Massive Droughts

Dust Bowl (1930s, United States)

1 •Year: 1930s
•Location: Great Plains, United States
•Description: The Dust Bowl was a severe drought coupled with high winds that affected
the Great Plains region of the United States. It led to massive dust storms, crop failures,
and the displacement of thousands of farming families. The drought lasted for nearly a
decade, during which over 75% of the topsoil was blown away in some regions. The
economic and social impact was profound, exacerbating the effects of the Great
Depression and leading to large-scale migration, especially towards California.

2 Bihar Drought (1966-1967)

•Date: 1966-1967
•Location: Bihar, India
•Description: The Bihar drought of 1966-67 was one of the worst in India's history. It was
part of a series of droughts that affected several states, leading to widespread crop
failure and severe food shortages. The drought led to a massive famine, with an
estimated 1.5 million deaths due to starvation and related diseases.
Fire

Wildfire Urban Fire

Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that can Urban fires can be caused by a variety of
spread rapidly, consuming vegetation and factors, such as electrical malfunctions,
destroying property. They can be caused by cooking accidents, or arson. They can quickly
natural factors, such as lightning, or human spread through densely populated areas,
activities, such as improper disposal of causing significant damage to buildings and
cigarettes or arson. infrastructure.

Industrial Fire Forest Fire

Industrial fires can occur in manufacturing Forest fires can be started by natural causes,
plants, warehouses, or other facilities that such as lightning, or human activities, such as
handle hazardous materials. These fires can campfires or arson. They can quickly spread
be particularly dangerous due to the presence through wooded areas, destroying habitats
of flammable or explosive substances, and and causing significant ecological damage.
they can have serious environmental and
public health consequences.
 Two Massive Wildfire
The Black Friday Bushfires (1939) - Australia
1 •Date: January 13, 1939
•Location: Victoria, Australia
•Area Burned: Approximately 2 million hectares (4.9 million acres)
•Description: The Black Friday bushfires were one of the most devastating in
Australia's history. A combination of extreme heat, drought, and strong winds fueled
the fires. Entire towns were destroyed, and 71 people lost their lives. The fires also had
a profound impact on the environment and wildlife, leading to significant changes in
forest management practices in Australia.

2 Uttarakhand Forest Fires (2016)

•Date: April-May 2016
•Location: Uttarakhand, India
•Area Burned: Approximately 3,500 hectares (8,650 acres)
•Description: In 2016, massive forest fires broke out in Uttarakhand, primarily in the
pine forests. The fires were fueled by dry conditions and high temperatures, spreading
across 13 districts. The fires caused significant environmental damage and were
difficult to control due to the terrain. While not as catastrophic as some global
wildfires, this event highlighted the increasing vulnerability of Indian forests to
wildfires.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the different types of disasters and
their unique characteristics is crucial for developing effective
preparedness and response strategies. By addressing the root
causes of these disasters, investing in resilient infrastructure, and
fostering community engagement, we can work towards a more
sustainable and disaster-resilient future. Through collaborative
efforts and a commitment to disaster risk reduction, we can build
the knowledge and capabilities needed to protect our communities
and the environment from the devastating impacts of natural,
human-induced, and climate change-induced disasters.
Thank You