1. DISASTER MANAGEMENT
AN OVERVIEW
BY
BRIG. D.V.RAO, V.S.M., (Ret’d)
CENTRE FOR MANAGEMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT & DISASTERS
A. P.A.R.D.

2. Damage CYCLONE
Potential
Society Poorer than
before
Disruption of
Normal life &
Development
Suffers
Elements at Risk
Huge Losses/
Damages

3. Damage HAZARD
Potential
Awareness- Effect
on Elements
Society Quicker
Recovery
Elements at Risk
Action
Plans Communities
More
Huge Losses/ Resilient
Damages
Reduced
Losses
More Stable Society

4. Damage HAZARD
Potential
Elements at Risk
Natural Features
River/Stream Banks
Low-lying Areas
Sea & Sea-coast
Slopes of hills
Societal Elements
People & Live-stock
Huts & Semi-permanent Houses
Weak Buildings
Agri. & Horticultural crops
Livelihood tools / Equipment
Unsecured personal assets
Public Infrastructure

5. Scale of Disaster
Is Dependent on :
• Lead Time Available.
• Intensity of Hazard.
• Duration.
• Spatial Extent.
• Density of Population & Assets.
• Time of Occurrence.
• Vulnerabilities existing in the
Elements at Risk.
•Hazard X Vulnerability =
Disaster

6. ELEMENTS AT RISK
• People
• Livestock
• Rural Housing Stock
• Houses Vulnerable
• Crops, Trees,Telephone, Electric
poles
• Boats, Looms, Working Implements
• Personal Property
• Electricity, Water and Food Supplies
• Infrastructure Support

7. AIMS OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
•Reduce (Avoid, if possible) the
potential losses from hazards.
•Assure prompt and appropriate
assistance to victims when
necessary.
•Achieve rapid and durable
recovery.

8. DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE
DURING DISASTER
PRE-DISASTER
POST-DISASTER

9. Stages of Disaster
Cyclone
BEFORE DURING AFTER
Jan - Apr MAY June- Oct
Well Before
Weeks-Months
Just Before -
Hours
Actual Time
Period
Rescue Relief Rehabilitation Reconstruction

10. Role Players in Disasters
• People : Individuals, House -Holds,
Volunteers
• Gram Panchayat : Sarpanch, Panchayati
Secretary, Panchayati Members
• Village Elders : Caste/Community/Religious
Leaders, Teachers, Doctors, Engineers,
Retired Army & Police Personnel
• Govt. Deptl. Officers : Agriculture, Medical,
Engineers (Housing, Roads & Buildings,
Irrigation) Revenue Department, Public
Health, Police etc. NGOs

11. DEFINITIONS OF
“VULNERABILITY”
• “The extent to which a community,
structure, service or geographic area is
likely to be damaged or disrupted by
the impact of particular disaster
hazard…”
• “Vulnerability is the propensity of
things to be damaged by a hazard”.

12. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
• Disaster preparedness aims at
minimizing the adverse effects of a hazard -
• Through effective precautionary actions
• Ensure timely, appropriate and efficient
organisation and delivery of emergency
response following the impact of a disaster.

13. PREPAREDNESS
• Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping to include
Resources.
• Assess strengthening requirements and execute.
• Funding for preparedness must be arranged.
• Peoples’ cooperation through Political leaders,
elders, Volunteers and NGOs
• Create lead time by interpreting Warnings
• Plan to include movement of resources with time
frame.
• Aim to reduce the destructive potential of
cyclones, timely & appropriate relief to victims
and quick & durable recovery

14. Disaster Preparedness
Framework
COMPONENTS OF PREPAREDNESS
Public Rehearsals
Education
and Training
Response
Mechanisms
Warning
Systems
Resource
Base
Information
System
Institutional
Framework
Vulnerability Planning
Assessment

15. Disaster Response Activities
• Warning
• Evacuation/Mitigation
• Search and Rescue
• Assessment
• Emergency Relief
• Logistics and Supply
• Communication and information Management
• Survivor Response and coping
• Security
• EOC & coordination
• Expedite rehabilitation and reconstruction.

16. Floods and Water Hazards
Elements at Risk
• Everything in the
flood plain.
• Earthen or soluble
structures
• Buried services
and utilities
• Food stores
• Crops and
livestock
Main Mitigation
Strategies.
• Land use control
• Engineering of
strictures
• Elevation of structures
• Flood control
structures
• Reforestation projects
(watershed
management)

17. Strong Winds
Elements at Risk
• Lightweight structures.
• Elevated utilities
(Power and
communication lines)
• Fishing boats and
other maritime
industries.
Main Mitigation
Strategies.
• Structural
engineering
measures.
• Planting of
windbreaks.