CONCEPT OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT

BY:MOLVAREEN LANGSTIEHASSISTANT PROFESSOR,DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE, MATI.

LOOK AT THESE PICTURES OF RECENT DISASTERS IN INDIA.

19TH SEPTEMBER 2011: 50 DEAD IN EARTHQUAKE IN SIKKIM AND NORTH EAST

3

WHERE DO WE

STAND?

LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND:

IS THIS SAFE?

WE ARE FACING IMPENDING DISASTERS.....

WE ARE THEREFORE UNDER RISK OF DISASTERS

WHAT IS DISASTER RISK?

DISASTER RISK = HAZARD X VULNERABILITY – CAPACITY

LET US NOW DEFINE

DISASTERS:

A serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources (Definition by the UN)

: “A Catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area arising from natural or man made causes, or by accidents or negligence which result 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 magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.” (DM Act, 2005)

LET US THINK OF SOME EXAMPLES OF DISASTERS...

CAN WE CALL AN EARTHQUAKE AS A DISASTER?

WHAT IF A BIG EARTHQUAKE OCCURS IN AN ISOLATED AREA?

A DISASTER IS A PRODUCT OF A HAZARD

WHAT IS A HAZARD ?

A dangerous condition or event or occurrence that threatens or have the potential to cause disruption / damage / injury to life , infrastructure and services, property and environment.

Example: Earthquake, landslide, cyclone, floods, volcanic eruptions, war etc.

Magnitude of the phenomenon, probability of occurrence, the extent and severity of impact may vary.

WHAT IS

VULNERABILITY ?

The extent to which a community can be affected by the impact of a certain hazard. Conditions like Ignorance, poverty, lack of information, inadequacy etc adds to the severity of a Disaster. (Physical & Socio-Economic Vulnerability) vulnerable conditions can turn a situation into a risk or possibility of Disaster in any area.

WHAT IS MEANT BY CAPACITY ?

THOSE RESOURCES AND STRENGTHS WHICH EXISTS IN HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES ENABLING THEM TO COPE WITH, WITHSTAND, PREPARE FOR, MITIGATE OR QUICKLY RECOVER FROM A DISASTER

THOSE RESOURCES AND STRENGTHS WHICH EXISTS IN HOUSEHOLDS AND COMMUNITIES ENABLING THEM TO COPE WITH, WITHSTAND , PREPARE FOR, MITIGATE OR QUICKLY RECOVER FROM A DISASTER

A HAZARD TURNS INTO A DISASTER

WHEN PEOPLE IN THE DANGER ZONES ARE

VULNERABLE AND

DO NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THE IMPACT OF

THE HAZARD

DISASTERS ARE NOT A NEW PHENOMENA IN INDIA

January 2012

Tornado in State of Orissa, India1 died with 6 person injured (lighting struck during the tornado)

February 2012February 10: Chandigarh/Dehradun Earthquake, Minor Damage ReportedSome houses developed cracks in Barkot area, place near to epicenter. Barkot is a town and a nagar panchayat in Uttarkashi District in the state of Uttarakhand, India

March 2012

 March 30: “High Temperature” Warning Issued In Gujarat, India

The Meteorological Department of India has issued a “high temperature” warning in Gujarat following the severe heat waveMarch 28: Moderate Quake Shakes Parts Of Nepal And India, Several Houses Damaged

Several houses reported to be damaged in Taplejung. Earlier M 6.8 very strong earthquake in Nepal/Sikkim area damaged 100+ houses in Taplejung of Nepal. The houses which already developed cracks/damage during Nepal/Sikkim earthquake are reported to damaged by this quake

March 22: Sandstorm in Rajasthan and Maharastra, IndiaNorth-easterly wind brought dust/sand from Rajasthan to Mumbai and Dahanu, IndiaMarch 20: Strong storm hits KashmirOne person died due to Cyclonic storm in Kashmir, 17 injured and about 1000 structures damagedMarch 12: Two Moderate Quakes Rocked Kashmir Valley, No Casualties

The earthquake tremor was felt as far as Srinagar and rest of Kashmir valley and some parts of Pakistan as wellMarch 5: Moderate Shallow Earthquake Strikes Rohtak, Haryana, IndiaM 5.2 Moderate Earthquake Strikes Haryana - Delhi Region, India

April 2012

April 25: Cyclone in Tinsukia, Assam, IndiaThree killed after cyclone and heavy hailstorms hit Tinsukia district of Assam, India.April 20: Huge fire in Tirumala forest, India500 acres of forest destroyed in fire in Tirumala.Apeil 14: Thunderstorm/lightning in Kolkata, India8 killed after lightning stuck in an open agricultural field.April 13: Thunder/Hailstorms in India14 people killed and about 200 injured in IndiaApril 10: Cyclonic storms in Tripura, IndiaSeven killed and at least 30 people  injured in Tripura, IndiaApril 7: Heavy hailstorms reported in several parts of Hyderabad, India

Heavy hailstorms reported in several parts of Hyderabad, India

May 2012

May 31: Landslide In Sikkim, India- 4,000 Tourists Affected

About 4,000 tourists affected by landslide near Gangtok and Tsongmo Lake.May 30: Assam Major Earthquake Prediction Go Viral : But No Earthquake

The news was viral when an astrologers claimed possibilities of three major earthquakes through a local television channel.May 20: Heat wave in Odisha, IndiaFour people reported to be killed in in a heat wave in OdishaMay 2: Thunderstorm in Balwatoli, Kishanganj, IndiaSix killed and more than 50 injured after thunderstorms hit Balwatoli in Bihar’s Kishanganjdistrict, India

June 2012

June 30: Strong earthquake shakes Assam, Manipur and Nagaland

Tremors were felt in most parts of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur, besides in Bangladesh and Myanmar.June 28: Flash floods in Manipur, IndiaAt least 40 houses reported to be flooded in Jiribam in Imphal district.June 27: Landslide and flooding in Guwahati, IndiaOne killed and three other injured in a landslide in Santipur hillside of Guwahati, India.June 21: Flooding in Patna, IndiaIndia Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna issued floods forecast for river catchments.

June 16: Flooding in Assam, IndiaLatest flooding in Assam affects Barpeta, Darrang and Dhubri district.June 9: Landslide in Jammu and Kashmir, IndiaAround 400 passengers rescued from the Khardung La Pass in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir.June 5: Heavy storms in Tripura, IndiaOne killed and more than 200 houses collapsed in storms in Tripura districts.June 5: Flooding in Assam, IndiaOver 30 villages in Udalguri district affected by recent flooding.June 4: Tornado In Tripura, India-50 Houses Damaged

Tornado hit Satinitilla Chowmuhani village along western border of Tripura.June 2: Wild fires in Uttarakhand, IndiaMore than 70 forest fires incident reported across Uttarakhand state of India.

July 2012

July 21: Flooding in Hyderabad, IndiaNine people reported to be killed in recent Hyderabad floods.July 19: Flooding in Malda, IndiaThree people reported to be killed in Malda flood.July 17: Flooding in North Bengal, IndiaMore than 2,000 people displaced after flash floods hit North Bengal of India. One person is reported to be missing in Magurmari.July 5: Landslides in Chamoli, IndiaOne killed and 15 other injured in a landslide in Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway in Chamoli district of India.July 4: Lightning in Mumbai, IndiaLightning struck Mumbai-bound Boeing 737 carrying 99 passengers.

August 2012August 20: Landslides in Himachal Pradesh, IndiaHundreds of tourists remained stranded in the tribal Kaza area as landslides blocked the roads.August 15: Flash floods in Rajasthan, IndiaThree killed by recent flash floods in Pratapgarh and Ajmer districts in Rajasthan.August 13: Two killed in flash floods in Kumaon region of UttarakhandDeath toll from Uttarkashi is now 33. MI-17 helicopters airlifted nearly 44 pilgrims from Harsil area.August 05: Uttarkashi, India hit by worst natural tragedy in 34 yearsRecent Uttarkashi flood has been declared as the worst natural tragedy to hit the area in 34 years .August 04: Flash floods in Kullu, IndiaHundreds of families living close to river between Palchan and Kullu evacuated.

WHERE DO WE

STAND ?

Seismic Disturbances uptoMagnitude 4.9

Zone II

Moderate Risk Quakes uptoMagnitude 6.9

Zone III

High Risk Quakes uptoMagnitude 7.9

Zone IV

Very High Risk Quakes of Magnitude 8 and greater

Zone V

MagnitudeZone

Source: IS 1893 (Part 1) : 2002 (BIS)

Records of Central Seismological Observatory showed increasing seismic activity in the region.

A total 34 quakes of light and moderate intensity were felt in the region in 2009. The area witnessed 26 earthquakes each in 2008 and 2007, while it was 23 in 2006, the data showed.

Two of the world’s most severe earthquake of June 1897 and August 1950 had affected the region severely.

Urban Seismic risk is rapidly increasing with population growth and the potential encroachment due to urban development into areas susceptible to earthquake.

Earthquakes are not predictable, can occur any time, and are of short duration

Disasters due to Earthquake are Natural Disasters

We cannot prevent Earthquakes, we can be prepared and try to mitigate the effects of an earthquake

EARTHQUAKE DISASTER Lives lost or people are injured Damage to property & infrastructure like

roads and bridges, Power Stations etc There may not be any electricity Water supply will be disrupted Mobile or telecommunication towers may

collapse Road network may be affected

RAJ BHAVAN DESTROYED IN 1897 EARTHQUAKE

THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IS TO MINIMISE THE LOSS OF LIFE, LIVELIHOOD AND SUFFERING THAT ENTAILS.

Disaster Risk Reduction is a conceptual framework of elements to

minimize disaster risks throughout a society within the context of sustainable

development. Prevention +Mitigation+ Preparedness

It includes: (i) risk awareness and assessment, (ii) knowledge development, (iii) institutional frameworks, (iv)application of land-use protection,

science and technology, partnerships, financial,

(v) early warning systems

DISASTER MANAGEMEN

T

INDIVIDUAL DISASTER RESPONSE

Secure your safety & of others

RESPONSE/ RELIEFImmediate

intervention- search& Rescue, water, shelter

etc.

REHABILITATIONRestoration of Basic

Functions

RECONSTRUCTIONFull resumption of

servicesDEVELOPMENT

MITIGATION (RISK ASSESSMENT/ PREVENTION)

PREPAREDNESS

Contingency Plans, Warning

&v Evacuations.

DISASTER STRIKES

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

CRISIS

MANAGEMENT

RISK

MANAGEMENT

SOME DM INTERVENTIONS ARE

Prevention Mitigation PreparednessActivities Measures The ability designed to taken in to predict,provide advance to respond topermanent reduce impact and copeprotection of disasters on with the from disasters society, effect of a

individuals and disaster. environment.

Typically BEFORE a disaster event.

Mitigation and Preparedness are different!

Relief/Response Activities designed to provide assistance to meet basic preservation and subsistence

needs of affected people.

Typically DURING a disaster event

Recovery Rehabilitation + Reconstruction Decisions and actions taken with a view to restoring or improving the pre-disaster living conditions of the stricken community, while encouraging and facilitating necessary adjustments to reduce disaster risk.

Development Activities designed to inform development policies, strategies, programme and practices of disaster risks. This links up to preparedness and mitigation.

Typically AFTER a disaster event

OW/02 49

Disaster Management Approaches

Disaster Risk ManagementA systematic process of using

administrative decisions, organizations, operational capacities to implement

policies, strategies, coping capacities to lessen impacts of hazards.

It comprises of prevention + mitigation + preparedness

Emergency/Crisis Management

the organization and management of

resources and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects

of emergencies, particularly Preparedness +

Response +Rehabilitation.

PERSONAL & COMMUNITY AWARENESS

During time of Disaster, there will be delay before help from outside arrives. A first help is essential.A prepared Community is one which has:An ALERT, INFORMED and actively AWARE population A Preparedness & Response PlanAn active and involved local GovernmentAgreed, coordinated arrangements for Response, Preparedness and Mitigation Measures.