10. Disaster Management
Covered in this chapter:
Disaster — meaning & scope
Types of disasters
Effects/impact
Disaster phases
Disaster Management (pre & post)
Authority structure (India)
First aid & emergency action
Mock drill
1) Disaster — Meaning
Disaster is a sudden event causing huge loss of life and property and long-term disruption in economic, social, cultural, political and administrative systems.
- “Sudden” → little/no warning; difficult to take precautions.
- “Huge” → large-scale impact across sectors & environment.
- Can be natural (e.g., floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanoes) or man-made (industrial accidents, pollution, war, terrorism, chemical leaks).
Tip: We cannot always prevent a disaster, but we can greatly reduce risk and loss through preparedness and wise planning.
A helpful risk idea (for higher classes): \( \textbf{Risk} \approx \text{Hazard} \times \text{Vulnerability} \times \text{Exposure} \).
2) Types of Disasters
Geological / Geophysical
- Earthquake, volcano, landslide/land-fall, tsunami, erosion, soil alkalization.
Atmospheric / Hydro-Meteorological
- Heat/cold waves, snowstorms/snowfall, cyclones, hailstorms, droughts, floods, meteorite, sunspots (space weather).
Biological
- Plant: Forest fire*, invasive weeds (carrot grass/Parthenium), crop diseases (blight, rusts).
- Animal/Human: Epidemics (cholera, malaria, hepatitis, plague), vectors/insects, poisonous bites.
- *Forest fire often triggered by heat/drought or human activity; spreads through vegetation (biomass).
Man-made / Technological / Socio-political
- Industrial/chemical leaks (unknown gases), radiation (nuclear accidents), unplanned development, transport accidents.
- War, bomb blasts, arson/fire, forced migration, terrorism, cyber attacks; social crimes (rape, child labour).
Short-term disasters (e.g., earthquakes, cyclones) strike suddenly but recovery may be quick; long-term disasters (e.g., drought, famine, desertification) keep impacts for months/years.
3) Effects / Impact of Disasters
Environmental
- Building collapse, cracks in land; drying or contamination of water sources.
- Decomposing corpses → foul odour, epidemics; forest loss; habitat damage.
Economic
- Sudden high expenditure for relief/reconstruction → budget stress.
- Loss of livelihoods, reduced productivity; infrastructure damage (ports, roads).
Social & Medical
- Stress, trauma, displacement, crowding in shelters; transport breakdown.
- Injuries, mortality, epidemics; mental health issues.
Administrative
- Disruption of local bodies; coordination challenges; service delivery failure.
Political
- Governance pressure; leadership & public confidence tested.
Professional
- High workload on responders; resource shortages; long working hours.
4) Nature & Scope — Phases of a Disaster
Think of a disaster as a cycle. The textbook discusses six stages (names vary in sources, ideas are same):
- Pre-disaster / Prevention — Planning to minimize destruction before any event.
- Warning — Alerts/forecasts (when available) and last-minute readiness.
- Emergency / Impact & Response — Immediate actions: search & rescue, first aid, evacuation, restore critical communications.
- Transitional / Early Recovery — Debris removal, roads/water repaired, temporary shelters; begin rehabilitation and livelihood support.
- Recovery / Resurgence / Restoration — Links emergency relief to national progress; long rehabilitation, mental health care, community recovery.
- Reconstruction / Redemption — Build back infrastructure, homes, farms; improve designs so future risk reduces (“build back better”).
For citizens, remember 3 core windows: Emergency response → Transitional rehabilitation → Reconstruction.
Case reminders: Malin landslide (Pune, 2014) — massive slope failure & rebuilding; Chernobyl (Ukraine) — nuclear accident with long-term radiation impacts.
5) Disaster Management — Concept & Objectives
Disaster Management is the continuous, planned effort to prevent/mitigate disasters where possible and to prepare, respond, recover effectively so losses are minimized.
Objectives
- Save lives; evacuate & rescue people/animals.
- Supply essentials (water, food, shelter, medicine).
- Restore normal life (utilities, roads, schools, health services).
- Rehabilitate victims; ensure livelihood, psychosocial support.
- Reduce future risk through protective measures and better planning.
6) Pre-Disaster & Post-Disaster Management
Pre-Disaster (Preparedness & Mitigation)
- Identify hazard-prone areas; prepare hazard maps and intensity maps.
- Training for responders and community; awareness through media.
- Early warning systems; evacuation plans; stockpiles; drills.
- Risk-sensitive land use, better building codes; insurance.
Post-Disaster (Response & Recovery)
- Immediate relief, medical aid, shelter; set up control centres.
- Involve local volunteers; coordinate with agencies.
- Assess needs & distribute aid fairly; continual review.
- Plan long-term reconstruction; livelihood & psychosocial support.
7) Disaster Management Cycle (Textbook perspective)
| Stage | What it means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Preparedness | Public & administration ready with plans and roles. | Drills, stockpiles, warning apps, evacuation routes. |
| Impact | Disaster strikes; damages occur. | Shaking, waves, wind, flood waters, fire. |
| Response | Immediate lifesaving & stabilizing actions. | Search & rescue, triage, first aid, temporary shelters. |
| Resurgence | Bridge from emergency to progress; organized recovery. | Clearing debris, reopening schools/clinics. |
| Restoration | Link relief to development; rehabilitate systems. | Repair utilities, roads; restore services & livelihoods. |
| Redemption | Reduce future damage—build back better. | Stronger houses, safer siting, improved codes. |
8) Disaster Management Authority — India
Disaster Management Act, 2005 establishes a multi-level structure:
- National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) — Chair: Prime Minister.
- State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) — Chair: Chief Minister.
- District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) — Chair: District Collector.
- Taluka Authority — Chair: Tahsildar; Village Committee — Chair: Sarpanch.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) — 12 battalions; specialized search & rescue, flood/collapse/cyclone operations. In Maharashtra, works via State Reserve Police Force too.
- District Control Unit — set up immediately; liaises with Army, Navy, Air Force, telecom, paramilitary and NGOs for coordinated action.
International partners: UNDRR/UNOCHA, WHO, UNESCO, ADRC, ADPC and others support capacity building & coordination.
9) First Aid & Emergency Action
Why First Aid?
- Save life & prevent condition from worsening.
- Relieve pain; promote recovery until medical help arrives.
Common emergency carries
- Cradle carry (child/light casualty), two-hand seat (conscious, support), fireman’s carry/back carry (short distance), stretcher (spinal/serious injuries).
First Aid Kit — must haves
- Bandage strips (sizes), sterile gauze, triangular/circular bandage, medicated cotton, clean cloth.
- Gloves, soap, antiseptic (Dettol/Savlon), safety pins, blade, small pins, needle, band-aid.
- Torch, scissors, thermometer, petroleum jelly.
Safety Signs (learn & obey)
Flammable, corrosive, high voltage, biohazard, exit routes, assembly area, etc. — these prevent accidents if followed.
10) Precautions During Disasters (Examples)
- Earthquake: Drop–Cover–Hold; stay away from windows; do not use lifts; after shocks—evacuate safely.
- Flood/Cyclone: Evacuate low-lying areas; switch off electricity/gas; avoid flood waters; listen to official warnings.
- Fire (short-circuit): Cut power; use appropriate extinguishers (A/B/C/CO₂); stop-drop-roll for clothing fire.
- Heat wave: Hydrate, avoid midday sun, light clothing; ORS for heat exhaustion.
- Snake/Dog bite: Keep victim calm, immobilize limb, no cutting/sucking, reach hospital quickly.
11) Mock Drill — Why & How
Mock Drill is a practice exercise creating a simulated disaster (e.g., school fire) to test response time and plan effectiveness.
Objectives
- Evaluate response & coordination between departments.
- Identify strengths, gaps, errors, and risks.
- Build confidence, define roles, and speed up reaction time.
- Check competency of planned actions and refine SOPs.
12) Helpful Numbers & Golden Rules
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 100 |
| Fire & Rescue | 101 |
| Ambulance | 102 |
| Disaster Control / Emergency | 108 |
- Do not rush/push on staircases; follow traffic rules; look both sides before crossing.
- Do not touch unclaimed objects; do not spread rumours; keep phones charged.
- Know exits & assembly points at school/home; keep documents and a small go-bag ready in hazard zones.
Healthy life is key to success • Give up addictions • Cleanliness & health go together • Follow rules to avoid disasters • Today’s students are future citizens.
13) Quick Self-Check / Class Tasks
- Think: If a sports-day accident happens in school, list your first 5 actions to help safely.
- Survey: With teachers, map your school’s hazards, exits, assembly area & nearest hospital.
- Create: Your family disaster plan: contacts, meeting point, emergency kit checklist.
Chapter 10 — Disaster Management: Exercise Solutions
2) Write Notes
a) Disaster Management Authority (DMA)
- Levels: National (NDMA – Chair: Prime Minister), State (SDMA – Chair: Chief Minister), District (DDMA – Chair: District Collector), Taluka (Tahsildar), Village (Sarpanch).
- Roles: Policy, planning, coordination, capacity building, issuing guidelines, approving disaster management plans, and ensuring preparedness–response–recovery–mitigation.
- NDRF: A specialized national force for search & rescue, flood response, building collapse, CBRN incidents, etc.
b) Nature of Disaster Management
- Continuous cycle covering prevention/mitigation, preparedness, impact/response, restoration/recovery, reconstruction (“build back better”).
- Multi-sectoral: health, transport, power, water, communication, education, housing, livelihoods.
- Community-centric: public awareness, volunteerism, risk reduction at household/school level.
c) Mock Drill
- A simulated exercise (e.g., school fire) to test plans, roles, and response time.
- Objectives: evaluate coordination, identify gaps/risks, refine SOPs, build confidence for quick, safe evacuation & lifesaving.
- Conducted with fire services/police/health/NDRF or trained staff; followed by debrief & improvement plan.
d) Disaster Management Act, 2005
- Legal framework for establishing NDMA/SDMA/DDMA; mandates plans at all levels, defines roles, and enables resource mobilization.
- Provides for NDRF formation, disaster funds, and powers for coordination during disasters.
3) Answer the following questions
3(A) Complete the table — Disaster • Symptoms • Effects • Remedy
| Disaster | Symptoms / Early signs | Effects | Remedy / Key Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor accident | Overspeeding, slippery roads, poor visibility, distracted driving. | Injuries, fractures, bleeding, traffic block, fatalities. | Call 108/102, ensure scene safety, switch off ignition, first aid (pressure to bleeding, immobilize), police intimation, safe evacuation. |
| Land sliding | Cracks on slopes, tilting trees/poles, unusual sounds, prolonged rain. | Burial of houses/roads, casualties, blocked routes. | Immediate evacuation to safe ground, avoid slope toes, geo-engineering (drainage/retaining walls), early warning, afforestation. |
| Forest fire | Dry/hot winds, smoke smell, visible flames/smoke columns. | Loss of biodiversity, property damage, respiratory issues. | Alert forest dept, firebreaks, controlled burns, beaters/water lines, evacuate; post-fire soil conservation & replantation. |
| Theft | Suspicious strangers, broken locks/windows, CCTV alerts. | Loss of valuables, fear/insecurity. | Report to police, secure premises, install locks/CCTV/lighting, community watch. |
| Riot | Rumours, gathering mobs, inflammatory messages. | Violence, arson, injuries, curfew, disruption. | Stay indoors/avoid hot-spots, police helpline, verified info only, mediation & community outreach post-event. |
| War | Border tension, mobilization, advisories. | Large-scale casualties, displacement, infrastructure loss. | Follow official advisories, shelters/blackouts, civil defence training, humanitarian relief, long-term rehabilitation. |
| Epidemic | Sudden rise in disease cases, test positivity. | Illness, deaths, burdened hospitals, economic slowdown. | Surveillance, isolation/quarantine, vaccination, hygiene, masks, health education. |
| Drought | Rainfall deficit, dry wells/reservoirs, crop wilting. | Crop failure, water scarcity, fodder shortage, migration. | Water budgeting, tank desilting, drip irrigation, drought-resilient crops, relief works. |
| Locust attack | Swarms on radar/sightings, defoliated fields. | Rapid crop loss, food insecurity. | Early surveillance, coordinated spraying (approved bio/chemical), mechanical drives, community alerts. |
| Financial crisis | Job losses, inflation, stock/market stress. | Income loss, mental stress, reduced services. | Relief packages, employment schemes, counselling, skill upgradation, budgeting. |
| Flood | Heavy rain warnings, rising river levels, dam releases. | Inundation, water-borne diseases, infrastructure damage. | Evacuation to higher ground, switch off power, safe water, rescue boats, dewatering & disinfection post-flood. |
| Famine | Prolonged drought/crop failure, supply chain collapse. | Severe malnutrition, migration, socio-economic breakdown. | Food security programs, nutrition camps, targeted PDS, long-term agri & water reforms. |
3(B) Conceptual short answers
a) Role of District Disaster Control Unit after a disaster
- Activate control room; collect & analyze ground reports; establish communications.
- Coordinate with Army/Navy/Air Force, police, health, PWD, power, telecom, NGOs.
- Prioritize search & rescue, medical triage, evacuation, shelter & relief distribution.
- Resource mobilization (boats, cranes, ambulances), logistics, media briefs, and situation reports to SDMA/NDMA.
b) Reasons for rise in human (man-made) disasters after World War-II
- Rapid industrialization & urbanization → chemical/radiation/transport hazards.
- Population growth, resource pressure, environmental degradation.
- Geopolitical conflicts, terrorism, proliferation of hazardous technologies.
- Unplanned development in hazard zones; climate stresses amplifying risks.
c) Objectives of Disaster Management
- Save lives and reduce suffering; protect property & environment.
- Ensure essentials (water, food, shelter, health); restore normalcy quickly.
- Rehabilitate & “build back better”; reduce future risk via mitigation.
d) Why is first-aid training essential?
- First minutes are critical — proper first aid prevents deterioration, saves lives.
- Empowers students/teachers/community to act safely until professionals arrive.
- Reduces panic; standardizes response and casualty handling.
e) Patient transportation methods & why
- Cradle carry (children/light casualty) — quick, supportive.
- Two-hand/three-hand seat carry — conscious casualty needing support.
- Back/Fireman’s carry — short distances when stretchers unavailable.
- Stretcher (improvised/standard) — suspected spine/head/serious injuries; minimizes movement.
- Chair lift — narrow stairs; conscious patients without spinal injury.
4) Form a Disaster Management Authority for your School
- School Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) — Chair: Principal; Co-chair: Vice-Principal.
- Incident Commander: Senior teacher; Operations: PE teacher/NCC in-charge;
- Planning & Information: Exam coordinator (maintains contact lists, maps, SOPs).
- Logistics: Admin/Clerk (keys, tools, transport, power cut-off).
- Safety/Warden Team: Class teachers & prefects (evacuation, headcount, assembly area).
- First Aid & Health: School nurse/first-aid trained staff & student volunteers; first-aid room & kits.
- Communication: IT/computer teacher (PA system, WhatsApp groups, parent alerts).
- Liaison: Social science teacher (police, fire brigade, local PHC, DDMA).
- Special needs support: Helpers assigned to differently-abled students.
- Drill schedule & training: Quarterly mock drills; record lessons learned.
5) Two disasters — Reasons, Effects, Remedial Measures
A) Flood
- Reasons: Cloudbursts, upstream releases, poor drainage, encroachment on floodplains.
- Effects: Inundation, electrocution risk, water-borne diseases, crop & infrastructure loss.
- Remedies: Early warning & evacuation, switch off power, safe shelters, chlorinated drinking water, dewatering & disinfection, restore livelihoods.
B) Epidemic (e.g., Dengue)
- Reasons: Stagnant water breeding Aedes mosquitoes; poor waste management.
- Effects: High fever, platelet drop, hospital burden, absenteeism.
- Remedies: Source reduction (dry day weekly), larvicides, community IEC, prompt diagnosis, vector control drives.
6) Aspects of Disaster Management to check in School (with reasons)
- Hazard map (labs/electrical rooms/kitchen, staircases, weak structures) — to reduce risk.
- Evacuation routes & assembly area — clearly marked & obstacle-free.
- First-aid kits & trained staff/students — immediate care.
- Fire safety (extinguishers, alarms, drills, electrical audits) — prevent fires & respond swiftly.
- Emergency contacts (police, fire, ambulance, DDMA) — quick coordination.
- Communication plan (PA/megaphone/SMS) — avoid panic, ensure instructions.
- Inclusion (support for differently-abled, juniors) — safe evacuation for all.
- Record & review (drill observations) — continuous improvement.
7) Identify the type of disaster
- a. Terrorism — Man-made / Socio-political.
- b. Soil erosion — Environmental / Geomorphological (slow-onset natural).
- c. Hepatitis — Biological (epidemic/communicable disease).
- d. Forest fire — Natural (wildfire; often human-triggered) — environmental/biological hazard.
- e. Famine — Long-term socio-economic disaster (often due to drought/crop failure).
- f. Theft — Man-made (criminal/security incident).
8) Explain the symbols & possible disasters if ignored
- Flammable (🔥): risk of fire/explosion if exposed to flame/spark → warehouse/lab fires.
- Corrosive (☣ style acid on hand/surface): chemical burns → lab/industry accidents.
- High Voltage (⚡): electrocution risk → shocks, electrical fires.
- Biohazard (☣): infectious material → lab/community outbreaks.
- Radioactive (☢): radiation exposure → serious health hazards.
- Emergency Exit / Assembly Point (🟩 pictograms): ignoring causes stampede & delay during evacuation.
- Slippery Floor (🚧): falls & injuries.
9) Explain — Why?
A] “Mock drill is useful.”
- It tests real-time readiness, clarifies roles, reduces panic, and cuts evacuation time.
- Reveals gaps in plans/equipment; enables quick corrections → safer campus.
B] “Effective disaster management makes us well prepared for future.”
- Preparedness & mitigation reduce losses; recovery & reconstruction make systems stronger.
- Communities learn, adapt, and build resilience against recurring hazards.
10) Properties of Pre-disaster Management
- Risk assessment (hazard, vulnerability, exposure) & mapping.
- Mitigation (safer siting, codes, retrofitting, drainage, fire safety).
- Preparedness (SOPs, roles, stockpiles, drills, early warning, IEC).
- Capacity building (training first aid, search & rescue, incident command).
- Coordination (with DDMA, police, fire, health, NGOs).
- Inclusion (special needs, children, elderly); Documentation (plans, contacts).
11) Pre- & Post-Disaster Management — Sample Scenarios
a) Earthquake
- Pre: Secure shelves/fixtures, identify safe spots, drills for Drop–Cover–Hold, emergency kits, assembly area.
- Post: Evacuate after shaking stops, headcount, first aid, shut gas/power if safe, avoid damaged buildings, await official all-clear.
b) Flood
- Pre: Monitor warnings, move records/equipment to higher floors, sandbags, plan for power shut-off, evacuation routes.
- Post: Boil/chlorinate water, avoid wading, disinfect classrooms, check electrical systems, psychosocial support.
c) Fire (Electrical/Short-circuit)
- Pre: Electrical audits, correct fuses/MCBs, no overloading, extinguisher training (CO₂/dry chemical), clear exits.
- Post: Raise alarm, use right extinguisher, evacuate to assembly point, roll-call, medical care, investigate cause.
d) Chemical Spill (Lab)
- Pre: MSDS awareness, PPE, labelled storage, spill kits, ventilation.
- Post: Evacuate area, isolate spill, neutralize as per SOP, decontaminate, medical evaluation, report & review.
Be alert
Stay calm
Help others
Follow SOPs
Learn & improve