DISASTER MANAGEMENT

NAME = BHAWAR SINGH

CLASS = 9TH A
ROLL NO = 10

SOCIAL PROJECT
WHAT IS A DISASTER ?
A disaster is a destructive event that occurs suddenly and
involves loss of life and property.
Disasters can be of two types, natural and man-made. It
is a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes
great damage or loss of life.

TYPES OF DISASTERS
Disasters can be of two types, natural and man-made.

NATURAL DISASTERS
Earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, floods, cyclones,
landslides, avalanches and droughts are natural disasters
and man has no control over them. They are a result of
natural activities and hence known as natural disasters .
MAN MADE DISASTERS
The man-made disasters are triggered by human beings.
Some of the man-made disasters are: bomb explosions,
terrorism, war or civil war, leakage of poisonous
chemicals, breach in dams, air or water pollution, industrial
accidents and epidemics. They are known as man made
disasters because they occur due to human actions and
not natural forces.

EARTHQUAKES
An earthquake is a sudden tremor or movement of the
earth’s crust, which usually originates at or below the
surface. The outer layer of the earth is solid and is divided
into many sections known as plates. The point of origin of
the earthquake within the crust or mantle is called the
seismic focus. Since the focus is often deep below the
surface, the location of the earthquake is often referred to
as the point on the surface of the earth, vertically above
the seismic focus. This point is called the epicentre.
PROTECTION AGAINST EARTHQUAKES
 The information about earthquakes and their intensity
should be shared with the public through radio,
television and newspapers
 Construction of buildings based on earthquake-
resistant techniques .
 Construct buildings over pillars made of concrete and
iron that are built deep in the ground
 Water, ration, first-aid kits, radios, flash lights, battery,
blankets, jackets and fire extinguishers should be
stored in safe places.
 If inside a building or a house, take cover under a
solid surface like a table, or stand in the doorway
 If one is outside, move to an open space away from
trees, electric poles and buildings .
 Switch off the gas and electric supply in the house
during a quake and do not use elevators .
 After the quake is over, the affected people should be
given immediate medical help .
 Transport and communication facilities should be
restored as soon as possible .
 FLOODS
 A flood is an overflow of a large amount of water
beyond its normal limits, especially over what is
normally dry land.Flooding may occur as an overflow
of water from water bodies, such as a river , lake, or
ocean, in which the water overtops or breaks leeves ,
resulting in some of that water escaping its usual
boundaries

PROTECTION AGAINST FLOODS

 Floods caused by cloud bursts, bursting of dams, or
tsunamis are called flash floods. Any flood is
preceded by a threat period known as the Probability
Period. This allows the authorities to issue warnings
and plan evacuation.
 Artificial reservoirs should be built with sluice gates
and sand bags should be used to block the flow of
water. Low grounds or viaducts can be created to
carry water in a certain direction or
underground. Trees should be planted in the
catchment areas to stop soil erosion .



 DROUGHTS
 A drought is a period of below-average precipitation in
a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in its
water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or
ground water.It can have a substantial impact on the
ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region and
harm to the local economy .Diminished crop growth or
yield productions and carrying capacity for livestock

CAUSES of Drought
 Lack of rainfall (or precipitation)  Droughts can occur
when there is the lack of ‘expected’ precipitation (rain
and snow)
 Surface water flow
Some regions are also well distributed with surface
water (streams and rivers) that have their sources
from far away mountains and watersheds. These
surface waters may dry out if the flow from their
sources upstream is affected.
 Global Warming
Even though some people do not accept that the
average temperature of the earth has risen, it is on
record that human actions have contributed to more
greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. As a result,
there are warmer temperatures, often resulting in
more dryness and bush fires often causing drought
conditions .


EFFECTS OF DROUGHTS
 Diminished crop growth or yield productions and
carrying capacity for livestock
 Dust bowls, themselves a sign of erosion, which
further erode the landscape
 Dust storms, when drought hits an area suffering from
desertification and erosion
 Famine due to lack of water for irrigation
 Habitat damage, affecting both terrestrial and aquatic
wildlife
 Hunger, drought provides too little water to support
food crops.
 Malnutrition, dehydration and related diseases
 Mass migration, resulting in internal displacement and
international refugees
 Reduced electricity production due to reduced water
flow through hydroelectric dams[45] of water for
industrial users
 Social unrest
 War over natural resources, including water and food
 PROTECTION AGAINST DRAUGHTS
 Strategies for drought protection, mitigation or relief
include:
 Dams – many dams and their associated reservoirs
supply additional water in times of drought .
 Desalination – of sea water for irrigation or
consumption.
. For instance, analysis of water usage in Yemen has
revealed that their water table (underground water
level) is put at grave risk by over-use to fertilize their
Khat crop.
 Land use – Carefully planned crop rotation can help
to minimize erosion and allow farmers to plant less
water-dependent crops in drier years.
 Outdoor water-use restriction – Regulating the use of
sprinklers, hoses or buckets on outdoor plants, filling
pools, and other water-intensive home maintenance
tasks.
 Rainwater harvesting – Collection and storage of
rainwater from roofs or other suitable catchments.
Recycled water – Former wastewater (sewage) that
has been treated and purified for reuse.
 Biological and Chemical Disasters
BIOLOGICAL
 An important type of man-made disaster is biological
disaster. Such disasters are caused by
microorganisms that cause epidemics. These have
spread due to man-made conditions. Most of these
have been infectious diseases such as malaria,
plague, diphtheria, tuberculosis and influenza.
 People can control the spread of these diseases by
ensuring hygienic conditions and taking preventive
measures. The government has taken a number of
steps to contain the spread of these diseases such as
fumigation to control the spread of the malarial
mosquito.