Definition of Disaster, Practical application of disaster definition, Threats of disaster

1. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
DISASTER
Lecture 2
Engr. M Zeeshan Ahad
Risk and Disaster management
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 1

2. DEFINITION OF DISASTER
THERE ARE MANY
DIFFERENT
DEFINITIONS OF
DISASTER. MOST
SUCH DEFINITIONS
TEND TO REFLECT
THE FOLLOWING
CHARACTERISTICS:
Disruption to normal patterns of life. Such disruption is usually severe and
may also be sudden, unexpected, and widespread.
Human effects such as loss of life, injury, hardship, and adverse effect on
health.
Effects on social structure such as destruction of or damage to government
systems, buildings, communications, and essential services.
Community needs such as shelter, food, clothing, medical assistance, and
social care
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 2

3. DEFINITION OF DISASTER
Two dictionary definitions are:
Concise Oxford Dictionary
• Sudden or great misfortune, calamity.
Webster’s Dictionary
• A sudden calamitous event producing great material damage,
loss, and distress.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 3

4. DEFINITION OF DISASTER
ASIAN
DEVELOPMENT
BANK DEFINES:
An event, natural or man-made,
sudden or progressive, which
impacts with such severity that the
affected community has to respond
by taking exceptional measures.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 4

5. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF DISASTER
DEFINITION
IN RELATION TO
THE DEFINITION
OF DISASTER,
Disaster management is essentially a dynamic process.
It encompasses the classical management functions of planning, organizing, staffing,
leading, and controlling.
INVOLVES MANY
ORGANIZATIONS
WHICH MUST
WORK TOGETHER
To prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of disaster.
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT IS
DEFINED AS:
“An applied science which seeks, by the systematic observation and analysis of
disasters, to improve measures relating to prevention, mitigation, preparedness,
emergency response and recovery”. (ADB)
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 5

6. THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
• A standard cycle of disaster events will be used throughout the
Course. It is illustrated below:
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 6

7. THE DISASTER THREAT
THE
PURPOSE OF
THIS
LECTURE IS
TO OUTLINE
THE
FOLLOWING:
General effects of disaster,
Characteristics of various types of disaster,
General countermeasures, and
Special problem areas for disaster management
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 7

8. THE DISASTER THREAT
It is important for disaster managers to analyze the effects of
disasters in relation to their own local circumstances.
Through such analysis, it is possible to define, in advance, many of
the requirements which apply to the disaster management cycle.
This is especially valuable for anticipating action needed for
response and recovery.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 8

9. THE DISASTER THREAT
Types of Disaster
The following types of
disaster are covered in
this lecture;
• Earthquake,
• Volcanic eruption,
• Tsunami,
• Tropical cyclone (typhoon, hurricane),
• Flood,
• Landslide,
• Bushfire (or wildfire),
• Drought,
• Epidemic,
• Major accident, and
• Civil unrest.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 9

10. THE DISASTER THREAT
THE
GENERAL
EFFECTS
OF
DISASTER
Loss of life,
Injury,
Damage to and destruction of property,
Damage to and destruction of subsistence and cash crops,
Disruption of production,
Disruption of lifestyle,
Loss of livelihood,
Disruption to essential services,
Damage to national infrastructure and disruption to governmental systems,
National economic loss, and
Sociological and psychological after effects.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 10

11. THE DISASTER THREAT
Outlines of
Individual
Disasters
Earthquake
Characteristics
Usually no warning. However, following a major earthquake, secondary shocks may warn of a
further earthquake.
Speed of onset usually sudden.
Earthquake-prone areas are generally well identified and well-known.
Major effects arise mainly from land movement, fracture, or slippage; specifically, they include
damage (usually very severe) to structures and systems and considerable casualties due to lack of
warning.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 11

12. EARTHQUAKE
GENERAL
COUNTER
MEASURES
Developing possible warning indicators,
Land-use regulations,
Building regulations,
Relocating communities, and
Public awareness and education programs.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 12

13. EARTHQUAKE
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Severe and extensive damage, creating the need for urgent
countermeasures, especially search and rescue, and medical assistance;
Difficulty of access and movement;
Widespread loss of or damage to infrastructure, essential services, and
life-support systems;
Recovery requirements (e.g., restoration and rebuilding) may be very
extensive and costly; and
Rarity of occurrence in some areas may cause problems for economies of
countermeasures and public awareness.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 13

14. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
CHARACTERISTICS Volcanoes which are likely to constitute a disaster threat are internationally well documented and, in many
cases, monitored for possible activity. Usually, therefore, major eruptions can be predicted.
Volcanic blast can destroy structures and environmental surrounds, and also cause fires, possibly including forest
fires.
Land surface cracking, resulting from volcanic explosion, may affect buildings and other structures.
Lava flow can bury buildings and crops. It may also cause fires and render land unusable.
Ash, in its airborne form, can affect aircraft by ingestion into engines.
Ground deposit of ash may destroy crops and also affect land use and water supplies.
Ash may also cause respiratory problems.
Mud flows may arise from associated heavy rain.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 14

15. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES Land-use regulations,
Lava control systems,
Developing a monitoring and warning system,
Evacuation plans and arrangements,
Relocating the population, and
Public awareness and education programs.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 15

16. VOLCANIC ERUPTION
SPECIAL
PROBLEMS
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Access during eruption.
Timely and accurate evacuation decision(s).
Public apathy, especially if there is a history of false alarms or small eruptions.
Thus, it may be difficult to maintain public awareness and also to implement
evacuation plans.
Control of incoming sightseers when evacuation programs are being
implemented.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 16

17. TSUNAMI (SEISMIC SEA WAVE)
CHARACTERISTICS The velocity of the wave depends on the depth of water where the seismic disturbance occurs.
Initial wave velocity may be as high as 900 kilometer per hour (kph) (560 miles per hour [mph]),
slowing to approximately 50 kph (31 mph) as the wave strikes land.
Warning time depends on the distance from the point of wave origin.
Speed of onset varies
Impact on a shoreline can be preceded by a marked recession of normal water level prior to the
arrival of a wave. This can result in a massive outgoing tide, followed by the incoming tsunami
wave. People may be trapped when they investigate the phenomenon of the outgoing tide and
then be struck by the incoming wave.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 17

18. TSUNAMI (SEISMIC SEA WAVE)
CHARACTERISTICS
The tsunami wave can be very destructive; wave
heights of 30 meters have been known.
Impact can cause flooding; saltwater
contamination of crops, soil, and water
supplies; and destruction of or damage to
buildings, structures, and shoreline vegetation.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 18

19. TSUNAMI (SEISMIC SEA WAVE)
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES Optimum arrangements for receipt and dissemination of
warning;
Evacuating threatened communities from sea level/low-
level areas to high ground, if sufficient warning is available;
Land-use regulations (but these are likely to be difficult to
implement if the tsunami risk is perceived as rare); and
Public awareness and education programs.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 19

20. TSUNAMI (SEISMIC SEA WAVE)
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Timely dissemination of warning because of the possible short period
between receipt of warning and the arrival of the tsunami wave;
Effective evacuation time-scale;
Search and rescue; and
Recovery problem may be extensive and costly because of severe
destruction and damage.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 20

21. FLOOD
CHARACTERISTICS Long, short, or no warning, depending on the type of flood (e.g., flooding
within parts of a major river system may develop over a number of days or
even weeks, whereas flashfloods may give no usable warning);
Speed of onset may be gradual or sudden;
There may be seasonal patterns to flooding; and
Major effects arise mainly from inundation and erosion; specifically, they may
include isolation of communities or areas, and involve the need for large-scale
evacuation.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 21

22. FLOOD
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES
Flood control (e.g., by walls, gates, dams, dikes, and levees);
Land-use regulations;
Building regulations;
Forecasting, monitoring, and warning system(s);
Relocating population;
Planning and arranging evacuation;
Emergency equipment, facilities, and materials such as special flood boats, sandbags, supplies of sand, and
designated volunteers who will implement emergency measures; and
Public awareness and education programs
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 22

23. FLOOD
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Difficulties of access and movement;
Rescue;
Medical and health difficulties (e.g., arising from sanitation problems);
Evacuating;
Loss of relief supplies; and
Large-scale relief may be required until next crop harvest.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 23

24. CLASS
BREAK
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 24

25. LANDSLIDE
CHARACTERISTICS Warning period may vary. Little or no warning may be available if the cause is an earthquake.
However, some general warning may be assumed in the case of landslide arising from continuous
heavy rain. Minor initial landslips may give warning that heavy landslides are to follow.
Natural movement of land surface can be monitored, thus providing long warning of possibility of
landslides.
Speed of onset is mostly rapid.
Damage to structures and systems can be severe (buildings may be buried or villages swept away).
Rivers may be blocked, causing flooding
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 25

26. LANDSLIDE
CHARACTERISTICS
Crops may be affected. Sometimes areas of crop-
producing land may be lost altogether (e.g., in the
major slippage of surface soils from a
mountainside).
When landslides are combined with very heavy
rain and flooding, the movement of debris (e.g.,
remains of buildings, uprooted trees) may cause
high levels of damage and destruction
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 26

27. LANDSLIDE
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES Land-use and building regulations;
Monitoring systems, where applicable;
Evacuating and/or relocating communities. Relocation has proved
successful where crop-growing land areas have been lost; and
Public awareness programs
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 27

28. LANDSLIDE
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Difficulties of access and movement in affected areas;
Search and rescue;
Risk of follow-up landslides may hamper response operations;
Relocation, as distinct from temporary evacuation, may be resisted by indigenous
communities;
Rehabilitation and recovery may be complex and costly; and
In severe cases, it may not be possible and/or cost-effective to rehabilitate the
area for organized human settlement.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 28

29. DROUGHT
CHARACTERISTICS Major areas liable to drought are usually well-known;
Periods of drought can be prolonged;
Area(s) affected may be very large;
Long warning;
Effects on agriculture, livestock, rural industry production, and human habitation may be severe. This
may lead to prolonged food
shortages or famine;
Long-term effects can be in the form of severe economic loss, erosion which affects future habitation and
production, and sometimes abandonment of large tracts of land;
Man-made activities may aggravate the possibility and extent of the drought problem (e.g., overgrazing
of agricultural land, destruction of forests or similar areas); and
The inability and/or unwillingness of the population to move from drought-prone areas may exacerbate
the problem
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 29

30. DROUGHT
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES There are few, if any, quick and easy solutions to the drought
problem; effective countermeasures tend to be mostly long term;
The long-term resolution of drought problems usually rests with
national governments and involves major policy decisions;
Since these decisions involve human settlement, they are often
sensitive and difficult ones;
International cooperation and assistance usually play an important
part in coping with major drought problems;
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 30

31. DROUGHT
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES
Land management and special plans (e.g., for irrigation);
Response to drought-caused emergencies usually includes providing food
and water supply, medical and health assistance (including monitoring of
sanitation and possibility of epidemic), and emergency accommodation
(may be on an organized camp or similar basis); and
Information programs, especially to assist aspects such as land
management.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 31

32. DROUGHT
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Response requirements (e.g., feeding programs) may be
extensive and prolonged, thus involving major
commitment and expenditure of resources.
Prolonged drought may undermine self-reliance of
affected communities, thus making it difficult to
withdraw disaster management assistance.
Logistic requirements may exceed in-country capability,
particularly if large inputs of outside (international)
commodities are involved
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 32

33. MAJOR ACCIDENT
CHARACTERISTICS Usually violent in nature (e.g., industrial or other explosion, aircraft crash,
major fire, train collision);
Can have limited or widespread effect (e.g., an aircraft crash may affect only
those on board, whereas an explosion involving hazardous chemicals may
affect a wide area of the population);
Mostly limited or no warning, though there may be longer warning of effects
of, say, chemical or oil spill; and
Speed of onset usually rapid.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 33

34. MAJOR ACCIDENT
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES
Good physical planning (e.g., the siting of potentially accident-prone buildings or
complexes);
Special building regulations, if applicable;
Good in-house safety and management standards/procedures, including evacuation
plans and periodic tests;
Effective organizational emergency services (e.g., fire services and rescue teams) which
are available to immediately respond prior to the arrival of public emergency services;
Effective community or area disaster plans so that coordinated response can be
achieved; and
Training in handling the effects of specific hazards.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 34

35. MAJOR ACCIDENT
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Unexpected nature of accidents may pose problems of reaction and
response time;
Response problems may be severe, extensive, and difficult (e.g., rescue
from a building collapse, or in circumstances where a chemical or radiation
hazard exists, or where there are multiple casualties such as in a major rail
accident); and
Identifying victim may be difficult in some cases.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 35

36. CIVIL UNREST
CHARACTERISTICS Usually the responsibility of police, paramilitary, and armed forces. However,
other emergency services such as fire services, medical authorities, and
welfare agencies become involved;
Violent and disruptive activities occur (e.g., bombing, armed clashes, mob
demonstrations, and violence);
Patterns of civil unrest are difficult to predict. Therefore, effective warning
may also be difficult;
In many civil unrest circumstances, especially terrorism, the instigators have
the initiative, thus complicating the task of law enforcement authorities
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 36

37. CIVIL UNREST
GENERAL
COUNTERMEASURES Firmly applying law and order regulations and
requirements;
Imposing special emergency measures and regulations
(e.g., restricted movement, curfews, and security checks);
and
Positive information programs aimed at maintaining
majority public support for government action against
disruptive elements/factions.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 37

38. CIVIL UNREST
SPECIAL
PROBLEM
AREAS FOR
DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
Overloading of resource organizations (e.g., medical
authorities, welfare agencies, and essential
services) because of demands of civil unrest
incidents, in addition to normal commitments; and
Difficulty of integrating “peacetime” resource
organizations (noncombatant in nature) with
“military type” operations which are necessary to
deal with violent civil unrest.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 38

39. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 39

40. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the lead agency at the
Federal level to deal with the whole spectrum of Disaster Management activities.
• It is the executive arm of the National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC)
which has been established under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister as the
apex policy making body in the field of Disaster Management.
• In the event of a disaster, all stakeholders including Government
Ministries/Departments/Organizations, Armed Forces, INGOs, NGOs, UN
Agencies work through and form part of the NDMA to conduct one window
operations.

41. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
• It is established under the National Disaster Management Act – 2010 and
functions under the supervision of National Disaster Management Commission
(NDMC) which is headed by the Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
• NDMA manages the whole Disaster Management Cycle (DMC) which includes
Preparedness, Mitigation, Risk Reduction, Relief and Rehabilitation.
• A National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) is prepared and is followed
towards provision of better services to the affected ones.

42. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 42

43. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
STAKEHOLERS
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 43

44. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
• VISION
• To achieve sustainable social, economic and environmental development in Pakistan through
reducing risks and vulnerabilities, particularly those of the poor and marginalized groups, and
by effectively responding to and recovering from all types of disasters events.
• MISSION
• To manage complete spectrum of disasters by adopting a disaster risk reduction perspective
in development planning at all levels, and through enhancing institutional capacities for
disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

45. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AIM
NDMA aims to develop sustainable operational capacity and professional competence to
undertake the following task:-Complete spectrum of disaster risk management at national level.
Act as Secretariat of the NDMC to facilitate implementation of DRM strategies.
Map all hazards in the Country and conduct risk analysis on a regular basis.
Develop guidelines and standards for national and provincial stakeholders regarding their role in
disaster risk management.
Ensure establishment of DM Authorities and Emergency Operations Centres at provincial, district
and municipal levels in hazard-prone areas.
Provide technical assistance to federal ministries, departments and provincial DM authorities for
disaster risk management initiatives.
Organize training and awareness raising activities for capacity development of stakeholders,
particularly in hazard-prone areas.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 45

46. NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
AIM
Collect, analyze process, and disseminate inter-sectoral information required in an all hazards management approach.
Ensure appropriate regulations are framed to develop disaster response volunteer teams.
Create requisite environment for participation of media in DRM activities.
Serve as the lead agency for NGOs to ensure their performance matches accepted international standards, e.g. the SPHERE
standards.
Serve as the lead agency for international cooperation in disaster risk management. This will particular include, information sharing,
early warning, surveillance, joint training, and common standards and protocols required for regional and international cooperation.
Coordinate emergency response of federal government in the event of a national level disaster through the National Emergency
Operations Centre (NEOC).
Require any government department or agency to make available such men or resources as are available for the purpose of
emergency response, rescue and relief.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 46

47. ASSIGMENT
• A comprehensive report on Pakistan National Disaster Management
Authority (PDMA), their working, responsibilities and the act of 2010.
Report on the different stakeholders, the evolution of NDMA, power
and functions of the NDMC, NDMA, PDMA, DDMA. Report on how
each unit of NDMA respond to a disaster and what lies within their
scope of work.
• The assignment Hold 10 Marks
• Total time for assignment 3 weeks
• A minimum of 2000 words report.
• The report should be provided in Microsoft word.
• Coping and Plagiarism must be avoided.
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 47

48. END OF LECTURE 2
10/13/2016 R&DM, CEC, CED, INU 48