DISASTERS- FINAL NOTES:

 Session 15 and 16: DISASTER MODELS

A model is an application of theory—a simplified representation of the real world. We need
simplifying assumptions to make problems tractable.

Understanding disasters in terms of cause and effect – disaster might be caused due to nature,
God, Fate, corruption, or women’s sin. Now the question is can we control disasters; can we
prevent them?

 Disaster Models:
1. Comprehensive Emergency Management (CEM) :
So, the four pillars of CEM are:
1. Mitigation refers to long-term actions that reduce the risk of natural disasters,
such as constructing dams and prohibiting people from building homes or
businesses in high-risk areas. For example, Building codes, better inspections,
Warning systems, Hazard identification, risk assessments, mapping, Retrofitting,
acquisition of property, Elevation of structures, and Localized floods control
projects.
2. Preparedness involves planning for disasters and putting in place the resources
needed to cope with them when they happen. Examples include stockpiling
essential goods and preparing emergency plans to follow in the event of a
disaster. For example, drills, real-life exercises, guiding documents, acquiring
equipment for effective response, etc.
3. Response refers to actions taken after a disaster has occurred. The activities of
police, firefighters, and medical personnel during and immediately after a disaster
fall into this category. For example, volunteer groups, reconstruction of critical
infrastructure quickly, food and nonfood items, effective media attention, etc.
Response is the most important.
4. Recovery encompasses longer-term activities to rebuild and restore the
community to its pre-disaster state, or a state of functionality. This is also a good
time to engage in activities that reduce vulnerability and that mitigate future
disasters, such as strengthening building codes or modifying risky land-use
policies. For example, rebuilding homes, restoring a property, infrastructure,
businesses, communities, etc.

Prevention is sometimes separated out as a fifth pillar.

The only problem of this model is that it suggests that the four pillars are sequential
and independent of each other but when it comes to practice, they are very
interdependent, and it gets hard to categorize them separately.

EM Cycle – capacity and resilience, informal networks, and formal arrangements are
also a part of this model.
 2. Integrated Emergency Management (IEM): USED IN UK
So, it has six stages of anticipation or horizon scanning, assessment, prevention,
preparedness, response, and recovery. Pre-disaster is preparedness, organizations
conduct assessments of potential threats and measures that could be taken. They
prepare us for the worst-case scenarios. It includes planning training and assigning
roles and responsibilities.
Second is response, it must be collaborated and coordinated.
Recovery might start as soon as possible.

3. Pressure and Release Model (PAR):

The notion behind this model is that disasters occur when hazards interact with
vulnerability.
The PAR model seeks to explain how the intersection of unsafe conditions and hazards
creates social vulnerability (Blaikie et al. 1994). PAR is a tool that shows that disasters
occur when hazards affect vulnerable people. People’s vulnerability exists as a result
of wider social, economic and political conditions or root causes. Vulnerable groups
live under pressure where their access to services such as education, healthcare and
secure livelihood options are limited, which in turn means limited and unstable
income, resulting in poverty, poor health and unsafe living conditions. In order to
release these pressures, we must act to reduce the vulnerability component of risk.
It is an important model when looking at case studies of a disaster. It gives us the
macro perspective.
However, not useful when understanding the micro perspective.

4. Incident Command System:

Issues that were faced before its development were the lack of communication and
coordination, duplication of resources, haphazard response, and lack of designated
facilities. The ICS model brings order to these chaotic and complex situations.
What does the ICS entail?
-Common use of terminology, integrated communications, unified command
structure, resource management (taken from military operations)
-Functional clarity, command and control but with devolved responsibilities
-If not unity of command – power struggles.
-Other key things under this: maps, location and update of missing and rescued,
continuous operations management/updates.
-Continuous planning and updating of plans of action.

 ECOLOGICAL MODELS:
Nature is both a resource (air, water, trees, energy) and a hazard (our interaction with
nature can increase vulnerabilities).
1. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):
Its definition of DRR is “The conceptual framework of elements considered with the
possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to
 avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of
hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development”. It is a “concept and
practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce
the causal factors of disasters. Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability
of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and
improving preparedness for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk
reduction.”
If we compare CEM and DRR, there was nothing in DRR that was not already
included in CEM—that it was just a different presentation of similar concepts.

 FIRST NATIONS WHEEL:

There are aspects of it that I find very appealing, including its explicit reference
to spirituality, its emphasis on community, references to collective and
individual rights, and the respect given to elders.
First Nation approaches to policy and planning. We could use these in disaster
planning and mitigation.
The medicine wheel teachings are about walking the earth in a peaceful and
good way, they assist in helping to seek; healthy minds (East), strong inner
spirits (South), inner peace(West) and strong healthy bodies (North). It is a tool
to be used for the upliftment and betterment of humankind, healing and
connecting to the Infinite. Today, the Medicine Wheel has become a major
symbol of peaceful interaction among all living beings on Mother Earth…
representing harmonious connections. The term “Medicine” as it is used by First
Nations people does not refer to drugs or herbal remedies. It is used within the
context of inner spiritual energy and healing or an enlightened experience often
referred to as “spiritual energy’s”… The Medicine Wheel and its sacred teachings
assist individuals along the path towards mental, spiritual, emotional and
physical enlightenment.

 CASE STUDY OF SARNO LANDSLIDES:

In the city of Sarno, there was a huge number of casualties and deaths. The damage was
large due to the uncontrolled development in hazardous areas. Environmental laws were
routinely ignored, and the construction was poorly built. Many of the landslide control
systems built in the 14th century were developed for housing and the drainage canal systems
were filled with mud. They knew from years that a disaster might happen but they didn’t do
anything to prevent it from happening.
There is an interesting contrast between the City of Sarno, which suffered greatly with 126
deaths, and Quindici, where only 11 people died. Just before the disaster, the mayor of
Sarno reassured his citizens that they were safe however the Mayor of Quindici called for
evacuation on noon the day before the landslides.
Sarno was well known for being controlled by the Mafia however the mayor of Quindici was
successful in ridding the town of organized crime.
(REMEMBER TO LEARN PROS AND CONS OF DISASTER MODELS)
 SESSION 17: Myths and Fallacies

We should move towards an evidence-based approach and debunk myths. We have limited
direct experience and that is why we rely on media coverage, which is mostly based on
myths, lies, half-truths, and fallacies. Hence, we should be aware of the information we are
getting and cross-check its validity.
Examples of some Myths are:
1. Myth: Some animals can sense an earthquake before it happens
Reality: There is anecdotal evidence that animal behavior has predicted earthquakes,
but the behavior is inconsistent and is not often observed prior to an earthquake. One
example of when animal behavior may have predicted an event was during the
December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, when elephants are reported to have
run for higher ground, presumably because they felt the ground vibrations from the
major event. In general, however, such predictors are unproven.
2. Myth: Earthquakes happen during hot and dry spells.
Reality: This misconception dates to the ancient Greeks. Earthquakes result from
forces occurring deep in the earth and are not related to weather.
3. Myth: Big earthquakes always occur early in the morning.
Reality: Many large earthquakes have occurred at other times of the day.
4. Myth: The ground can open up and swallow people.
Reality: This image makes for good fiction, but an earthquake causes ground shaking,
not open fissures. However, at times earthquakes can cause deformation of the
ground that possibly includes open fissures that people or cars could fall into, so
there is an element of truth here. This is more likely to happen with sink holes.
5. Myth: International response saves a lot of lives
Reality: The vast majority of lives are saved by local response. For example, during
Iran’s 2003 Bam earthquake, which destroyed 85% of the city, local Iranian Red
Crescent rescue teams were deployed within minutes despite losing four team
members and their headquarters in the earthquake. They saved 157 lives with just 10
dogs.
6. Myth: People will refuse to evacuate
Reality: Though some people choose not to evacuate because of denial or fear of
looting, it often happens because of a lack of choice. For example, residents of New
Orleans were criticized for not evacuating before Hurricane Katrina hit, but many of
them did not own a car, had no money, or lacked the means to evacuate. In addition,
people will often refuse to evacuate to a shelter if pets are not allowed.
Reality: Warnings are believed when there is clarity, consistency, frequency, and a
history of accurate warnings by a trusted authority.
Reality: Most shelters are underused.
7. Myth: Survivors feel lucky to be alive.
Reality: Survivors often feel guilt for having survived when others have not. They may
also experience self blame, especially when other family members are victims.
MEDIA FRAMING:

Media reports panic, civil unrest, and lawlessness. Reflects strict social control and the political
discourse of military engagement in response. So, the way we perceive human behavior is through
limited information.

- Economic Models make the bad assumption that nature can be replaced by human
engineering and management and give people a false sense of security. For example,
building sea walls gives people a false sense of security as they think that they are secure
now and they can settle in unsafe places, but this is all a lie that leads to more deaths.

Our view of disaster is affected by what we see in popular culture (films). We assume
whatever the movies show is the truth because of our limited information. Hence it is the
responsibility of the media to not fabricate the truth and include more real-life conditions in
their movies so that the audience is more aware of the social and physical impacts of
disasters. The messages the public receives from disaster films and other forms of disaster
popular culture are ‘likely far more influential on the perceptions and beliefs of the public,
and even of many policymakers and implementers, about disaster behavior than are the
results of social scientific studies.
 SESSION 19: DISASTER POETRY

People come to understand disaster through different pathways. There is the language of
mathematics used by scientists and statisticians, the language of logic used by social
scientists and philosophers, and the language of narrative used by reporters and victims.
There is also the art and poetry of disaster, which convey meaning through image and
feeling. Ultimately, disaster is a human experience, which is portrayed evocatively through
art and poetry. Poetry helps us view disasters through a different lens.

 ESSAY OF NICOLE COOLEY:

She witnessed 9/11 and her parents witnessed Hurricane Katrina.
In the essay she narrates that her own interest in the poetry of disasters began two days
after 9/11 – she retells and narrates that she was so scared of going inside the teach her
poetry seminar class. She stood outside the door afraid to enter – scared that some
students might be dead or missing, they might be grieving with loss. She said maybe it
felt wrong to discuss poetry as they could see the ruin in front of their eyes but that is
exactly what students wanted to do. They showed up and wanted to discuss the poetry
of disaster.
Disaster poetry helps people vocalize their pain, helps people understand the disaster,
provides people with a place they can find solace, and a place that reminds us how
important it is to speak and give voice to the experience of disaster.
Poetry can be a powerful tool for social change.
 What kinds of disaster poems ?
1. personal testimony, experience
2. The responders/emerging to help, those that witness the disaster, witness the plight/
experience the trauma as well
3. Those that lose loved ones
4. Those that hear about it but feel the pain/the outsiders

 KEY ELEMENTS OF A DISASTER POETRY:

1. A poetry of disaster relies on fragments:
Poetry is in a fragmented form. There is no coherence and is in an incomplete,
broken form. It represents the incompleteness of stories and people.
Fragmented verses represent fragmented stories.
2. A poetry of disaster invokes the collective alongside the individual:
Some poems shift between the collective and the individual – what the
individual is experiencing and themes of the collective – racial and social
suffering is also referred to.
3. The poetry of disaster asks ethical questions about voice:
Poetry helps us raise questions about who can speak for whom, how close do
you need to be to write about the disaster, whether can you write without
experiencing it, and who has the right to speak.
 4. The poetry of disaster exposes us to stories that we don’t see in mainstream
media:
Poetry helps us share voices, testimonials, and experiences that are not shared
by the mainstream media. It gives us a space to ask questions and seek answers.
It gives a voice to the experience of the disasters and gives us a space for grief.

Disaster events also inspire literature (poems, folk, plays, novels) and form our perspective of what
disasters entail and how people respond and cope with them. These things do mimic reality, but
they might also distort reality. The heroes in our films, novels, and plays are based on our
experiences, our lenses, and our worldview. We view everything according to our biased lens.

- HAIKU:
It is a Japanese form of Poetry in three lines. Each Having an exact number of syllables. First
line contains five syllables, line two contains seven, line three contains five syllables.
 SESSION 20: ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE

Ethics is fundamental to the study of disasters and has important implications; how research
is conducted and how policies and programs are contrived largely depend upon our
understanding of the rights and obligations between people, and between government and
its citizens.
Mostly disaster management is a function of typical government institutions and
bureaucrats. If they don’t take ethical considerations, they can easily land in situations
where power/vested interests/profit takes precedence.

 ETHICAL THEORIES:
1. utilitarianism or consequentialism:
This theory says that actions are good if they contribute to happiness or bring
benefit to society. This theory says that some be sacrificed so that others may live,
the social utility of lives saved. This theory aims on maximizing social utility even if it
causes harm to some people. An example is disaster relief taxation /pay cuts
supporting relief efforts.
An issue faced by this theory is that it is hard to define what is good and what is bad
as different people and different groups view this in very different ways.

2. deontology or Kantian ethics:

Deontology, an ethic based upon duty, argues that there are intrinsic goods and
bads that are not situationally dependent but that either should or should not be
followed under any circumstances (thus avoiding an important weakness in
utilitarian theory), even if the outcomes of the former are bad or the latter are good.
Our actions must follow the universal moral law. Some of the laws are that:
1. “Human life has intrinsic worth.
2. Everyone’s life is equally valuable.
3. Everyone has the same right to freedom from harm by others.
4. Everyone is entitled to protection from harm by non-human forces.”
The government has duties toward their citizens to prepare for emergencies through
mitigation, prevention, and preparedness, to respond, and to help recovery. Every
citizen has the right to make their own decisions. All people are equal and deserve
the same rights and opportunities.
The problem faced is that equity issues might be applied to the distribution of
resources or wealth, the distribution of welfare, or the distribution of opportunity.
The first is clearly fraught with difficulties, although in some countries social
programs work to reduce the gap between the rich and poor. The second suffers
from the problem that those who are worst off in society are often not disaster
victims (in fact, disaster victims are often quite wealthy), and therefore it begs the
question as to why resources are being diverted in that direction.

3. social contract theory:

There is a contract between the citizens (governed) and those who govern
(government). Citizens forgo freedom and rights under this contract to prevail in
security and safety. The state is then responsible to provide people with a society
 that is better than what exists without the agreement. During disaster management,
the government intervenes in mitigation, prevention, and preparedness.
An issue faced in this ethic is that the trust in politicians is very low because of
corruption and their vested interests. And without trust a social contract cannot
function.

4. virtue ethics:
Virtue ethics is different from utilitarianism or deontology because it does not
consider actions explicitly, rather it talks about character traits and virtues a person
should adopt which in turn will help them to live a moral life and to choose moral
actions. Some character traits are honesty, caring, compassion, generosity, empathy,
impartiality, integrity, diligence, kindness, openness, reliability, resoluteness,
respectfulness, sensitivity, tolerance, toughness, trustworthiness, and truthfulness.
Human beings may adopt 2 attitudes toward the world, “I-It” or “I-Thou”. In an I-It
relationship, objects or beings are viewed by their functions. However, in an I-Thou
relationship, one engages in a mutual dialogue that goes beyond function and
acknowledges the fundamental worth of the other. Unlike “I–It” relationships, “I–
Thou” ones are imbued with rights, duties, and moral worth.
So how we plan for and respond to disasters depend on our virtues. People who are
impacted trust people who provide them with relief. We believe more on morals
than actions. And the virtue and character traits of people who make decisions
matter. As someone says that to commit an atrocity against someone with dignity
and respect is more difficult.

5. Environmental Ethics:
“Nature is not a place to visit, it is our home.”
Environmental ethics is that people owe duties to non-human lives.
Environmental ethics played a small role in disaster studies before but now it is
becoming much more stronger due to 2 reasons. The first is an increasing
recognition of the role that the degradation of natural systems plays in exacerbating
natural hazards. Examples include the protection provided by mangrove swamps
and wetlands to storm surge and tsunamis, and the effect of deforestation on
landslides and floods (Haiti is one example). The second reason is a growing
awareness and disenchantment with the extreme level of impact that the human
species is having on the rest of the natural world. This awareness affects many
people at a fundamental level, as they are appalled at the massive loss of natural
systems. This overuse of the environment is setting the stage for future
catastrophes.
The problem is that it is believed that economic development comes at the cost of
environmental degradation. As long as environmental protection is perceived as
being a barrier to economic growth, the future will be bleak from an environmental
perspective.
 SESSION 21: POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES

Disasters may be triggered by natural events (i.e. events that occur without human
intervention), but they take place in human social spaces and social spaces are always
inherently political. Hence, politics plays a major role in disaster management.

 Political Will:
It is defined as the commitments made by leaders and decision-makers.
We should be aware of the political agenda that emphasizes prevention/mitigation. They
have the authority to allocate resources such as funds for poverty reduction, disaster
mitigation, or prevention of epidemics. They are often known as policymakers within the
government sectors.
In politics, they think of short terms agendas, things that can be done now because it helps
them collect votes for themselves.
i- The problem is most political commitments for societal development and progress
largely focus on short-term and must-do-now agendas. Examples include national
economic development and fulfilling popular promises to the voters.
In “normal times”, disasters are seen as future events that can be delayed.
But in the middle of a large crisis – like the COVID-19 pandemic – political leaders
often adopt policies like committing extremely large emergency management funds
that are impossible to use in anticipation during pre-disaster stages.
This is entirely logical: first things first; desperate time call for desperate measures.
However, after the crisis ends, most political leaders shift their commitments and
allocate resources to other sectors.

 Policy Making around Disasters:

Disasters lead to policy change/policy learning. It brings our attention to the big, neglected
issues and hence makes the govt change policies. Normally policymakers focus on issues like
education, poverty, etc. However, disasters raise awareness among the elites and the
general public, creating pressure for policy formation, adoption and implementation.
During a disaster, there is a short window of opportunity for people to question the status
quo when there is enough media attention. These disasters represent massive government
failures which get the attention of the people and make people realize the problems in the
policies and convince people that the damage was caused due to the negligence.
Some watershed events are too grave and novel to bring an inevitable policy change. For
example, the 9/11 event caused policy changes in transportation, national security, public
health, law enforcement area, etc.

 Govt’s reactionary policies:

Govt is mostly reactive, not proactive. It mostly invests in policies that help in recovery, not
in policies that improve mitigation, and preparedness. For example, after the equally
devastating 2005 floods, govt of Pakistan promised improved infrastructure and better
measures and regulations. However, these promises failed to materialize and the govt of
Pakistan couldn’t prevent the massive damage caused by the 2022 floods.
 Political climate-centric framing:
We will not believe that global warming and urban waste are causing flooding.” Instead, he
unequivocally blamed policymakers' poor decision-making, stressing that concrete
constructions and the absence of investment bearing on land-use and drainage systems,
among other types of sound planning, have left the cities without drainage.
Politicians tend to blame the environment for the disaster and tend to naturalize the
catastrophe to eliminate govt responsibility.

 Myopic Voting:
Myopic voting means that voters focus only on events during the election year.
Govt usually tries to work on short-term relief and recovery because election results are tied
closeltoth their economic performance. Hence, disasters can impact reelection chances.
Relief compensation helps the politicians as they are then more favored by the voters.
Voters are mostly uninterested in preparedness and are more accountable to relief efforts.

 Govt uses the disaster as a opportunity for ‘positive self-representation’ – caring for the
people.

 Citizens perceive disasters as opportunities to hold the state accountable – express

discontent

 Opposition parties and groups may seize this as an opportunity to criticize the govt.

 Disaster Phases and Politics:

1. Rescue – highly altruistic and no politics is involved in it. It is highly deemed as
apolitical.
2. Relief – this part of post-disaster management involves politics and power. Is relief
organized, distribution of aid is equal or not? Our social structure goes back to being
unequal as the distribution of goods and services is unequal.
3. Reconstruction – it is a highly political phase. This is certainly a highly political issue
that is related to the distribution of power and competencies among and within
authorities and other organizations involved. It depends on who has the most power
and then the authority with the most power is responsible for taking decisions.
  SESSION 22: Development Perspective

Development is equated to economic prosperity, technological advancement, poverty reduction,

modern amenities, education, freedom, and perhaps even equality.

There are four ways in which disaster and development support and conflict each other:

1. development increases vulnerability to disaster – development attracts more population

and density into one area due to which vulnerability increases. Technology also gives us a
false sense of security and overreliance on technology has adverse effects as well. For
development, deforestation increases to build more houses and buildings and hence
gives more way to disasters. High-rise buildings, nuclear energy, weapons, and chemical
and industrial spills also increase our vulnerability to disasters.

2. development reduces vulnerability to disaster – Better engineering techniques can help

us build infrastructure that is more resistant to floods and earthquakes. Development
increases job opportunities, reduces poverty, and increases the empowerment of
women. We can also invest in the professional development of emergency managers,
climate experts, etc. due to development, there is increased political participation and
public awareness.

3. disaster sets back development – disasters have an impact on both individual and
community development. At times, after a disaster, society is set back in development for
20 years. Disasters lead to economic loss, infrastructure damage, recession in the
economy, and population displacement. After a disaster, attention moves away from
existing development projects to disaster recovery projects.

4. disaster provides development opportunities – after a disaster, there is a window of

opportunity to make a change. Govt can work on the development and improve land use
planning, building codes, and resettlement. For example, after 911, the US govt improved
its systems of security and safety. But the only problem is that you need funds to work on
development.

 case study of the 1990 Manjil earthquake in Iran:

On 21st June 1990 – 7.5 Richter scale EQ hit northwest Iran.

40,000 killed and 500,000 homeless – most impacted in rural areas – 700 villages.
After the disaster, there was a large scale of resettlement, voluntary and nonvoluntary.
Smaller villages that were destroyed in the disaster were relocated to larger existing ones.
(Community was divided into host community and guest community. Host community were
the pre-disaster residents of the village and the guest community were the people who were
relocated.)
Farming, olive tree farming, livestock and honey production were the major economic
activities that took place in the region.
- After the disaster, the host community lost their farming lands. During resettlement, they
were given houses but they were not given farming lands that they had lost.
- After the disaster, the olive tree ownership increased for the host community but decreased
for the guest community. It increased for the host community because of the govt support
for olive production. However guest communities were not able to benefit from the govt
support.
- After the disaster, employment and income levels have increased. The number of working
people in a household has also increased. Employment in the farming industry reduced but
employment in the public and private sectors increased. The increase in employment was
because the people of host and guest communities believed that they were more self-
sufficient before the disaster but now they must work harder to earn a living.
- Resettlement also increased women employment by a greater amount as they had to start
working to fill in for the extra expenditures of their households.
- The integration of villages and resettlement altered the traditional economic system,
replacing it with a new system based on a division of labour and a greater role for market
institutions. And hence improved SOL.
 SESSION 23: COVID 19

6.62 million deaths till date

6.38 million reported cases

Covid 19 is a focusing event in our living memory. It is compared with the Spanish Flu. It was
a gradual on-set event but caused an acute and visible impact. Normally something is
classified as a disaster when it is spatially limited and occurs suddenly. However, Covid 19
makes us question this definition and makes it a non-traditional disaster.

 Conceptual borders:
There are a few borders or concepts which make us identify/classify events as disasters.
There are 4 borders:
1. Temporal borders – temporal border says that a disaster should be rapidly
occurring, not slow on-set. This is because if a disaster is not rapid, it will not be
dealt with urgency and will be treated like other social problems, e.g., racism or
economic inequality. Covid 19 is an example of a slow on-set disaster.

2. Spatial borders or zoning – disasters are events concentrated in time and space.
They are mostly related to a small geographical area to multiple nations.
However, in recent times, this definition needs to be expanded because
disasters can also be an event that is of global scope. (covid19)

3. The disaster cycle: Phases – disaster cycle has stages like mitigation,
preparedness, response, recovery. However, these stages donot fit with the cu
rrent pandemic. The response in covid 19 was masks, distancing, and isolation.
We donot know clearly in which phase we are currently in. hence we need a new
way to view it (response-recovery cycles). Measures assumed to reduce
infections are implemented, appear to be working, and recovery is being
achieved only to witness renewed surges in infections, prompting a return to
response measures.

4. Disaster Politics – Positioning - in any disaster, government officials are

confronted with the need to not only manage the situation but also to explain
it”. Since few political officials are disaster subject matter experts, additional
actors become involved depending on the type of expertise required to explain
the hazard or disaster agent. Sometimes, multiple experts must play roles.
Political leaders may or may not acknowledge responsibility for managing and
explaining a slow-onset disaster and, to the extent that they do, manage poorly,
fail to identify the most appropriate experts, provide inaccurate or inconsistent
direction to emergency managers and misinform the public. Unlike most rapidly
occurring disasters, slow-onset disasters often involve “tradeoffs” in which
preventive measures may have significant negative social and economic
consequences making management complex and potentially “no-win” situations
for political leaders.
  Successful strategies to contain virus –
1. Lockdowns, smart lockdowns
2. Isolation of infected
3. Testing and contact tracing
4. Mask wearing
5. Social distancing
6. Hand washing
7. Closing down congregation points
8. Restricting traveling/closing borders/flights

 Social Impacts – covid 19 was highly unknown and fatal. People were facing anxiety,
depression, etc. Generalized anxiety disorder scale was used to assess anxiety. Patient
health questionnaires were used to screen depression.

 Coping strategies –
1. Avoidant Coping – when you avoid the situation by distracting yourself. For
example, denial, substance use, self-distraction, self-blame. It is not a good
way of coping and has been linked with poorer physical and mental health.
2. Adaptive coping – when you accept the situation. For example, positive
reframing, planning, acceptance, seeking emotional support, etc. It is a better
way of copying as it results in better physical health conditions and more
stable emotions. Religion and humor are also considered as adaptive coping.

 Covid 19 Myths –
1. Covid Vaccines change your DNAs
2. Vaccines increase chance of Autism/Cancer/ infertility
3. Bill Gates wants to implant microchips in people
4. Lab-leak theory makes rounds every few months

 Any good thing in this dark disaster?

1. Billions invested in vaccines – will help in medical and scientific breakthroughs – helping in
mitigating cancer, influenza, etc.
2. Doctors already running clinical trials for different types of cancers.
3. Chance to re-think our relationships with others - any positive social changes?