Disaster Management: Types, Prevention and Mitigation

Disaster Management: What is a disaster? Disasters are severe disturbances to a community’s functioning that surpass the community’s ability to cope using its own resources. Natural, man-made, and technological hazards, as well as various elements that influence a community’s exposure and vulnerability, can all contribute to disasters. Earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters are instances of disasters.

Disasters strike when a community is inadequately resourced or organised to endure the impact, and whose population is vulnerable due to poverty, exclusion, or other forms of socioeconomic disadvantage.  We can help communities prepare for disasters, lower their risks, and become more resilient by assisting them in being more prepared. On this page, let us learn about disaster management in detail.

Disaster Management

In the face of the climate problem, these efforts are becoming increasingly important. Every year, the effects of global warming kill people and destroy lives and livelihoods, and they will only grow worse unless fast and decisive action is taken.

Categories of Disasters

Disasters can be broadly categorised into two:

1. Natural Disaster: Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, storms, and other geologic phenomena are all instances of natural disasters.
2. Man-Made Disaster: As opposed to natural disasters caused by natural risks, man-made catastrophes involve human intent, neglect, or error involving a failure of a man-made system. Crime, arson, civil unrest, terrorism, war, biological/chemical threats, and cyber-attacks are examples of man-made disasters.

Disasters can be further classified into the following categories:

Water and Climate Disasters include floods, hail storms, cloudbursts, cyclones, heat waves, cold waves, droughts, and hurricanes, among others. With climate change, these kinds of disasters is becoming more common.

Geological disasters are those that occur as a result of the earth’s topography and geology. Examples include landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes.

Biological disasters are those that are brought on by biological agents. Biological disasters include viral outbreaks, pest attacks, cow epidemics, and locust plagues. This category includes the recent Coronavirus epidemic.

Chemical and industrial mishaps, mine shaft fires, oil spills, and other such incidents fall under industrial disasters

Nuclear disasters include nuclear reactor meltdowns and radiation sickness.

Urban and forest fires, oil spills, and the collapse of massive architectural structures are all examples of man-made disasters.

Disaster Management

Disaster Management is defined under the Disaster Management Act of 2005 as an integrated process of planning, organising, coordinating, and implementing procedures that are required for:

1. Any calamity or threat that is avoidable
2. Reduce the likelihood of a tragedy or its repercussions
3. Preparedness to handle any disaster
4. Quickness in responding to a disaster
5. Determining the magnitude of a disaster’s consequences
6. Rescue and assistance
7. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation

Disaster preparedness refers to the steps taken to prepare for and mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters. This is accomplished by research and planning in order to try to foresee disaster-prone areas or regions and, where feasible, prevent disasters from occurring and/or decrease the impact of catastrophes on vulnerable populations so that they can deal properly.

Disaster preparedness actions combined with risk reduction measures can help to prevent disasters and save as many lives and livelihoods as possible during a disaster, allowing the afflicted community to return to normalcy quickly.

Minimising loss of life and property damage by facilitating effective disaster response and recovery services when they are needed is one of the key elements for recovery after a disaster. The most effective strategy to lessen the impact of disasters is to be prepared. Disaster management should place a strong premium on community-based readiness and management.

Summary

Disasters are severe disturbances to a community’s functioning that surpass its ability to cope. Natural, man-made, and technological hazards can all contribute to disasters. Water and Climate Disasters include floods, hail storms, cloudbursts, cyclones, heat waves, cold waves, droughts, and hurricanes. Industrial disasters include mine shaft fires, oil spills, and other such incidents.

Every year, the effects of global warming kill people and destroy lives and livelihoods. We can help communities prepare for disasters, lower their risks, and become more resilient.

FAQs on Disaster Management

Students might be having many questions regarding Disaster Management. Here are a few commonly asked questions and answers.

Q.1. What is a Disaster?
Ans: Disasters are severe disturbances to a community’s functioning that surpass the community’s ability to cope using its own resources.

Q.2. What is a Biological Disaster?
Ans: Biological disasters are those that are brought on by biological agents. Biological disasters include viral outbreaks, pest attacks, cow epidemics, and locust plagues.

Q.3. What is a geological disaster?
Ans: Geological disasters are those that occur as a result of the earth’s topography and geology. Examples include landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tornadoes

Q.4. What are the two types of disasters?
Ans: Natural and man-made are the two types of disasters

Q.5. What is disaster management?
Ans: Disaster management is in reference to the steps taken to prepare for and mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters.

We hope this information about Disaster Management has been helpful. If you have any doubts, comment in the section below, and we will get back to you.