Dr. N.Pannirselvam,B.Tech, M.Tech, PGDCA, PhD., MS.

c(REV),
F.I.E., M.I.C.I, M.IS.R.D, M.I.S.E, M.I.S.T.E, MIAENG.,
Associate Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering,
SRM Institute of Science and Technology,
Kattankulathur - 603 203.
Mobile : +91-9976379998
E-Mail : [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
http://www.srmuniv.ac.in/engineering/dept-civil/faculty/dr-n-pannirselvam
Orcid.org/0000-0003-0776-0662
Scopus Author ID: 36069770900
WhatsApp: 7010168542
Course Learning Rationale (CLR)
 CLR1: Understanding basic concepts of disaster and hazards of India.
 CLR2: Studying the various natural disasters.
 CLR3: Studying the various manmade disasters.
 CLR4: Understanding the disaster management principles.
 CLR5: Studying the modern techniques used in disaster mitigation and
management.
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)
 CLO1: Understanding basic concepts of disaster and hazards of India.
 CLO2: Acquire knowledge on the various natural disasters.
 CLO3: Acquire knowledge the various manmade disasters.
 CLO4: Understand the disaster management principles.
 CLO5: Appreciate the modern techniques used in disaster mitigation
and management.
 L T P C

Open Elective Course

3 0 0 3
Course Learning Rationale (CLR): Learning Program Learning Outcomes (PLO)

CLR-1 : Understanding basic concepts of disaster and hazards of India. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

CLR-2 : Studying the various natural disasters.

Environment & Sustainability

CLR-3 : Studying the various manmade disasters.

Analysis, Design, Research

Level of Thinking (Bloom)

Expected Attainment (%)

Individual & Team Work

Expected Proficiency (%)

Engineering Knowledge

Design & Development

Project Mgt. & Finance

CLR-4 : Understanding he disaster management principles.

Modern Tool Usage

Life Long Learning

Studying the modern techniques used in disaster mitigation and

Society & Culture

Problem Analysis

Communication
management.

CLR-5 :

PSO - 1

PSO - 2

PSO - 3
Ethics
Course Learning Outcomes (CLO):
CLO-1 : Understand basic concepts of disaster and hazards of India. 3 85 80 H H - - M - - - - - - - H H -

CLO-2 : Acquire Knowledge on the various natural disasters. 3 90 85 H H - - H - - - - - - - H H -

CLO-3 : Acquire Knowledge the various manmade disasters. 2 85 80 H H - - H - - - - - - - H H -

CLO-4 : Understand the disaster management principles. 2 85 80 H H - - M - - - - - - - H H -

Appreciate the modern techniques used in disaster mitigation and
CLO-5 : 3 80 70 H H - - H - - - - - - - H H -
management.
 Introduction – Definition
 Nature, Importance of Hazard
 Risk
 Vulnerability and Disaster
 Dimensions
 Scope of Disaster
 Characters of Disaster
 Phases of disaster management
 Effects
 Dynamics of Disaster
 India’s Key Hazards Management
 Vulnerabilities
 National disaster management framework
 Disaster Management Cycle
 NDMA
 Disaster response
 Disaster management policy and plans
 Challenges in disaster response
 Natural Disasters
 Causes and nature of natural disaster
 Disaster types
 Effects of disaster
 Flood Disaster. causes and effect
 Drought-causes and effect
 Cyclone- Origin and effect
 Earthquakes and its impact
 Landslides- Causes and Impact
 Avalanches,
 Volcanic eruptions- Impact- Pollution
 Heat and cold waves
 Climatic change
 global warming
 Causes and Control
 Sea level rise
 ozone depletion
 Impact studies
 Anthropogenic disaster
 Man Made Disasters
 Nuclear disasters
 Radiation Damage
 Chemical disasters and Products
 Reactions and solutions
 Biological disasters-Sources and agents
 Impact of biological disasters
 Building fire–Impact and Mitigation
 Coal fire- Causes and Remedies
 Forest fire- Causes and control measures
 Oil fire
 Air pollution
 Causes and effect
 Water pollution- sources
 Effect of water pollution
 Deforestation
 Industrial waste water pollution
 Disaster management
 Components of DM
 Pre- disaster stage (preparedness)
 Preparing hazard zonation maps
 Predictability/ forecasting
 Warning system
 Preparing disaster preparedness plan
 Land use zoning
 Preparedness through information and education.
 Emergency Stage
 Rescue training for search and operation
 Immediate relief
 Assessment surveys
 Post disaster stage
 Rehabilitation
 Social aspects
 Economic aspects
 Environmental aspects
 Disaster Mitigation
 Mitigation Planning
 Empowerment and community-based mitigation.
 Response plan
 Functional plan
 Public health and Emergency services
 Meteorological observatory
 Seismological observatory
 Hydrology Laboratory
 Industrial Safety inspectorate.
 Technology in Disaster Management -
 Emergency Management Systems (EMS)
 Remote Sensing in Disaster Management
 GIS in Disaster Management
 Hazard specific Mitigation Plan
 Knowledge Dissemination
 Capacity building
Learning Assessment
Continuous Learning Assessment (50% weightage) Final Examination
Bloom’s (50% weightage)
CLA – 1 (10%) CLA – 2 (15%) CLA – 3 (15%) CLA – 4 (10%)#
Level of
Thinking Theory Practice Theory Practice Theory Practice Theory Practice Theory Practice

Remember
Level 1 40 % - 30 % - 30 % - 30 % - 30% -
Understand
Apply
Level 2 40 % - 40 % - 40 % - 40 % - 40% -
Analyze
Evaluate
Level 3 20 % - 30 % - 30 % - 30 % - 30% -
Create
Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %

#CLA – 4 can be from any combination of these: Assignments, Seminars, Tech Talks, Mini-Projects, Case-
Studies, Self-Study, MOOCs, Certifications, Conf. Paper etc.,
 WHO in 1990 gave MIC leak in Bhopal
The term disaster was one greatest
means calamity or a theme “Should
disaster strike-Be man-made disaster
great misfortune. in the world.
INTRODUCTION prepared”

Disaster causes too great Multi-dimensional relief

load for normal medical efforts & multi
& hlth. Relief system of institutional approach is
the district to cope with. needed for its Mgt.
 Sudden and widespread disturbance of the
social system of the community by some
agent or event, over which, those involved
have little or no control.

A sudden adverse or unfortunate extreme

event or series of events which seriously

DEFINITION
disrupts normal activities.

A disaster is an event, located in time &

space which produces the conditions
whereby the continuity of the structure &
processes of social units become
problematic.

An overwhelming ecological disruption

occurring on a scale sufficient to require
outside assistance.
THE UNITED The United Nations defined Disasters as ‘A

NATIONS
serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society causing widespread

DEFINITION
human, material, economic and environmental
losses which exceed the ability of the affected
community/society to cope using its own
resources’ (UNDP)
ELEMENTS OF RISK
Hazard X Vulnerability = Risk
(Mostly Natural) (Man and Built Env.)
(Consequence)
Geological Physical
Death/Injury
Hydrological Social/ Cultural Financial
Loss
Meteorological Economic
Social Loss
MAIN COMPONENTS OF DISASTER

Disaster

Natural Man-made

Hydrological & Environmental Chemical &

Geological Industrial Negligence
Climatic & Biological Nuclear
 Physical vulnerability

VULNERABILITY Social Vulnerability

ASSESSMENT
Economic vulnerability

Environmental vulnerability
 EFFECT OF DISASTERS

DEATHS SEVERE INJURIES INCREASED FOOD SCARCITY. POPULATION INITIAL REACTION EXPOSURE TO
REQUIRING COMMUNICABLE DISPLACEMENT. AMONG THE CLIMATE, FOOD/
EXTENSIVE CARE. DISEASES(POTENTI SURVIVORS IS CROPS MAY GET
AL INCREASE IN SHOCK DAMAGED,
TRANSMISSION OF ANXIETY/NEUROSIS &
DISEASE) DEPRESSION
SCOPE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

“An applied science which seeks, by the systematic observation

and analysis of disasters, to improve measures relating to
prevention, mitigation, preparedness, emergency response and
recovery.”
STAGES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Warning stage: When

meteorological,
Stage of rescue
seismological and other Stage of Impact: Time
operations: Should be
forecast are made e.g. few during which disaster
completed efficiently not
Hrs. to 48 Hrs. before actually strikes.
taking more than 2-3 days.
cyclone & a week before
floods.

Stage of hlth& medical

relief: It is most crucial
Rehabilitation stage: In
phase of disaster Mgt.to
their original settings
prevent further disaster of
the survivors.
 About 58.7% of total land mass is
prone to earthquake of moderate
to very heavy intensity

INDIA’S KEY 12% to 15% land mass is prone to

flood and 68% land mass is prone
HAZARDS to drought

Close to 5700km out of 7600km

coastline is threatened by
cyclones
 To make Disaster
To promote Awareness
Management an integral
and Education in
part of National
Disaster Management.
Development Agenda.

DISASTER To promote Human To develop Institutional

MANAGEMENT Resource Development
in Disaster Management
Frameworks at the
National and State levels
FRAMEWORK (master plan for training for mainstreaming
and capacity building). disaster management.

To establish multi-hazard
To enhance capacities at
preparedness,
all levels for multi-
mitigation and
hazard preparedness
prevention plans at all
and response.
levels.
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
FRAMEWORK

 DM Act 2005
 NDMA
 NIDM
 NDRF
 DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
CYCLE
 GOVERNMENT OF INDIA – DM
PLAN

 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)

 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
 Paris agreement on Climate Change at 21st Conference of
Parties (COP21), under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
MAJOR INSTITUTIONS

NDMA NIDM NDRF

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.
Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster

Vulnerability is the inability to resist a hazard or to

respond when a disaster has occurred
 Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability and Disaster
A hazard can be defined as a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may
cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social
and economic disruption, or environmental damage.

Hazards may be
inevitable, but
disasters can be
prevented.

Vulnerability refers to the characteristics Exposure refers to people, property,

and circumstances of a community, systems, or other elements present in
system or asset that make it susceptible hazard zones that are thereby subject
to the damaging effects of a hazard. to potential losses.
Dimensions of Disaster Management
 Disasters occur in varied forms
• Some are predictable in advance
• Some are annual or seasonal
• Some are sudden and unpredictable

Floods Days and weeks

Earthquakes Seconds/minutes
Cyclones Days
Droughts Months
 DISASTER-EFFECTS
Deaths
Disability
Increase in communicable disease
Psychological problems
Food shortage
Socioeconomic losses
Shortage of drugs and medical supplies.
Environmental disruption
Major Disasters in India
• 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy
• 2001 Gujarat earthquake
• 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami
• 2008 Mumbai attacks
Risk
 Risk is a “measure of the expected losses due to a hazard event occurring in a
given area over a specific period.

 Risk is a function of the probability of particular hazardous event and the losses it
would cause.” The level of risk depends upon:
 Nature of the hazard;
 Vulnerability of the elements which are affected;
 Economic value of those elements.
Risk
 A community/locality is said to be at ‘risk’ when it is exposed to hazards and is likely
to be adversely affected by its impact.
 Whenever we discuss ‘disaster management’ it is basically ‘disaster risk
management’.
 Disaster risk management includes all measures which reduce disaster related losses
of life, property, or assets by either reducing the hazard or vulnerability of the
elements at risk.
Elements at Risk
• People
• Livestock
• Rural Housing Stock
• Houses Vulnerable
• Crops, Trees,Telephone, Electric poles
• Boats, Looms, Working Implements
• Personal Property
• Electricity, Water and Food Supplies
• Infrastructure Support
Disaster Management Cycle

1. Preparedness: Measures enabling govt

orgs, communities and individuals to
respond rapidly and effectively to disaster
situations.
2. Response: Measures taken immediately
prior to and following disaster impact.
3. Recovery: Process by which communities
and the nation are assisted in returning to
their proper level of functioning.
4. Mitigation: Measures aimed at reducing
the impact of a natural or man-made
disaster on a nation or community.
 Response
• Includes actions taken to save lives, prevent
damage to property, and to preserve the
environment during emergencies or
disasters.
• It is the implementation of action plans.
• Activities during disaster
• Public warning systems, emergency
operations, search and rescue
• The response phase includes the
mobilization of the necessary emergency
services and first responders in the disaster
area.
RECOVERY
Activities following a disaster
• Ex.. Temporary housing, claims
processing and grants, long
term medical care and
counselling
• The aim of the recovery phase
is to restore the affected area to its
previous state.
• Includes actions that assist a community to return to a sense of normalcy
after a disaster.
 Mitigation
• Activities that reduces the effects of disaster.
• It reduces either the chance of a hazard taking place
or a hazard turning into disaster.
• Mitigation efforts are attempts to prevent hazards
from developing into disasters altogether or to
reduce the effects of disasters.
• It focuses on long-term measures for reducing or
eliminating risk.
• Mitigation measures can be structural or non-
structural.
• It includes building codes; zoning and land use
management; regulations and safety codes;
preventive health care; and public education.
Mitigation

• Risk reduction
Anticipatory measures and actions that seek to avoid future risks as a
result of a disaster.

• Prevention
Avoiding a disaster at the eleventh hour.
Includes activities which actually eliminate or reduce the probability of
disaster occurrence, or reduce the effects of unavoidable disasters.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Disaster preparedness aims at minimizing the adverse effects of a

hazard
1. Through effective precautionary actions
2. Ensure timely, appropriate and efficient organization and delivery
of emergency response following the impact of a disaster.
• Plans made to save lives or property.
• This phase covers implementation/operation, early
• Warning systems and capacity building
Stages of Disaster Management Cycle

The cycle generally comprises four major stages:

1. Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation

2. Disaster Response and Immediate Relief
3. Disaster Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery
4. Long-term Development
 Disaster is a sudden adverse or unfortunate extreme event which causes great damage to human beings as well
as plants and animals.

 Disasters occur rapidly, instantaneously, and indiscriminately.

 These extreme events either natural or man-induced exceed the tolerable magnitude within or beyond certain
time limits, make adjustment difficult, result in catastrophic losses of property and income and life is paralyzed.

 These events which occur aggravate natural environmental processes to cause disasters to human society such
as sudden tectonic movements leading to earthquake and volcanic eruptions, continued dry conditions leading to
prolonged droughts, floods, atmospheric disturbances, collision of celestial bodies, etc. (Joshi, 2008).
 Disasters have always co-existed with civilizations.

 With technological advancement, development initiatives resulted in the creation of a lot of infrastructure and
permanent assets.

 Gradually material development detached man from nature on one hand, and increased vulnerability of the
human population, on the other.

 The progressive increase in loss of life, property and deleterious effect on environment due to disasters moved
the international community to look at disaster management in a new perspective, which transcends international
barriers, anticipates possible threats and enables tackling of disasters from the pre-stage.

 The last decade (990-1999) was observed by the International Community as the “International Decade for
natural disaster reduction”, a decade dedicated to promoting solutions to reduce risks from natural hazards.

 The international dimension of disasters was realized, and a protocol sought to be established so that when it
comes to suffering of humanity, help from the International community flow in right earnest.
 Almost every day, newspapers, radio, and television channels carry reports on disaster striking several parts of
the world.

What is a disaster?
 The term disaster owes its origin to the French word “Desastre” which is a combination of two words ‘des’
meaning bad and ‘aster’ meaning star. Thus, the term refers to ‘Bad or Evil star’.

 The United Nations defined Disasters as ‘A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a
society causing widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses which exceed the ability of
the affected community/society to cope using its own resources’ (UNDP).

 A disaster is a result from the combination of hazard, vulnerability and insufficient capacity or measures to
reduce the potential chances of risk.

 A disaster happens when a hazard impacts on the vulnerable population and causes damage, casualties, and
disruption.
 Any hazard – flood, earthquake or cyclone which is a triggering event along with greater
vulnerability (inadequate access to resources, sick and old people, lack of awareness etc)
would lead to disaster causing greater loss to life and property.

 For example, an earthquake in an uninhabited desert cannot be considered a disaster, no

matter how strong the intensities produced.

 An earthquake is disastrous only when it affects people, their properties, and activities.
Thus, disaster occurs only when hazards and vulnerability meet. But it is also to be noted that
with greater capacity of the individual/community and environment to face these disasters,
the impact of a hazard reduces. Therefore, we need to understand the three major
components namely hazard, vulnerability, and capacity with suitable examples to have a
basic understanding of disaster management.
Hazard
 Hazard may be defined as “a dangerous condition or event, that
threat or have the potential for causing injury to life or damage to
property or the environment.”
 Hazards can be grouped into two broad categories namely natural
and manmade. Natural hazards are hazards which are caused because
of natural phenomena (hazards with meteorological, geological, or
even biological origin).
 Examples of natural hazards are cyclones, tsunamis, earthquake, and
volcanic eruptions which are exclusively of natural origin.
 Landslides, floods, drought, fires are socio-natural hazards since their causes
are both natural and man-made.
 For example, flooding may be caused because of heavy rains, landslide or
blocking of drains with human waste.
 Manmade hazards are hazards which are due to human negligence.
 Manmade hazards are associated with industries or energy generation facilities
and include explosions, leakage of toxic waste, pollution, dam failure, wars, or
civil strife, etc.
 The list of hazards is exceedingly long.
 Many occur frequently while others take place occasionally.
 However, based on their genesis, they can be categorized as follows:
Various types of Hazards
 Vulnerability
 Defined as “The extent to which a community, structure, services or geographic
area is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of particular hazard, on
account of their nature, construction and proximity to hazardous terrains or a disaster
prone area”
 Vulnerability is a set of prevailing conditions which adversely affect the
community’s ability to prevent, mitigate, prepare, or respond to a hazard.
 Absence of coping strategies is also a part of vulnerability and must be
considered in vulnerability assessment e.g. living in hazard prone locations like near
to a sea or river, etc.
 Classification of Vulnerability
Vulnerability are classified as physical, social, economic, and environmental
 Physical Vulnerability: The physical vulnerability of an area also depends on its
geographic proximity to the source and origin of the disasters e.g. if an area lies near
the coast lines, fault lines, unstable hills etc. It makes the area more vulnerable to
disasters as compared to an area that is far away from the origin of the disaster.
Physical vulnerability includes the difficulty in access to water resources, means of
communications, hospitals, police stations, fire brigades, roads, bridges and exits of a
building or/an area, in case of disasters. Furthermore, the lack of proper planning and
implementation in construction of residential and commercial buildings results in
buildings that are weaker and vulnerable in earthquakes, floods, landslides and other
hazards.
 Social Vulnerability: As per United Nations office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNDRR), it 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 cultural values. It is linked to the level of well-being of
individuals, communities, and society. It includes aspects 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. For example,
poverty and inequality, marginalisation, social exclusion and discrimination by
gender, social status, disability, and age (amongst other factors), etc.
 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 lack the resources to build sturdy structures and
put other engineering measures in place to protect themselves from being negatively
impacted by disasters. For example, the uninsured informal sector, vulnerable rural
livelihoods, dependence on single industries, globalisation of business and supply
chains, etc.
 Environmental Vulnerability: Natural resource depletion and resource degradation
are key aspects of environmental vulnerability. For example, poor environmental
management, overconsumption of natural resources, decline of risk regulating
ecosystem services, extraction of soil from river bed, etc.
 Capacity
 Capacity can be defined as “resources, means and strengths which exist in
households and communities and which enable them to cope with, withstand, prepare
for, prevent, mitigate or quickly recover from a disaster”. People’s capacity can also be
considered.

 Capacities could be classified into physical and socio-economic capacities.

 Capacity
 Physical Capacity: People whose houses have been destroyed by the cyclone or crops
have been destroyed by the flood can salvage things from their homes and from their
farms. Some family members have skills, which enable them to find employment if
they migrate, either temporarily or permanently.
 Socio-economic Capacity: In most of the disasters, people suffer their greatest losses
in the physical and material realm. Rich people have the capacity to recover soon
because of their wealth. In fact, they are seldom hit by disasters because they live in
safe areas and their houses are built with stronger materials. However, even when
everything is destroyed, they have the capacity to cope up with it.
 Hazards are always prevalent, but the hazard becomes a disaster only when the frequency or
likelihood of a hazard and the vulnerability of the community increases the risk of being
severely affected.
Disaster Management Cycle
 Disaster Risk Management includes sum of all activities, programmes and measures
which can be taken up before, during and after a disaster with the purpose to avoid a
disaster, reduce its impact or recover from its losses. The three key stages of
activities that are taken up within disaster risk management are as follows:
1. Before a disaster (pre-disaster)
 Pre-disaster activities those which are taken to reduce human and property
losses caused by a potential hazard. For example, carrying out awareness
campaigns, strengthening the existing weak structures, preparation of the disaster
management plans at household and community level, etc. Such risk reduction
measures taken under this stage are termed as mitigation and preparedness
activities.

2. During a disaster (disaster occurrence)

 These include initiatives taken to ensure that the needs and provisions of victims
are met and suffering is minimized. Activities taken under this stage are called
emergency response activities.
3. After a disaster (post-disaster)
 There are initiatives taken in response to a disaster with a purpose to achieve
early recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities, immediately after a
disaster strike. These are called as response and recovery activities. The Disaster
risk management cycle diagram (DRMC) highlights the range of initiatives which
normally occur during both the Emergency response and Recovery stages of a
disaster. Some of these cuts across both stages (such things as coordination and the
provision of ongoing assistance); whilst other activities are unique to each stage
(e.g. Early Warning and Evacuation during Emergency Response; and
Reconstruction and Economic and Social Recovery as part of Recovery).
4. After a disaster (post-disaster)
 There are initiatives taken in response to a disaster with a purpose to achieve
early recovery and rehabilitation of affected communities, immediately after a
disaster strike. These are called as response and recovery activities. The Disaster
risk management cycle diagram (DRMC) highlights the range of initiatives which
normally occur during both the Emergency response and Recovery stages of a
disaster. Some of these cuts across both stages (such things as coordination and the
provision of ongoing assistance); whilst other activities are unique to each stage
(e.g. Early Warning and Evacuation during Emergency Response; and
Reconstruction and Economic and Social Recovery as part of Recovery).
Disaster Management Cycle
 The DRMC also highlights the role of the media, where there is a strong relationship between this and funding
opportunities. This diagram works best for relatively sudden-onset disasters, such as floods, earthquakes, bushfires,
tsunamis, cyclones etc, but is less reflective of slow-onset disasters, such as drought, where there is no obviously
recognizable single event which triggers the movement into the Emergency Response stage.

 According to Warfield (2008) disaster management aims to reduce, or avoid the potential losses from hazards,
assure prompt and appropriate assistance to victims of disaster, and achieve rapid and effective recovery. The disaster
management cycle illustrates the ongoing process by which governments, businesses, and civil society plan for and
reduce the impact of disasters, react during and immediately following a disaster, and take steps to recover after a
disaster has occurred. Appropriate actions at all points in the cycle lead to greater preparedness, better warnings, reduced
vulnerability, or the prevention of disasters during the next iteration of the cycle. The complete disaster management
cycle includes the shaping of public policies and plans that either modify the causes of disasters or mitigate their effects
on people, property, and infrastructure.

 The mitigation and preparedness phases occur as disaster management improvements are made in anticipation of a
disaster event. Developmental considerations play a key role in contributing to the mitigation and preparation of a
community to effectively confront a disaster. As a disaster occurs, disaster management actors, humanitarian
organizations become involved in the immediate response and long-term recovery phases.
 The four disaster management phases illustrated here do not always, or even
generally, occur in isolation or in this precise order. Often phases of the cycle overlap
and the length of each phase greatly depends on the severity of the disaster.

 • Mitigation - Minimizing the effects of disaster.

Examples: building codes and zoning; vulnerability analyses; public

education. • Preparedness - Planning how to respond.
Examples: preparedness plans; emergency exercises/training; warning
systems. • Response - Efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster.
 Examples: search and rescue; emergency relief.
 • Recovery - Returning the community to normal.
 Examples: temporary housing; grants; medical care.
Disaster Management Cycle
 Drought and famine have proved to be the deadliest
disasters globally (45%), followed by floods (16%),
technological disaster (14%), earthquake (12%),
windstorm (10%), extreme temperature and others (3%).
Global economic loss related to disaster events average
around US $880 billion per year (CBSE, 2006).

Reported death from all disasters : World Scenario (1992-

2001)
 The Indian scenario
 The Indian subcontinent is highly vulnerable to cyclones, droughts, earthquakes
and floods.
 Avalanches, forest fire and landslides occur frequently in the Himalayan region of
northern India.
 Among the 35 total states/ Union Territories in the country, 25 are disaster prone.
 On an average, about 50 million people in the country are affected by one or the
other disaster every year, besides loss of property worth several million.
 In the 1970s and the 80s, droughts and famines were the biggest killers in India, the
situation stands altered today. It is probably a combination of factors like better resources
management and food security measures that has greatly reduced the deaths caused by
droughts and famines. Floods, high winds, and earthquakes dominate (98%) the reported
injuries, with ever increasing numbers in the last ten years. The period from 1973 to 2001
has been associated with many earthquakes in Asia that have a relatively high injury- to
death ratio. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, and avalanches are some of
the major natural disasters that repeatedly and increasingly affect India. Table-1 depicts an
annual damage due to Natural Disasters (for the year 1985 – 1997).
 The natural disasters directly impact economies, agriculture, food security, water,
sanitation, the environment, and health each year. Therefore, it is one of the single largest
concerns for most of the developing nations. Different natural hazards cause varying levels of
physical damage to infrastructure and agriculture with implications for their indirect and
secondary impacts. Drought causes heavy Crop and Livestock losses over wide areas of land
but typically leave infrastructure and productive capacity largely unaffected. Floods and
Cyclones cause extensive whereas damage to both infrastructure and agriculture, depending
on their timing relative to the agricultural cycle. While Earthquakes have little impact on
standing crops excluding localized losses but can cause wide spread devastation of
infrastructure and other productive capacity over relatively large areas.
 India is hit by one major natural disaster or the other almost every year wherein the loss of life is
accompanied by losses of the magnitude that is difficult to comprehend. The decade (1990-99), which was the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (1990-99), it witnessed a spate of large-scale disasters
that defied all attempts to stem them. These included the Latur (Maharashtra) Earthquake of 1993 killing
about 10,000 persons, the Andhra Pradesh Cyclones of 1990 and 1996, killing about 1000 persons each, the
Gujarat Cyclone of 1998 killing over 3,500 persons and the Orissa Super-Cyclone of 1999 killing about
10,000 persons. Besides these major events, there were smaller earthquakes in Uttarkashi, Chamoli and
Jabalpur, and frequent floods in the north-east, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Kerala. Unfortunately, these disasters
were not taken up as learning opportunities, and lessons were not drawn from them to the extent to be
prepared in combating future disasters. What happened in Gujarat in 2001and the way it was handled are grim
reminders of the fact that we still need to learn and improve much.
 The precise cost of the disaster in terms of loss of lives, property, loss of development opportunities, etc.
cannot be clearly assessed, counted or scaled. The costs of disaster are clearly inequitable, falling heavily only
on the few. Disasters result not only in loss of shelter but also create hardships, lack of food availability,
temporary loss of livelihood and disrupt socio-economic activities. Some of the losses may be redeemable and
compensated for through disaster relief and insurance. However, apart from economic dimension, such
disturbances have their psychological and social dimensions as well, which need to be studied, and
documented besides developing appropriate mitigation strategies
 The Disaster Management Act, 2005
Introductory notes on NDMA, 2005
 India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique
geo climatic conditions.
 Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a recurrent
phenomenon.
 Being highly vulnerable to natural disaster, 25 states out of a total of 35 states/UTs
in India are considered disaster prone.
 68% of Indian land is draught prone, 12% to flood and 8% to cyclone.
 The loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical.
 Therefore, disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s
policy framework as it is the poor and the under-privileged who are worst affected on
account of calamities/disasters.
 At the global level too, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters.
Approach to Disaster Management
 Till recently, the approach to Disaster Management has been reactive and relief
centric.
 A paradigm shift has now taken place at the national level from the relief centric
syndrome to holistic and integrated approach with emphasis on prevention,
mitigation and preparedness.
 These efforts are aimed to conserve developmental gains as also minimize losses
to lives, livelihood and property.
 A typical Disaster Management continuum as shown below, comprising of six
elements i.e., Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness in pre-disaster phase, and
Response, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in post-disaster phase, defines the
complete approach to Disaster Management.
The Disaster Management Act – 2005
 The Disaster Management Act – 2005 is aimed at preparedness, prevention and early
planning towards disaster.
 By this Act three authorities namely,
 National Disaster Management Authority,
 State Disaster Management Authority and
 District Disaster Management Authority have been established.
 As stated in the act, there shall be no discrimination on the of ground of gender, caste and
community in providing compensation and relief.
 The act also provides penalties for obstruction, false claims etc and ensures the establishment
of Disaster Response fund and Disaster Mitigation fund at central, state and district level.
 The Disaster Management Division of Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal agency for all
issues related to disaster management except the drought which is looked after by the
Ministry of Agriculture.
 The Act comprises of 79 sections and 11 chapters.
 The President of India gave his assent to the Disaster Management Bill 2005 on January 9,
2006.
Disaster Management Act–2005 (79 sections & 11 chapters)
Chapter I -Definition
Section 2 of the Act defines ‘Disaster’ as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave
occurrence in any area, arising from either 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.
‘Disaster Management’ is defined as a continuous and integrated process of planning,
organizing, coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary or expedient to
prevent danger or threat of any disaster, mitigation or reduce the risk or severity or
consequences of any disaster, capacity-building and 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.
Disaster Management Act–2005(79 sections & 11 chapters
Chapter II- National disaster management authority
The Act empowers the Central Government to appoint the National Disaster Management
Authority with the Prime Minister of India as the Chairperson and such number of other
members, not exceeding nine. The Central Government is to provide the National Authority
with such officers, consultants and employees, as it considers necessary for carrying out the
functions of the National Authority. The National Authority has the responsibility to lay
down, approve the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management prepared by
various departments of Government of India to ensure timely and effective response to
disaster. Further the chapter also details about the meetings, executive committee and plans.
Chapter III - State Disaster Management Authorities
Like National Authority at the Centre, the State Government is to establish a State
Disaster Management Authority for the State. The State Authority is to be headed by
the Chief Minister of the State as the Chairperson and such number of other members,
not exceeding nine. The State Authority is empowered as and when it considers
necessary to constitute an advisory committee, consisting of experts in the field of
disaster management. The State Authority is supposed to lay down the State disaster
management policy, approve the State Plan in accordance with the guidelines laid
down by the National Authority. Chapter III also specifies on meetings, state
executive committee and plans.
Chapter IV - District Disaster Management Authorities
Every State Government, in turn is to establish a District Disaster Management Authority for every
district in the State with the Collector or District Collector or Deputy Commissioner as the
Chairperson and such number of other members, not exceeding seven. The District Authority is to act
as the district planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management and take all
measures for the purposes of disaster management in the district in accordance with the guidelines laid
down by the National Authority and the State Authority.
Chapter V - Measures by the Government & International Agencies for Disaster Management
The Central Government is empowered to take measures as it deems necessary or expedient for the
purpose of disaster management like deployment of naval, military and air forces, other armed forces
of the Union or any other civilian personnel as may be required for the purposes of this Act,
coordination with the United Nations agencies, international organizations and governments of
foreign countries for the purposes of this Act and establish institutions for research, training and
developmental programmes in the field of disaster management. It is also empowered to deal with all
such other matters as it deems necessary or expedient for securing effective implementation of the
provisions of the Act.
 Chapter VI - Local Authorities
 Subject to the directions of the District Authority, the local authorities shall ensure that
the officers and employees are trained, resources are so maintained as to be readily
available, carry out relief rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the affected areas
and may take such other measures as may be necessary for the disaster management.
Chapter VII - National Institute of Disaster Management
 The Central Government is empowered to constitute an institute to be called the
National Institute of Disaster Management. The institute functions within the broad
policies and guidelines laid down by the National Authority and is responsible for
planning and promoting training and research in the area of disaster management,
documentation and development of national level information base relating to disaster
management policies, prevention mechanisms and mitigation measures.
Chapter VIII - National Disaster Response Force
 A National Disaster Response Force for the purpose of specialist response to a
threatening disaster situation or disaster is to be constituted. The general superintendence,
direction and control of the Force shall be vested and exercised by the National Authority
and the command and supervision of the Force shall vest in an officer to be appointed by
the Central Government as the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force.
Chapter IX - Finance, Accounts and Audits
 The Central Government is empowered to constitute a fund to be called as the
National Disaster Response fund for meeting any threatening disaster situation or
disaster and there shall be credited thereto an amount which Central Government may,
after due appropriation made by parliament by law in this behalf provide any grants that
may be made by any person or institution for the purpose of disaster management.
Chapter X -Offences and Penalties
 The Act imposes punishments to persons/companies for contravening the provisions
of this Act, 2005 such as obstructing or abandoning, refusing to comply with any of the
provisions of this Act, making false claims, misappropriation of money or materials or
false warning, etc. The punishment in such cases could be imprisonment or fine or both.
Chapter XI-Miscellaneous
 The National Authority, the State Authority, or a District Authority is empowered to
recommend the Government to give direction to any authority or person in control of any
audio or audiovisual media or such other means of communication as may be available
to carry any warning or advisories regarding any threatening disaster situation or disaster,
and the said means of communication and media as designated shall comply with such
direction.
Recent Initiatives
 Coordinated mock drills under simulated situations like terror attack,
earthquake, bomb blast, fire breakouts, flyover collapse etc., are being
organized by the National, State & District Management Authorities from
time to time.
 The most calamitous situations had been planned out to test Delhi's
disaster preparedness and the venues included Metro stations, schools,
colleges, markets, temples, government buildings and five-star hotels.
 Mock drills will build the awareness of the general population and
increase their coping capacity during disaster.
 This will help all the stakeholders especially the community to know
what needs to be done to prevent and safeguard and avoid casualty.
NDMA Act Remarks
 Disaster results not only in the loss of life & shelter but also creates
lack of food, increase in diseases and disturb socio-economic activities.
 Therefore, it is one of the major area of concern for a developing
country like India.
 Disaster Management must be a multi disciplinary and pro-active
approach.
 Besides various measures for putting in place institutional and policy
framework, disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness initiatives
taken by the Central and State Governments the INGOs and NGOs, the
community, civil society organizations and the media also have a key
role to play in achieving the goal of moving together, towards a safer
India.
1
1. Introduction.
2. Definition.
3. Objectives
4. Approach
5. Disaster Management act-2005.
6. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
7. Institutional Framework.
8. National Policy on Disaster Management.
9. National Plan on Disaster Management.
10. Role of Government.
11. Role of Non-Government.
12. Various Types of Disaster.
13. Some Signification Earthquake in India.
14. Case Study: Flood 3
 1. Introduction
✓India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on
account of its unique geo-climatic conditions.
✓Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been
a recurrent phenomena.
✓The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 & the Bhuj
earthquake in Gujarat in January, 2001 was done.
✓Over the past couple of years, the Government of India have
brought about a paradigm shift in the approach to disaster
management.
✓Disaster management occupies an important place in this
country’s policy framework as it is the poor and the under-
privileged who are worst affected on account of
calamities/disasters.
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 2. Definition

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines disaster 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”.

The United Nations defines disaster as “The occurrence of

sudden or major misfortune which disrupts the basic fabric and
normal functioning of the society or community”.

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 3. Objectives
✓Mitigation or reduction of risk of any disaster or its severity or
consequences.
✓ Capacity building including research & knowledge management.
✓ Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
✓ Assessing the severity or magnitude of effects of any disaster.

4. Approach
✓ Community based DM, including last mile integration of policy.
✓ Plans & execution.
✓ Capacity development in all spheres.
✓ Consolidation of past initiatives & best practice.
✓ Co-operation with agencies at national & international levels.
✓ Multi-sectoral synergy 10
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 5. Disaster Management Act, 2005
✓This Act provides for the effective management of disaster and
for matters connected there with or incidental thereto.
✓ It provides institutional mechanisms for drawing up and
monitoring the implementation of the disaster management.
✓The Act also ensures measures by the various wings of the Govt.
for prevention and mitigation of disasters and prompt response to
any disaster situation.
✓The Act further provides for the constitution of different
Executive Committee at national and state levels.
✓The Act also provides specific roles to local bodies in disaster
management.
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 There are two National Level Institution,
▪ National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
▪ National Executive committee (NEC).

There are two State Level Institution,

▪ State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
▪ State Executive Committee (SEC).

There are one District Level Institution,

▪ District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

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 6. National Disaster Management Authority

✓ Approve the National Plan.

✓Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the
Government of India in accordance with the National Plan.
✓Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in
drawing up the State Plan.
✓Co-ordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy
and plan for disaster management.
✓ Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation.
✓Provide such support to other countries affected by major
disasters as may be determined by the Central Government.
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❑ Legal Institutional Framework
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❑ Structure of National DisasterManagement
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 7. Institutional Framework
✓Shifting from relief and response mode, disaster management in
India started to address the issues of early warning systems,
forecasting and monitoring setup for various weather related
hazards.
✓A structure for flow of information, in the form of warnings,
alert sand updates about the oncoming hazard, also emerged within
this framework.
✓A multi-stakeholder High powered group was setup by involving
representatives from different ministries and departments.
✓Some of these ministries were also designated as the nodal
authorities for specific disasters.

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 8. National Policy on Disaster Management
✓The National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) has been approved by the
central govt. on October 22, 2009 and circulated to all concerned.
✓ The policy covers all aspects of disaster management including institutional and
legal arrangements, financial arrangements, techno-legal

disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness,

regime, response, relief and rehabilitation, reconstruction and
recovery, capacity development, knowledge management, research and development.
✓It focuses on the areas where action is needed and the institutional mechanism
through which such action can be channelized.
✓ It aims to bring in transparency and accountability in all aspects community,

of disaster management through involvement of community based organisations.

 9. National Plan on Disaster Management
✓An institutional mechanism for preparation of the National Plan has been put in place,
which is under preparation in three parts namely:-
▪ National Response Plan,
▪ National Mitigation Plan &
▪ National Capacity Building Plan.
✓The National Mitigation Plans are under preparation by the concerned nodal ministries
for disasters in respect of which the Nodal Ministries have been identified and designated.
✓The Nodal Officers of the ministries concerned with the disasters are the conveners of
the National Mitigation Plan Committees and are required to complete the Mitigation
Plan in consultation with the members concerned with the respective disasters in NDMA.

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 10. Role of Government

a). State Govt.:-

✓In the context of federal set-up of India, the responsibility to formulate the
Governments response to a natural calamity is essentially that of the concerned State
Government.
✓Most of the States have Relief Commissioners under the Department of Disaster
Management, who are in charge of the relief measures in the wake of natural disasters.
✓At the state level, the State Relief Commissioner supervises and controls relief
operations through Collectors or Deputy Commissioners, who are the main
functionaries to coordinate the relief operation at district level.

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b). District Govt.:-
✓A District is subdivided into subdivisions and Tehsils or Talukas.
✓The head of a sub-division is called the Sub-Divisional Officer while the head of a
Tehsil is generally known as the Tehsildar.
✓Contact with the individual villages is through the village Officer or Patwari who has
one or more villages in his charge.
✓The entire hierarchy right from the Central Government to the District level is
connected by means of a telecommunication system.

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c). National Govt.:-

✓The National in the Ministry of Home Affairs functions 24×7 to monitor the disaster or
disaster like situation.
✓During the south west monsoon, daily situation reports are prepared based on the
feedback received from the affected States and concerned Central Ministries and
organizations, and are sent to all concerned.
✓During the calamities of severe nature, special situation reports are also prepared and
issued to all concerned.
✓It also developed a branch called National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
✓The main task of NDRF is to provide specialist response in case of disasters.

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 11. Role of Non-Government
✓For large relief agencies & NGOs, the main response is to provide material relief &
rescue operation during times of disaster including medical relief.
✓This is followed by a longer period of reconstruction activities of the physical
infrastructure like roads, houses, community buildings, drinking water facilities etc. &
continuation of medical aid.
✓For small & localized NGOs, initial response is in the form of rescue & material
relief.
✓Most of larger India agencies stay back in disaster prone areas for disaster mitigation,
long-term development of the people of area & especially for disaster preparedness
before next disaster strikes.
✓Local NGOs, who also participate in relief & reconstruction activities during times of
disaster, revert back to their usual pre- disaster activities after initial phase.

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12. Various Types of Disaster

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13. Some Significant Earthquakes in India

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 14. Case Study: Floods
✓Flood destructions have always brought miseries to numerous people, especially in
rural areas.
✓Flood results in the outbreak of serious epidemics, specially malaria and cholera.
✓ India is one of the most flood prone countries in the world.
✓The average rainfall in India is 1150 mm with significant variation across the
country.
✓ Most of the floods occur during the monsoon period.
✓ Floods occur in almost all rivers basins in India.
✓The main causes of floods are heavy rainfall, discharge of water from Reservoir,
inadequate drainage to carry away the rainwater quickly to rivers.
❑ Floods in Uttarakhand in September2010