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WHAT IS DISASTER?
1.1 MEANING:
A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread
human, material, economic or environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources.
The word disaster is derived from Middle French désastre and that from Old Italian disastro, which in turn
comes from the Greek pejorative prefix δυσ-, (dus-) "bad" and ἀστήρ (aster), "star". The root of the
word disaster ("bad star" in Greek) comes from an astrological sense of a calamity blamed on the sight of
planets.
In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the consequence of inappropriately managed risk. These
risks are the product of a combination of both hazard/s and vulnerability. Hazards that strike in areas with
low vulnerability will never become disasters, as is the case in uninhabited regions.
Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits – more than 95 percent of all deaths
caused by hazards occur in developing countries, and losses due to natural hazards are 20 times greater (as a
percentage of GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized countries.
Researchers have been studying disasters for more than a century, and for more than forty years disaster
research. The studies reflect a common opinion when they argue that all disasters can be seen as being
human-made, their reasoning being that human actions before the strike of the hazard can prevent it
developing into a disaster. All disasters are hence the result of human failure to introduce
appropriate disaster management measures.
Hazards are routinely divided into natural or human-made, although complex disasters, where there is no
single root cause, are more common in developing countries. A specific disaster may spawn a secondary
disaster that increases the impact. A classic example is an earthquake that causes a tsunami, resulting in
coastal flooding. The disasters are natural disasters or man-made disasters.
A Natural Hazard is a natural process or phenomenon that may cause loss of life, injury or other health
impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or
environmental damage. Various phenomena like earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, tsunamis, and cyclones are all natural hazards that kill thousands of people
and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. However, the rapid growth of the world's
population and its increased concentration often in hazardous environments has escalated both the frequency
and severity of disasters. With the tropical climate and unstable land forms, coupled with deforestation, unplanned growth proliferation, non-engineered constructions which make the disaster-prone areas more
vulnerable, tardy communication, poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing
countries suffer more or less chronically by natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties caused by
natural hazards.
Human-Instigated disasters are the consequence of technological hazards. Examples include stampedes,
fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, oil spills and nuclear explosions/radiation. War and deliberate
attacks may also be put in this category. As with natural hazards, man-made hazards are events that have not
happened, for instance terrorism. Man-made disasters are examples of specific cases where man-made
hazards have become reality in an event.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
1) To study the importance of the disaster management in natural or man-made disasters.
2) To study about the disasters and their consequences.
3) To study how to effectively engage and developing the disaster management.
4) To know the strategies used by Gujarat Government during 2001 earthquake at Bhuj.
1.3 SCOPE OF THE STUDY:
Today the world is undergoing the natural and man-made disasters. These disasters cause deaths,
material loss, stress and chaos in human life. So there is scope to study about how to cope up with
disasters, what remedial measures should be adopted during the disaster, what strategy should apply
to manage the disaster, how the government should react during the calamities, what will be the role
of the disaster management during disaster? This study will provide the some light about the
disaster management.
1.4 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY:
The present study is based on the secondary data collection. The outcome of the study will
definitely useful in the field to take appropriate remedial measures during any hazard.
This study of disaster management during Gujarat earthquake will help to understand the strategies
to be implemented by Gujarat Government for the rescue, mitigation and rehabilitation of the people
of Bhuj, Khatch district and all other affected areas. The study has relevance from the point of view
of disaster management as it clearly gives the picture of remedial measures adopted by the disaster
management authority of Gujarat State.
1.5 DEFINITION OF DISASTER:
―A disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disrupts the functioning of a community or society
and causes human, material, and economic or environmental losses that exceed the community‘s or society‘s
ability to cope using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins.‖ –
Red Cross and Red Crescent.
―The word disaster implies a sudden overwhelming and unforeseen event. At the household level, a disaster
could result in a major illness, death, a substantial economic or social misfortune. At the community level, it
could be a flood, a fire, a collapse of buildings in an earthquake, the destruction of livelihoods, an epidemic
or displacement through conflict. When occurring at district or provincial level, a large number of people
can be affected. Most disasters result in the inability of those affected to cope with outside assistance. At the
household level, this could mean dealing with the help from neighbours; at the national level, assistance
from organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United
Nations, various nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and government agencies themselves. As the
limiting factor in disaster response is often the coping capacity of those affected, improving their resilience
when responding to disasters is a key approach to lessening the consequence of a disaster.‖ – The John
Hopkins Institute.
1.6 CHARACTERSTICS/FEATURES OF DISASTERS:
Generally, following are the characteristics of most of the disasters:
1) Borderless : Certain natural disasters are not bound by borders of a nation or state. The disasters affect
humans and other living beings across the globe. For instance, earthquakes, cyslones, floods, droughts, etc.,
can take place in any country irrespective of social and economic development. At times, a single disaster
may affect several countries at a time. The Tsunami of 26th december 2004 devastated the shores of India,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries.
2) Loss: Certain disasters results in death of several people. For instance, the Gujarat earthquake in 2001
resulted in deaths of over 20,000 people. The Orissa cyclone in 1999 kiled 10,000 people. The Tsunami
disaster in 2004 took away lives of 2.3 lakh people across 14 countries (Bangladesh, Burma, India,
Indonesis, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, the Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Tanzania and Thailand). Apart from loss of human lives, the disaster resul;ts in loss of livestock, destruction
of houses, offices, factories and other valuable assets.
3) Unusual Event : Disasters, by their nature, are distinct from emergencies because they do not happen all
the time. Unusual, but not unexpected.
4) Communications Failures : This is one of the defining characteristics that separate an emergency
(communications still work) and a disaster. The problem is that there are different ways that
communications fail. The communication failure may be due to : Frequency overuse, battery failure,
incortrect infromation, Misunderstanding.
5) The extent is uncertain: With unusual events occuring compounded by communications failure, it is no
surprise that disasters invariably result in nobody knowing the full extent of how bad things are. The worst
hit areas are the last to be responded to. Areas slightly affected scream the loudest because they still have
phones working or laternate forms of communications. The worst hit areas lose all forms of communications
and are simply forgotten due to the noise from elsewhere.
6) Lack of information: Due to the widespread scope of a disaster, everything is affected. As a result, there
is a tremnedous need to find out what roads are out and what roads are intact, what vital services are
destroyed and which ones can easily be repaired, where the greatest number of casualties and evacuees are
to be found and what buildings are intact for recovery use or have been destroyed.
7) Misinformation: It is very easy for information to be miscontrued and rumours to be stated as facts
when dealing with a disaster. When massive amounts of information are required, it is easy for wrong
information to slip in. Disasters are full of examples of ―wrong Information.‖
8) Emergency services are affected: Fire halls are dstroyed by tornados. City halls are flooded out. When
the fire truck is crushed and the water mains are broken, the arrival of the firefighters has no effect on the
disaster and the situation continuous to deteriorate. Hospitals are equally affected by the disaster. Whether
the disaster damages the building itself, then contents of the buildings are diusruped (few hospitals are
earthquake proof), or staff is unable to get to or from the hospitals, the hospitals are the first to feel the
effects.
9) Things get better or they get worse: Disasters never stay exactly the same. This means your response
environment will constantly be changing and the situation an hour ago may be completely different from the
latest one. Situation may deteriorate for the worst or it may be improved for the better.
10) Things will last much longer: Things may last much longer that one expects. There is a tendency for
everyone to think that after an earthquake or a hurricane or any disaster that things will be cleaned up in a
week or two. Months later, as society continues to struggle with rebuilding, they realize that the recovery
may take months or even years.
2. TYPES OF DISASTERS
2.1 NATURAL DISASTERS:
A natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth; examples
include floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geologic processes. A natural disaster
can cause loss of life or property damage, and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the
severity of which depends on the affected population's resilience, or ability to recover
An adverse event will not rise to the level of a disaster if it occurs in an area without vulnerable
population. In a vulnerable area, however, such as San Francisco, an earthquake can have disastrous
consequences and leave lasting damage, requiring years to repair.
In 2012, there were 905 natural disasters worldwide, 93% of which were weather-related disasters. Overall
costs were US$170 billion and insured losses $70 billion. 2012 was a moderate year. 45% were
meteorological (storms), 36% were hydrological (floods), 12% were climatological (heat waves, cold waves,
droughts, wildfires) and 7% were geophysical events (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions). Between 1980
and 2011 geophysical events accounted for 14% of all natural catastrophes
2.1A GEOPHYSICAL DISASTERS:
2.1Aa Avalanches
During World War I, an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 soldiers died as a result of
avalanches during the mountain campaign in the Alps at the Austrian-Italian front.
Many of the avalanches were caused by artillery fire.
2.1Ab Earthquakes
Some of the most significant earthquakes in recent times include:
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the third largest earthquake recorded
in history, registering a moment magnitude of 9.1-9.3. The
huge tsunamis triggered by this earthquake killed at least 229,000
people.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami registered a moment
magnitude of 9.0. The earthquake and tsunami killed 15,889 and injured 6,152. 2,609 were still
missing as of 2014.
The 8.8 magnitude February 27, 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami cost 525 lives.
The 7.9 magnitude May 12, 2008 Sichuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, China. Death toll at over
61,150 as of May 27, 2008.
The 7.7 magnitude 2006 Pangandaran earthquake and tsunami.
The 6.9 magnitude 2005 Azad Jammu & Kashmir and KPK province Earthquake, which killed or
injured above 75,000 people in Pakistan.
2.1Ac Volcanic Eruptions
Volcanoes can cause widespread destruction and consequent disaster in
several ways. The effects include the volcanic eruption itself that may cause
harm following the explosion of the volcano or the fall of rock.
The 1953 Tangiwai disaster was caused by a lahar, as was the 1985 Armero
tragedy in which the town of Armero was buried and an estimated 23,000 people were killed .
2.1B HYDROLOGICAL DISASTERS:
It is a violent, sudden and destructive change either in quality of earth's water or in distribution or movement
of water on land below the surface or in atmosphere.
2.1Ba Floods
Some of the most notable floods include:
The Johnstown Flood of 1889 where over 2200 people lost their
lives when the South Fork Dam holding back Lake Conemaugh
broke.
The Huang He (Yellow River) in China floods particularly often.
The Great Flood of 1931caused between 800,000 and 4,000,000 deaths.
The Great Flood of 1993 was one of the most costly floods in United States history.
The North Sea flood of 1953 which killed 2251 people in the Netherlands and eastern England
The 1998 Yangtze River Floods, in China, left 14 million people homeless.
The 2000 Mozambique flood covered much of the country for three weeks, resulting in thousands of
deaths, and leaving the country devastated for years afterward.
The 2005 Mumbai floods which killed 1094 people.
The 2010 Pakistan floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by dispolacement,
destruction of crops, infrastructure, property and livelihood, with a death toll of close to 2,000.
The 2014 India–Pakistan floods
2013 Uttarakhand, India flood.
The 2008 Indian floods affected several states in India between July 2008 and September 2008
during an unusually wet monsoon season. The floods caused severe damage, and killed an estimated
2404 people.
2.1Bb Limnic Eruptions
A limnic eruption occurs when a gas, usually CO2, suddenly erupts from deep lake
water, posing the threat of suffocating wildlife, livestock and humans. Such an eruption
may also cause tsunamis in the lake as the rising gas displaces water. Scientists
believe landslides, volcanic activity, or explosions can trigger such an eruption. To
date, only two limnic eruptions have been observed and recorded:
In 1984, in Cameroon, a limnic eruption in Lake Monoun caused the deaths of 37
nearby residents.
At nearby Lake Nyos in 1986 a much larger eruption killed between 1,700 and 1,800 people
by asphyxiation.
2.1Bc Tsunami
Tsunamis can be caused by undersea earthquakes as the one caused by the 2004
Indian Ocean Earthquake, or by landslides such as the one which occurred at
Lituya Bay, Alaska.
The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake created the Boxing Day Tsunami.
The undersea mega thrust earthquake was caused when the Indian Plate was sub
ducted by the Burma Plate and triggered a series of devastating tsunamis along the coasts of most
landmasses bordering the Indian Ocean, killing 230,000 people in 14 countries, and inundating coastal
communities with waves up to 30 metres (100 ft) high. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in
recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.
2.1C METEOROLOGICAL DISASTERS:
2.1Ca Blizzards
Blizzards are severe winter storms characterized by heavy snow and strong
winds. When high winds stir up snow that has already fallen, it is known as a
ground blizzard. Blizzards can impact local economic activities, especially in
regions where snowfall is rare.
Significant blizzards include:
The Great Blizzard of 1888 in the United States in which many tons of wheat crops were destroyed.
The 2008 Afghanistan blizzard
The North American blizzard of 1947
The 1972 Iran blizzard resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths and lasted for 5 to 7 days.
2.1Cb Tropical Cyclones - Hurricane Katrina
Cyclone, tropical cyclone, hurricane, and typhoon are different names for the same phenomenon, which is a
cyclonic storm system that forms over the oceans. The deadliest hurricane ever was the 1970 Bhola cyclone;
the deadliest Atlantic hurricane was the Great Hurricane of 1780 which devastated Martinique, St. Eustatius
and Barbados. Another notable hurricane is Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf Coast of the
United States in 2005.
2.1Cc Extra tropical Cyclones
The most intense extra tropical cyclones cause widespread disruption and damage
to society, such as the storm surge of the North Sea flood of 1953 which killed
2251 people in the Netherlands and eastern England, the Great Storm of
1987 which devastated southern England and France and the Columbus Day
Storm of 1962 which struck the Pacific Northwest.
2.1Cd Droughts
Well-known historical droughts include:
1900 - India killing between 250,000 to 3.25 million.
1921–22 - Soviet Union, in which over 5 million perished from starvation due to drought.
1928–30 - Northwest China resulting in over 3 million deaths by famine.
1936 and 1941 Sichuan Province China resulting in 5 million and 2.5 million deaths respectively.
The 1997–2009 Millennium Drought in Australian led to a water supply crisis across much of the
country. As a result many desalination plants were built for the first time.
In 2006, Sichuan Province China experienced its worst drought in modern times with nearly 8
million people and over 7 million cattle facing water shortages.
12-year drought that was devastating southwest Western Australia, southeast South
Australia, Victoria and northern Tasmania was "very severe and without historical precedent".