Q.3. What is Disaster Management? Explain appropriate measures to manage floods, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides.
Ans. Introduction: Disaster Management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitaria aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.
Objectives of Disaster Management:
- Proactive plans to mitigate various business risks
-Minimizing loss via more effective preparedness and response
-Creating more effective and durable recovery
Phases of Disaster Management:
(i) Prevention: Prevention was recently added to the phases of emergency management. It focuses on preventing the human hazard, primarily from potential natural disasters or terrorist attacks. Preventive measures are taken, designed to provide permanent protection from disasters. In electrical risks, a periodical power quality audit and exhaustive
(ii) Mitigation: In preventive maintenance process with the help of electrical consultants can avert fire risks due to electrical reasons, which is the major cause of fires. In earthquake prone areas, these preventive measures might include structural changes such as the installation of an earthquake valve to instantly shut off the natural gas supply, seismic retrofits of property, and the securing of items inside a building.
(iii) Preparedness: Preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use when a disaster. This equipment and these procedures can be used to reduce vulnerability to disaster, to mitigate the impacts of a disaster or to respond more efficiently in an emergency.
(iv) Response: The response phase of an emergency may commence with Search and Rescue but in all cases the focus will quickly turn to fulfilling the basic humanitarian needs of the affected population.
-Disaster response refers to actions taken during and immediately after a disaster to ensure that its effects are minimized, and that people affected are given immediate relief and support
-providing food, water, shelter, and medical aid, removing people from danger, among other outreach efforts.
(v) Recovery: The recovery phase starts after the immediate threat to human life has subsided. The immediate goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to normalcy as quickly as possible. During reconstruction it is recommended to consider the location or construction material of the property.
Disaster Management Suggestions:
1. Earthquake: An earthquake is a sudden violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.
(a) Before:
- Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at home.
-Learn first aid.
-Learn how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.
(b) During:
-If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building. stand in a doorway, or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Stay away from windows and outside doors.
-If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you).
-Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don't mix
(c) After:
-Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.
-Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves.
-Check for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and report it to the authorities (use someone else's phone).
-Turn on the radio. Don't use the phone unless it's an emergency.
2. Floods: Flood is an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally dry land.
(a) Before:
-Buy Adequate Flood Insurance
-Construct Barriers
-Take steps to know when a flood is coming
(b) During:
-Monitor the News
-Move to Higher Ground
-Stay away from floodwaters
(c) After:
-Remove Wet Contents immediately
-Dehumidify to reduce odour
3. Landslides: A landslide is a collapse of a mass of earth or rock from a mountain or cliff.
(a) Before:
-Prepare for landslides by following proper land-use procedures avoid building near steep slopes, close to mountain edges, near drainage ways or along natural erosion valleys.
-Become familiar with the land around you. Learn whether debris flows have occurred in your area by contacting local officials. Slopes where debris flows have occurred in the past are likely to experience them in the future.
-Get a ground assessment of your property.
(b) During:
-Listen to local news stations on a battery-powered radio for warnings of heavy rainfall.
-Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together
-Move away from the path of a landslide or debris flow as quickly as possible The danger from a mudflow increases near stream channels and with prolonged heavy rains Mudflows can move faster than you can walk or run
-Look upstream before crossing a bridge and do not cross the bridge if a mudflow is approaching
(c) After:
-Go to a designated public shelter if you have been told to evacuate or you feel it is unsafe to remain in your home.
-Stay away from the slide area. There may be danger of additional slides
-Listen to local radio or television stations for the latest emergency information.
4. Cyclones: A cyclone is a system of winds rotating inwards to an area of low barometric pressure, with an anticlockwise or clockwise circulation.
(a) Before:
-Ask your local council if your home is built to cyclone standards.
-Make sure your home covers you from storm surge, flooding and cyclone damage, including clean-up and debris removal.
-Check your roof and repair any loose tiles, eaves or roof screws.
(b) During:
-Keep your emergency kit close at hand.
-Bring your family into the strongest part of the house.
-Keep listening to the radio for cyclone updates.
(c) After:
-Listen to your radio and remain indoors until an official all clear has been given by the authorities.
-If you are told to return to your home, do so using the recommended routes only.
-Do not go sightseeing.
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