a disaster can be defined as an occurrence, either natural or man-made, which leads to loss of human lives and creates certain

conditions that victims cannot alleviate without assistance

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Module 1
1. Definition and Concept of Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, and Disaster.
2. Disaster Management: Meaning, Concepts, Approaches, Principles, Objectives, and
Scope, essentials of disaster management.
3. Institutional and individual responsibilities during risk reduction, preparedness,
response, and recovery phases.

Disaster Management: A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either natural or

manmade that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victims cannot alleviate
without assistance. (definition by ARC)

potential source of harm or adverse effect on something or someone

WHAT IS A HAZARD? types- natural, technological, human made
characteristics- become disaster when they interact with vulnerable condititons

● A hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse effect on something or someone.

● Hazard is a dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition that may
cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihood
& services, social & economic disruption of environmental damage…
● Could be a potentially damaging phenomenon
● It could be natural or human-induced
● Examples are typhoons, extreme rains, earthquakes, tsunamis, severe flooding, rain
caused landslides, rough seas, etc.
● Types: Hazards can be natural (like earthquakes), technological (chemical spills), or
human-made (urban fires).
● Characteristics: Hazards have the potential to cause disasters when they interact with
vulnerable conditions.

WHAT IS RISK?
● Definition: Risk is the likelihood of a hazard leading to a disaster, considering both
the frequency and the magnitude of the event. Risk is a "measure of the expected
losses due to a hazard event occurring in a given area over a specific time period. Risk
is a function of the probability of a particular hazardous event and the losses each
would cause."
● Risk = Hazard x Vulnerability
 ● Components: Risk involves the probability of a hazard occurring and the expected
loss if it does.
● Scope: The level of risk depends upon the nature of the hazard, vulnerability of the
elements which are affected, and economic value of those elements.

WHAT IS VULNERABILITY?
● Definition: Vulnerability refers to the susceptibility to be harmed; it is a measure of
how a system, community, or individual can anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover
from the impact of a hazard.
● Factors: Includes physical, social, economic, and environmental factors.
● Vulnerability may be defined as "conditions determined by physical, social,
economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of
a community to the impact of hazards.
● The term vulnerability is derived from the Latin word 'vulnere' which means potential
to be harmful or to be wounded to a condition of stress (Sahana 2018).
● In a broader sense, it may also be 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 hazards on account of their nature, construction, and proximity to
hazardous terrains or a disaster-prone area".
● The report of UNISDR, 2009 defines vulnerability as "the conditions determined by
physical, social, economic and environmental factors or processes, which increase the
susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards."
● There are some possible criteria for vulnerable situations due to hazardous events.
These are as follows:
1. Proximity to a possible hazardous event.
2. The population density of that particular area during an extreme event.
3. Less-scientific observation of the hazards.
4. Lack of public awareness and education of the hazards.
5. Unavailability of early warning systems.
6. Good communication, unpreparedness of emergency services during disaster
and aftermath.
● Vulnerability describes the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system
or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. There are many
 aspects of vulnerability, arising from various physical, social, economic, and
environmental factors.
● According to UNESCO/UNDRO (1982) - Vulnerability (V) is the degree of loss to a
given element or set of elements at risk resulting from the occurrence of a hazardous
phenomenon of a given magnitude. It is expressed on a scale from 0 (no damage) to 1
(total loss).
● Vulnerability may be of different forms or sectors, such as:
1. Physical Vulnerability: Wooden homes which are less likely to collapse in an
earthquake, but are more vulnerable to fire.
2. Social Vulnerability: When flooding occurs some citizens, such as children,
elderly and differently able, may be unable to protect themselves or evacuate
if necessary.
● Further, the primary two groups are divided into subgroups,
1. human vulnerability,
2. agricultural vulnerability,
3. infrastructural vulnerability. and
4. environmental vulnerability.

WHAT IS CAPACITY?
● Definition: Capacity can be defined as the combination of all the strengths, attributes
and resources available within an organisation, community or society to manage and
reduce disaster risks and strengthen resilience.
● Components: Capacity may include infrastructure, institutions, human knowledge and
skills, and collective attributes such as social relationships, leadership and
management.
● Coping capacity is the ability of people, organisations and systems, using available
skills and resources, to manage adverse conditions, risk or disasters. The capacity to
cope requires continuing awareness, resources and good management, both in normal
times as well as during disasters or adverse conditions. Coping capacities contribute
to the reduction of disaster risks.

WHAT IS A DISASTER?
 ● “A serious disruption in the functioning of the community or a society causing
widespread material, economic, social or environmental losses which exceed the
ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources."
● Disaster is an undesirable1 occurrence resulting from forces that are largely outside
human control, strikes quickly with little or no warning, which causes or threatens
serious disruption of life and property including death and injury to a large number of
people, and requires therefore, mobilisation of efforts in excess of that which are
normally provided by statutory emergency services.
● Disasters are also caused by some human activities. There are some activities carried
by human beings that are directly responsible for disasters. Bhopal Gas tragedy,
Chernobyl nuclear disaster, wars, release of CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons) and increase
of greenhouse gases, environmental pollution like noise, air, water and soil are some
of the disasters which are caused directly by human actions.

Phases
● Emergency Phase
● Rehabilitation phase
● Reconstruction phase.

Characteristics of disaster
● Predictability
● Controllability
● Speed of onset
● Length of forewarning
● Duration of impact
● Scope and intensity of impact

Disaster Damage vs. Disaster Impact

● Disaster damage occurs during and immediately after the disaster. This is usually
measured in physical units (e.g., square metres of housing, kilometres of roads, etc.),
and describes the total or partial destruction of physical assets, the disruption of basic
services and damages to sources of livelihood in the affected area.

1
Law of nature is change so disaster is undesirable for men but it is normal for nature.
 ● Disaster impact is the total effect, including negative effects (e.g, economic losses)
and positive effects (e.g., economic gains), of a hazardous event or a disaster. The
term includes economic, human and environmental impacts, and may include death,
injuries, disease and other negative effects on human physical, mental and social
well-being.
● A disaster is a result of the combination of hazard, vulnerability and insufficient
capacity to reduce the potential chances of risk.

Hazard vs. Disaster

● Natural hazards are elements of circumstances in the natural environment that have
the potential to cause harm to people or property or both. These may be swift or
permanent aspects of the respective environmental settings like currents in the oceans,
steep slope and unstable structural features.
● As compared to natural hazards, natural disasters are relatively sudden and cause
large scale, widespread death, loss of property and disturbance to social systems and
life over which people have little or no control.
● Thus, any event can be classed as a disaster when the magnitude of destruction and
damage caused by it is very high.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT: MEANING, CONCEPTS, APPROACHES,

PRINCIPLES, AND SCOPE
Disaster management refers to a comprehensive approach to preventing disasters and dealing
with them. It brings in proper management during emergency situations and ensures to
minimise the loss of life and property.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
Disaster Risk Management includes the sum total of all activities, programmes and measures
can be taken up before, during and after a disaster. A typical disaster management continuum
consists of:
● Pre-disaster: Prevention, Mitigation, and Preparedness.
● Post-disaster: Relief, Response, Rehabilitation, Recovery, and Response.
The three key stages or concepts or essentials or the disaster cycle of activities that are taken
up within disaster risk management are:
1. Before a disaster (pre-disaster stage or preparedness)
It includes activities taken to reduce human and property losses caused by a potential
hazard. Risk reduction measures taken under this stage are termed as risk
identification/assessment, prevention (mitigation) and preparedness activities.
1. Risk identification/assessment
a. Hazard analysis and monitoring
b. Vulnerability analysis
c. Determination of risk
2. Mitigation phase or prevention phase
a. Land use planning
b. Land management
c. Non-structural measures
3. Preparedness phase or phase of readiness
a. Early warning
b. Evacuation
c. Emergency planning
2. During a disaster (disaster phase or emergency phase or phase of catastrophe)(0-48
hours after the disaster)
Initiatives taken to ensure that the needs and provisions of victims are met and
suffering is minimised. Activities taken under this stage are called emergency
response activities.
3. After a disaster (post-disaster stage or rehabilitation stage or recovery stage)(after 48+
hours)
Initiatives taken in response to a disaster with a purpose to achieve early recovery and
rehabilitation of affected communities, immediately after a disaster strikes. These are
called response and recovery activities.
 a. Rehabilitation
b. Reconstruction
c. Rescue services

DISASTER CYCLE

PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Disaster management is the responsibility of all spheres of government. Disaster management
should use resources that exist for a day-to-day purpose. Organisations should function as an
extension of their core business. Individuals are responsible for their own safety. Disaster
management planning should focus on large-scale events.

APPROACHES TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Prevention or mitigation
2. Preparedness and planning
3. Response
4. Recovery
OBJECTIVES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Prevent or minimize loss of life and injuries
2. Reduce property damage and economic losses
3. Provide immediate relief and support to affected populations
4. Restore essential services and infrastructure as quickly as possible
5. Enhance community resilience and preparedness for future disasters

SCOPE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
2. Preparedness planning and early warning systems
3. Emergency response coordination and implementation
4. Evacuation, search, and rescue operations
5. Immediate relief and medical support
6. Resource management and logistics
7. Recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation efforts
8. Policy development and community resilience building

INSTITUTIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES DURING RISK

REDUCTION, PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PHASES
Institutions (like governments and organizations) focus on creating plans, systems, and
resources to protect communities before, during, and after disasters. Individuals are
responsible for understanding risks, preparing themselves and their families, following
official guidance during emergencies, and participating in recovery efforts.
1. Risk Reduction:
Institutional:
• Conduct risk assessments
• Develop and enforce building codes and land-use regulations
• Implement structural mitigation measures
• Provide public education on risk reduction
Individual:
• Understand local risks and vulnerabilities
• Retrofit homes for hazard resistance
• Participate in community risk reduction initiatives
• Maintain insurance coverage
2. Preparedness:
Institutional:
• Develop emergency response plans
• Establish early warning systems
• Conduct drills and exercises
• Stockpile essential supplies and equipment
Individual:
• Create family emergency plans
• Prepare emergency kits
• Stay informed about local hazards and warning systems
• Participate in community preparedness activities
3. Response:
Institutional:
• Activate emergency operations centers
• Coordinate search and rescue efforts
• Provide emergency medical services
• Manage evacuation and sheltering operations
Individual:
• Follow evacuation orders
• Assist neighbors and vulnerable community members
• Report damages and emergencies to authorities
• Follow official instructions and safety guidelines
4. Recovery:
Institutional:
• Assess damages and needs
• Coordinate reconstruction efforts
• Provide financial and logistical support
• Implement lessons learned for future preparedness
Individual:
• Document losses for insurance claims
• Participate in community clean-up efforts
• Engage in rebuilding and retrofit activities
• Support local businesses and economic recovery