- 01 FOUNDATION COURSE IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT Ilisasters. which are often sudden and intense, result i n destruction, ill-jury and death disrupting tlie normal lif e as well as the process of development. This high lights the i~iipo~-iance ofdisaster manage~iient and tlie need to learn about it. Th e Foundation Course in Disaster Management, among othe, .ilspects, is intended to fan~iliarise the learners with the meaning, factors, significance, causes a nd effects of di sasters. Besides providing the Regional and Seasotlal profile of natural disasters in India, the Course also presents a global view of disasters. In keeping with the peculiarities ofvarious disaster s, the Course deals with tlie vulnerabilit y, impact and effect s, natu re ofdamage, predictability, forecasting aspects of disasters such as Earthqi~ake, Flood and Drainage, Cyclone, Drought and Famine, Landslide and Snow Avalanclie, Fire and Forest Fire, Irid~~strial and Technologi cal disasters, and Epidemics. I n order to create and sustain awareness of disasters the community and to upgrade tlie information, knowledge and skills of the Goverrimental atid Non-governmental Organisations' personnel dealing witli disaster mitigation and management, the Course lays emphasis on disaster preparedness. Here we shall be dealing specifically wit h tlie essentials ofdisaster preparedness viz. Planni'ng, com~nunication, leadership and co-ordination, and \\arehousing and stock piling. To strengthen the resilience and self-confidelice of local cv~nmunities tid to enable them to develop Co~nmunity Action Plans to deal witli pre ancl post disaster situations, the Course focuses on human behaviour and response, tccliniq~~es for effective community participatio n and beliefs and myths regarding dis;lstcrs. Further, it aims to present relevant illformation pertaining t o disasters and the cl'lbctive dissemination oftlie same. I t is a known fact that various agencies play ililli.~.ent and significant roles i n dealing with disaster situations. Therefore, we shall tlcsc~.ibc' 11 c roles of District Administra tion, Military a nd Para-military forces, hlinis~ries and Depal-iments at tlie Centre and State levels, Non-governmental ( )~.~arlisatiobs. International Agencies atid Media.
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7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance
Ilisasters. which are often sudden and intense, result i n destruction, ill-jury and death
disrupting tlie normal life as well as the process of development. This high lights the
i~iipo~-ianceof disaster manage~iientand tlie need to learn about it. Th e FoundationCourse in Disaster Management, among othe, .ilspects, is intended to fan~iliarisethelearners with the meaning, factors, significance, causes and effects of disasters.
Besides providing the Regional and Seasotlal profile of natural disasters in India, theCourse also presents a global view of disasters. In keeping with the peculiarities of
various disasters, the Course deals with tlie vulnerability, impact and effects, nature of
damage, predictability, forecasting aspects of disasters such as Earthqi~ake,Flood and
Drainage, Cyclone, Drought and Famine, Landslide and Snow Avalanclie, Fire andForest Fire, Irid~~strialand Technological disasters, and Epidemics. In order to create
and sustain awareness of disasters the community and to upgrade tlie information,
knowledge and skills of the Goverrimental atid Non-governmental Organisations'personnel dealing witli disaster mitigation and management, the Course lays emphasis
on disaster preparedness. Here we shall be dealing specifically with tlie essentials of
disaster preparedness viz. Planni'ng, com~nunication,leadership and co-ordination, and
\ \arehousing and stock piling. To strengthen the resilience and self-confidelice of localcv~nmunities tid to enable them to develop Co~nmunityAction Plans to deal witli pre
anc l post disaster situations, the Course focuses on human behaviour and response,
tccl iniq~~esfor effective community participation and beliefs and myths regarding
dis;lstcrs. Further, it aims to present relevant illformation pertaining to disasters and the
cl ' lbctive dissemination of tlie same. I t is a known fact that various agencies play .
ililli.~.entand significant roles in dealing with disaster situations. Therefore, we shalltlcsc~.ibc'11c roles of District Administration, Military and Para-military forces,
hlinis~ries and Depal-iments at tlie Centre and State levels, Non-governmental
1.0 ObjectivesI .1 Introduction1.2 Meaning of Disasters
1.2.1 Definitions
' 1.2.2 Distindion between I-lward and Disastrr
1.2.3 Distinction betweenNatural and Man-made Disasters
1.3 Nature of Disasters
1.4 Aggravating factors of Disasters1.5 Significance and Repercussions
l .G Let Us Sum Up
1.7 Key Words1.8 References and Further Readings
1.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises
1.0 OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit, you should be able to:,
discuss the meaning, definitions and types of disasters,e describe the nature of disasters,
highlight the aggravating factors of disasters, and
explain the significance and repercussions,
1 1 INTRODUCTION
A disaster is the result of an immediate situation or the rcsult of a long set processwhich disrupts nonnal human life in its established social, traditional and
, economic system. This is due to t l ~ edestruction of environ~nentwhich is causedby extraordinary natural destructive pl~enomena 01 human-induced hazards
resi~ltingin human llardship and suffering beyond recovery ~ ~ n l e s sxtertial aid isbrought in.
1.2 MEANING OF DISASTERS
'The terns 'Disaster' owes its origin to the French word 'Desastre' which is the
combination of the article - 'des' and 'astre' meaning 'star'. In earlier days adisaster was considered to be due to some u~ifavourable tar. Nowadays, the term
Disaster' is commonly used to denote ally odd event, be natural or man made,
which brings about immense misery to a region. So that it becomes difficult tocope with the situatioli through local resources.
1.2.1 Definitions
The dictionary meanings of Disaster are as follows:
1 ) Disaster is a sudden or great ~nisfortune,calamity. (Concise OxfordDictionary)
2) Disaster is a sudden calamitous evelit producing great material damage, lossand distress. (Webster's Dictionary)
7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance
[Iisasters. wliicli are often sudden and intense, result in destruction, ill-jury and deathdisrupting the normal life as well as the process of development. This highlights theimpor-tance of disaster management and the need to learn about it. The FoundationCourse in Disaster Management, amon g othe dspects, is intended to familiarise thelearners with the meaning, factors, significance, causes and effects of disasters.
Besides providing tlie Regional and Seasonal profile of natural disasters in India, the
Course also presents a global view of disasters. In keeping with the peculiarities o r
v a r i o ~ ~ sdisasters, tlie Course deals with the v~lnerab i i i t~ ,impact and effects, nature of
damage, predictability, forecasting aspects of disasters such as Earthquake, Flood and
Drainage, Cyclone, Drought and Fa~nine,Landslide and Snow Avalanclle, Fire andForest Fire, Industrial and Technological disasters, and Epidemics. In order to createand sustain awareness of disasters the community and to upgrade the information,I<nowledge and skills of the Governmental and Non-governmental Organisations'personnel dealing with disaster mitigation and management, the Course lays emphasison disasler preparedness. Here we shall be dealing specifically with tlie essentials of
clisaster preparedness viz. Planning, com~nunication,leadership and co-ordination, and\ \ archousing and stock piling. To strengthen tlie resilie~iceand self -confidence of localcommunities a ~ i dto enable them to develop Community Action Plans to deal with pre
t~nclpost disaster situations, the Course focuses on hurnan behaviour and response,t cc l~~i iq~tesor effective co~nmunityparticipatio~~and beliefs and myths regardingtli.;,~stc~-s.Further, it aims to present relevant information pertaining to disasters and thecl'li.cti\~e isseriiination of the same. It is a known fact that various agencies play .
rlil'ii'~.cn~an d significant roles in dealing with disaster situations. Therefore, we shall
~ I C \ C I - I ~ C tlic roles of District Administratio& Military and Para-military forces,Al in i s t l -~es and Departments at the Centre and State levels, Non-governmental
( )ryni~:l[ ions.International Agencies and Media.
7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance
vii) Ecological: Pollution (Air, Water, Noise), Soil degration, Loss of Biodiversity, Global Warming, Sea level rise, Toxic Wastes, Nuclearaccidents.
viii)Warfare: Conventional, Chemical, Nuclear.I
1.3 NATURE OF DISASTERS
As disasters have profound and often long lasting effects on the people and theirsafety, if is essential to acquire filllest possible knowledge about their occurrence,impacts and precautions including remedial measures. However, study ofDisasters has many facets. While their mechanism requires the study of thescientific aspects of their genesis and life cycle, this impacts on the environ~nentand society also need a multi-disciplinary approach involvil~g he social andmedical services. Hence, scholars for studying disasters have adopted thefollowing six approaches.
1) Geographical Approach
I11 this, social science methods are widely used and emphasis is given to the spatio-temporal distribution of hazard, impacts and vulnerability. Geographers have also
given particular thought to. the question o f 11owchoices are made between differenttypes of adjustment to natural hazards.
2) Anthropological Approach
This approach has focused on the role of disasters in guiding the socio-economicevolution of populations in dispersing them and in causing the destruction of civilizations. A strong concern has led anthropologists to search for the tl~resholdpoints beyond which local communities can no longer provide the basicrequirements for survival of their members.
3) Sociological Approach
In this approach, vulnerability and impacts are cotisidered in terms of patterns of human behaviour and the effects of disasters on community. In addition,psychologists have studied disaster in relation to factors such as a psychologicallydetermined defensive reaction pattern.
4) Developmental Studies Approach
It considers problems of providing aid and relief, migration management, healthcare and the avoidance of starvation. Over 80 per cent of disasters occur indeveloping countries, and it is clear that the prevailing poverty increases humanvulnerability to natural hazards.
5) Disaster Medicine and Epidemiology
It focuses on the management of mass casualties, the treatment of severe physicaltrauma and the epidemiological surveillance of co~n~nunicabl ediseases' whoseincidence rates may increase during the disruption of public health measuresfollowing a disaster. 7
7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance
Tlie natural and physical scientists emphasise Lipon this approach. Emphasis isgiven to geological, geotiiorpliological and geophysical approaches to clisasters.
CllecltYour Progress 1
Note: i) Use the space given below for your answers,ii) . Check your answers with those given at tlie end of tlie unit.
1 ) What do you meall by hazard and clisastel-'?
2) Discuss briefly the niajor types of tlie natural disasters.
3) Briefly describe any four approaches regarding nature of d i s a s t e ~ . ~ .
1.4 AGGRAVATING FACTORS OF DISASTERS
Tlie severity of tlie in~pactsof each disaster is recltoned in terms of deaths,
damage, 01 costs whicli are clependent on tlie existing socio-economic conditions '
of the affected com~nuni ty . In fact, tlie misery of !.he affected people is iisually 'increased by the fol lowing aggravating factors.
Poverty
All disaster studies show that the wealthy aniong tlie population arc less affected
and arc able to recover quicltly. However, poverty generally makes people ~ n o r c
7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance
vulnerable to all th e impacts of disasters. It is only due to poverty that poor people Disaster: Merning
are forced to live in more vulnerable areas such as tlie flood plains of rivers.Factors and significance
Usually droughts claim poor peasant farmers as victinis and rarely the wealthy; and
famines are the result of a lack of purchasing power to buy food rather than an
absence of food. Many people are forced to move from tlieir homes to other parts
of their countries or even across borders to survive. Such crisis induced migration
poses co~isiderablechallenge both in terms of immediate assistance and long term
planning for development.
Population Growth
There is an obvious link between tlie increase in losses from a disaster and increase
in population density. If there are more people and structures where a disaster
strikes, there will be more impact. Increasing number of people will compete for
limited resources (e.g., employ~ne ntopportunities) which can lead to conflict. This
conflict may result in crisis-induced migration. This type of growth occurs
predominantly.in developi~igcountries, wl~ichmay aggravate the to disasters.
Rapid Urbanisation
Rapid population growth and migration are closely related to tlie major
phenomenon of rapid urbanization. It is characterized by rural poor or people i ll
disadvantaged areas moving to urban and nietropolitan areas in search of economic ..
opportunities and security. These people f i n d Ik\\cr options for availability ofsafe
and desirable places to baild their houses. Ilerc again, competition for scarce
resources can lead to social conflicts.
Many of the landslides or flood disasters are closely linked to rapicl and unclieckeclurbanisation whicli forces low-income fanlilies to settle on tlie slopes of steep
hillsides or banks of rivers.
Transitions in Cultural Practices
Many of the inevitable changes that occur in all societies lead to :on increase in
their vulnerability to disasters. Obviously, all societies are constantly changing
and are in a continual state of transition. These transitions are often disruptive and
uneven, leaving gaps in social coping mechanisms and available technology.
These transitions include no~nadicpopulation that become sedentary, rural people
who move to urban areas, and both rural and urban people who move from one
econo~niclevel to another. More broadly, these examples are typical of a shift
from non-industrialized to industrialized societies.
Environmental Degradation
Many disasters are either caused or aggravated by environmental degradation.
Deforestation leads to rapid rain run off, which coptributes to soil erosion and
flooding. The destn~ct ionof mangrove swa~npsdecreases tlie resistance of tlie
coastline to withstand strong winds and storm surges.
Drought conditions may be intensified by deforestation, overgrpzing, the stripping
of topsoil, poor conservation techniques, depletion of both tlie surface and
subsurface water supply and to an extent, uncl;ecked population. 9C
7/28/2019 Unit-1 Disaster Meaning, Factors and Significance