Disaster Management: Floods, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Landslides

📚 Disaster Management – Explained Simply

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🌪️ What is a Disaster?

A disaster is a sudden or gradual event (natural or man-made) that causes:
→ Loss of lives
→ Damage to property
→ Economic and environmental harm

🔴 It overwhelms the ability of people or governments to respond.

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📂 Types of Disasters

🌊 Water & Climate Disasters

→ Floods, cyclones, cloudbursts
→ Heat waves, droughts, hailstorms

🌍 Geological Disasters

→ Earthquakes
→ Landslides
→ Volcanic eruptions

🦠 Biological Disasters

→ Epidemics (COVID-19, Swine flu)
→ Locust attacks, pest outbreaks

🏭 Industrial Disasters

→ Oil spills
→ Chemical leaks
→ Factory fires

☢️ Nuclear Disasters

→ Radiation leaks
→ Reactor meltdowns

🔥 Man-Made Disasters

→ Fires in urban areas or forests
→ Building collapses

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🛠️ What is Disaster Management?

As per the Disaster Management Act, 2005, it is the process of:

→ 🛑 Preventing disasters
→ 🔻 Reducing risks
→ 🧰 Preparing in advance
→ 🆘 Responding quickly
→ 🚑 Rescuing & relieving victims
→ 🧱 Rebuilding lives and infrastructure

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🏢 Key Disaster Management Authorities

Level	Authority	Headed by
National	NDMA	Prime Minister
State	SDMA	Chief Minister
District	DDMA	District Magistrate
Local	Municipal/Panchayat	Local Authorities

→ NEC (National Executive Committee) helps prepare the national disaster plan.

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🧬 Focus on Biological Disasters

Definition: Disasters caused by the spread of harmful organisms → viruses, bacteria, pests.

🔍 Scale

→ Epidemic = Affects one area or community
→ Pandemic = Spreads across countries/continents

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🛡️ Key Roles in Biological Disaster Management

Role	Authority
Epidemic Management	Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Disease Outbreak Investigation	National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Biological Warfare Control	Ministry of Home Affairs

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🧪 Biohazard Classification (BSL – Biosafety Levels)

Level	Example	Protection Needed
BSL-1	Harmless bacteria	Basic protection
BSL-2	Hepatitis, HIV	Cabinets, gloves
BSL-3	Anthrax, MERS	Respirators, protocols
BSL-4	Ebola, Lassa fever	Full body suit, air supply

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🧼 Prevention of Biological Hazards

For Health Workers

→ Use PPE (masks, gloves, gowns)
→ Ensure proper ventilation
→ Maintain personal hygiene
→ Use sterilization tools

Environmental Measures

→ Ensure clean water
→ Proper sewage system
→ Avoid overcrowding
→ Control vectors (mosquitoes, rodents)

🦟 Spray insecticides & clean stagnant water!

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🚨 After Disaster – Preventing Epidemics

→ Use IDSS (Integrated Disease Surveillance System)
→ Track and respond to disease outbreaks
→ Inform public health authorities

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🏛️ Legal Acts for Disaster Management

• Water Act (1974)

• Air Act (1981)

• Environment Act (1986)

• Disaster Management Act (2005)

• Epidemic Diseases Act (1897) (outdated, needs revision)

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🔧 Gaps in Current System

⛔ No national policy for biological disasters
⛔ Lack of trained staff, labs, and emergency supplies
⛔ No Integrated Ambulance Network
⛔ Limited public health infrastructure

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✅ Prevention and Mitigation (All Disasters)

Key Areas of Focus:

🔍 Risk Mapping using GIS (e.g., NDEM, NSDI)
🏙️ Prevent unplanned urbanization
🛠️ Strengthen critical infrastructure (roads, bridges, dams)
🌱 Promote sustainable development
🌡️ Tackle climate change to reduce disasters like floods, cyclones

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🔄 Disaster Management Cycle

Mitigation → Preparedness → Response → Recovery