DISASTER

MANAGEMENT
 What is disaster management?
Disaster management includes administrative
decisions and operational activities that involve
Prevention
Mitigation
Preparedness
Response
Recovery
Rehabilitation
 Disaster management

The traditional approach was to provide

immediate humanitarian aid (usually rescue
teams, materials and medical services) as quickly
as possible after the onset of a disaster.
 Disaster management
The modern view is that there must be pre-
disaster mitigation measures to avoid or reduce
impact of disasters.
Pre-disaster measures to prevent or mitigate
disasters are called Risk Management.
 Disaster management
Modern disaster management goes beyond
post-disaster assistance.
It now includes:-
 pre-disaster planning and preparedness
activities,
 organizational planning,
 training,
 information management,
 public relations and many other fields.
Disaster management cycle
 Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness
Measures taken prior to the impact of a hazard
event to minimize its effects (which may be
structural and non-structural)

Types
• Non-structural mitigation
• structural mitigation
 Mitigation

Non-structural mitigation
Legal framework
Examples are building codes for built structures
to withstand impact such as cyclones or
earthquakes etc.
 Mitigation
Land-use planning
Controlling human activities in hazard prone
areas (zoning) to avoid fatalities and loss. This
may involve re-location of communities to safer
locations. It may be achieved by passing legal
statues E.g. Ordinances
Incentives
Often provide better inducements (incentives)
for mitigation than legal impositions.
Government grants or subsidies may help to
persuade commercial and other institutions to
include mitigation measures in their building and
reconstruction. Insurance companies may be
persuaded to offer reduced premiums for
buildings that incorporate hazard resistant
Training and Education
Provide awareness and know-how to those
government officials involved in disaster
management, construction experts, craftsmen,
land use planners and the general public.
 Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

Public Awareness
This is necessary to ensure
• A good public knowledge and understanding of
natural hazards and vulnerabilities
• Awareness of effective mitigation measures
• Public participation in community preparedness
programs.
Institution building
This is the strengthening of national or
community social structure. This can work
through
• Identifying and strengthening organizations
that serve as coping mechanisms: by increasing
capacity and skills to face a crisis.
• Increasing the number of coping mechanisms
within a country or community and by linking
them to outside resources
• Encouraging actions that promote cooperation
among different groups within society.
Structural mitigation
Engineered structures
These involve architects and engineers during
the planning, designing and construction phases.
The application of sound technical principles is
achieved through measures discussed in the next
slide….
.
 Engineered structures
1. Site planning
2. Assessment of forces created by natural
hazards
3. Planning and analysis of structural measures
to resist such forces

4. Design and proper detailing of structural

components
5. Construction with suitable material
6. Good workmanship under adequate
supervision
 Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness
Non engineered structures
These are constructions by owners using local
masons and carpenters who lack formal training.
The design may be improved according to
traditional ways. Their location on hazard prone
areas may be controlled.
The mitigation plan
In the following slides we will discuss how
would this plan look like?
 Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

Components of a Mitigation Plan

1. Introduction
The reason for developing mitigation plan
How it was prepared
Who were involved
2.Problem description (for each hazard)
Hazard description
Impact on property
Impact on human life, injury and health
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness
3.Community considerations
Economic development
Environment
Future needs
Other considerations
4. Goals and objectives
 Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

5.Proposed risk reduction measures (for each)

Description
Objectives supported
Who is responsible
When it must be done
Who can help
Budget
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

6.Implementation and Evaluation

Implementation schedule
Monitoring (How? Who? What?)
Evaluation (How? who? Scope? When?)
Prevention
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness
Prevention
Prevention is more applicable to man-made
and technological disasters.
strict safety precautions through technological
innovation should be taken.
Natural hazard events cannot be prevented.
But if the vulnerability of the community is
reduced, one can prevent the hazard event
becoming a disaster.
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

The government departments or municipalities

can prevent disaster impact by conducting
selected mitigation activities before a disaster
strikes. For example
A dam could control floodwater.
 Controlled burning of fire belts could prevent
the spread of a wild fire.
 Strict building code imposition can reduce
collapse of buildings during an earthquake.
Prevention, Mitigation & Preparedness

Proper socioeconomic development and active

ownership and participation of communities in
the disaster management continuum and the
development of adequate warning systems where
applicable, can also bring positive results.
Earthquake Preparedness
 Earthquake
Preparedness
Vulnerable communities should be included in
preparedness programs.

Preparedness includes educating the public

about what they should do in case of an
earthquake and preparing public officials and
services to react to the emergency
 Earthquake
Preparedness
Activities include:
• Training teams for search and rescue operations;
• Training teams for disaster assessment;
• Identifying safe sites where people living in areas
threatened by landslides in secondary tremors could be
relocated;
• Training adequate personnel in trauma care;
• Maintaining stocks of trauma-related medical supplies;
 Earthquake
Preparedness
• Reviewing the structural soundness of facilities that are
essential for the operation of disaster response, e.g.
hospitals, fire stations, government buildings,
• communications installations, and upgrading them as
necessary.
•Preparing plans and necessary equipment for alternative
water supply if the current system is
vulnerable;
 Earthquake
Preparedness
• Preparing plans for clearing streets on a
priority basis (to provide emergency access);
• Preparing emergency communication systems
as well as messages to the public regarding
matters of their health, safety and security;
• Training teams to determine if buildings are
safe for re occupancy.
Tsunami Preparedness
 Tsunami
Preparedness
1. A tsunami originates in or near the epicentral area of
the earthquake that creates it.
2. It travels outward in all directions from this epicenter
at a very high speed that depends on depths.
3. thus, the need for rapid data handling and
communication becomes obvious.
4. So to provide some measure of protection against
local tsunamis in the first hour after generation,
regional warning systems have been established in
some areas.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
The only permanent tsunami warning system in
operation at the present time is that operated
for the entire Pacific basin by the United States National
Weather Service.
As of March 1975, following countries are included in this
program.
Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, France, Guatemala,
Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines,
Thailand, the United States and the Soviet Union.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
Through international warning system, civil defense
organizations in most of the countries bordering the
Pacific Ocean now receive warnings of tsunamis several
hours before they reach the coasts of their respective
countries.
They are thus able to put into action previously prepared
plans for the evacuation of people from the endangered
coastal areas.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
The following “Tsunami Safety Rules,” issued by
the United States Department of Commerce,
provide an example of information that is useful
in such situations:
• All earthquakes do not cause tsunamis, but
many do. When you hear that an earthquake
has occurred, stand by for a tsunami emergency.
• An earthquake in your area is a natural tsunami
warning. Do not stay in low-lying coastal
areas after a local earthquake.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
• A tsunami is not a single wave but a series of
waves. Stay out of danger areas until an “all
clear” is issued by competent authority.
• Approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded
(messenger) by a noticeable rise or fall of coastal
water.
This is nature’s tsunami warning and should be
heeded.
• A small tsunami at one beach can be a giant a
few kilometers away. Don’t let the modest
size of one make you lose respect for all.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
The Tsunami Warning Center does not issue
false alarms. When a warning is issued, a
tsunami exists. The tsunami of May 1960 killed 61
in Hilo, Hawaii, who thought it was “just
another false alarm.”
• All tsunamis—like hurricanes—are potentially
dangerous, even though they may not damage
every coastline they strike.
• Never go down to the beach to watch for a
tsunami. When you can see the wave, you are
too close to escape it.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
• Sooner or later, tsunamis visit every
coastline in the Pacific. Warnings apply to
you if you live in any Pacific coastal area.
• During a tsunami emergency, your local civil
defense, police and other emergency
organizations will try to save your life. Give them
your fullest cooperation.
 Tsunami
Preparedness
•For tsunamis of distant origin, potential danger
areas are those less than 15 meters (50feet)
above sea level and within 1 1/2 kilometers (one
mile) of the coast.

•For tsunamis of local origin, potential danger

areas are those less than 30 meters (100
feet) above sea level and within 1 1/2 kilometers
of the coast
FLOODS PREPAREDNESS
 Floods
Preparedness
Reducing the harmful effects of a flood requires actions
on three fronts:
1. Reducing the vulnerability of the physical
settlements and structures in which people live;
2. Reducing the vulnerability of the economy;
3. Strengthening the social structure of a community
 Floods
Preparedness
Reducing the vulnerability of the physical settlements
identify the high-risk areas.
This is done by relating a natural hazard, such as a flood,
to the terrain and to the probability
that such an event will occur. This activity is known as
risk mapping.
identify communities
that are particularly susceptible to damage or
destruction. This is done by relating risk to human
settlements and their structures.
 Floods
Preparedness
Selection of a vulnerability reduction strategy consisting
of a comprehensive floodplain management program.
This can be accomplished only by:
(1) Preventing an increase in flood damage potential
resulting from new development in floodplains
(2) Reducing the flood damage potential in already
developed floodplains.
 Floods
Preparedness
Preventive Approaches
Preventive floodplain management approaches
usually consist of land use controls, such as
floodplain regulations and subdivision
regulations, which are applied to the 100-year
floodplain.
 Floods
Preparedness
Other preventive approaches include:
• The acquisition of floodplain land, or at least
the development rights to the land, by the
overseeing agency. This could take the form of
land swaps that provide alternatives to
development of the site;
• Establishment of incentives to encourage
future development on safer sites and safer
methods of construction (such as favorable
taxation, loans or subsidies to those qualifying in
terms of building methods or sites);
•
 Floods
Preparedness
• Diversification of agricultural production;
identification and planting of flood-resistant
crops or adjustment of planting season, if
possible, to avoid coinciding with the flood
season; establishment of cash and food
reserves;
• Reforestation, range management and animal
grazing controls to increase absorption and
reduce rapid runoff;
• Construction of raised areas or buildings
specified as refuge areas if evacuation is
impossible.
 Floods
Preparedness
Remedial Approaches
Already discussed in previous lecture (flood mitigation
techniques)
Flood Detection and Warning Systems
Flood detection and warning systems can be effective
in reducing loss of life and property damage. In flash
flood locations the major benefit will be reduction in loss
of life.
In slow-rising flood situations major savings from
reductions in flood damage can be accomplished.
 Floods
Preparedness
Flood detection systems can range from inexpensive
networks of volunteer rainfall and stream stage observers
and simple rule curves to sophisticated networks of
telemeter gauges and computer models.
Methods for warning the public should be well thought
out, documented, and practiced on an annual basis.
 Ways to disseminate warnings include radio,
television, warning sirens and public address systems.
 Floods
Preparedness
Acquisition
Remedial acquisition consists of the acquisition
and relocation of high-risk structures in the
floodplain.
The cost of this alternative is high because full
value must be paid for the structure and the
land. Occasionally some money can be recouped
by selling the structure to someone willing to
move it or salvage materials from it.
Acquisition can be better justified if the land can
be put to some beneficial public use compatible
with the flood hazard
 Floods
Preparedness
Public Awareness Programs
Appropriate public awareness programs should
be implemented for the following purposes:
• to make floodplain occupants and/or owners
aware of identified flood hazards;
• to encourage individuals to take actions such as
floodproofing and developing escape plans,
to mitigate their flood potential;
 Floods
Preparedness
Public Awareness Programs

• To make individuals aware of the existence

and operation of flood warning plans;
• To encourage individuals to keep drainageways
clean and to report potential maintenance
problems.
 Floods
Preparedness
Master Plans
The basic guide, or road map, that provides local
community officials, land owners, and
developers with the information necessary to manage the
floodplain is the master plan.
The master plan documents the floodplain, floodway,
discharges and proposed preventive and remedial actions
to be taken to reduce the flood damage potential.
 Floods
Preparedness
• The master planning process consists of the following
steps:
• Obtain good mapping of the study area.
• Develop hydrology for several frequencies.
• Outline floodplains for the frequencies for which
hydrology was developed, using existing channel and
floodplain conditions.
• Estimate flood damages for the various frequencies
and develop flood damage-frequency curves and average
annual damages.
 Floods
Preparedness
• Conduct a review of all possible flood damage
reduction alternatives, such as dams, channels,
conduits, flood proofing, acquisition, etc., to attempt to
eliminate from consideration those alternatives that are
obviously inappropriate.
• Prepare preliminary designs and cost estimates for the
remaining alternatives and delineate
residual floodplains for the frequencies being used.
• Determine residual flood damages for each alternative.
 Floods
Preparedness
• Complete a benefit-cost analysis for each alternative.
• Review each alternative for other factors such as
political considerations, multiple-use opportunities,
environmental factors, etc.
• Select an alternative or combination of alternatives
acceptable to each affected jurisdiction.
• Publish a master plan report with sufficient
documentation of the above process, a preliminary
design of the selected alternative, cost estimates, and
the existing and proposed100-year floodplains.
Cyclones Preparedness
 Cyclones
Preparedness
The following are the most important measures that are expected
from governments, communities or voluntary agencies to be ready
for the arrival of a cyclone:
1. Developing a disaster preparedness plan to sequence the
activities and responsibilities of each participant
2. Developing an effective forecasting system;
 Cyclones
Preparedness
3. Developing warning and evacuation
procedures for people threatened by floods
4. Training for first aid and trauma care, and
maintaining stocks of necessary medical supplies
areas.
5. establishing an emergency
communication system as well as public service
messages regarding evacuation, health, safety,
and security.
Drought
 Drought
Preparedness
Several preparedness activities will decrease the impact
of droughts on human settlements.
1. Establishment a monitoring system.
The first step in drought preparedness is to establish a
monitoring system to provide warning if a drought is
about to happen. A monitoring system should be
based on simple information that nontechnical observers
can easily acquire and transmit. Such a system is usually
based on indicators.
 Drought indicators
Preparedness
Among The Normal Indicators Of The Onset Of A
Drought Are:
1. An Unusual Dry Period;
2. An Increased Number Of Wind Storms;
3. An Increased Number Of Dust Storms;
4. Diminishing Water Supplies;
5. An Increase In The Death Rate Of Animals;
6. Changes In The Migratory Patterns Of Nomads
(Migrants);
7. Changes In Vegetation, Especially The
Introduction Of Desert Plants Such As Scrub
Brushes;
 Drought
Preparedness
2. Identify and stockpile seeds for alternative
drought-resistant crops
Once a drought begins, some attempts must be
made to stimulate alternative agricultural
activities.
A number of crops can survive mild droughts.
Seeds should be kept on hand so that farmers
will not lose everything in a drought.
 Drought
Preparedness
3. Identify and stockpile feeds for cattle or
other livestock.
1. Once a drought begins it is important
that the needs of cattle and other livestock be
recognized.
1. Losses can be greatly reduced if herds are
penned up and fed in feedlots. This will save
the animals, take pressure off the land, and
let vegetation regenerate.
 Drought
Preparedness
3. Determine human nutritional requirements and
develop an on-site relief distribution plan.
As a drought develops, people must receive relief
supplies as near to their homes as possible. While this
puts a great burden on the relief agency, it will ensure
that people do not leave their homes and migrate to
other areas.
If they leave, the relief period will be prolonged and
there will be fewer people in the area to take action to
reduce the impact of the drought.
 Drought
Preparedness
5. Identify and select appropriate action to fight
desertification.
If desertification is a potential threat, measures should
be taken to identify suitable approaches that could be
employed to prevent the creation of deserts during a
drought period. Plans should be developed to implement
programs to prevent further desertification, and the
necessary equipment and material should be acquired
and strategically placed.
Think…………………