ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS DISASTER?
Disaster word has come from Middle French dsastre, from Old Italian disastro, from the Greek pejorative prefix dis-bad & aster-star. Disaster is the impact of natural or man-made hazards that negatively affects society or environment. The word disaster's root is from astrology: this implies that when the stars are in a bad position a bad event will happen. In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the effect of hazards on vulnerable areas. Hazards that occur in areas with low vulnerability do not result in a disaster; as is the case in uninhabited regions.

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Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss & destruction & devastation to life & property. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable & varies with the geographical location, climate & the type of the earth surface/degree of vulnerability. Generally, disaster has the following effects in the concerned areas:1. It completely disrupts the normal day to day life. 2. It negatively influences the Disaster systems. 3. Normal needs & processes like food, shelter, health, etc. are affected & deteriorate depending on the intensity & severity of the disaster.

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It may also be termed as a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources.

Definitions: 1) The Websters dictionary defines disaster as a grave occurrence having ruinous results. 2) WHO defines as any occurrence causing damage, ecological destruction loss of human lives, deterioration of health & health services on large scale is sufficient to warrant any extra ordinary intervention from outside are the affected community.

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TYPES OF DISASTER
Based on the causes of Disaster, it can be classified as:a) Natural Disaster

b) Manmade Disaster
a) Natural disaster:- Natural disaster are those which are caused by natural process on the earth. It includes earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, landslides, floods, tsunamis. b) Manmade disaster:- Manmade Disaster are caused by human activities or negligence & include industrial accidents, deliberate forest fires, fire in residential & commercial places etc. Epidemics, thought strictly speaking, have biological origin, are often treated or considered as manmade Disaster.

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DISASTER MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS DISASTER MANAGEMENT?

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MAJOR DISASTERS & THEIR MANAGEMENT

1) FLOODS:The word "flood" comes from the Old English flod, a word common to Germanic languages also compare German Flut, Dutch vloed from the same root as is seen in flow, float; also compare with Latin fluctus, flumen. Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water.

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A flood is an overflow or accumulation of an expanse of water that submerges land In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods can also occur in rivers, when flow exceeds the capacity of the river channel. Floods often cause damage to homes & businesses if they are placed in natural flood plains of rivers. That humans continue to inhabit areas threatened by flood damage is evidence that the perceived value of living near the water exceeds the cost of repeated periodic flooding.

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Preventive measures:a) Improve drainage efficiency:Construct pumping stations, water gates, tunnels.

b) Construction of structures:Flood barriers are effective means to stop excessive amount of water rushing into low grounds.

FLOODS

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2) DROUGHTS:A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem & agriculture of the affected region. Although droughts can persist for several years, even a short, intense drought can cause significant damage & harm the local economy. This global phenomenon has a widespread impact on agriculture.

Preventive measures: Desalinization of sea water for consumption. Continues observation of rainfall level &

comparisons with current usage can help to prevent manmade drought.

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Rainfall harvesting i.e. collection & storage of

rain water roof or other suitable catchment areas. Recycling water i.e. treating waste water & Water restriction i.e. regulating use of water Cloud speeding i.e. an artificial technique to purifying for reuse. in agriculture by use of sprinklers. induce rainfall.

DROUGHT

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3) EARTHQUAKES:Earthquakes refer to shaking of earth. There is continuous activity going on below the surface of the earth. There are several large plates below the surface of the earth, which moves at a very slow speed. As a part of this movement, sometimes, they collide against each other. &, after the collision, they might still continue to push each other. As they continually keep pushing each other, there is a pressure building up across these plates below the surface. &, then, at a certain time, one of the plates might slide over another. This causes an earthquake.

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Preventive measures:A) B) Before Earthquake:Public awareness programmers & training. Assessment of structural vulnerability. Strengthen of weak buildings. After earthquake:Early earthquake warning. Supply of water, food & medicines. Assessment on damage needs. Reconstruction & rehabilitation.

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4) TSUNAMIS:The term tsunami comes from the Japanese, meaning tsu- "harbor" & nami "wave". Tsunamis are sometimes referred to as tidal waves. Tsunami & tides both produce waves of water that move inland, but in the case of tsunami the inland movement of water is much greater & lasts for a longer period, giving the impression of an incredibly high tide. Most tsunamis are generated by underwater earthquakes. A tsunami can be generated when convergent or destructive plate boundaries abruptly move & vertically displace the overlying water. It is very unlikely that they can form at divergent (constructive) or conservative plate boundaries. Tsunamis have a small amplitude (wave height) offshore, & a very long wavelength (often hundreds of kilometers long), which is why they generally pass unnoticed at sea, forming only a slight swell usually about 300 millimeters (12 in)
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above the normal sea surface. They grow in height when they reach shallower water, in a wave shoaling process.

Causes:-

Tsunami can also be Most tsunamis are caused by generated by erupting submarine earthquakes which submarine volcanos dislocate the oceanic crust, ejecting magma into the pushing water upwards. ocean.

A gas bubble erupting in a deep part of the ocean can also trigger a tsunami

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Preventive measures:A) Before a tsunamis:If you are in an area at risk from tsunamis You should find out if your home, school, workplace, or other frequently visited locations are tsunami hazard areas. Know the height your street above the sea level & the distance of your street from the coast or other high-risk water. Listen to the weather radio, or a local station or television to keep informed of local watches, advices & warnings. Discuss tsunamis with your family. Everyone should know what to do in a tsunami situation. Discussing tsunamis ahead of time will help to reduce panic & save precious time in an emergency.

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During tsunami warning: If you feel a strong earthquake that last 20 seconds or longer when you are in a coastal area, you should: duck, cover & hold on. First you should protect yourself from the earthquake damage. When the shaking stops gather members of your household & move quickly to higher ground, away from the coast. A tsunami may be coming in few minutes. Avoid downer power lines & stay away from buildings & bridges from which heavy objects may fall during an aftershock. What To Do After Tsunami?: Listen to the local radio on an emergency frequency station or television for warning, advice & updates.

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Check yourself for injuries & get first aid if necessary before helping other injuries or trapped persons. Keep telephone lines clear & use only in case of emergency. Study the shore while re-entering the house. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or you smell burning insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. Electrical equipments should be checked & dried before being returning into service. Check food supplies, food that has come into contact with sea water may be contaminated & should be thrown out. Drink only boiled & safe drinking water.

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5) CYCLONES:Cyclones are huge revolving storms caused by winds blowing around a central area of low atmospheric pressure. In the northern hemisphere, cyclones are called hurricanes or typhoons & their winds blow in an anti-clockwise circle. In the southern hemisphere, these tropical storms are known as cyclones, whose winds blow in a clockwise circle.

Danger:Cyclones create several dangers for people living around tropical areas. The most destructive force of a cyclone comes from the fierce winds. These winds are strong enough to easily topple fences, sheds, trees, power poles & caravans, while hurling helpless people through the air. Many people are killed when the cyclone's winds cause buildings to collapse & houses to completely blow away.

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A cyclone typically churns up the sea, causing giant waves & surges of water known as storm surges. The water of a storm surge rushes inland with deadly power. The rains from cyclones are also heavy enough to cause serious flooding, especially along river areas.

A CYCLON

STORM SURGE DAMAGE

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Long after a cyclone has passed, road & rail transport can still be blocked by floodwaters. Safe lighting of homes & proper refrigeration of food may be impossible because of failing power supplies. Water often becomes contaminated from dead animals or rotting food, & people are threatened with disease like gastroenteritis. Preventive measures:a) Before cyclone: Public awareness program & training. Development of cyclone warning system e.g. radio, T.V., etc. Cyclone monitoring & warning system. b) After cyclone: National cyclone emergency plan. Reconstruction & rehabilitation. Distribution of food, water, medicine, clothes, etc. Aerial & ground survey to assess damage.

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