Do not panic

Stay mentally composed Stay Calm and Alert

Think before acting

Listen to radio, TV, or official announcements

Follow evacuation or shelter-in-place orders Follow Official Instructions

Do not spread rumors

First aid box

Drinking water

Dry food

Batteries Keep a ready-to-use emergency kit: Emergency Kit

Essential medicines

ID documents

Torch

Avoid injury

Stay away from unsafe areas Protect Yourself General Measures for All Emergencies

Use protective gear if advised (e.g., mask,

boots, gloves)

Assist children, elderly, disabled

Offer first aid if trained Help Others

Encourage community cooperation

Use safe water and food

Wash hands regularly Maintain Hygiene

Dispose of waste properly

Fallen wires
disaster response
Unstable buildings
Stay away from: Avoid Hazards
disaster preparedness
Floodwaters
disaster mitigation
Chemical spills
3 fundamental aspects
Use mobile responsibly

Inform family about your safety Communication

Avoid non-essential calls during network

congestion

Know flood-prone zones

Keep emergency kit ready

Store food and drinking water Before Floods: disaster cycle

Move valuables to higher ground

Stay updated via radio/TV First action after disaster

Move to higher ground Aim: locate and rescue survivors

Avoid walking or driving through water Removing trapped victims

Disconnect electricity During Floods: 1. Floods Search and Rescue Activities include: Evacuating affected people

Use clean drinking water Providing first aid

Follow evacuation orders Trained personnel

Avoid stagnant water Requires: Equipment

Disinfect wells Community involvement

Definition: Sorting of patients by urgency of

Boil drinking water After Floods:
need
Look out for leptospirosis, diarrhoea
Purpose: Prioritize treatment with limited
resources
Resume electric connections only after
checking safety
Immediate (Red) – life-threatening, urgent
Board up windows and doors Triage Delayed (Yellow) – serious but not life-
threatening
Secure loose outdoor items Categories:
Before the Storm:
Minimal (Green) – minor injuries
Stock emergency food and water
Expectant (Black) – unlikely to survive
Charge phones, power banks
Dynamic process (not one-time)
Stay indoors
Provided at site or temporary facility
Stay away from windows and glass
During the Storm: 2. Storms, Hurricanes, Tornadoes Disaster Impact and Response
Stabilization of patient
Shelter in a central room or basement
Dressing wounds
Use battery-powered radio for updates Includes:
Personal Protection in Emergencies Field Care Administering IV fluids
Beware of live wires and gas leaks
Splinting fractures
Avoid floodwaters
After the Storm: Critical in resource-limited settings
Provide first aid to injured
Can reduce morbidity and mortality
Report to authorities about damages
Evacuation of victims needing higher care
Identify safe spots: under sturdy tables, against
walls
Ambulances
Practice drop, cover, hold on Before Earthquake:
Medical Transport Use of: Mobile medical units
Fix shelves and heavy items
Helicopters (inaccessible terrain)
Keep emergency kit handy
Requires coordination with referral hospitals
Stay indoors if already inside Management of serious cases

Drop, cover, hold under furniture Disaster preparedness plans

Stay away from windows and hanging objects During Earthquake: 3. Earthquakes Hospitals should have: Surge capacity

Do not use elevators Hospital Care

Triage & emergency protocols

If outside: move to open space Surgery

Be cautious of aftershocks ICU

Essential services:
Check for injuries and provide first aid Blood bank

Avoid damaged buildings After Earthquake: Infection control

Inspect utilities (gas leaks, electricity)

Help neighbors and stay tuned to official Restore community to pre-disaster level or
communication better
Objective
Know nearby chemical industries Ensure physical, mental, social, and economic
well-being
Learn community sirens and warning signals Before Emergency:
Safe drinking water: Minimum: 15 liters/person/day
Have emergency mask and wet cloths ready
Sources: Borewells, tankers, hand pumps
Close doors and windows
Clean containers
Cover nose and mouth with wet cloth Storage & Distribution:
Avoid cross-contamination
Stay indoors or in sealed rooms During Emergency: A. Water Supply
4. Toxic Fumes (e.g., Industrial Gas Leaks) Chlorination
Switch off ventilation Disinfection:
Residual chlorine: 0.5 mg/L
Evacuate if advised
Surveillance of water quality
Avoid contaminated zones
Public education on water handling
Rehabilitation
Remove and dispose exposed clothing
Supply of balanced diet
Bathe with soap and water After Emergency:
Monitor food quality and expiry
Report symptoms (e.g., eye irritation,
breathlessness) Avoid spoiled or contaminated food

Seek medical care B. Food Safety Proper storage to prevent spoilage

Know locations of nuclear plants nearby Health education on safe cooking

Identify shelter locations Inspect community kitchens

Beforehand:
Stock potassium iodide tablets (if advised) Maintain cold chain for perishables

Have disaster communication plans Temporary or permanent

Sanitary latrines:
Take shelter indoors At least 1 per 50 people
Components of Rehabilitation
Close windows, switch off fans/ACs Avoid open defecation

Use radios for official alerts During Emergency: Ensure soap availability
5. Nuclear Emergency
Take potassium iodide if recommended Promote handwashing before meals & after
C. Basic Sanitation and Personal Hygiene
defecation
Avoid unnecessary exposure
Solid waste: burning, burial
Decontaminate: change clothes, wash Waste disposal:
thoroughly Liquid waste: soak pits

Do not consume exposed food or water Clean clothes

Avoid returning until declared safe After Emergency: Personal hygiene: Safe menstrual hygiene

Monitor for radiation-related symptoms Nail and skin care

Long-term health surveillance Prevent outbreaks of vector-borne diseases

Eliminate breeding sites

Apex body for policy and planning
Larvicides in stagnant water
National Disaster Management Authority
Headed by Prime Minister
(NDMA) Measures: Fogging during outbreaks
Coordinates with ministries and state D. Vector Control
Use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs)
governments

Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS)

Headed by Chief Minister Institutional Framework in India
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
Community participation in vector control
Prepares state-level disaster plans

Headed by District Collector / Magistrate

Disaster Management  Surveillance for diseases: malaria, dengue,
filariasis
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
Coordinates disaster response at district level

Legal foundation for disaster management in High-calorie

India
Food: Easy to cook
Types of disasters
Non-perishable
Roles and responsibilities Defines:
Disaster Management Act, 2005 Season-appropriate
Powers of authorities 1. Essential Supplies Clothing:
Clean and adequate
Makes disaster planning mandatory at all levels
Tents, temporary housing
Provides for funds for disaster response and Shelter:
mitigation Policy Development Protection from weather

Formulated in 2009 Chlorination

Safe drinking water:
Risk reduction Portable water units

Community-based preparedness Latrines

Focuses on: National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM)
Capacity building 2. Water and Sanitation Sanitation facilities: Waste disposal systems

Technology usage Handwashing stations

Promotes integrated approach involving all Prevent waterborne diseases

stakeholders
Medical relief teams
Inclusion of disaster management in public
health policy
Treatment of injuries
Health Ministry
Immunization
3. Health Care
NDMA Coordination between: Health Sector Integration
Control of communicable diseases
NGOs
Relief Phase
Maternal and child health care
Plans for epidemic control, vaccination, and
nutrition in disaster zones Mental health support

Early detection of outbreaks

Identify hazards and vulnerabilities Reporting systems

Community risk mapping Risk Assessment 4. Surveillance and Disease Control Public health surveillance

Maintain hazard history database Vector control

Health personnel Environmental hygiene

Equipment Children
Inventory of:
Vehicles Targeted feeding for: Pregnant and lactating women
Resource Mapping
Hospitals 5. Nutrition Elderly and sick

Know supply chain logistics Vitamin & micronutrient supplementation

Develop and update disaster management plans Distribution network

Mock drills and simulations Emergency Planning Disaster Preparedness Storage and transport
6. Logistics and Coordination
Define roles and responsibilities of responders Government

Health workers Coordination between: NGOs

Train:
Community volunteers International agencies
Training and Capacity Building
First aid

Search & rescue Focus areas: Detect early epidemics

Evacuation protocols Estimate disease burden

Purpose of Surveillance
Set up emergency communication channels Monitor trends and interventions

Wireless systems Communication System Guide relief planning and resource allocation

Satellite phones Use of: Communicable diseases

Public announcements Daily reporting of: Deaths

Unusual health events

Methods of Surveillance
Develop hospital disaster plans Use of standard formats

Ensure structural safety of buildings Rapid response teams to investigate clusters

Medicines Diarrhoeal diseases

IV fluids Maintain emergency stock of: Hospital Preparedness ARI (Acute Respiratory Infections)

Blood Measles

Identify referral hospitals Malaria

Allocate disaster beds Meningitis

Epidemiological Surveillance and Priority Diseases to Monitor
Conduct regular drills Disease Control Cholera

Triage Hepatitis

Emergency response Training in: Training of Health Personnel Dengue

Basic and advanced life support Disaster Mitigation in Health Sector Leptospirosis

Sensitize about epidemiological surveillance Scrub typhus

Health workers to educate public Mobile labs or referral labs

Build awareness on first aid, hygiene, sanitation Community Involvement Early confirmation of outbreaks
Laboratory Support
Promote community resilience Maintain cold chain for samples

Safe water Adequate supply of reagents and test kits

Sanitation services Ensure availability of: Isolation & treatment of cases

Waste disposal systems Strengthening Public Health System Immunization campaigns

Establish early warning systems Health education

Disease Control Measures
Environmental sanitation

Larviciding

Vector control: Fogging

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs)

High-risk population prioritization

Tetanus toxoid (TT)

Key vaccines: Measles vaccine (especially in children)

Cholera vaccine (if outbreak risk exists)

Vaccination
Large displaced population
Mass immunization if:
Risk of outbreaks

Maintain cold chain

Conduct catch-up immunization for missed

doses

Monitor for malnutrition

Children <5 years

Prioritize: Pregnant & lactating women

Elderly and chronically ill

Energy-dense food
Nutrition
Provide: Protein supplements

Micronutrients (especially Vitamin A, Iron,

Iodine)

Community kitchens / food camps

Ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF)