Disaster:

 It refers to a disruption on a massive scale, either natural or man- made,

occurring in short or long periods.

Classification of disaster:
1. Water and Climate Disaster: Flood, hail storms, cloudburst, cyclones, heat
waves, cold waves, droughts, hurricanes.
2. Geological Disaster: Landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes
3. Biological Disaster: Viral epidemics, pest attacks, cattle epidemic, and
locust plagues
4. Industrial Disaster: Chemical and industrial accidents, mine shaft fires, oil
spills,
5. Nuclear Disasters: Nuclear core meltdowns, radiation poisoning
6. Man-made disasters: Urban and forest fires, oil spill, the collapse of huge
building structures.

Seismic Areas in India:

 It is classified (or) arranged by the area of Intensity of earthquake.
 Earthquake is a violent tremor in the earth’s crust, sending out a series of shock waves in
all directions from its place of origin.

Classification-

 These are identified on the basis of Seismicity, earth quakes occurred in the past. So based
on that, Bureau of Indian Standards has grouped the country into four Seismic Zones.
 Zone V, Zone IV, Zone III, Zone II.

Zone V-
1. Risk is Very High.
2. Areas: Comprise entire North eastern India, Parts of Jammu Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarkhand, Rann of Kutch, Part of North bihar and Andaman & Nicobar Island.

Zone IV-

1. Risk – High
2. Areas: Remaining parts of J&K and Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Delhi, Northern part of UP,
Bihar & West Bengal.
3. Part of Gujarat & Maharashtra near west coast & Rajasthan.

Zone III-

1. Risk – Moderate.
2. Comprises Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep.
3. Remaining Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal.
4. Parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh,
Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu & Karnataka.

Zone II-

1. Risk – Low
2. Covers remaining part of the country.
Earthquake:

These are generally caused by sudden vibrations in the earth crust and it spread outward in all
directions as waves from the source of the disturbances.

Terms associated with earthquake

Waves: S wave, P wave and surface waves.

Focus: point of origin of earthquake.

Epicenter: point on the earth surface, lies directly above the focus.

Steps in protecting from earthquake

Earthquake risk

1. Maping the risks zone.

2. Recognising the risks.
3. Risk mitigation.

With the help of above prepare the zones of tension.

Mock drills

1. Frequent mock drills showing how to respond in earthquake.

Resistant buildings

2. From Japan
3. Recognise the seismic waves.

Empowerment and training to panchayat

1. Help to respond quickly

2. Related to earthquake management and response.

Coordination of different departments

1. It is done to negate after effects.

More research on earthquake waves

1. The percentage on research and other developments relating to earthquake should be high.

These steps will help to overcome the disasters caused by earthquake

Tsunami:

It is large seismically generated sea waves, caused by earthquakes, submarine explosions and
landslides.

Properties:

1. Wave speed - more than 500 km per hour.

 2. Length - above 600 km.
3. Height - more than 15 m near the sea shore.

Protection against Tsunami

1. Drop to your hands and a knees. cover your head and neck with your arms.
2. If you are in water, grab into something that floats such as raft or tree trunk.
3. If you in boat, face the direction of the waves and head to sea.
4. If you are in harbour, go inland.
5. Listen to your local radio stations.
6. During Tsunami, try to get into upper storey of a storey building.
7. Climb a tree or roof.
8. Boats are usually safer in water deeper than 100 m.

The above measures have to do when the tsunami comes, but still the reliability on technology
and measures are all the thing that keeps us updates about the natural hazards.

Storm:

Storm is any disturbed state of an environment or in atmosphere with strong wings and usually
rain, thunder, lightning or snow.

Types of storms

1. Blizzards
2. Hail
3. Ice storms
4. Lightning
5. Thunderstorms
6. Heavy wind

Safety measures

1. Stay inside during storms.

2. Use flashlight instead of candles.
3. Unplug as many big appliances as possible.
4. Do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless you absolutely need to.
5. Stay away from portable generator or heaters.
6. Not use a gas appliances to stay warm.
7. Stay away from a damaged power line.
8. Watch out for power lines when they are cleaning up outside.
9. Make sure all your vehicles are secularly park and clear of trees.
10. Check for any lose items and secure them. Eg. Furniture, Umbrella.
11. Stay indoor and away from power lines.

This measure will help you to secure you from storm.

Hurricane:

Hurricanes are large, swirling Storms and they produce winds of 119 Kilometers per hour or
higher.

Types

It is called by different names all over the world.

 Hurricane: Atlantic and Eastern, Central pacific Oceans.

 Typhoon: Western Pacific Ocean.
 Cyclonic Storm: Northern Ocean
 Tropical From: Southern Indian Ocean
 Cyclone: South Western
 Willy-Willies: Australia

Category Speed

Tropical Depression - 38 mph or less.

Tropical Storm - 38-73 mph

Category – 1 - 74-95 mph.

Category – 2 - 96- 110 mph.

Category – 3 - 111- 129 mph

Category – 4 - 130-156 mph

Category – 5 - more than 157 mph

Parts of Hurricane:

1. Eye:
Eye is the centre of the storm. Winds are lights in this area. Skies are Partly cloudy
and sometimes even clear.
2. Eye wall:
The eye wall is a ring of thunderstorms. These storms swirl around the eye. The wall
is where winds are strongest and rain is heaviest.
3. Rain bands:
Bands of clouds and rain go far out from a hurricane’s eye wall. These bands stretch
for hundreds of miles. They contain thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes.

Formation:

1. Warm Ocean waters provide the energy a Storm needs to become hurricane. Usually, the
surface water temperature must be 26 degree Celsius or higher for a hurricane to form.
2. A hurricane Starts outs as a tropical disturbance.
3. A tropical disturbance sometimes grows into a tropical depression. It is an area of rotating
thunderstorms with winds of 62 km / hr or less.
4. A tropical depression becomes a tropical Storm. If its winds reach 63 km/hr.
5. A tropical depression becomes a hurricane. If its winds reach 119 km/hr.
Flood:

It is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry, beyond it's normal limits.

Causes of flood

1. Heavy rainfall
2. Storm surges
3. Melting snows
4. Dams/levees breaking
5. Constructing building in catchment areas.

Flood management in India

It largely follows the national disaster management authority (NDMA) -2008.

A) Flood forecasting and warning

Involves

1. Data collection, process and dissemination.

2. CWC issues flood forecasting.
3. IMD monitoring and issues warning.
4. International cooperations.
5. National centre for medium range weather forecasting

B) Flood prevention, mitigation and preparedness

1. Structural measures
1. Embarkments, flood walls, Levees
2. Channel improvement.
3. Desilting and dredging of rivers.
4. Catchment area treatment through afforestation.
5. Construction of sea walls.
2. Non structural measures
1. Flood plain zoning
2. Flood proofing
3. Integrated water resource management.

C) Capacity building

1. To local bodies, police etc.

2. To youngsters.
3. Research help to students regarding flood.
4. Train in relief camps management.
5. Proper evacuation plan
Flood protection systems in India:

A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually dry and in the sense
"flowing water”.

Floods in India - Different agencies of flood control in India.

1. Indian Meteorological Department - provides rainfall or cyclonic event forecast which is

used by all the agencies for preparedness to deal with flood.
2. National Disaster Response force [NDRF]. The Job of relief and rescue is called out by
the Disaster Response force [NDRF] with state Counterparts.
3. Central water Commission - Main duty is to procure the data of hydrology at the national
level - like river discharge measurement and water level in dams etc.
4. National Centre for medium range weather forecasting Flood under Ministry of Earth
Science.
5. Central flood control Board.

Structural measures to control food:

1. Dams & Reservoirs - flood cushion

2. Embankments, Sea walls - restricting flow of water.
3. Natural Detention Basins - retarding & absorbing flood waters.
4. Channel Improvement - Increase the river carry capacity.
5. Drainage Improvement.
6. Flood ways / Spill channels.

Non- Structural measures:

1. Flood forecasting & warning.

2. Flood Plain Zoning.
3. Flood Proofing & removal of flood prone structures.
4. Public awareness campaign / Drills.
5. Financial mechanism - Disaster relief, Rehabilitation & flood Insurance.

Floods are more prone in India as because of Climate Change So we need proper mechanisms to
deal with it.

Reason behind the increase in cyclone intensity in Arabian Sea:

1. Increasing sea surface temperatures rapidly during the past century due to
global warming.
2. These warmer temperatures supply ample energy for the intensification of
cyclones.
3. Eg: Cyclone Tauktae
4. Favourable conducive wind shear for cyclones.
5. ‘pseudo El Niño’ and creates conditions conducive for the formation of
cyclones in the Arabian Sea.
Desertification:

It is the process by which the biological productivity of dry lands is reduced due to natural or man
made factors.

Causes

1. Man made causes

2. Natural causes

Man made causes

1. Overgrazing
2. Deforestation
3. Improper farming practices
4. Urbanization
5. Climate change
6. Over exploitation of resources

Natural causes

1. Natural disaster
2. Water erosion
3. Wind erosion

Measures taken by India to combat desertification.

1. Command area development.

2. Integrated watershed management program.
3. Desert development program.
4. National afforestation program.
5. National action plan to combat desertification.
6. Desertification and land degradation atlas of India.

Steps to be taken

1. Sustainable land use

2. Protection of vegetation cover
3. Alternative farming and industrial techniques.
4. Establish economic opportunities outside drylands.
5. Practice of sustainable agriculture.
6. Practice of eco forestry made to be regular.
7. Use of recycled paper.
8. Raise awareness about desertification.

UNCCD -United Nation convention to combat desertification.

It is committed to bottom up approach encouraging the participation of local people in

combating the certification.
Drought:

It is an event of prolonged shortages in the water supply. It can be atmospheric, surface or ground
water.

Four types

1. Meteorological
2. Hydrological
3. Agriculture
4. Socio economic

Preventive measures

1. Identify drought prone areas and channelize efforts to argument water supply.
2. Efficient use of surface and groundwater.
3. Cloud seeding in drought prone regions in India.
4. Use of modern irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler irrigations.
5. Water conservation.
6. Afforestation.
7. Rainwater harvesting.

Drought management

1. Drought intensity assessment and monitoring.

2. Drought declaration and prioritization of affected areas for management.
3. Development and implementation of drought management strategies.

NDMA guideline

1. Developing vulnerability profiles for regions, communities, population and to compile critical
information.
2. Specific drought management cells.
3. Use of information and communication technology (ICT) and role of National informatics
centre (NIC) for online interaction and availability of real time drought related information.
4. Assessment of damage.

“Most of the Indian famines are manmade disaster”.

 Famine is “extreme inadequacy and the scarcity of food.”
 Reasons - population imbalance, scarcity of water or lack of rainfall,
population imbalance, crop failure, government policies.
Man-made Reasons
1. Lack of food (due to no crop failure or no storage of food)
2. No proper food distribution in certain regions
3. Contaminated water and air make Crop irrigation impossible in such
situations.
4. Grabbing land, wars and improper administration
5. Due to inefficient agricultural processes, resulting in crop failure.
Biological disaster and various methods of prevention of biological disaster:
 It refers to devastating effects caused by an enormous spread of a certain
kind of living organism that may spread disease, viruses, or an infestation
of plant, animal, or insect life on an epidemic or pandemic level.
Legislations enacted in India:
1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
3. Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Rules (1986)
4. Disaster Management Act 2005
Preventive Measures for workers in the field (Medical)
1. Engineering controls – proper ventilation, installing negative pressure, and
usage of UV lamps.
2. Personal hygiene
3. Personal protection equipment
4. Sterilization.
5. Respiratory protection
Prevention of Biological Hazards (Environmental Management)
 Safe water supply, proper maintenance of sewage pipelines – to prevent
waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, dysentery, etc.
Vector control:
1. Water management - not permitting water to stagnate and eliminate
breeding places for vectors.
2. Regular spraying of insecticides, outdoor fogging, etc. for controlling vectors.
3. Controlling the population of rodents.

Various frameworks for biological disasters:

1. Legal Framework for Biological Disasters
a. The Epidemic Diseases Act - 1897.
2. Institutional Framework
a. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW), public health needs to
be accorded high priority with a separate Additional Directorate
General of Health and Sanitation (DGHS) for public health.
3. Operational Framework
a. District collector is vested with certain powers to requisition resources,
notify a disease, inspect any premises, seek help from the Army, state
or center, enforce quarantine, etc.
b. Major issues remain regarding bio security, the indigenous capability of
preparing diagnostic reagents, and quality assurance.
c. Integrated Ambulance Network (IAN).
d. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) - comprises of eight
battalions who will be positioned at different locations as per the
requirements.
Heat Wave and measures to prevent it:
1. It is a period of prolonged abnormally high surface temperatures relative to those
normally expected.
2. It may span several days to several weeks.
3. It may cause weather-related mortality.
Measures:
1. Using Reflective building materials
2. Building Green infrastructure
3. Increasing Tree covers
4. Efficient energy usage
5. Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m.
6. Staying hydrated with water, home-made drinks and avoiding caffeine
intake.
7. Wearing lightweight, light-coloured, loose, and porous cotton clothes.
8. Using protective goggles, umbrella/hat, shoes or chappals while going
out in sun.
9. Animals should be kept in shade and should be given plenty of
drinking water.

Manmade disasters are more dangerous than natural disaster. Substantiate.

1. A disaster is defined as a disruption on a massive scale, either natural or
man-made, occurring in short or long periods.
2. Man-made disasters have an element of human intent, negligence, or error
involving a failure of a man-made system, as opposed to natural disasters
resulting from natural hazards.
3. Such man-made disasters are crime, arson, civil disorder, terrorism, war,
biological/chemical threat, cyber-attacks, etc.
4. Manmade disasters are preventable at the stage of hazard while natural
disasters can only be mitigated, not prevented entirely
5. They provoke a serious disruption of the economy, agriculture and health-
care sectors of a society, typically producing long-lasting effects that
perpetuate underdevelopment.

Disaster management:
Disaster Management Act of 2005 defines it as an integrated process of planning,
organizing, coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary for-
1. Prevention of threat of a disaster
2. Reduction of risk of any disaster or its consequences.
3. Building our capacity to carry out the above two
4. Preparedness to deal with any disaster.
5. Prompt or quick response to disaster.
6. Assessment of effect of a disaster
7. Evacuation and relief operations
 8. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the disaster-hit area

community participation in disaster management:

Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM) aims to reduce disaster
risk.

Guided by principles of subsidiarity, economies of scale, equity, heterogeneity, and

public accountability.

The different stages in CBDM

1. disaster/vulnerability risk assessment,
2. risk reduction planning,
3. early warning systems,
4. post-disaster relief, and
5. participatory monitoring and evaluation.

Role of community participation in Disaster Management

1. Community participation – refers to the involvement of the people in any
project to solve their own problems or to develop their socio-economic
conditions.
2. Before Disaster:
1. Focus Group discussion
2. Awareness creation about risks and hazards
3. Vulnerability mapping
4. Early warning by using indigenous knowledge
3. During Disaster:
1. First aid and medical aid
2. Emergency response
3. Rehabilitation of affected people
4. After Disaster:
1. Relief
2. Recovery
3. Reconstruction
4. Restoration
5. Disaster Management Act, 2005 facilitates community training and awareness
programs for the prevention of disaster or mitigation with the support of local
authorities, governmental and non-governmental organisations.
6. National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 (NPDM) lays special emphasis
on community-based disaster preparedness.
Role of Science and Technology in Disaster management:

As we are moving towards prone to disasters both natural and man-made, we have to
design a technical management to deal with this.

National Disaster Management Services:

 2015-16 [implemented by BSNL]

 Setting up of very small aperture terminal network connecting ministry of home affairs,
NDMA, NDRF, etc.
 To provide the failsafe communication Infrastructure.

Earthquake disaster risk Indexing:

 NDMA took this Initiative, For 50 Important cities.

 Implemented by International Institute of Information technology.

Early warning Dissemination System:

 It integrates technologies such as digital mobile radio, location based alert system, remotely
operated siren systems and universal gateways.

Satellites:

 India through its space programs has launched earth observation satellites, disaster
specific satellites
 Used for early development of disasters like cyclone, heat waves, cold waves.
 Provides direct view of disaster affected areas, communication networks, identification of
possible shelter areas, etc.
 Eg: RESOURCE SAT, RISAT, INSAT-3D.

Drones and Social media:

 During 2013 Uttarkhand Floods, drones were used to locate missing people.
 IIT Madras developed AI-enabled drone that can help authorities provide vital information
on people, trapped in disaster hit areas.

TNSMART

 Tamilnadu has built a web GIS based system.

 Helps in threshold, hazard forecast, disaster impact forecast, advisory, response planning
etc.
Disaster management strategy followed in India.

1. Disaster Management refers to process to protect or preserve maximum

number of lives and property during a natural disaster.
2. Disaster management plans are multi-layered and are aimed to address
such issues as floods, hurricanes, fires, and even mass failure of utilities or
the rapid spread of disease.
3. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
1. An agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs
2. Purpose: To coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters
and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response.
3. Established through the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
4. Ex-officio chairperson: Prime Minister.
5. The agency is responsible for framing policies, laying down
guidelines and best-practices and coordinating with the State
Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) management.
4. National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)
1. India has released first ever national plan prepared in the country.
2. NDMP aims to make India disaster resilient and significantly reduce
the loss of lives and assets
3. The NDMP has been aligned broadly with the goals and priorities
set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
4. The Vision of the Plan is to:
i. Make India disaster resilient
ii. Achieve substantial disaster risk reduction
iii. Significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets
iv. Maximizing the ability to cope with disasters at all levels of
administration as well as among communities.
5. Five Thematic Areas for Actions:
1. Understanding Risk
2. Inter-Agency Coordination
3. Investing in DRR – Structural Measures (DRR : Disaster Ris K
Reduction)
4. Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures
5. Capacity Development

Agencies involved in disaster management of India:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)- apex body for disaster

management, headed by the Prime Minister of India. It is responsible for the
supervision, direction, and control of the National Disaster Response
Force (NDRF).

2. National Executive Committee (NEC) - composed of high profile ministerial

members, include the Union Home Secretary as Chairperson, and the
 Secretaries to the Government of India

3. State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) – headed by Chief Minister

The State Government has a State Executive Committee (SEC) which
assists the (SDMA) on Disaster Management.

4. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) - headed by the District

Collector, Deputy Commissioner or District Magistrate depending on the
situation, with the elected representatives of the local authority as the Co-
Chairperson.

5. Local Authorities - include Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), Municipalities,

District and Cantonment 11 Institutional and Legal Arrangements Boards, and
Town Planning Authorities

Prime Minister’s Ten Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction:

1 All development sectors must imbibe the principles of disaster

risk management

2 Risk coverage must include all, starting from poor households

to SMEs to multi-national corporations to nation states

3 Women’s leadership and greater involvement should be central to

disaster risk management

4 Invest in risk mapping globally to improve global understanding

of Nature and disaster risks

5 Leverage technology to enhance the efficiency of disaster risk

management efforts

6 Develop a network of universities to work on disaster-related issues

7 Utilise the opportunities provided by social media and mobile

technologies for disaster risk reduction

8 Build on local capacity and initiative to enhance disaster

risk Reduction

9 Make use of every opportunity to learn from disasters and, to achieve

that, there must be studies on the lessons after every disaster

10 Bring about greater cohesion in international response to disasters

National Disaster management act 2005:

This act enacted for efficient management of disasters, including preparation of mitigation
Strategies, capacity building and related matters.

Features:

Nodal Agency-

The act designates the ministry of home affairs for steering the overall national disaster
management.

Institutional Structure-

National Disaster management authority [NDMA]

 Tasked with laying down disaster Management policies and ensuring response
mechanism.

National Executive Committee-

 Responsible for the preparation of National Disaster Management Plan for the whole
country.

National Institute of Disaster management-

 It is an institute for training and capacity development programs for managing natural
calamities.

National Disaster Response Force-

 It refers to trained professional units that are called upon for specialized response.

State & District level-

 Act provides for state and district level authorities responsible for, among things, drawing
plans for implementation of National plan and preparing local plans.
1. State Disaster management authority
2. District Disaster management authority

Finance-

 National Disaster Response Fund.

Punishment-

1. The Act also provides of imprisonment up to one year or fine or both for refusal to
comply with.
National Disaster management Authority (NDMA):

NDMA is a Apex body for disaster management in India. Headed by Prime Minister

 Constituted on 27th September 2006

 Under Disaster Management Act, 2005
Compositions:
 Chairperson: Prime Minister & 9 other members
Vision:
 To build a safer and disaster resilient India
Functions-

1. Lay down policies on disaster management.

2. Approves the National plan
3. Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation
4. Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plans for disaster
management
5. Lay down guidelines to be followed by state authorities in drawing up the state plan.
6. Lay down guidelines to be followed by different Ministries or Departments of
Central Government for purpose of integrating.
7. Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as may be
determined by the Central Government.
8. Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of
Disaster Management.

NDMA not only do the above function, but In addition to that it can also be assigned for
protection of cyber Infrastructure.

National Disaster Management Policy:

It has been prepared in tune with and in pursuance of the Disaster management Act, 2005.

Functions / features

A. It covers all aspect of disaster management.

1. Covering institutional, legal & financial arrangement.
2. Disaster prevention.
3. Mitigation and preparedness.
4. Techno-legal regime.
5. Response, relief and rehabilitation.
6. Reconstruction and recovery.
7. Capacity building.
8. Knowledge management
9. Research and development
B. It focuses on the areas, where action is needed and the institutional mechanism through
such action can be channelized.
 C. It addresses the concerns of all sections of the society including differently abled
persons, women, children and other disadvantages group.
D. It also aims to bring in transparency and accountability in all aspect of disaster
management through involvement of community, community based organizations,
panchayat raj institution, local bodies and civil society.

Disaster management is a multi-disciplinary activity which is to be performed in cohesive

Synergy among all stakeholders. So, National policy on disaster management puts in place an
enabling environment.

Sendai Declaration & Targets of Sendai Framework:

1. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

2. Adopted in 2015 at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster

Risk Reduction, Japan.

3. Provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development

gains from the risk of disaster for the next 15 years 2015-2030

4. Targets:

It outlines 7 Global Targets to be achieved by 2030 : Substantial

Reductions
1. Reduce global disaster mortality.

2. Reduce the number of affected people globally.

3. Reduce direct economic loss in relation to GDP.

4. Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption

of basic services.

5. Increase the number of countries with national and local disaster

risk reduction strategies.

6. Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing

countries.

7. Increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning

systems.
Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Policy:

1. Tamilnadu introduced a comprehensive disaster management policy for 2018-30.

2. Aim:

 To reduce the negative impact of all kinds of disasters through a

vibrant disaster management machinery. so that loss of lives, property
& critical infrastructure is minimised and economic and development
gains made by the State are not lost due to such calamities / disasters.

3. Objectives of the Policy

1. To replace the existing approach of re-active relief by a proactive

approach.

2. To develop a new culture of prevention, preparedness and quick

response for management of disasters.

3. To reduce the vulnerability of the community through proper risk

assessment.

4. To put institutions and structures in place for efficient and effective

management of disasters.

5. To establish a clear chain of command with well defined authority and

responsibility of various stakeholders.

6. To Identify and utilise the available resources efficiently.

7. To ensure transparent, consistent and equitable relief to the victims.

8. To make disaster management planning an integral part of

development planning.

9. To design appropriate disaster prevention and mitigation strategies for

different disasters.

10. To enhance the capacities of various players including the community

in disaster management and mitigation

11. To create database about the policies, resources and strategies of

disaster management.

12. To ensure better coordination among various departments in the State

and also with other national/international agencies relating to disaster
management.

13. To create awareness among all sections of society especially

students to develop expertise in the disaster management discipline.
Tsunami rehabilitation programme of Tamil Nadu

 Tsunami hit on 26.12.2004.

 Aftermath, Government has sanctioned various relief and rehabilitation

measures with the aid of Government of India and Agencies like World Bank
and Asian Development Bank, supported by NGOs in the initial stage of
relief.

Objectives:

1. To provide immediate relief and long term rehabilitation

2. To convert the traumatic challenge into an opportunity

3. To create-environment friendly and safe habitations

4. To provide livelihood options with specific focus on the empowerment of

the vulnerable sections of the society especially women

5. To enhance the effectiveness of the community to face disasters in the

future

6. To obtain sustainable and lasting outcomes by forging strong public-

private partnerships.

Recommendations:

1. Reconstruct damaged and vulnerable houses using disaster resistant

features.

2. Undertake vulnerability mapping to locate new habitations in safer locations

3. Create new sustainable livelihood options in harmony with environment.

4. Form SHGs, especially for the weaker sections to empower them.

5. Build capacity of coastal communities to cope more effectively with disasters.

6. Restore coastal ecology.

7. Provide better physical infrastructure.

8. Address psychological trauma and educational needs of children for an

improved future.
Factors responsible for frequent occurrence of Landslides in mountain
regions:

a. A landslide refers to movement of a mass of rock, debris, down a slope

under the influence of Gravity.

b. Natural causes

1. Earthquakes: cause a sudden shaking of earth’s crust which leading

to landslides.

2. Heavy Rainfall: lead to heavy landslides in the areas of steep

slopes, loosens up the material.

i. For instance, the 2013 Uttarakhand Cloudburst brought

immense landslides in the region.

c. Anthropogenic causes

1. Infrastructure Development:

i. Creation of roads, railways, dams, etc. in the mountainous

region can result in landslides.

ii. For instance, the development of Konkan Railways in

western ghats is reason behind the frequent occurrence of
landslides in the region.

2. Mining: loosens the grip of material, may result in landslides.

3. Deforestation: Trees are cut for agricultural and industrial activities

which loosens the soil grip and vulnerable to landslides.

4. Unsustainable Tourism: Rising tourist influx in the Himalayan

region leads to more infrastructure to accommodate them. Results in
landslides.

5. Faulty agricultural practises

d. Various measures needed to mitigate them are-

1. Hazard mapping by demarcating areas prone to landslides and

avoiding stress on those areas for settlement

2. Construction of retention walls to avoid land from slipping

3. Increasing afforestation and vegetation cover

4. Terrace farming, contour ploughing, etc to check soil erosion.

5. Implementing surface drainage control for rain water and spring

flows .

6. Proper planning of developmental processes following sustainable

methods.