Disaster risk management

1. Statuary Publication
This document is the sole publication of the Author. Any misuse and the
mis-interpretation of this document by anyone, author does not take the
responsibility for the same.
(Disaster Risk Management)
A case study on Response and Relief for Earthquake
Er. Amit Pokhrel
11/15/2012
This is a case study on Earthquake-response and relief of disaster risk management
to find out what the things which we should concern while disaster took place all
of sudden. The response and relief patterns should be more effective for the people
who suffered a lot.

2. EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENT ON RESPONSE (RECOVERY AND RELIEF)
we know,
Disaster = Hazard *Vulnerability
which implies,
Vunerability * lesser Coping Capacity = More disaster
Vunerability * better Coping Capacity = Less disaster impact
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic
waves.
Emergency Response is necessary during the disaster because earthquake pose a severe threat to
life and could cause extensive damage to natural resources and economic infrastructures.
Emergency Response (or Rescue and Relief) during the Disaster:
 Search, rescue and evacuation
 Shelter for victims
 First Aid
 Distribution of food, water, medicine and clothes
 Clearance of debris by machinery equipment like crane, excavator.
 Movement of injured to hospitals
 Disposal of dead human and animals
 Symphatetic attitude towards victims
 Assisting rescue teams
 Security of property
 Information disseimination and checking of rumours
 Immediate damage assessment
 Filing of claims
 Protection of life and property.
Critical Data and Analysis
A study was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, to analyse the “Building issue and concerns in
the context of Earthquake in Nepal and to suggest ways of disaster mitigation and
management planning

3. Methodology
The study was based on the Survey of Kathmandu districts. Kathmandu was chosen for field
survey because it is one of the hardest hit districts by the devasting Earthquake of
1934.(whose epicentre is Kathmandu)
Due to unproper land use planning, unproper settlements and due to centralization, the
Kathmandu cities are growing day by day in physical structures. which means the city is in
more hazard due to massive mass of cement and concrete buildings which is a serious
condition for under developed countries.
Case Studies
Case studies were made in order to probe deeper into the condition of Earthquake who were
not practicing the building codes to prevent it from natural disasters which was of seismic
hazard prone. due to this, disasters causing the loss of thousands of human lives and the
destruction of physical property worth billion of rupees. the case study showed that people
are not much concerned till today on disaster preparedness and Earthquake (and other
disasters) related problems as well as people aren’t following NBC (Nepal Building Code)
and NBA (Nepal Building Act); and due to this, more than 80 percent of houses and other
physical structures in Kathmandu districts was found poor in Eartquake resistance.
Recent study has predicted that in Kathmandu, in the near future, there can be an Earthquake,
capable of causing immense loss of life and property, though every part of the country is
vulnerable to Earthquake.
Conclusion and Recommendation
The findings of the study, when critically analysed, led to various conclusions and
recommendations. The on-going and future plan of action for Earthquake management
should take serious view of these conclusions and recommendations.
Conclusions
An overwhelming majority of physical structures in the Earthquake affected areas
(Kathmandu districts) covered by this study belong to the middle class and the poorest
section. due to awareness and poor knowledge, people are not following the rules and
regulations. some people even dont know anything about Building codes and other
preparedness program. and some people also think that it is too costly to build earthquake
resistance buildings and some people didn’t went according to NBC because municipality
workers used to create problem when designing their buildings.

4. Recommendations
The findings of the study reveal the need for a multi-pronged approach to disaster
management, particularly in the context of an Earthquake. In this regard it seems necessary to
initiate a long-term programme towards management of Earthquake in Kathmandu districts
and kathmandu valley and every part of the country.
Activities to be undertaken for the management of Earthquake should focus on protective
measures and awareness programmes, while the activities relating to response should
concentrate on capacity building of the community for disaster preparedness and mitigation.
since womens, children and aged people are the most vulnerable sections of the society and
since they have needs and concerns different from those of men, it is important to adequately
incorporate womens, children and aged and handicapped issues in disaster preparedness,
response, mitigation and management plans.
From,
Amit Pokhrel
M.Sc. Urban Design and Conservation
Khwopa Engineering College
libali, Bhaktapur