DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Speakers :

CHETAN – Introduction to Disaster Management and Disaster Impact

SOUMYA – Disaster Relief, Response, Rehabilitation.

CHETAN KUMAR – Mitigation, Disaster Preparedness, Policies

DARSHAN – Personal protection in different types of Emergency

CHIDANAND – Manmade Disasters, Disasters in India, Organizations.

Introduction to Disaster Management

By Chetan

Definition :

A disaster can be defined as : “ Any occurrence that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life or deterioration of health and health services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community or area”. BY - World Health Organisation (WHO)

“A disaster can be defined as an occurrence either nature or manmade that causes human suffering and creates human needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance”. BY - American Red Cross (ARC)

When and Where it occurs ?

Anytime and anywhere, not confined to any part of the world.

Some disasters can be predicted and whereas some cannot be predicted.

Warfare is a special category, because it is well planned and damage is the intended goal of action.

Factors affecting Disaster :

Host factors

•Age•Immunization status•Degree of mobility•Emotional stability

Environmental factors

•Physical Factors•Chemical Factors •Biological Factors•Social Factors•Psychological Factors

Effects of disaster :

Population displacement Injury or Death Risk of epidemic of diseases Damage to infrastructure Psychological problems Food shortage Socioeconomic losses Shortage of drugs and medical supplies.

Types of Disasters :

Natural Disasters

Earthquake

Floods

Cyclones

Tsunami

Landslide and Avalanches

Examples• Natural disasters :

Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods and cyclones

• Man-made disasters : Stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills and nuclear explosions/radiation. War and deliberate attacks may also be put in this category.

Land Slide Volcanic Eruption

Cyclone Earthquake

Iraq War Terrorism

Oil Spillage

Floods

Severity of the impact :

The severity of the impact depends upon many factors :

1. Predictability : Some of the disasters such as cyclones, floods can be predicted and the degree of preparedness will be high.

2. Type of Disaster : In Earthquakes, the mortality is high because the people get crushed below the falling objects and collapsed buildings

3. Density and population distribution.4. Opportunity of warning.5. Condition of the environment.

The scale is a normalized function whose variables are scope (S), topography (T), and rate of change (D), expressed as :

Rohn Emergency Formula :

E = EMERGENCY = f(S,T,D)

Measuring the severity :

Morbidity and Mortality :

Earthquakes : Unpredictable, People get crushed because they cannot escape and if it occurs in night, the people may even have fracture pelvis, thorax or spine because they are lying in bed

Volcanic eruptions : Mudslides and glowing clouds

of ash.

Bodies buried in volcanic ash

Morbidity and Mortality (contd..) : Floods : Collapsed dam or tidal waves.

Droughts : Protein-calorie malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies (Particularly Vit.A) leading to Xerophthalmia and blindness. Even dehydration and diarrhoea may occur.

India’s Vulnerability to Disasters : 57% land is vulnerable to earthquakes. Of these, 12% is vulnerable to

severe earthquakes.

68% land is vulnerable to drought.

12% land is vulnerable to floods.

8% land is vulnerable to cyclones.

Apart from natural disasters, some cities in India are also vulnerable to

chemical and industrial disasters and man-made disasters.

Northern mountain region prone to land slides, snow–storms , earthquakes

Eastern coastal area prone to severe floods ,cyclones Western desert prone to draughts

India’s Vulnerability to Disasters :

Who will work ?

Usually military force, police, BSF, volunteers from other region.

Disaster management is a specialised training & is provided by local, state, federal and private organizations.

Undergraduate and Graduate degrees in disaster management or a related field are provided. (Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal, M.P and Disaster Mitigation Institute, Ahmadabad,

Gujarat). Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) the most important

degree. The National Emergency Management Association and the International Association of Emergency Managers are two examples of these professional organizations.

Principles of disaster management

Comprehensive – disaster managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, and all impacts relevant to disasters.

Progressive – anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures

Risk-driven – use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.

Integrated – ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.

Contd...

Collaborative – create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations .

Coordinated – synchronize the activities to achieve a common purpose.

Flexible – use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.

Professional – value a science and knowledge-based approach for continuous improvement.

International Organizations

International Organizations :

Organizations in INDIA :

FOR INFORMATION ON DISASTERS DIAL TOLL FREE No. 1070

Log on to http://www.ndmindia.nic.in

Volunteers :They form an important non-professional supporting team in disaster management.

Phases of Management :

Disaster Response Disaster Rehabilitation Disaster Reconstruction

Disaster Mitigation Disaster Preparedness

Recovery phase after disaster

Risk reduction phase before a disaster

Impact & Response :

Greatest need for emergency care is in 1st few hours after the impact.

The management of mass casualties are divided into :Search and Rescue

First Aid

Field care

Triage

Tagging

Identification of Dead

Search and Rescue & First-Aid : For search and rescue the team should be

organised and work as one. Even with a good team the search may be a small fraction in major disasters.

The immediate help is usually obtained from the uninjured survivors.

Field care :

The injured people are brought to nearest health care immediately by available means of transport and people converge into health facilities.

The hospitals must get ready to deal with mass input of injured with new priorities for bed availability and surgical services.

Provision for food, shelter should be done. A centre to respond for the enquiries from patient’s

relatives and friends. Priority is given to : a. victims identification and b. adequate mortuary space.

Triage :

It consists of rapidly classifying the injured on the basis of the severity of their injuries and their likelyhood of their survival with prompt medical intervention.

The principle of “First come, first serve” is NOT FOLLOWED.

High priority is given to those whose immediate or long term prognosis can be changed dramatically with simple intensive care.

It is the only approach that can provide maximum benefit to large population in a major disaster.

Colour coding in a Triage :

Internationally accepted four colour coding system :

Red – High priority treatment or transfer.

Yellow – Medium priority.

Green – Ambulatory patients.

Black – Dead or Moribound patients.

Triage should be carried out at the site of the disaster.Local health workers should be taught the principles of triage as a part of disaster training.People with minor injuries should be treated in their homes to avoid social dislocation and drain the resources which are needed by severely injured person.All persons should be tagged with details – name, age, place of origin, triage, initial diagnosis and treatment.

Identification of Dead :

Dead people care is most important in disaster management because they impede the efficiency of rescue activities.

Care of dead includes :1. Proper Respect.2. Removal of dead from the scene.3. Shifting to mortuary.4. Identification.5. Reception of bereaved relatives.

#Cadavers must be removed from water sources as they may cause outbreaks of gastroenteritis or food poisoning.

#The health hazards from the cadavers are outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, leptospirosis, anthrax, plague etc.

Disaster Relief , Response and Rehabilitation

By : Soumya

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

Relief phase :

This phase begins when assistance from outside area starts reaching the disaster site.

The relief supplies are determined by two factors :

a. The type of disaster b. Availability of local supplies.

Relief phase :

Important needs are :1. Critical health supply and casualties.2. Food, blanket, clothing, shelter, sanitary engineering.3. Measures to prevent outbreak of communicable

diseases.4. Donations(Funds)5. Transportation, Storage and distribution of food,

medicines, vitamins.

6. The four distinct components in Relief phase are : Acquisition of supplies, Transportation, Storage and Distribution.

Disaster response

• Epidemiological surveillance• Nutrition• vaccination

Surveillance/early warning system :

Rapid detection of cases of epidemic-prone diseases is essential to ensure rapid control. A surveillance/early warning system should be quickly established to detect outbreaks and monitor priority endemic diseases.

• Priority diseases to be included in the surveillance system. In some situations, the threats may include rare diseases such as viral haemorrhagic fevers, plague or tularaemia.

Communicable diseases :

The potential risk of communicable diseases are influenced by six types of adverse changes. These are :

changes in pre existent levels of disease;

ecological changes

population

displacement population

density disruption public utilities; and

interruption of basic public health services.

Changes in pre existent levels of disease

• Usually the risk of a communicable disease in a Community affected by disaster is proportional to the endemic level.

• There is generally no risk of a given disease when the organism causes it is not present beforehand

• Relief workers can conceivably introduce communicable disease into areas affected by disaster.

Ecological changes caused by the disaster

• Natural disasters, particularly droughts,

floods and hurricanes, frequently produce ecological

changes in environment which increase

or reduce the risk of communicable disease.

• Vector borne and water-borne diseases

are the most significantly affected.

Population displacement

• Movement of populations away from the areas affected by a disaster can affect the relative risk from communicable diseases.

• If the population moves nearby, the existing facilities

some distance, the chances increase that the

displaced population will encounter diseases

not prevalent in their own community, to which

they are less susceptible .

POPULATION DENSITY

Because of the destruction of houses, natural disasters almost invariably contribute to increased population density.

• Survivors of severe disaster seek shelter, food and water in less affected areas.

• When the damage is less severe,

crowding may occur in public places

like school and churches..

Disruption of public utilities

• Electricity, water, sewage disposal and other public utilities may be interrupted after a disaster.

• Insufficient water for washing hands & bathing also promotes the spread of diseases transmitted by contact.

Interruption of basic public health services

• The interruption of basic public health services like vaccination, ambulatory treatment of tuberculosis and programs for the control of malaria and vectors are frequent, after disaster in a developing country.

• The risk of transmission increases proportionally to the extent and the duration of the disrupt.

Principals of preventing and controlling communicable diseases

1)Implement as soon as possible

all public health measures,

to reduce the risk of disease transmission;

2)Organize a reliable reporting system

to identify outbreaks and

initiate suitable control measures;

3)Investigate all reports of

disease outbreaks immediately.

Preventive measures in communicable diseases:

1)Ensure safe water, sanitation

2) Primary health-care services . The immediate impact of communicable diseases can be

mitigated with the following interventions: • Ensure early diagnosis and treatment of diarrhoeal

diseases and ARI,malaria. • Ensure availability of drugs included in the interagency

emergency health kit.

Disaster

Press/Media

Politics

Public

Health Authorities

PRESSURE

Mass Vaccination Programme

•Requires large number of workers•Supervision of sterilization is impossible

•Leads to false sense of security about diseases.•Then to neglect of effective control measures.

VACCINATION :

Newer typhoid and cholera vaccines :

WHO does not recommend in routine endemic areas.

They have increased efficacy Since they are multidose vaccines

compliance is generally poor.

Tetanus :

Significant cases of tetanus are not noted. So, generally tetanus vaccination is not

required in disaster areas. Best protection is maintenance of high level

of immunity in general population before disaster occurs.

If TT immunization was received more than 5yrs ago in a injured patient then booster dose is given, if unimmunized then it is given as directed by physician.

Measles and Hepatitis A vaccines:

• Mass measles immunization together with vitamin A supplementation areimmediate health priorities. The priority age groups are 6 months to 5 years, and up to 15yr.•Hepatitis A vaccine is generally not recommended to prevent outbreaks in thedisaster area.

NUTRITION

Disaster affects nutritional status of the population by affecting one or more components of food chain.

Infants, children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and sick persons are most commonly affected ones.

STEPS FOR ENSURING FOOD RELIEF PROGRAM WILL BE EFFECTIVE:

1)Assessing the food supplies after the disaster 2)Gauging the nutritional needs of the affected population 3)Calculating daily food rations and need for large population 4)Monitoring the nutritional status of affected people

Relief v/s rehabilitation :

• Relief and rehabilitation come immediately after the disaster.

• The basic difference between them is that relief relates to the immediate days and weeks after the disaster when attempts are made to provide basic needs to the victims.

• Rehabilitation relates to the work undertaken in the following weeks and months, for the restoration of basic services to enable the population to return to normalcy.

Rehabilitation phase

Starts from the moment disaster strikes and ends with restoration of normality.

• Water supply • Food safety • Basic sanitation and personal

hygiene • Vector control

WATER SUPPLY

Survey of all public water supplies to be made Priority of ensuring water quality is by chlorination. Increase the residual chlorine level to about 0.2 to 0.5mg/litre. Existing and new water resources require the following:

1)Restrict access to people and animals.

2)Ensure excreta disposal at a safe distance from water source

3)Prohibit water washing methods

4)Upgrade wells to ensure they are not contaminated.

5)Estimate maximum yield of wells. Incase of emergency ,water has to be trucked to disaster site or camps.

Food supply

Poor hygiene is the major cause of food borne diseases in disaster areas.

Where feeding programmes are used, kitchen sanitation is of utmost importance.

Personal hygiene should be monitored in individuals involved in food preparation.

Basic sanitation and personal hygiene

Many communicable diseases spread

through fecal contamination

of drinking water and food. Hence every effort should me made

to ensure sanitary disposal of excreta. Emergency toilet facilities should be

made available wherever they are destroyed. Washing, cleaning and bathing facilities

should be provided to displaced persons.

Vector control Control programme for vector borne diseases

should be intensified in the emergency and rehabilitation period. Of special concern are1)Dengue fever

2)Malaria

3)Leptospirosis

4)Rat bite fever

5)Plague.

Flood water provides ample breeding

opportunities for mosquitoes.

Disaster mitigationEmergency Preparedness and Policies

By Chetankumar

Disaster mitigation

Disaster mitigation

Mitigation is a key to national preparedness.

This includes an assessment of possible risks to personal/family health and to personal property.

For instance, in a flood plain, home owners might not be aware of a property being exposed to a hazard until trouble strikes. Specialists can be hired to conduct risk identification and assessment surveys.

Contd…

Mitigation involves Structural and Non-structural measures taken to limit the impact of disasters.

Structural mitigation are actions that change the characteristics of a building or its surrounding, examples include shelters, window shutters, clearing forest around the house.

Non-structural mitigation on personal level mainly takes the form of insurance or simply moving house to a safer area.

DEFINITION

Disaster preparedness is “a programme of long term development activities whose goals are to strengthen the overall capacity and capability of a country to manage efficiently all types of emergency it should bring about an orderly transition from through recovery, and back to sustained development “

THE OBJECTIVE

To ensure that appropriate systems, procedures and resources are in place to provide prompt effective assistance to disaster victims ,thus facilitating relief measures and rehabilitation of services .

Tasks to be followed in emergency preparedness

1)Evaluate the risk of the country or particular region to disaster.

India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of natural as well as man-made disasters. 58.6 per cent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12 per cent of land) is prone to floods and river erosion.

2) Adopt standards and regulation

Following according to NDMA guidelines

Of the 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68 per cent of the cultivable area is vulnerable to drought and hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches. Vulnerability to disasters/ emergencies of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) origin also exists

contd…

3)Organize communication ,information and warning system.

Warning system is any system of biological or technical nature deployed by an individual or group to inform of a future danger. Its purpose is to enable the deployer of the warning system to prepare for the danger and act accordingly to mitigate or avoid it.

4)Ensure coordination end response mechanism.

  These mechanisms include the "cluster

approach", which groups agencies with a shared operational interest, e.g. health, water and sanitation. This approach helps to avoid gaps and duplications. It also helps to ensure there is a clear lead organization in each sector

5)Resource availability.

Ensuring that resource mobilization and financing are handled in a common way, such as through a Flash Appeal or the Central Emergency Response Fund.

6)Develop public education programmes

If the public is to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency involving toxic chemical agents, people must be made aware of the risk from chemical agents and the necessary protective actions well before an emergency occurs. A carefully planned public education program is needed to provide people potentially at risk with the knowledge required to take life-saving actions.

7)Coordinate information with news media.

The media is an undeniable important

player in the disaster management matrix especially in the area of risk reduction advocacy, disaster mitigation preparedness and response.

A disaster drill is an exercise in which people simulate the circumstances of a disaster so that they have an opportunity to practice their responses.

8) DISASTER DRILL

Efficacy of plans and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can be tested through mock drills

Contd . . .

Exercises have 3 main purposes:

to validate plans (validation)

to develop staff competencies and give them practice in carrying out their roles in the plans (training)

to test well-established procedures (testing)

There are 3 main types of exercise:

Discussion-based

Table top

Live

COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS Community members resources

organizations,and and administration should be the cornerstone of an emergency programme

REASONS FOR COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

Members of the community are the most to to lose from being vulnerable to disasters and the most to gain to gain from effective and appropriate emergency preparedness programme.

Those who respond first to an emergency come from within the community .When transport and communication are disrupted ,an external emergency may not arrive for days.

Resources are most easily pooled at community level and every community posses capabilities .Failure to explore these capabilities is poor resource management .

Sustained development is best achieved by allowing emergency affected communities to design ,manage and implement internal and external assistance programme.

cont…

An example of reduced damage due to

preparedness

On 12 November, 1970 a major cyclone hit the coastal belt of

Bangladesh at 223 km/hr. with a storm surge of six to nine meters

height, killing an estimated 500,000 people.

Due to the Cyclone Preparedness Program, the April 1991 cyclone

with wind speed of 225 km/hr. killed only 138,000 people even

though the coastal population had doubled by that time.

In May 1994, in a similar cyclone with a wind speed of 250 km/hr.

only 127 people lost their lives.

In May 1997, in a cyclone with wind speed of 200 km/hr. only 111

people lost their lives.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

POLICY DEVELOPMENT

It is “the formal statement of a course of action”.

Policy is strategic in nature and

performs the following functions Establish long term goals . Assign responsibilities for achieving goals. Establish recommended work practice. Determine criteria for decision making.

The form of emergency preparedness policies varies from place to place . Six sectors are required for response and recovery strategies .

They are Communication Police and

security Health Search and

rescue Social welfare Transport

National Policy on Disaster Management(NPDM)

On 23 December, 2005, the Government of India took a defining step by enacting the Disaster Management Act, 2005which envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by the Chief Ministers, and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) headed by the Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner.

INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS

Disaster Management Act, 2005 The Act lays down institutional, legal, financial and

coordination mechanisms at the national, state, district and local levels. These institutions are not parallel structures and will work in close harmony.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

National Disaster Management Authority of India :

It is a govt. Agency – under Ministry of Home Affairs. A group representing a public/private has recently been

formed by the Government of India. Some of the groups' early efforts involve the provision of

emergency management training for first responders (a first in India), the creation of a single emergency telephone number, and the establishment of standards for EMS staff, equipment, and training.

Efforts are being made in making this a nation-wide effective group.

It is funded primarily by a large India-based computer company and aimed at improving the general response of communities to emergencies.

cont……

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

Local Authorities . Local authorities would include Panchayati Raj

Institutions (PRI), Municipalities, District and Cantonment Boards and Town Planning Authorities.

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) .

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

cont……

Armed Forces

Central Para Military Forces

Civil Defence and Home Guards

State Police Forces and Fire Services

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS The National Disaster Response and

Mitigation Fund

The National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF)

General measures during emergency

Do not use telephone except call for help,so as to leave telephone lines free for the organization to respond.

Listen to the messages broadcast by radio and various media so as to be informed of development.

Carry out the official instructions given over the radio or by loudspeaker.

Keep a family emergency kit ready.

HOME EMERGENCY KIT

Battery-operated radios, batteriesAlternate heat sourcesExtra warm clothing and blanketsCashFirst aid kit

Ready-to-eat and high-energy foods for 3 daysBottled waterExtra prescription medicationsBaby suppliesSpecial needs itemsLanterns, flashlights, lightsticks

EMERGENCY KITS93

EMERGENCY KITS

TRAVEL EMERGENCY KIT Flashlight Flares or reflective

triangle First aid kit Basic tools including

a shovel Extra clothing

including hats and gloves

Booster cables Sand or kitty litter Ice scraper and

brush Blanket

Non-perishable high energy food

Water Small candle in a tin

can, waterproof matches

94

94

Flashlight Flares or reflective

triangle First aid kit Basic tools including a

shovel Extra clothing

including hats and gloves

Booster cables Sand or kitty litter Small candle in a tin

can, waterproof matches

Water

Ice scraper and brush Blanket Non-perishable high

energy food

TRAVEL EMERGENCY KIT

PERSONAL PROTECTION IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMERGENCIES

By Darshan

FLOODS

Before a Flood

To prepare for a flood, you should:

Avoid building in a flood prone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.

Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.

Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.

Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.

Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage

During a Flood

If a flood is likely in your area, you should:

Listen to the radio or television for information.

Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.

Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

 

cont…

If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:

Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.

Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.

If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:

Do not walk through moving water.. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.

Do not drive into flooded areas.

After a Flood

The following are guidelines for the period following a flood:

Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.

Avoid moving water. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded.

Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a vehicle.

Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.

Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.

Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible. Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.

Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and chemicals

cont…

STORMS,HURRICANES,TORNADOES

What to do before hand? choose a shelter in advance minimise the effect of storms take measures against flooding prepare a family emergency kit

1. During an emergency:

Listen to the information and advice provided by the authorities.

Do not go out in car or boat once the storm has been announced.

Evacuate houses if requested Tie down any object liable to be blown away by wind If caught outside in a storm,take refuge as quickly as

possible in a shelter In a thunderstorm keep away from

doors,windows,and electrical conductors,unplug electrical appliances etc

Donot use any electrical appliances or the telephone

During an emergency (Contd. . ) :

Anyone who is outside should: Look for shelter in a building never take shelter under a tree if in a boat,get back to the shore keep away from fences and electric

cables kneel down rather than standing

After the emergency:

After the storm has subsided: Follow the instructions given by the

authorities Stay indoors Give alert as quickly as possible Give first aid to the injured Make sure the water is safe to drink Check the exterior of dwellings and call

for assistance if there is a risk of falling objects[tiles,guttering...]

Earthquake

EARTHQUAKES

What to do before hand : Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations.

Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects.

Hang heavy items such as pictures and Brace overhead light and fan fixtures.

Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.

Secure a water heater, LPG cylinder etc., by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.

Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves

Identify safe places indoors and outdoors.

1 Under strong dining table, bed

2.Against an inside wall

3.Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over

4.In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, flyovers, bridges

5.Have a disaster emergency kit ready

If indoors: DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of

furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed.

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall.

Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave. DO NOT use the elevators.

If you know that people have been buried, tell the rescue teams. Do not rush and do not worsen the situation of injured persons or your own situation.

Avoid places where there are loose electric wires and do not touch any metal object in contact with them.

Do not drink water from open containers without having examined it and filtered it through a sieve, a filter or an ordinary clean cloth.

If your home is badly damaged, you will have to leave it. Collect water containers, food, and ordinary and special medicines (for persons with heart complaints, diabetes, etc.)

Do not re-enter badly damaged buildings and do not go near damaged structures.

If outdoors

Stay there.

Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires.

Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass.

If in a moving vehicle Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the

vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris Do not move about or kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a

whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort.

After an earthquake

Keep calm, switch on the radio/TV and obey any instructions you hear on it.

Keep away from beaches and low banks of rivers. Huge waves may sweep in.

Expect aftershocks. Be prepared.

Turn off the water, gas and electricity.

Do not smoke and do not light matches or use a cigarette lighter. Do not turn on switches. There may be gas leaks or short-circuits.

Make sure that the water is safe to drink and food stored at home is fit to eat.

Clouds of toxic fumes

What to do before hand? Find about evacuation plans and

facilities Familiarize with the alarm signals used in

emergencies Equip doors and windows with the

tightest possible fastenings Prepare family emergency kits

During an emergency

Do not use the telephone;leave lines free for rescue services

Listen to messages given by radio and other media

Carry out the instructions given through media Close doors and windows Seal any cracks or gaps around windows and

doors with adhesive tapes Organise a reserve of water Turn off ventilators and air conditioners

After Emergency :

Follow the authorities instructions and do not go out until there is no longer any risk

Carry out necessary decontamination measures

MAN-MADE DISASTERS

By : Chidanand

“Humans are good at creating disasters, and throughout history we’ve rarely been afraid to prove it”.

Definition :

Man-made disasters are the threats having an element of human intent, negligence, or error ; or involving a failure of a human-made system.

Human causation may be accidental or intentional

Types of man made disasters Sudden disasters : such as Chernobyl

disaster and Bhopal gas tragedy,

Insidious disasters : Chemical and radiation exposure, global warming

Classification :

Sociological disasters

Terrorism

War and civil conflicts

Sociological hazards

Terrorism : The primary objective of a terrorism is to create widespread fear.

E.g. : On 11 September 2001 the World Trade Centre in New York City was destroyed by crashing American airlines and killed 2,752.

War :

It is a conflict between relatively large groups of people, which involves physical force by the use of weapons .

Warfare has destroyed entire cultures, countries, economies and inflicted great suffering on humanity.

E.g. : World war I and II. Since world war II there have been about 127 wars and

22 million war related deaths have occurred

Civil conflicts (riots):

Any incident that disrupts a community, where intervention is required to maintain public safety. eg: 1984 Sikh massacre, a riot

against the Sikhs in response to assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards

More than 11,000 people were killed

Technological hazards

Industrial disasters : E.g.-The Nuclear Power

Plant Explosion in Chernobyl, Russia : On April 26th 1986, which resulted in the atmospheric release of radioactive material four hundred times more radioactive than Hiroshima.

Structural

collapse :often caused by engineering failures E.g.: recently building collapse in Bangladesh ,Kolkata and thane

:

Fire : mainly forest fire , mine fire.

E.g. : In 2003, fire at Iraqi sulphur plant releasing Sulphur dioxide which killed people by causing respiratory problems and also creates acid rain which destroys crops.

Transportation disaster: air, Rail, and Space disasters and traffic collisions

E.g.: Mangalore air crash on 22 May 2010. Only eight

passengers survived in 160.

CBRN Disasters :

CBRN (chemical , biological , radiation and nuclear ) disasters : release of CBRN hazardous material into air, soil, water leads to serious hazards E.g. : Fukushima nuclear disaster on

march 2011 which was triggered by earthquake and tsunami in nearby Tohoku region.

Worst disasters in India

Bhopal Gas Tragedy :1984 Worlds worst man made disaster in which methyl

isocyanate gas was leaked at Union Carbide Pesticide Plant

More than 20,000 people have been killed till date

Today, in Bhopal 1,20,000 people are suffering from chronic diseases like Emphysema, Cancer etc.

Worst disasters in India(cont…)

In 1999, Orissa had super cyclone ,in which thousands lost their lives

In 2001, Gujarat had a severe earthquake in which 16500 people died and lakhs became homeless

In 2004, Indian ocean earthquake and Tsunami killed more than 200,000 people in December 2004

In 2008 ,terror attack in Mumbai

Prevention of man made disaster Tighter regulation of chemical plants and

other hazardous facilities Chemical plants be built away from the

dense populous areas Appropriate engineering and technological

measures Early warnings and protection against

human errors

ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH DISASTER MANAGEMENT NATIONAL INTERNATION

AL NGOs :

International Organisations :OCHA : United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs It was designed to strengthen the UN's

response to complex emergencies and natural disasters by creating the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA)

International Organisations (contd..) :

WHO : World Health Organization  The role is to reduce avoidable loss of life

and the burden of disease and disability.

FAO :The Food and Agriculture Organisation of

the UN provides early warning

of impending food crises, and

assesses global food supply problems.

International Organisations (contd..) :

IOM : The International Organisation for Migration is an intergovernmental agency which helps transfer refugees.

IRP : The International Recovery Platform serve as a catalyst for the development of tools, resources, and capacity for disaster recovery

WFP : The World Food Programme is the principle supplier of relief food aid.

UNDP : The United Nations Development Programme 

UNICEF : The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund 

NGOs

IFRC : International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Pivotal roles in responding to

emergencies . Field Assessment and Coordination Team – (FACT) to the affected country if requested by the national Red Cross or Red Crescent Society.

CARE : The Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere is a humanitarian organisation fighting global poverty . It also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.

NetHope :Founded in 2001, is international NGOs that specializes in improving IT connectivity among humanitarian organizations in developing countries and areas affected by disaster. Organization has partnerships with

Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Intel, and Accenture.

HVO :Health Volunteers Overseas  is a network of health care professionals, organisations, corporations and donors united in a common commitment to improving global health through education

IRC :International Rescue Committee offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster

HI: Handicap International  works in partnership with local organisations and government institutions. .

MSF: Médecins Sans Frontières  provides medical services in emergency situations.

RI: Rehabilitation International  is a global network of expert professionals

INDIAN NGO’s :

Aniruddha’s Academy of Disaster Management(AADM) :

Non-Profit Organization in Mumbai, India with 'Disaster Management' as its principal objective.

Basic aim of AADM is to save life and property in the event of a disaster, be it natural or manmade.

Successfully trained 60,000 citizens, the Disaster Management Volunteers (DMVs) to handle various disasters and disaster situations effectively.

AADM has build up a volunteer base, that assists the Government authorities during the disaster relief and rehabilitation work.

References :

K Park – Text book of community medicine www.ndmindia.nic.in WIKIPEDIA Other information from various websites

with help of google