Flood Disaster Safety Model Based on Social Media in Uttarakhand Region

Submitted to partial fulfillment of the requirement for the
degree of M.Sc. in Computer Science
Year: 2013-2015
Guided By: Submitted By:
Mr. Parth Gautam Anirudh Sharma
Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science M.Sc. (C.S.) IV SEM
Department Of Computer Science,
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
Gayatrikunj-Shantikunj,Haridwar,U.K. 249411
www.dsvv.ac.in
Flood Disaster Safety Model Based on Social Media in
Uttarakhand Region

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“ACKNOWLEDGEMENT”
We take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude and deep regards to respected
sir Dr. Abhay Saxena Head of Department (Department Of Computer Science ) for
his exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant encouragement throughout the course of
this Dissertation. The blessing, help and guidance given by him time to time is really
incredible.
I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to our respected Vice
H.O.D Mr. Ambuj Kumar & M.Sc.CS Coordinator Mr. Narendra Sharma for his
cordial support, valuable information and Dr. Abhay Saxena Sir, for his guidance as a
trainee, which helped us in completing this task through various stages.
I give obliges to my Dissertation Supervisor Lect. Mr. Parth Gautam for the
valuable guidance he provided to complete my dissertation work. I am very grateful to him
for his cooperation during the phase of my dissertation.
This acknowledgement transcends the reality of formality when we would like to
express deep gratitude and respect to all those people behind the screen who guided, inspired
and helped me for the completion of our project work.
Lastly, we thank almighty, our parents, brother, sisters and friends for their constant
encouragement without which this project would not be possible.
Thanking You,
Anirudh Sharma

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DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the dissertation work entitled – “Flood Disaster Safety
Model Based on Social Media in Uttarakhand Region” submitted to the
Department of Computer Science, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya,
Haridwar, Uttarakhand, is a record of an original work done by me under
the guidance of Mr. Parth Gautam, Lecturer, M.Sc. CS, DSVV, and this
dissertation work is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of the Degree of MASTER OF COMPUTER SCIENCE in session
2013 – 2015. The results embodied in this Dissertation have not been submitted
in my University.
Anirudh Sharma
M.Sc. CS Final Year

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Certificate of Originality
I hereby declare that the Dissertation titled – “Flood Disaster Safety Model Based
on Social Media in Uttarakhand Region” submitted to the Department of Computer
Science, DSVV Haridwar, U.K. in partial fulfilment for the award of the Degree of
MASTER OF COMPUTER SCIENCE in session 2013 – 2015 is an authentic record of my
own work carried out under the guidance of Mr. Parth Gautam and that the Dissertation
flaps not previously formed the basis for the award of any other degree.
This is to certify that the above statement made by the candidate is correct to the
best of my knowledge.
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya
An Establishment for Cultural & Spiritual Renaissance of the Globe
Signature of Internal guide
Mr. Parth Gautam
Lecturer
Dept. of Computer Science
Place:
Date:
(Established by the Act of Government of Uttarakhand, Recognized by U.G.C., New Delhi & Sponsored by Shri Vedmata Gayatri Trust)
Signature of Candidate:
Anirudh Sharma
M.Sc. CS Final Year
Gayatrikunj – Shantikunj, Hridwar – 249411 (Uttarakhand)
Telefax: +91-1334 260723. PABX: +91-1134 26137
Dr. Abhay Saxena
Professor & H.O.D
Dept. of Computer Science

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ABSTRACT
Flood Disaster Safety Model based on Social Media in Uttarakhand Region is a
proposed model, as there is a need of such application that is beneficial for those who live
along side of flood area in Uttarakhand hilly regions. With this proposed Model, it will
become possible to safe guard lives of citizens living along side of danger zone. Mechanism
proposed will detect any possibility of flood and generate warning/alert in regard to that in
a quick go. It will also track the last reach point, speed and estimated timing of flood water
to reach next spot. Monitoring system with the help of sensor generated data after analysis
time will proceed to give further notifications to people with help of social media via various
accounts made on it, like Facebook, Tweeter, blogs, websites etc. This model will also
inform responsible bodies likely administrative services to get in alert if any position they
need to take in hold.
Social Media as an integral part will help to make widespread alert and will make global
effect on flood alert.
If proposed model gets its physical implementation will surely help during severe
consequence of flood by decreasing the possibility engulfing of lives.

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Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Problem Definition…………………………………………. 2
1.2 Overview……………………………………………………. 2
1.2.1 Flood………………………………………………………… 3
1.2.1.1 Defining Flood…………………………………………….... 4
1.2.1.2 Types Of Flood……………………………………………... 6
1.2.1.3 Effects of Flooding…………………………………………. 8
1.2.2 Social Media………………………………………………... 9
1.2.2.1 Defining Social Media…………………………………….... 10
1.2.2.2 What are Social Media…………………………………….. 11
1.2.2.3 The Evolution of Social Media……………………………. 11
1.2.2.4 Working with # Tags………………………………………. 12
1.2.2.5 The Impact of Social Media……………………………….. 13
1.2.2.6 Social Media During Natural Disasters…………………... 14
1.3 Early Warning System…………………………………….. 15
1.3.1 Key Elements Of Early Warning System……………….... 16
1.3.2 Key Actors of Early Warning System……………………. 17
1.4 Motivation………………………………………………….. 20
1.5 Objective and Scope……………………………………….. 20
1.6 Dissertation Outline……………………………………….. 21
Chapter 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 24
Chapter 3. THE PROPOSED SAFETY MODEL 37
3.1 Introduction………………………………………………… 38
3.2 Model Layout………………………………………………. 38
3.2.1 Proposed Flood Warning System……………………….... 39
3.2.1.1 Sensor Subsystem………………………………………….. 40
3.2.1.2 Data Dispersal Subsystem………………………………… 40
3.2.1.3 Data Processing Subsystem……………………………….. 41
3.2.1.4 Alerting Subsystem………………………………………... 41
3.2.1.5 Monitor (Monitoring Subsystem) ………………………... 42
3.2.1.6 Power Support Subsystem……………………………….... 42
3.2.2 Challenges………………………………………………….. 43
3.2.3 Implementation……………………………………………. 44
3.2.4 Cost Aspect for the System……………………………….. 45
3.2.5 Limitations…………………………………………………. 46
3.2.6 Need of Social Medial in Disaster Safety Model……….... 46
CONTENTS

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Chapter 4. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE 53
4.1 Conclusion…………………………………………………… 54
4.2 Future Scope………………………………………………… 55
Chapter 5. REFRENCES 56
List of Figures:-
Figure No. Caption Page No.
Fig 3.2.6(a) Graph Showing Total Number of Social
Network users in India.
46
Fig 3.2.6 (b) Showing a line graph, use of Social
Media in various aspects during flood
event of Queensland, Australia.
48
Fig 3.2.6 (c) Showing bar graph of comments & likes
in different aspect during flood event of
Queensland Australia.
49
Fig 3.2.6 (d) Showing a pie chart giving most of the
people like to use social media to find
their near and loved one are safe.
49
Fig 3.2.6 (e) above shows a bar graph that in Japan
during any Tsunami or earthquake
event, most of the people rely on social
media and internet modes for reliable
information.
50
Fig 3.2.6 (f) Showing spikes in tweet traffic during
earthqauke.
50
Fig 3.2.6 (g) Showing Tweet Map for urgent needs,
Infrastructure Damage and Response
Efforts.
51
Fig 3.2.6 (h) Showing Tweet Map for Severe Damage
and Mild Damage.
51

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Summary
1. A flood is mostly natural calamity, which occurs due to heavy rainfall and
other factors such as cyclone or cloud burst.
2. Flood are basically of two categories:
- Rapid onset.
- Slow onset.
3. Rapid onset flood are gradually very destructive in comparison to slow onset
floods and due to cloudburst and heavy rainfall. It has a type called Flash
Flood.
4. Flash flood in Uttarakhand region are mostly prevailed.
5. There must be a system which could track down this flash flood condition
and aware rest unaffected areas.
6. A flood safety model with its integration of Social Media proposed in this
dissertation to rectify the consequences of flash flood by alerting in broad
gauze.
7. Social Media: it is a medium where people interact with each other online
with the help of blogs, social sites and other messenger services.
8. Early warning system: A system which help in generating alarm or alerts to
cover up any devastation.
9. An early warning system can be manual or automated, mostly automated is
used now a days.
10. Early warning system senses any form of trigger relating to calamity and
generates alert to responsible and widespread it to halt consequences.
11. The Proposed Flood Safety Model senses the water level and its speed to
generate alarm which is sent to monitor system.
12. Monitor System after a quick vigilance action generates an alert message
and wide spread it.

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13.Wide spreading of message will be via messaging and importantly social
media.
14. The proposed system will have its own social blog, social pages and other
such type social activity areas where this message will posted with specific
hastags which will help this message to widespread.
15. People connected to these sites or logins will immediately be informed as
soon as alert message is posted.
16. Message content will be short and meaningful which will relate the warning
of coming flood.
17. Further, this proposed system also during course of rapid onset with the help
of sensors, will give the last positioning of flood and estimated time of reach
to next region.
18. There is a need of such model deployed which will surely give its affect to
fight flood calamity like which came on 16 June 2013 in Uttarakhand region.

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

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1.1 Problem Definition.
For last few years the hilly areas of Uttarakhand region is experiencing severe impairs
during monsoon season. Then due to heavy rain fall, cloud burst and high scaled snow
melt (due to rain over glacier zones) cause rapid increase in flow level above the
benchmark of safety. The over flowing river esp. Ganges, Alakanda and Yamuna cause
severe damage to their coastal regions and that too sometimes unknowingly. Even
during a massive cloud burst which are literally often unknown and appear all of a
sudden, during the season cause flash flood in no time and huge mass of water flows
into river and makes it a killer river.
So the problem rises here that how to make people alert about such sort flash flood
dissemination. As we have seen people dying as they don't know about the flash flood
coming. Thus, there must be some such type of system which could help of generate
alert during such drastic real-time situation and make people alert about it. Such system
created could help in decrease life losses and other such devastation.
1.2 Overview.
As we take of today natural disasters have now become serious concern. Talking about
India and its regions we can concentrate this concern specific to floods and droughts but
droughts are very less as compared to floods. We have seen flood coming every year
during monsoon season and destroying lives. Still, we can review that night of 16, June
2013 which rapidly washed away whole lands of Uttarakhand regions and counter took
many thousands of lives (estimate of more than 50,000) and several lost. It was one of
the greatest flood of all time.
If we talk of today the technology has grown that much that we cannot stop such type
natural disaster but can still prevent its consequences from defying lives. Technology
has shown how it has helped during such markups. Talking specific, the technology of
connectivity is widely used in today’s world. People connecting to people, the

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terminology of socializing or socializing with network and has grown to form social
media. We have seen how in today’s world social media has affected scenarios as a
helping hand during devastating conditions. Peoples has used social media for informing
other people connected to them widely with just a single post to it.
Like this a system can also be formed which at least could help out in such conditions.
1.2.1 Flood.
Flood, as simple key strokes in his/her mind that too much water around your house.
Who ever been not in such situation might thought it as a fun, but actually a flood is lot
more than that.
A flood is extremely dangerous and has the potential to wipe out entire city, river sides
and cause extensive damage to life and property. Erosive power of it can also be
explained as like 1 foot high flood with extreme force can destruct an entire lively hood.
A flood scientifically a natural event or occurrence where a piece of land that is usually
dry land, suddenly gets submerged under water. Some floods can occur and recede
quickly leaving behind destruction and making places graveyards others takes days or
even months to discharge. When a flood happen in an area where people live, the water
carries along objects like houses, bridges, cars, furniture and even people. It can wipe
away farms, trees and many heavier items. The main cause of floods is actually rain.
Each time when a rain occurs and drainage system fails then flood occurs. Resulting in
overflowing of river crossing its dangerous level of flowing result in flood.
Taking you back in time and resembling the memories of 16th June 2013 the flood that
caused entire world to see mass destruction in the regions of Uttarakhand, India (ESP
Kedarnath). The flood caused by heavy rainfall, cloud burst lead rivers to flow in
dangerous face crossing their high limits and in addition to it the tremendous melt down
Chorabari glacier during rainfall caused walls of Chorabari tal to collapse which

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triggered a flash flood and cleared off everything which came in its path and leaving
behind new created cemeteries everywhere. Further, this flood gave a wide area sweep
to the lower zone of the Himalaya. This flood grasped estimated more than 50,000
deaths and hefty damage to the area.
Such type acts by nature always gives us new way to think about the safety by these
happening in further future.
1.2.1.1 Defining Flood.
It is a natural event or occurrence where a piece of land (or area) that is usually dry land,
suddenly gets submerged under water. Some floods can occur suddenly and recede
quickly. Others take days or even months to build and discharge. When floods happen
in an area that people live, the water carries along objects like houses, bridges, cars,
furniture and even people. It can wipe away farms, trees and many more heavy items.
Floods occur at irregular intervals and vary in size, duration and the affected area.
It is important to note that water naturally flows from high areas to low lying areas. This
means low-lying areas may flood quickly before it begins to get to higher ground.
We shall see more about what causes flooding, the types of flooding, some effects of
floods and what we can do before, during and after floods occur.
Causes of flooding:
Here are a few events that can cause flooding.
1. Rains
Each time there are more rains than the drainage system can take, there can be floods.
Sometimes, there is heavy rain for a very short period that result in floods. In other times,
there may be light rain for many days and weeks and can also result in floods.

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2. River overflow
Rivers can overflow their banks to cause flooding. This happens when there is more
water upstream than usual, and as it flows downstream to the adjacent low-lying areas
(also called a floodplain), there is a burst and water gets into the land.
3. Strong winds in coastal areas
Sea water can be carried by massive winds and hurricanes onto dry coastal lands and
cause flooding. Sometimes this is made worse if the winds carry rains themselves.
Sometimes water from the sea resulting from a tsunami can flow inland to cause damage.
4. Dam breaking
(Raptured dam or levee) (Embankments, known as levees, are built along the side of a
river and are used to prevent high water from flooding bordering land)
Dams are man-made blocks mounted to hold water flowing down from a highland. The
power in the water is used to turn propellers to generate electricity. Sometimes, too much
water held up in the dam can cause it to break and overflow the area. Excess water can
also be intentionally released from the dam to prevent it from breaking and that can also
cause floods.
February 26, 1972 - Buffalo Creek Valley, West Virginia
The failure of a coal-waste impoundment at the valley’s head took 125 lives, and caused
more than $400 million in damages, including destruction of over 500 homes.
www.damsafety.org/news/?p=412f29c8-3fd8-4529-b5c9-8d47364c1f3e

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5. Ice and snow-melts
In many cold regions, heavy snow over the winter usually stays un-melted for some
time. There are also mountains that have ice on top of them. Sometimes the ice suddenly
melts when the temperature rises, resulting in massive movement of water into places
that are usually dry. This is usually called a snowmelt flood.
1.2.1.2 Types of floods
Some would like to see the causes of floods as types of floods, but on this page we
shall look at three major flood types: Flash floods, Rapid on-set floods and slow on-set
floods.
1. Flash floods
This kind occurs within a very short time (2-6 hours, and sometimes within minutes)
and is usually as a result of heavy rain, dam break or snow melt. Sometimes, intense
rainfall from slow moving thunderstorms can cause it. Flash floods are the most
destructive and can be fatal, as people are usually taken by surprise. There is usually no
warning, no preparation and the impact can be very swift and devastating.

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2. Rapid on-set floods
Similar to flash floods, this type takes slightly longer to develop and the flood can last
for a day or two only. It is also very destructive, but does not usually surprise people
like Flash floods. With rapid on-set floods, people can quickly put a few things right and
escape before it gets very bad.
3. Slow on-set floods
This kind is usually as a result of water bodies over flooding their banks. They tend to
develop slowly and can last for days and weeks. They usually spread over many
kilometers and occur more in flood plains (fields prone to floods in a low-lying areas).
The effect of this kind of floods on people is more likely to be due to disease,
malnutrition or snakebites.
Which areas are more likely to flood?
From the causes of floods and the types that we just read about, you can tell that floods
are more likely to occur in some areas than others.

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Generally, the natural behavior of water (and flowing water) is that it moves from higher
ground to lower ground. This means if there is a higher ground adjacent a lower ground,
the lower ground is a lot more likely to experience floods.
Additionally, anywhere that rains fall, floods can develop. This is so because anytime
there are more rains bringing more water than it can be drained or absorbed by the soil,
there is a flood potential.
In many cities, there are buildings springing up in many places where they have not
been authorized. Some of these building are placed in waterways. Other places also
have very bad and chocked drainage systems. The danger is that, with the rains, water
will find its own level if it cannot find its way. The result is flooding and your home
could be under water.
Any plain low-lying area adjacent a river, lagoon or lake is also more likely to have
floods anytime the water level rises. This includes coastal areas and shorelines, as
seawater can easily be swept inland by strong winds, tides and tsunamis.
1.2.1.3 Effects of flooding
Floods can have devastating consequences and can have effects on the economy,
environment and people.
1. Economic
During floods (especially flash floods), roads, bridges, farms, houses and automobiles
are destroyed. People become homeless. Additionally, the government deploys
firemen, police and other emergency apparatuses to help the affected. All these come
at a heavy cost to people and the government. It usually takes years for affected
communities to be re-built and business to come back to normalcy.

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2. Environment
The environment also suffers when floods happen. Chemicals and other hazardous
substances end up in the water and eventually contaminate the water bodies that floods
end up in. In 2011, a huge tsunami hit Japan, and sea water flooded a part of the
coastline. The flooding caused massive leakage in nuclear plants and has since caused
high radiation in that area. Authorities in Japan fear that Fukushima radiation levels are
18 times higher than even thought.
Additionally, flooding causes kills animals, and others insects are introduced to
affected areas, distorting the natural balance of the ecosystem.
1.2.2 Social Media.
Today the world has now grown a part of interconnection as with the stand of technology
upraise. Most common stand we see is social media, where now each and every human
being want himself to be in or a part of it. Social media is now coming as a share care
terminology to this world. We see people sharing information via social media with help
of Twitter, Facebook and Flicker, Messengers like WhatsApp, Line, Viber etc. which
could be help full someone or some way not. But if we say about the role that social
media is playing can’t be given in words while in any disastrous mishaps.
The use of social media has become widespread and can serve a variety of purposes.
Within the last five years social media have played an increasing role in emergencies
and disasters. Facebook supports numerous emergency-related organizations, including
Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management (ISCRAM), and The
Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Project. Moreover, numerous
emergency and disaster-related organizations, including universities, the private and
nonprofit sectors, and state and local governments use Facebook to disseminate

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information, communicate with each other, and coordinate activities such as emergency
planning and exercises.
Likely we want to make a direct safety model which will help in flood conditions of
Uttarkhand regions.
1.2.2.1 Defining Social Media.
Social media is best understood as a group of new kinds of online media, which share
most or all of the following characteristics:
Participation: social media encourages contributions and feedback from everyone who
is interested. It blurs the line between media and audience.
Openness: most social media services are open to feedback and participation. They
encourage voting, comments and the sharing of information. There are rarely any
barriers to accessing and making use of content – password-protected content is frowned
on.
Conversation: whereas traditional media is about “broadcast” (content transmitted or
distributed to an audience) social media is better seen as a two-way conversation.
Community: social media allows communities to form quickly and communicate
effectively. Communities share common interests, such as a love of photography, a
political issue or a favorite TV show.
Connectedness: most kinds of social media thrive on their connectedness, making use
of links to other sites, resources and people.

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1.2.2.2 What are Social Media?
The term “Social Media” refers to the wide range of internet based and mobile based
services that allow users to participate in online exchanges, contribute user – created
content, join online communities. The kind of Internet services commonly associated
with social media are following:
1. Blogs: an online journal owned by free registered user.
2. Wiki: a collective website where any participant is allowed to do editing.
3. Social Network Sites: These are web based services where each individual can
make up his/her own semipublic profile and use it to communicate other users.
Example Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+.
4. Status update services or Microblogging services: Such as Twitter allow
people to share Short updates or events.
5. Media Sharing Sites: Allows user to post videos, sound or photographs.
Example Soundcloud, Instagram or Youtube.
1.2.2.3 The Evolution of Social Media.
In late 1990s, Internet become more popular, websites that allowed users to create and
upload content began to appear. The first social network website sixdegrees.com
appeared in 1997.

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By the late 2000s, social media had gained widespread acceptance and some service
gained huge numbers of users. Likely in November 2012 Facebook announced to have
around 1 billion users worldwide and 517 million are on twitter.
A number of factors have contributed to this rapid growth in social media participation.
These include technological factors such as increased broadband availability, the
improvement of software tools and the development of more powerful computing
systems such as computers and mobiles. Social factors such as the rapid uptake of social
media by younger age groups and economic factor like increase in afford ability of
computers and software and growing commercial interest in social media sites.
1.2.2.4 Working with # Tags (hashtags)
A hashtag is a type of label or metadata tag used on social network and microblogging
services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or
content. Users create and use hashtags by placing the hash character (or number sign) #
in front of a word or unspaced phrase, either in the main text of a message or at the end.
Searching for that hashtag will then present each message that has been tagged with it.
For example, on the photo-sharing service Instagram the hashtag #bluesky allows users
to find images that have been tagged as containing the sky, and #cannes2014 is a popular
tag for images from the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. Hashtags can be used to collect
public opinion on events and ideas at the local, corporate, or world level. For example,
searching Twitter for #worldcup2014 returns many tweets from individuals around the
globe about the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Hashtags have also been used for social activism. The Twitter hashtags #notallmen and
#yesallwomen were used to debate misogyny after the 2014 Isla Vista killings; while
the #illridewithyou hashtag was created to tag messages of support for Australian
Muslims using public transport after the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis.

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During disaster levels Hashtags plays a very important role in informing what is
happening, where it has happened, who is in need or telling actual state on social media.
As in recent Nepal earthquake people are using sites like Facebook or Twitter and using
#tags to respond about the quake status and damage being done. Some popular #tags
during that time are like #nepalearthquake, #earthquake, #kathmandu etc.
Hashtags with its application gives a trending topic to worldwide community of the
regarding social site and the trending aspect raises and falls according to the number of
times users using such combination of tags and how many users doing this at the same
time.
1.2.2.5 The Impact of Social Media.
How is society affected by social media? Because the widespread adoption of these
modes of communication began only in the early 2000s, their social and economic
implications are not yet fully understood. Some believe the Internet is making people
more isolated, while others hope it will increase democratic participation. Research by
Statistics Canada suggests “that we should expect neither a dysfunctional society of
loners nor a blissful society of happy networkers. Rather, we are facing a society that is
differently cohesive from the one we have known.” There do not appear to be any
significant differences in the number of social ties or in the amount of social interaction
between Internet users and non-users. Instead, the Internet is providing ways of fostering
participation with community members and enhancing relationships, including through
social media. Social media have also had an economic impact with respect to the ways
in which content is created and consumed, and hence on the information and
communications technologies sector. Indeed, in Canada, annual growth in this sector
averaged 3.8% from 2002 to 2013, double the rate of growth in the overall economy
(1.9%). In addition, many businesses are incorporating social media into their marketing
strategies. For governments and parliamentarians, social media offer new ways to
engage with citizens. To give an example, the Public Health Agency of Canada uses a

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variety of social media tools to share information about public health issues. Well, an
increasing number of parliamentarians are using social media sites.
1.2.2.6 Social Media during Natural Disasters.
Millions of people use social media every day, to talk with friends and family, to
promote their business, to play online games and to organize events. Over the years; we
have also seen an increase in the use of social media in the wake of natural disasters,
from hurricanes Katrina in 2005 to more recent events as the typhoon that hit the
Philippines.
People often use social media to alert their friends and family that they are safe or not.
Stats says that nearly 25% of the general public use social media to notify family and
friends about their safety. Nearly 33% percent of the online population use social media
to notify family and friends about their safety. During disaster they also use it to provide
current status information, or offer to help to help those who are in need.
Social media connects those affected to millions of people who can offer to help and
provide words of encouragement. Tripp Halstead, was two years old when a tree branch
fell and hit on the head, causing him to suffer a traumatic brain injury. Now today on
social this small boy has official Facebook page having more than 949000 fan following
and the official Twitter account with 5,262 followers and is linked to Facebook for
updates.
Facebook and Twitter during Hurricane Sandy, it was easy to see that many people were
passing on messages that they were fine and the current state at their location. People
felt reassured that it was okay and tips were passed around on how to best prepare for it
before it even hit. Messages were sent on Twitter from emergency crews, government
officials and various news sources. This was a way to reach to everyone all at once.
What was once an emergency message on the bottom of your TV screen is now the new
tweet.

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1.3 Early Warning System.
Early warning is a major element of disaster risk reduction. It prevents loss of life and
reduces the economic and material impact of disasters. To be effective, early warning
systems need to actively involve the communities at risk, facilitate public education and
awareness of risks, effectively disseminate messages and warnings and ensure there is
constant state of preparedness. A complete and effective early warning system is more
than about supporting the prediction of catastrophic environment events, it supports four
main functions, spanning a knowledge of the risks faced through to preparedness to act
on early warning. These four functions are risk analysis, monitoring and warning,
dissemination and communication, and a response capability. Risk analysis involves
systematically collecting data and undertaking risk assessments of predefined hazards
and vulnerabilities. Monitoring and warning defines which are the relevant parameters
to be monitored, the scientific basis for making forecasts and how accurate and timely
warnings can be generated. Dissemination and communication concerns communicating
the risk information and early warnings to reach all of those at risk in a way that is clear,
understandable and useable. Response capability concerns building national and
community response plan, testing the plan and leveraging local capacities and promoting
preparation and readiness to react to warnings.
An early warning system, or specifically a functional early warning system can be
implemented as a chain of information communication systems and comprises sensors,
event detection, decision support, and message broker subsystems, in a given order,
working in conjunction, forecasting and signaling disturbances adversely affecting the
stability of the physical world; and giving sufficient time for the response system to
prepare resources and response actions to minimize the impact on the stability of the
physical world.
An early warning system is more than a warning system; where a warning system is
namely the technique linked to the broker subsystem for communicating the warning to
the intended recipients for response actions or inactions.
Since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004, there has been a surge of interest
in developing early warning systems to cater to the needs of all countries to detect

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natural hazards. However, early warning systems can be used to detect a wide range of
events, not just natural disasters, i.e., vehicle collisions, missile launches, disease
outbreaks, etc.
1.3.1 Key Elements of Early Warning System.
The objective of people-centered early warning systems is to empower individuals and
communities threatened by hazards to act in sufficient time and in an appropriate manner
to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life and damage to property and the
environment.
A complete and effective early warning system comprises four inter-related elements,
spanning knowledge of hazards and vulnerabilities through to preparedness and capacity
to respond. Best practice early warning systems also have strong inter-linkages and
effective communication channels between all of the elements.
Risk Knowledge
Risks arise from the combination of hazards and vulnerabilities at a particular location.
Assessments of risk require systematic collection and analysis of data and should
consider the dynamic nature of hazards and vulnerabilities that arise from processes such
as urbanization, rural land-use change, environmental degradation and climate change.
Risk assessments and maps help to motivate people, prioritize early warning system
needs and guide preparations for disaster prevention and responses.
Monitoring and Warning Service
Warning services lie at the core of the system. There must be a sound scientific basis for
predicting and forecasting hazards and a reliable forecasting and warning system that
operates 24 hours a day. Continuous monitoring of hazard parameters and precursors is
essential to generate accurate warnings in a timely fashion. Warning services for
different hazards should be coordinated where possible to gain the benefit of shared
institutional, procedural and communication networks.
.

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Dissemination and Communication
Warnings must reach those at risk. Clear messages containing simple, useful
information are critical to enable proper responses that will help safeguard lives and
livelihoods. Regional, national and community level communication systems must be
pre-identified and appropriate authoritative voices established. The use of multiple
communication channels is necessary to ensure as many people as possible are warned,
to avoid failure of any one channel, and to reinforce the warning message.
Response Capability
It is essential that communities understand their risks; respect the warning service and
know how to react. Education and preparedness programs play a key role. It is also
essential that disaster management plans are in place, well-practiced and tested. The
community should be well informed on options for safe behavior, available escape
routes, and how best to avoid damage and loss to property.
1.3.2 Key Actors of Early Warning System.
Developing and implementing an effective early warning system requires the
contribution and coordination of a diverse range of individuals and groups. The
following list provides a brief explanation of the types of organizations and groups that
should be involved in early warning systems and their functions and responsibilities.
Communities
Particularly those most vulnerable, are fundamental to people-centered early warning
systems. They should be actively involved in all aspects of the establishment and
operation of early warning systems; be aware of the hazards and potential impacts to
which they are exposed; and be able to take actions to minimize the threat of loss or
damage.

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State governments
Like communities and individuals, are at the center of effective early warning systems.
They should be empowered by national governments, have considerable knowledge of
the hazards to which their communities are exposed and be actively involved in the
design and maintenance of early warning systems. They must understand advisory
information received and be able to advice, instruct and engage the local population in
a manner that increases public safety and reduces the possible loss of resources on which
the community depends.
National governments
National governments are responsible for high-level policies and frameworks that
facilitate early warning and for the technical systems that predict and issue national
hazard warnings. National governments should interact with regional and international
governments and agencies to strengthen early warning capacities and ensure that
warnings and related responses are directed towards the most vulnerable populations.
The provision of support to local communities and governments to develop operational
capabilities is also an essential function.
Regional institutions and organizations
Regional institutions and organizations play a role in providing specialized knowledge
and advice which supports national efforts to develop and sustain early warning
capabilities in countries that share a common geographical environment. In addition,
they encourage linkages with international organizations and facilitate effective early
warning practices among adjacent countries.
International bodies
International bodies can provide international coordination, standardization, and support
for national early warning activities and foster the exchange of data and knowledge
between individual countries and regions. Support may include the provision of advisory
information, technical assistance, and policy and organizational support necessary to aid
the development and operational capabilities of national authorities or agencies.

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Non-governmental organizations
Non-governmental organizations play a role in raising awareness among individuals,
communities and organizations involved in early warning, particularly at the community
level. They can also assist with implementing early warning systems and in preparing
communities for natural disasters. In addition, they can play an important advocacy role
to help ensure that early warning stays on the agenda of government policy makers.
The private sector
The private sector has a diverse role to play in early warning, including developing early
warning capabilities in their own organizations. The media plays a vital role in
improving the disaster consciousness of the general population and disseminating early
warnings. The private sector also has a large untapped potential to help provide skilled
services in form of technical manpower, know-how or donations (in-kind and cash) of
goods or services.
The science and academic community
The science and academic community has a critical role in providing specialized
scientific and technical input to assist governments and communities in developing early
warning systems. Their expertise is central to analyzing natural hazard risks facing
communities, supporting the design of scientific and systematic monitoring and warning
services, supporting data exchange, translating scientific or technical information into
comprehensible messages, and to the dissemination of understandable warnings to those
at risk.

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1.4 Motivation.
Talking about motivation it is that factor which makes someone to do any impossibilities
and reforming it to possibilities, then finding an actual way to make possibilities to word
possible.
As my department The Department of Computer Science has a motto of Share, Care &
Prosper. Thus talking about it, then same way motivation comes to create my
dissertation. My topic Flood Disaster Safety Module Based on Social Media in
Uttarakhand region is a dedication to help out those innocents whom life go affected to
death due flood which almost come every year in Uttarakhand region. During flood of
June 2013, I have seen people crying as they had lost everything even there close resides.
Thus I conclude my motivation which came from those who died during flood of 2013,
who lost their near ones and who lost everything. I, with the help of my dissertation
want to make out less death rolls during such severe conditions by making people aware
of coming danger.
1.5 Objective and Scope.
Objective.
Objectives relating to topic are
1. Creating a mechanism which could generate alert regarding flood.
2. To help citizens residing at upper flood zones of Uttarakhand.
3. Making less or no death rates during devastating flood conditions.
4. Tracing out actual state of flood.
5. Estimating how much time would flood water could take to reach lower zones.

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Scope.
The scope of my work takes on the flood affected areas of Uttarakhand. It considerably
rely on areas where every due heavy rain calamity occurs and due to this hundreds or
thousands of people suffer their lives.
The dissertation likely to show up a mechanism which when deployed on those regions
will apparently affect those areas via generating an alarm call to every person who are
connected socially with their mobile devices.
1.6 Dissertation Outline
Chapter 2: Literature Review
- This chapter is clearly related to problem statement, purpose and research and
question stating what were the early work and other such necessary information
faced at different areas and aspect.
- It also draws a conceptual framework regarding the topic.
- This chapter also gives a base to methodology which will be used to cure the
problem definition.
Chapter 3: The Proposed Flood Safety Model
- This chapter situates the study within a particular methodological tradition,
providing a way to new approach to a definitive approach.
- It designs the settings to cure the problem defined.
- This section describes and justifies all the various aspect of the proposed system
and its other subsystem which are very useful regarding the proposed system.

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- This section also sets the descriptive view of the system and how it will work
when it comes in the real time phase.
- Challenges: This section describes and justifies challenges of the system while
or after deployment which can affect the work ability of the system.
- Cost aspect: relates total aspect of the system in terms of cost and answer which
part for the system will have high expenses or low expenses.
- Limitations: This section identifies potential weaknesses of the study and
the scope of the study. Limitations are external conditions that restrict or
constrain the study’s scope or may affect its outcome.
Chapter 4: Conclusions and future scope.
This chapter presents a set of concluding statements and recommendations.
Conclusions are assertions based on total study of the proposed model, and gives an
overview what and up to which extent the system could help in various respects.
- Conclusions are based on an integration of the study, analysis, interpretation,
and synthesis.
- Conclusions are essentially conclusive statements of what we now know, having
done this research that we did not know before.
Future Scope: It gives affection of future and what extensions could system
receives in future.

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Chapter 5: References
- The list of references includes all works cited in the dissertation in alphabetical
order by author.
- It also gives the authenticity to the work you have done so far and also does not
breach copyrights of original authorities.
- References makes a way to examiner who checks the work and can co-related if
the information have or not been directly copied to the context.

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CHAPTER 2
REVIEW of LITERATURE

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Review of Literature:
S.N Author Name Title Abstract
01 J Charlwood Use of Social
Media During
Flood Events
Victoria experienced significant major
floods between September 2010 and
March 2011. Over this time it was evident
that many community members were
using social media to obtain information
about the floods and to share this
information with others. The Victoria
State Emergency Service (VICSES)
provided information to communities
through social media and also developed
a strategic intelligence capability to obtain
intelligence from social media sources.
During the floods VICSES and the Office
of the Emergency Services Commissioner
(OESC) conducted a research project to
obtain information about how people used
social media during the flood event. This
paper will provide an overview of the
research conducted and provide insight in
to how social media can be best utilized
and managed during flood events to
communicate warnings and emergency
information and to obtain intelligence
from communities.

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02 Sara Pretice
Ethen HUffman
Social
Media’s New
Role in
Emergency
Management.
As technology continues to evolve,
emergency management organizations
must adapt to new ways of responding to
the media and public. This paper briefly
examines social media's new role in
emergency management. This includes
definitions of social media, the benefits of
utilizing social media, examples of social
media being used and finally a discussion
of how agencies, such as Department of
Energy national laboratories can begin
including social media in their emergency
management plans.

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03 Christian Ehnis Social Media
in Disaster
Response:
Queensland
Police Service
- Public
Engagement
During the
2011 Floods.
Social Media, particularly Microblogging
services, are now being adopted as an
additional tool for emergency service
agencies to be able to interact with the
community at all stages of a disaster.
Unfortunately, no standard framework for
Social Media adoption for disaster
management exists and emergency
service agencies are adopting Social
Media in an ad-hoc fashion. This paper
seeks to provide a general understanding
of how Social Media is being used by
emergency service agencies during
disasters, to better understand how we
might develop a standardized framework
of adoption. In this study of the 2010/11
Queensland Flood event, Facebook
broadcast messages from the Queensland
Police Service to the general public, were
analyzed by genre. Findings show that
these Microblogging activities were
mostly about information distribution and
warning broadcasts and that the strength
of Social Media for two-way
communication and collaboration with the
general public, was underutilized during
this event.

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04 Lucy Pearson Early
Warning of
Disasters :
Facts and
Figures
Early warning systems are combinations
of tools and processes embedded within
institutional structures, coordinated by
international — and sometimes national
— agencies. Whether they focus on one
particular hazard or many, these systems
are composed of four elements:
knowledge of the risk, a technical
monitoring and warning service,
dissemination of meaningful warnings to
at-risk people, and public awareness and
preparedness to act. Warning services lie
at the core of these systems, and how well
they operate depends on having a sound
scientific basis for predicting and
forecasting, and the capability to run
reliably 24 hours a day.

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05 Akemi Takeoka
Uuf
Brajawidagda
Twitter
Tsunami Early
Warning
Network:
A Social
Network
Analysis of
Twitter
Information
Flows
In the aftermath of earthquakes, tsunamis,
such as the 2011 Great East Japan
Tsunami, caused enormous damage
around the world. With the extreme
disaster events of the past, nations
improved disaster preparedness and
response through sensors and tsunami
early warning systems. Even with system
usage, however, governments still need to
warn the targeted citizens – who may be
anywhere within the vulnerable areas – of
predicted tsunami and ordered mass
evacuations within a very limited lead
time. While social media research is on
the rise outside the domain of social
networking, very little is written about
Twitter use for tsunami early warning. In
this research, therefore, we examined the
utility of Twitter as a tsunami early
warning network, which engages citizens
and disaster management agencies in
diffusing disaster information. We
conducted a social network analysis of
Twitter information flows among the
central disaster warning agency’s Twitter
followers during the 2012 Indonesia
Earthquake.

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06 S. Edward
Boselly
David
Kniepkamp
Craig Holan
ROADWAY
FLASH
FLOODING
WARNING
DEVICES
FEASIBILITY
STUDY
The purpose of this project was to
investigate the potential use of active
systems that would automatically warn
motorists of hazardous conditions
through the use of variable message signs
and that could actually close roads with
physical barriers similar to rail crossing
gates. More people are killed each year
in the United States by flash floods than
by any other weather-related
phenomenon. The majority of these
fatalities occur on roadways.

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Paper 1:
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA DURING FLOOD EVENTS.
This paper provides an overview of the research conducted and provide insight in to
how social media can be best utilized and managed during flood events to communicate
warnings and emergency information and to obtain intelligence from communities.
An important thing from this research is that social media is beginning to play an integral
role in the way that people both gather and communicate information during emergency
situations. As with all methods of communication during emergency events, social
media is just one channel that should be used as part of an overall communications
platform encompassing multiple tools. Social media cannot, and arguably should not,
replace or supersede traditional approaches to emergency management
communications, but if leveraged strategically, it can be an effective means of
strengthening and augmenting current systems. Social media commentary will exist
during emergencies regardless of agency involvement, and both the Victorian and
Queensland floods have demonstrated the benefits of official sources being involved in
the conversation. By starting to integrate social media into traditional emergency
management structures and strategies, and through the development of effective metrics
to monitor social media commentary, emergency agencies have the potential to
significantly increase their ability to manage emergencies across the range of
preparation, planning, response and recovery activities.

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Paper 2:
Social Media’s New Role in Emergency Management.
This paper shows how social media roles during an emergency. It has a case study which
clearly demonstrate how the use of social media could affect the environment or the
scene created. Case study which of Los Angeles about the escape of a convict and how
its escape information and what has all happened during that moment, was all in no time
broadcasts with the help of an independent blog writer to social media. This information
regarding the escape and death of a police men during the case was so fast in traversing
that before TV or news reporters could capture the news everybody was knowing what
had happened. Seemingly it also explains how social media influence one’s organization
during any field work. There is an example of RED CROSS that how they use social
media for generating funds and telling world what they do during disasters with the help
of a blog which they operate named On-line Disaster News Portal.
Using social media as a communication tool is not part of most organizations
emergency plans, but paying attention to this “explosive outbreak” is becoming more
and more critical to an organization’s ability to survive. As the way people gather and
create information begins to change, federal crisis communicators must take the
initiative to reexamine the way they disseminate information, speak with constituents
and react to public feedback, or face becoming a public symbol of national discontent.
This paper concludes that, the advent of social media has revolutionized the way people
communicate and gather information about stories and topics that are important to them.
This change has adversely affected the way public information officers must interact
with the public and media during emergencies. By complementing your emergency
communication plan with social media techniques, your organization has a better chance
of communication messages, informing the public and media and ultimately surviving
a crisis situation.

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Paper 3:
Social Media in Disaster Response: Queensland Police Service - Public
Engagement during the 2011 Floods.
The paper shows a typical study to a better understanding that how social media can be
and is used by emergency services. The paper is having analysis of the use of Facebook
by QPS during Queensland Flood event that Social Media supported the management
of five disaster communication objectives which are Broadcast Information, Broadcast
Warning, Encourage Behavior, and Appeal for Information and Fighting Rumors.
The paper also shows that community also keenly seeks for relevant and trusted
information, as the Facebook page of QPS was getting likes to every information that
they posted and the page-like count was also increasing. With the “Likes” and comments
on the single threads it is possible to assume that the community does not only want to
read about information, it also seems to seek interaction with the relevant agency with
offers of help and assistance.
The paper also gave a question likely - should emergency services agencies use the usual
broadcast information approaches of old, slightly transferred to fit in a Social Media
world, or is it possible to design a more effective approach that can tap into the potential
of Social Media two-way and collaborative communication channels? And the answer
was likely - examination and development of much deeper insights into the use of Social
Media channels in events and disasters, are necessary.

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Paper 4:
Early Warning of Disasters: Facts and Figures.
Disaster risk reduction has focused, in part, on developing early warning systems to help
communities respond to disasters.
It is an article for preparedness from natural disasters and to reduce engulfing of lives
due to devastation. It shows how different countries have created their own early
warning systems which help them to identify risks at respective zones or from specific
type of disaster. It has talked about early warning systems like cyclone early warning
system and tsunami early warning system. These systems are fully or semi-automated
and gives warning at least by 48hrs to 2hrs before disaster could appear in real-time
span.
It says that early warning system cannot prevent all damage but at least could prevent
lives from being lost. As in the case of tsunamis, the benefit of an internationally
coordinated system was shown in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan,
which threatened many Pacific islands: warnings were more coordinated than in the
devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, providing time for many people to evacuate
to high ground.
It also gives some folding of uncertainty likely 1. Prioritizing Risk, 2. Reducing False
alarm, 3. Monitoring Communication Tool, 4. Coordinating response and 5. Serving
Communities. The first two points must be undertaken to prioritizing risk and reduce
false alarm, which are indeed most important during or creating panic free environment.

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Paper 5:
Twitter Tsunami Early Warning Network:
A Social Network Analysis of Twitter Information Flows.
In this research, we addressed the two research questions: Does Twitter work as a
tsunami early warning network? If it does, how does the Twitter tsunami early warning
network propagate tweets within a very limited time? These are very timely and
important questions, because prior scientific research shows a very short lead time for
the public to prepare themselves for mass evacuations, if the predicted tsunami
eventuates in the after math of the catastrophic earthquake. We attempted to answer the
research questions in the specific extreme disaster event context of the April 11, 2012
Indonesian earthquake. Fortunately, the predicted tsunami never eventuated. The
Indonesian Government used the national Tsunami Early Warning System (In a Tweets)
to collect and analyze data before it issued its official tsunami early warning. BMKG, a
government agency responsible for geological disaster warnings, then used its Twitter
channel to post its first Tweet tsunami early warning to the public. The BMKG Twitter
followers began to re-tweet the BMKG Tweet to their own followers to create the
Twitter tsunami early warning network during the extreme crisis event period. In
answering the questions, we observed the (tweet) information flows of the 4.11 2012
first tsunami warning. In this research, we collected and analyzed the data set of 6,383
tweets (or 82%) of all the tweets generated by the BMKG Twitter followers for the
period of 16 days from June 18 to July 3, 2012.
The BMKG issued its first Tweet tsunami early warning in 6 minutes and 7 seconds
after the 8.2 moment magnitude earthquake occurred off the west coast of Northern
Sumatra. The BMKG Twitter followers from the predicted tsunami high-impact areas
as well as from metropolitan cities re-tweeted the BMKG Tweet tsunami early warning
to their own followers almost immediately. In consequence, within 15 minutes after the
earthquake, the BMKG Twitter tsunami early warning network informed 4,102,730
Twitter users of the predicted tsunami.

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Paper 6:
Roadway Flash Flooding Warning Devices Feasibility Study.
The purpose of this project in the article was to check the potential of such active system
which could be deployed on roads to warn motorist of hazardous flash flood which could
destroy path ways or their vehicle.
This article shows up how every due such flash floods in USA are killed than any other
natural disaster. The majority of such fatalities occurs on road. After investigation and
all, the conclusion comes as it is feasible to deploy a protective warning system which
could warn drivers on road and which road is safe for driving.
The results of the feasibility investigation can be categorized rather simply. The
development of a flash flood warning system to automatically close roadways is
feasible. There are a few obstacles to overcome and they are listed in the conclusions
that follow:
• Technology exists and is in use to warn motorists of water over highways;
• In general, the technology in use for monitoring water level is too expensive for
widespread use in flash flood prone areas;
• The sensors used are not durable enough to survive in flash flood situations and
environments;
• There are few legal impediments to developing and implementing an automated road
closure system for flash flooding;
• Liability is an issue and a reliable, accurate and durable system needs to be developed;
this includes all subsystems. Commercial insurance coverage cost will be an issue in
the development of any warning and control system;
• The ready access to data and their usability are key to the development of a successful
system. The graphical user interface will be an important part of a demonstration test.

Page | 37
CHAPTER 3
The Proposed Safety Model

Page | 38
3.1 Introduction
Purpose of this dissertation is to give a concept of deployment of such a system which
could warn those personnel who living along side of river which goes flooded every
year during monsoon season or due to heavy rain fall.
Giving overview of the system for warning will include a sensor system to track the
water flow and level of the system. This sensor will give an alarm if the flow speed and
level of water raises above its benchmark. There will be a designated authority who
checks that alarm for authentication so reduce the false message to air. On his vision of
approach will generate a message or post to various online message carriers such as
SMS services, Facebook or tweeter likewise with the help of respective verified pages
or verified accounts. The message air will have liability as it is from specific authentic
source. Message aired will surely help people by warning them about the status of the
flood coming and could ensure their life security during such mess.
3.2 Model Layout
The section is for what are the actual needs of the desired proposal of the safety model.
What such input-output will it take and give, who will seek for its control, how the
system will work and what the system will generally need.
Idea
The product that will result from this model is a proposed system that will improve the
emergency response by counter informing personnel regarding the flood issues during
heavy rainfall. The proposed certainly will have such capability to reduce risk during
any disaster management as life rates will be low due early information regarding
incoming hazard.

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3.2.1 Proposed Flood Warning System.
A
B
A  Geographical Position 1.
B Geographical Position 2.
Sensor Subsystem Sensor Subsystem Sensor Subsystem
Data Dispersal
Subsystem
Data Dispersal
Subsystem
Data Dispersal
Subsystem
Data Processing
Subsystem
Monitoring
Subsystem
Alerting Subsystem
river
river
river
river
Alert Message to Social Media
and Emergency Services

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3.2.1.1 Sensor Subsystem
The sensor system will be having such type of devices that will sense the level and flow
of water. The sensors will be deployed at various points where the potency of the water
level could get the right sensitivity during real-time situations.
This sensor system will be most prone to the direct catch of environment thus in open
they are very much liable to receive damage. Thus sensor should be like a hard-tough
module which should not lose its functioning and must work during sediment, muddy,
or heavy debris contained saturated flood water. It is sure that this sensor system will
have to be in such a state where water forces could cause shock or vibration to sensor
and its assembly. Annual changing environmental conditions, sun light and ultra violet
radiation and lightening could affect the sensor.
This system will have distributed framework of sensor system connected to each other
to give a relevant readings. The distributed framework means a group sensors working
together this will also lead in giving the actual state, speed and time duration to reach
any nearest locality.
Sensors for finding Cloud Burst to get chances of flash flood will be deployed at various
regions where there is maximum possibility of this certainty.
3.2.1.2 Data Dispersal Subsystem
A minimal amount of data logging and storage capability should be placed on-site with
the sensors. The only equipment necessary would be to establish a communications link
with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This connection can be via hard wire or radio
frequency. The connectivity could can then allow data to be transferred to the main hub
where all the work of alerting and alarm will be performed.

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3.2.1.3 Data Processing Subsystem.
Composed of a data logger that processes and displays sensor output and sensor status
data as well as status information from other subsystems connected to it. It will be
having a GUI to present the data and location in real-time. It will also have connectivity
to WWW the World Wide Web.
3.2.1.4 Alerting Subsystem.
Alerting subsystem will provide alerts to emergency response personnel. It will work
accordance with that of Sensory Subsystem. Alerting subsystem will be a semi-
automated subsystem which will generate an alert to the authorized personnel who will
gradually check the reality of alert alarm, then will do further proceedings.
The personnel on getting desired alert message and after counter check will further air
appropriate message to those who will be now in danger. This alert subsystem will be
having its own data base of important addressee whom concern is much need during
real-time phase. These important personnel will be like police officials, hospitals,
District Magistrate, regional politician and more importantly Disaster Management
Authority etc., database will be having contact information of these and will be
immediately informed.
It will be that part where Social media has its key role. This system will be having its
authorized website, blog, social network accounts and pages. With the use of definitive
#tag functioning the message will be propagated by posting this information on the
system in single go. On the same hand, secondary database having contact information
of certainly all soon affected ones, personally a message will be sent to them telling
about the danger is coming.
This system will be also timely update the current reach point of flood and with what
time stamp will reach its next checkpoint to create havoc. Certainly alert subsystem will
be playing a very-very important part in airing the message to both endangered and
helping hands, alerting them to become ready for the shock and seek for the safety
measures.

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3.2.1.5 Monitor (Monitoring Subsystem)
Monitor will be that authority and personnel who will take care of whole system and its
subsystem. This personnel will have all the rights in correspond to the system.
Seemingly, it will have following functionalities.
1. Check on the sensor subsystem for its correct functionality.
2. Eye over the dispersal subsystem for its connectivity to the system.
3. Database administration.
4. Alert system controlling.
5. Correct message creation for initiation broadcast to different
communication modes of Social Media.
6. Updating real-time information to endanger and helpers.
7. Most importantly taking on false alarm and information broadcast.
This be completely man handled so as to create some authenticity of information
regarding the flood updates.
3.2.1.6 Power Support Subsystem.
The power subsystem will provide the electrical requirements for all the site-based
subsystems. Each site will be stand-alone.
Batteries charged by solar cells will generally always provide power. This is necessary
because most flash flooding occurs as a result of Cloud-Burst. The power is most likely
to go out in an area where there is such type activity. This is when the flash flood

Page | 43
warning system is most needed and power must be available. In the event stable power
is available, solar power and batteries would be used as a backup.
3.2.2 Challenges.
The deployment of such system is never been as easy and ultimately every authority
seeks it all dues and issues before system could be deployed. Here are some challenges
regard to the system.
1. Rivers every five year approx. changes its bank shape. Thus, it would be
challenge for implementation.
2. Selecting best effective geographical area for deployment, as river sides in hilly
areas are some where very deep, narrow and shallow.
3. No one can guarantee regarding connectivity of network system during bad
weather conditions.
4. Power backup is again a very general issue.
5. The monitor side needs a high skills and high reactive human efficiency to
respond during emergencies with a very cool nature.
6. A challenge with perspective of social media, weather they take alert seriously
or not.
7. It is an uneasy task to run a system continuously 24X7 during high risk of flood.
8. What will the system do when it remains idle?
9. Cost of deployment is also a challenge to the model.
10. Liability and dependency with Weather Forecast Authorities.
11. Chances of having false alarm activity.
These above given challenges are more significant during any flood warning event and
needed to be taken care during deployment and execution.

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3.2.3 Implementation
The proposed next phase will be implementation. This phase will done to the selected
test sites which will be best suited for the deployment of the system. To make sure how
system could perform in real-time phase, the system will have to go through some really
tough laboratory tests. These laboratory measure will check the potency, work ability,
operation on data and other like such parameter. Main goal will be to create system in
such a shape that in severe conditions it should not stop work or say system failure.
A team of related geographical area search units will seek for best fit area where the
system could be best deployed and if there is no danger prevailing when system
deployed there. Geographical measure will play an important role in relation to system
security and its long life span and validity.
After the successful laboratory test, system will be deployed there and a test run will be
checked to have mock on the virtual disaster level to ensure that system is working fine
and all its systems are in stable condition.
After wholesome tests and positive results system will be said ready for working.

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3.2.4 Cost Aspect for the System
These systems are not so easy to be deployed, as before deployment there remains a
study regarding the geographical approach, easy connectivity and communication
approach. Such studies during initial phase require large amount of time for completion
thus affect cost as whole.
For sensor subsystem it contains those devices which check for possibilities flood thus
has to work either submerged into water or above and are liable to receive damage in
further time. These sensory devices are often found very expensive in cost. As we know
that more the cost so better would be the quality, so surely it will be a major part to taken
care of while during purchase.
Data Dispersal system can make little bit regarding its cost when it is deployed with
wired topology but has chances to get maximum damage during severe conditions. So,
it would be better make this system with wireless mean but that to with the help of an
ISP to lower the cost.
Monitor system may have persons which could taken as contract based or monthly paid.
Proper vigilance of system or we can say servicing of it, an AMC (Annual Maintenance
Cost) could be hired to take care of it.
Overall cost could be taken in two proposes:-
1. A budget for deployment of the system which will carry expenses for man
power, equipment purchase and geographical searches.
2. An annual budget for hired or employed personnel and for maintenance of
system which is necessary.
Relating all cost aspects it is simply an over average system but a life cost more and this
system is a life savior.

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3.2.5 Limitations.
It has been seen where ever these systems deployed, don’t always work properly when
needed. This happens as such systems remains active during rainy season and rest of
time they are idle which affects its sensory subsystem. The primary problems center on
sensor failures and damage to sensors during flooding. The ambient environment for
sensors is particularly harsh in areas prone to flash flooding. In addition, reliable sensors
tend to be expensive. Innovation requires the development of a sensor system that is
reliable, robust, and durable with extremely high operational availability. Thus, In
addition to a robust sensor system, alerting, monitoring and warning capabilities needed
to be fail-safe.
3.2.6 Need of Social Media in Flood Disaster Safety Model.
Someone might think of a system like this and use of social media as a part of this system
is another deal. One can question that why to use social media as a part of this system.
Answer to this question can be given by seeking past perspective.
For last recent years, it was seen after advent of WWW the World Wide Web, people
started to use this service of connectivity and information sharing as an integral part of
life. Whatever information we want to take, use of WWW has from then become a
priority. People started to use WWW for everything.
After intrusion or inclusion Social Media people started to socialize their life.
Fig 3.2.6 (a) Graph Showing Total Number of Social Network users in India.

Page | 47
As the graph shows how in today’s India this social media is influencing generation to
use it. People post their each daily activity to social media to let their friends and family
know what they are doing.
Social Media has given world it’s both aspect positive and negative. Talking about
negative aspect first, as people get themselves very much indulged in Social Media
activities cause their private life, as they unknowingly making it public. Their every
single post to social media audience makes them know what the posting person doing,
where he is and what is his mood and many other things, which certainly can be very
harmful in many respects. Talking about positive aspect, social media could be a very
good source of information if used wisely. People give a very quick response to every
query in either comments or by just liking it. Even social media also have saved many
lives to. Taking a lifesaving real life example:
1. Tweeter: “In March 2009, 29-year-olds Rob Williams and Jason
Tavaria went on a ski trip in the Swiss Alps and became separated from their
group during a snowstorm. A member of their team used Twitter to get phone
numbers for the missing snowboarders. Tavaria was contacted on his mobile
phone and used his Google Maps application to send rescuers the longitude
and latitude of his location. Unfortunately, Williams had fallen down a 66-
foot cliff and did not survive.” http://www.mnn.com/green-
tech/computers/photos/7-times-social-networking-saved-lives/twitter-lost-
snowboarders-in-the#ixzz3ZNUQR13q
2. Facebook: “In the spring of 2009, a 16-year-old in Britain logged
on to Facebook late one night and posted that he was going to harm himself
in the United States. She was 3,400 miles away, the girl told her mother, who
called local police. The British Embassy was contacted, authorities narrowed
the search to eight addresses in Oxfordshire and rescuers eventually found
the troubled teen. Though he had overdosed on drugs, the young man was
still conscious and made a full recovery after treatment in the hospital.”
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/computers/photos/7-times-social-
networking-saved-lives/facebook-suicidal-teenager#ixzz3ZNUtqf7I

Page | 48
In the same way social media have helped many during such conditions. Thus, social
media is having a great deal and has it’s both aspects of existence.
Now, Social Media has gone to its next level. Its positivity has lead it to various aspect.
Social Media today has emerged a massive effective source for traversing any
information in a quick go. This model of flood warning system is using this power of
information sharing to help those who will go engulfed, if not alerted. In a quick go
message will pass in social media, if it is from an authentic source and this propagation
will surely affect viewers to save their or other lives by informing other by message
sharing.
From past recent studies of social media has shown that how it has affected any disaster
massacre from going to its worst affects.
 A study was done during flood in Queensland, Australia to know what was actually
happening in social media sites such as tweeter and Facebook during event. Results
of that study shows the use of social media increased during flood event and every
one was using it for their own safety purpose and in knowing are others fine too.
Fig 3.2.6 (b) Showing use of Social Media in various aspects during flood event
of Queensland, Australia.

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Fig 3.2.6 (c) Showing bar graph of comments & likes in different aspect during
flood event of Queensland Australia.
 A survey was done by American Red Cross to know how people would use social
media during an emergency to know friends and family are safe
Fig 3.2.6 (d) showing a pie chart giving most of the people like to use social
media to find their near and loved one are safe.

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 A research was done to find how peoples in Japan use social media as reliable source
of information during earthquake and tsunami.
Fig 3.2.6 (e) above shows a bar graph that in Japan during any Tsunami or
earthquake event, most of the people rely on social media and internet modes
for reliable information.
 Information collected via number tweets from pacific ring of fire places 2009.
Fig 3.2.6 (f) Showing spikes in tweet traffic during earthqauke.

Page | 51
 The data of Nepal Earthquake 2015 and tweets in regard with needs of people and
Damage done by Earthquake.
Fig 3.2.6 (g) Showing Tweet Map for urgent needs, Infrastructure Damage and
Response Efforts.
Fig 3.2.6 (h) Showing Tweet Map for Severe Damage and Mild Damage.

Page | 52
The need of using social media in this flood safety model:
1. so as propagate the appropriate message to innocents and make everybody
know about the coming flood which could harm them if they are in its way.
2. Use of social media as an integral part will make flood Disaster Safety to serve
its purpose in an efficient way because message of warning and alert message
will propagate more fastly in no time.
3. Social Media will also give message of people saving people as the alert will
be generated on the global bases on just on the regional or area bases.
4. Social will also give the actual severity of the flood by number of viewers.

Page | 53
CHAPTER 4
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

Page | 54
4.1 Conclusion.
Early warning technologies have greatly benefited from recent advances in
communication and information technologies and an improved knowledge on natural
hazards and the underlying science.
Conclusion to this work done can be given as it is feasible to implement Warning System
having capability to broadcast alerts via social media to every person. System designated
will help surely during high risks of flood in regions of Uttarakhand. This having its
integrity with social media will give alert not in a regional found but also in global
relation. This system is slightly expensive because it function in severe conditions but
life of someone and damage done by a massacre, in front of it this cost stand nowhere.
This will contain its own operated website, blogs and other social media accounts which
will reduce false rumors spread to air and could reduce a false havoc activity. System
will also generate an alert message to responsible authorities who, will help during any
damage done. Message generated to responsible personnel will increase their response
time for any flood event.
In the area of Uttarakhand regions there is need of such system installation and
implementation, as thinking on various aspect Uttarakhand is a land of gods and is a
first choice adventure trips likely white water river rafting and trekking. Uttarakhand
every year is also visited by lakhs of pilgrims to have divine visit at Chardhams during
monsoon season. All chardhams resides near to rivers which is same for its major cities
and village. During the flood event of 2013, this state received a very large amount
devastation and thousands of people died and thousands are still missing. So,
implementing such system will surely help during any flash flood event by generating
emergency and red alert about any flood event which could occur in real time phase.

Page | 55
4.2 Future Scope.
It is a long term usage system and future aspect of the system are follows.
1. Integration this system with services of meteorological department, so to have active
participation of both systems in a single stream.
2. Extending it services of alerting to pilgrims who come every year, it will require
integration of Chardham yatra registration database of pilgrim with it.
3. Developing monitoring with more advancement so as with in no time the system
generates its own alert and react fast in an immediate without attention of human
interference.
4. Making a modular system which cloud be a part of system and can give a real time
positioning of flood water.
5. Providing a feature of mobile application created for different platform esp. android,
IOS, Symbian users to help them in real time frame.

Page | 57
References:
1. Michael Dewing, Social Media: An Introduction, Publication No. 2010-
03-E.
2. Antony Mayfield, What is Social Media? an eBook.
3. Dimiter Velev and Plamena Zlateva Use of Social Media in Natural
Disaster Management.
4. Marco Manso, The Role of Social Media in Crises, email :
marco.manso@tekever.com
5. Bruce R. Lindasy, Social Media and Disasters: Current Uses, Future
Options, and Policy Considerations, Septmenber 6, 2011.
6. Queensland Government response to the Floods Commission of Inquiry
Interim Report, August 2011.
7. Professor Stuart Cunningham, Director CCI, ph 0407 195 304,
s.cunningham@qut.edu.au Social Media Vs Floods,
2015http://www.cci.edu.au/about/media/social -media-vs-the-floods.
8. Leysia Palen (palen@cs.colorado.edu), Online Social Media in Crisis
Events.
9. Introduction to Flooding,
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/science/flood-hydrology.html.
10.What is Flooding, http://eschooltoday.com/natural-disasters/floods/what-
is-a-flood.html.
11.R. Srinivasan & Nguyen Kim Loi, Development of an Online Supporting
System Flood Warning for Vu Gia Watershed, Quảng Nam Province,
Vietnam: Conceptual Framework and Proposed Research Techniques, 7
March 2013.
12.Juhani Korkealaakso, Urban flood alarm system – SmartAlarm,
Juhani.korkealaakso@vtt.fi.

Page | 58
13.S. Edward Boselly, David Kniepkamp, Craig Holan , ROADWAY FLASH
FLOODING WARNING DEVICES FEASIBILITY STUDY, September
1999.
14.Christian Ehnis , Deborah Bunker, Social Media in Disaster Response:
Queensland Police Service - Public Engagement During the 2011 Floods
, 5 Dec 2012
15.Sara Prentice, Ethan Huffman, Social Media’s New Role in Emergency
Management, March 2008.
16.Akemi Takeoka Chatfield, Unf Brajawidagda, Twitter Tsunami Early
Warning Network, 5 Dec 2012.
17. J Charlwood, USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA DURING FLOOD EVENTS.
18. Merchant, R, Elmer, S, Lurie, Integrating Social Media into
Emergency Preparedness Efforts
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1103591

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