Environmental Science and Disaster Management
Environmental Science and Disaster Management
Environmental Science and Disaster Management
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Profile of
India
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
Ever since the happening of the earth summit at Rio De Janeiro,
Brazil the term biodiversity has become a buzzword.
In fact it is the contracted form of Biological Diversity .
Conservation of Biodiversity
Sustainable use of Biodiversity and
leaving enough for the future
generations.
Fair and equitable sharing of Profits
arising out of the use of biodiversity
MEGABIODIVERSITY COUNTRIES OF
THE WORLD
India is one of the twelve-mega biodiversity countries of the world
and one of the four in Asia.
3. Wetlands: India has a rich variety of wetland habitats, may be manmade or natural
where the soilremains waterlogged or submerged for whole or part of year upon which the
wetland biota depends.
4. Forests: The panorama of Indian forests ranges from evergreen tropical rain forests in
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, and the northeastern states, to dry
alpine scrub high in the Himalaya to the north. . Between the two extremes, the country has
semi-evergreen rain forests, deciduous monsoon forests, thorn forests, subtropical pine
forests in the lower montane zone and temperate montane forests
and they are included amongst the top eight most important hotspots.
Each World Heritage Site is the property of the country on whose territory the site
is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to
preserve each site for future generations of humankind. The protection and
conservation of these sites are a concern of all the World Heritage countries.
World Heritage
Sites in India The world body has listed 23 Heritage
Sites in India, which includes following
five Protected Areas of great
conservation significance to be a part of
World Culture and Heritage:
*
Five Protected Areas in India as World Heritage Sites
Biosphere Reserves in India
were created under the 'Man & Biosphere' (MAB)
Programme by UNESCO in 1971
Operational:
1. Nanda Devi, Uttaranchal
2. Manas, Assam
3.Dibru-Shikowa, Assam
4.Dehang-Debang, Arunachal
Pradesh
5. Kangchendzonga, Sikkim
Proposed:
6. Namdhapa,Arunachal
Pradesh
7.Kaziranga, Assam
8.Cold Desert, J & K
Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance especially Waterfowl Habitat ( Ramsar
Convention,1971)
Held at Ramsar, Iran, the treaty provides for international collaboration on
wetland conservation, including Mangroves and Coral reefs. The
contracting parties have four obligations
1. Incorporate the consideration of wetlands conservation within their
national land-use planning
2. Designate at least one wetland of international importance (Ramsar Sites)
according to the specified criteria.
3. Promote wetland conservation by creating nature reserves and
4. Train staff in wetland wardeneing, research and management and consult
other countries especially for species or areas .
there are 116 countries participating and over a thousand Ramsar Sites..
Ramsar Provides small grants from a fund, international expertise and
resources.
Ramsar Convention Beaureu, rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196, Gland,
Switzerland
E mail: ramsar@hq.iucn.org
Ramsar Convention (1971)
An inter-governmental treaty
on wetlands for conservation
and wise use of Natural
resources as also conservation
of Waterfowl habitats
(Ramsar,Iran,1971).
These are:
1.Lali Sanctuary (Arunachal Pradesh)
2. Kabar Tal (Bihar),
3.Pulicat Lake (Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh), and
4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Location of Ramsar Sites in India
Protected Area Network (PA Network)
The protection of wildlife has been a long tradition in Indian history. Wise
use of natural resources was a pre-requisite for many hunter-gatherer
societies, which dates back to at least 6000 BC.
The adoption of a National Policy for Wildlife Conservation in 1970 and the
enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972 lead to a significant
growth in the protected areas network.
To maintain rich biological diversity of the Indian Himalayan Region a
Protected area network (PAN) has been established and biodiversity rich
areas have been conserved as Sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere
Reserves
India has 95 national parks and 500 sanctuaries covering an area of 1.56
lakh sq. km with a plan to further expand this .
The network was further strengthened by a number of national conservation
projects, notably Project Tiger( initiated in April 1973)and the Crocodile
Breeding and Management Project (Launched in April 1975 )
Protected Areas In India ( Statistics)
Proposed
3 Thiruppuddai
mauthur
Tamilnadu
4 UpperLake MP
of Bhoj
Wetland
5 Adjoinig Orissa
Areas of
Nalban
WLS
6 Cold Desert Sikkim
Proposed Expansion of PA
Network:
National Parks to 163 with an area
of 54789 km2 or 1.67% of the
geographical area.
Wildlife sanctuaries to 707 with an
area of 133,975.11 km2 or 4.07% of
the countries geographical area.
After Expansion the total number of
Protected Areas will be 870 with an
area of 188,764.35 km2 or 5.74% of
the countries geographical areas.
With the proposed pattern of NPs
and Total PAs The State of Sikkim
and Arunachal Pradesh will be best
covered while J & K will have the
highest Total area of NPs( 5109.07
km2 or 2.29% ( WII , Rodgers,Pawar
Tiger Reserves in India
State Tiger Reserve Year of Total
Establishment Area (km2)
Assam 1. Manas 1973-74 2840
2. Nameri 1999-2000 344
Arunachal Pradesh 3. Namdapha 1982-83 1985
4. Pakhui 1999-2000 862
Andhra Pradesh 5. Nagarjunsagar- 1982-83 3568
Srisailam
Bihar 6. Valmiki 1989-90 840
Chhattishgarh 7. Indravati 1982-83 2799
Jharkhand 8. Palamau 1973-74 1026
Karnataka 9. Bandipur 1973-74 866
Nagarhole (extension) 1999-2000 643
10. Bhadra 1998-99 492
Kerala 11. Periyar 1978-79 777
Madhya Pradesh 12. Bandhavgarh 1993-94 1162
13. Bori-Satpura 1999-2000 1486
14. Kanha 1973-74 1945
15. Panna 1994-95 542
16. Pench 1992-93 758
Maharashtra 17. Melghat 1973-74 1677
18. Pench 1992-93 257
19. Tadoba-Andhari 1993-94 620
Mizoram 20. Dampa 1994-95 500
Orissa 21. Simlipal 1973-74 2750
Rajasthan 22. Ranthambhore 1973-74 1334
23. Sariska 1978-79 866
Tamil Nadu 24. Kalakad- 1988-89 800
Mundathurai
Uttar Pradesh 25. Dudhwa 1987-88 811
Katerniaghat 1999-2000 551
Uttaranchal 26. (extension)
Corbett 1973-74 1316
West Bengal 27. Buxa 1982-83 759
28. Sunderbans 1973-74 2585
Total Area 37,761
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora
(CITES)treaties in restricting
A successful international conservation
international trade in in endangered species
Main Functions:To maintain its three appendices of species , for each of
which a different extent of trade is allowed.
1. Species in App-I are forbidden for international trade except with
special permission.
2. App-II species have controlled international trade.
3. App.III species lists species whose trade is forbidden by certain
countries but are not listed in other two appendices
4. CITES members have to create National Management Authority,
which co-ordinates with CITES Secretariat in Switzerland
Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
(1979) ( Bonn Convention or CMS, 1979)
migrate. Mainly applied to birds, but also has bats and dolphins.
The Bonn convention also calls for research and surveys
Wildlife (Protection )Act 1972 Provides for protection of-
Wild animals , Animal articles , and - Plants. The WL (P) Act regulates sale, barter
etc of notified wild plants and animal species. It also provides control over
keeping of wild animals in captivity. The 1991 amendment covers the possession
of notified plant species. The Act exercise control under the Schedules I-VI.
Schedule I lists rare and endangered totally protected species.
Schedule II includes game species for which licenses can be issued under
special circumstances.
Schedule V includes vermin, common crow, fruit bats, mice and rats.
In early tertiary, the breakaway Gondwanaland in a northward drift first hit the
Asian landmass at what is presently northeast India, served as the biogeographic
gateway, the Assam Gate, for dispersal and migration of much of the fauna
and flora. The Northeast Zone is richest of biological resources, and has affinities
with Indo-Chinese and Indo-Malayan regions in the east and southeast. From
west came the Palaearctic and Ethiopian elements. Relatively young Himalayan
mountain ranges opened up new southwards route of migration and acted as a
two-way link between West Africa to South Asia. In peninsula there may be some
cross over points between southern - Western Ghats and Eastern Hills.
Status of Total diversity of Indian Fauna
Taxa Species in India Species in World % in India
Red Data Book (RDB) was developed during 1960s and the species were placed
under various threatened categories according to the severity of the threats
faced by them and the estimated eminence of their extinction.
World Conservation monitoring Centre (WCMC) in collaboration with IUCN
Species Survival commission network of the specialist groups compiles the IUCN
Red list every two years since 1986.
IUCN Red List Categories:
Extinct (EX) - A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonable doubt that
the last individual has died.
Extinct In The Wild (EW) - A taxon is Extinct in the wild when it is known
only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalized population
(or populations) well outside the past range.
Critically Endangered (CR) - A taxon is Critically Endangered when it is
facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate
future, as defined by any of the criteria.
Endangered (EN) - A taxon is endangered when it is not Critically
Endangered but is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the
near future, as defined by any of the criteria.
Vulnerable (VU) - A taxon is Vulnerable when it is not Critically Endangered or
Endangered but is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term
future, as defined by any of the criteria.
Lower Risk (LR) - A taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated, does not
qualify for any of the threatened categories Critically Endangered, Endangered
or Vulnerable or Data Deficient (LR/nt- near threatened, Lr/lc- least concerned,
LR/cd-conservation dependent).
Near Threatened (NT): A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated
against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or
Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for, or is likely to qualify for, a
threatened category in the near future.
Least Concern (LC) A taxon is Least Concern when it has been evaluated
against the criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered,
Vulnerable or Near Threatened. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in
this category.
Data Deficient (DD) A taxon is Data Deficient
when there is inadequate information to make a
direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of
extinction based on its
distribution and/or population status.
Not Evaluated (NE) A taxon is Not Evaluated
when it is has not yet been assessed against the
criteria.
Forest Owlet
White-rumped Vulture
Fruit Bat
Wroughtons Free tailed Bat
WHERE DO EARTHQUAKES
OCCUR?
Now, that is not the end of it. Earthquakes can and have been
occurring at other locations too, particularly where there are
not necessarily any major mountain ranges; the 1993
earthquake in Deccan plateau of Marathwada in central
India is a recent example of this from our country. This means
that in India, virtually over 60% of the area is under the threat of
moderate to strong earthquake shaking.
There is a large differential pressure and
temperature between the center of the
Earth and its surface; the pressure inside is
about 4 million atmospheres and the
temperature about 6000C. So most matter
inside the Earth is in the hot molten form of
lava. This gradient coupled with the
presence of magnetic field of the Earth,
generates a circulation of the Earth's mass -
from the
North Pole to the South Pole along the axis and
from South Pole to the North Pole along the
surface.
WHY DO EARTHQUAKES
OCCUR?
Of course, the rate of this motion is very small, on an
average of about 2 inches per year in active
earthquake areas.
The journey of the Earth's mass from the South Pole to
the North Pole is what all of us participate in.
Understandably, since the pace of motion is not
uniform across the entire Earth, some parts move
faster than the others do. Consequently, the Earths
surface can be visualised to consist of a number of
pieces, called tectonic plates, which move towards
the North Pole.
Also, the motion of these plates is not a smooth
one but happens in fits and starts, thanks to the
limited strength of the Earth's material to resist
the strains generated by these relative motions.
So, every time a tectonic plate moves more
than its neighbour and slips over it, large
amount of strain energy is suddenly released
and there is a tremor of the Earth, which we call
as an earthquake. The junctions of these plates
are named as faults. Again, many of these faults
lie along the mountains that all of us observe.
THE JOURNEY OF THE PLATES
What Is Seismology?
Seismology is the study of earthquakes and seismic waves that
move through and around the earth. A seismologist is a scientist
who studies earthquakes and seismic waves.
What Are Seismic Waves?
Seismic waves are the waves of energy caused by the sudden
breaking of rock within the earth or an explosion. They are the
energy that travels through the earth and is recorded on
seismographs.
Types of Seismic Waves
There are several different kinds of seismic waves, and they all
move in different ways. The two main types of waves are body
waves and surface waves. Body waves can travel through the
earth's inner layers, but surface waves can only move along the
surface of the planet like ripples on water. Earthquakes radiate
seismic energy as both body and surface waves.
BODY WAVES
Traveling through the interior of the earth, body
waves arrive before the surface waves emitted
by an earthquake. These waves are of a higher
frequency than surface waves.
P WAVES
The first kind of body wave is the P wave or primary
wave. This is the fastest kind of seismic wave, and,
consequently, the first to 'arrive' at a seismic station. The
P wave can move through solid rock and fluids, like
water or the liquid layers of the earth. It pushes and pulls
the rock it moves through just like sound waves push and
pull the air. Have you ever heard a big clap of thunder
and heard the windows rattle at the same time? The
windows rattle because the sound waves were pushing
and pulling on the window glass much like P waves push
and pull on rock. Sometimes animals can hear the P
waves of an earthquake. Dogs, for instance, commonly
begin barking hysterically just before an earthquake 'hits'
(or more specifically, before the surface waves arrive).
Usually people can only feel the bump and rattle of
these waves.
P waves are also known as compressional
waves, because of the pushing and pulling
they do. Subjected to a P wave, particles
move in the same direction that the the wave
is moving in, which is the direction that the
energy is traveling in, and is sometimes
called the 'direction of wave propagation'.
S WAVES
The second type of body wave is the S
wave or secondary wave, which is the second wave
you feel in an earthquake. An S wave is slower than a
P wave and can only move through solid rock, not
through any liquid medium. It is this property of S
waves that led seismologists to conclude that the
Earth's outer core is a liquid. S waves move rock
particles up and down, or side-to-side--perpindicular
to the direction that the wave is traveling in (the
direction of wave propagation).
SURFACE WAVES
Travelling only through the crust, surface waves are of
a lower frequency than body waves, and are easily
distinguished on a seismogram as a result. Though they
arrive after body waves, it is surface waves that are
almost enitrely responsible for the damage and
destruction associated with earthquakes. This damage
and the strength of the surface waves are reduced in
deeper earthquakes.
LOVE WAVES
The first kind of surface wave is called
a Love wave, named after A.E.H. Love, a
British mathematician who worked out the
mathematical model for this kind of wave in
1911. It's the fastest surface wave and
moves the ground from side-to-side.
Confined to the surface of the crust, Love
waves produce entirely horizontal motion.
RAYLEIGH WAVES
The other kind of surface wave is the Rayleigh
wave, named for John William Strutt, Lord
Rayleigh, who mathematically predicted the
existence of this kind of wave in 1885. A Rayleigh
wave rolls along the ground just like a wave rolls
across a lake or an ocean. Because it rolls, it moves
the ground up and down, and side-to-side in the
same direction that the wave is moving. Most of the
shaking felt from an earthquake is due to the
Rayleigh wave, which can be much larger than the
other waves.
Earthquakes can be measured in terms of force,
duration, and location.
Many scientific instruments and comparative
scales have been developed to take these
measurements. Seismographs measure all three
parameters.
MEASURING AN EARTHQUAKE
The Richter scale describes the force or intensity of an
earthquake.
Naturally, the destruction caused by earthquakes can be
measured in many other ways: numbers of people left injured,
dead, or
homeless, damage and reconstruction costs, government and
business expenditures, insurance costs, school days lost, and in
many more ways.
Platetectonics studies reveal that the
Himalayan mountain ranges were formed
when Indo-Australian plate collided with the
Eurasian plate. The Indian subcontinent,
once part of the supercontinent called
Gondwanaland, which consisted also of
present-day Africa and Antartica, broke
away about 100 million years
ago and crawled
HIMALAYAN
northwards
SEISMICITY across the
Tethys Sea before ramming into Asia.
HIMALAYAN UPLIFT
The April 2015 Nepal earthquake (also known as
the Gorkha earthquake) killed more than 9,000
people and injured more than 23,000. It occurred
at 11:56 NST on 25 April, with a magnitude of
7.8Mw or 8.1Ms[2] and a maximum Mercalli
intensity of IX (Violent).
EARTHQUAKES: PREDICTION,
FORECASTING AND MITIGATION
Earthquake forecasting and prediction is an
active topic of geological research.
Geoscientists are able to identify particular
areas of risk and, if there is sufficient information,
to make probabilistic forecasts about the
likelihood of earthquakes happening in a
specified area over a specified period. These
forecasts are based on data gathered through
global seismic monitoring networks, high-density
local monitoring in known risk areas, and
geological
CAN WE field work,
PREDICT as well as from historical
EARTHQUAKES?
records.
It is not currently possible to make deterministic predictions of
when and where earthquakes will happen. For this to be
possible, it would be necessary to identify a diagnostic
precursor a characteristic pattern of seismic activity or some
other physical, chemical or biological change, which would
indicate a high probability of an earthquake happening in a
small window of space and time.
So far, the search for diagnostic
precursors has been unsuccessful.
Most geoscientists do not believe
that there is a realistic prospect of
accurate prediction in the
foreseeable future, and the principal
focus of research is on improving the
forecasting of earthquakes.
Most earthquakes result from the sudden release of stress in the
earths crust, which has built up gradually due to tectonic
movement, usually along an existing geological fault. The
crusts response to changing stress is not linear (that is, it is not
directly proportional, making prediction of behaviour more
difficult), and is dependent on the crust's complex and highly
variable geology.
WHY ARE EARTHQUAKES DIFFICULT
TO PREDICT?
As a result, it is very difficult to build accurate
simulations which predict tectonic events.
Laboratory experiments which attempt to
reproduce these physical processes can add to our
understanding, but cannot accurately reflect the
complexities of real-world geological settings. A
further difficulty is that earthquakes originate
beneath the ground, often many kilometres down,
so data gathering depends on remote observation
techniques and measuring effects at the surface.
Even measuring the prevailing stress in the crust is
challenging, as it requires drilling several kilometres
into the ground.
Nobody can assure earthquake safety unless
everybody in the community is aware of
earthquake consequences and gets prepared.
Being prepared alone will not work always for
others. Therefore, a massive awareness program
for making prepared individuals from all
communities and different stakeholders is a must.
EARTHQUAKE VULNERABILITY
TOUR
EARTHQUAKE VULNERABILITY
TOUR IN KATHMANDU
This tour will help to know the
ground reality of our cities which
may help to reduce the level of
earthquake risk in our cities.
PUBLIC EDUCATION ON
EARTHQUAKES
Theimmediate impact of an earthquake
affects all sectors of the community and
local authorities should initially emphasize
search and rescue of victims. Secondly,
emergency medical assistance must be
provided especially during the first 72 hours.
Third,
a damage and needs assessment
survey, should be conducted to inform local
POST DISASTER ASSISTANCE
and international agencies of needs.
Fourth, the survivors will require relief assistance such as food,
water and emergency shelter. Attention
should be given to reopening roads, re-establishing
communications, contacting remote areas and conducting
disaster assessments.
MITIGATION
The golden rule is that there is no standard
solution to mitigate a disaster risk. The goal is
to minimize the impact of disaster. Possible
risk reduction measures Engineered
structures (designed and built) to withstand
ground shaking. Architectural and
engineering inputs put together to improve
building design and construction practice.
Develop earthquake resistant construction
techniques.
Public awareness, sensitization and training
programmes for Engineers, Architects,
Structural designers, Builders, Masons etc.
Reduce possible damages from secondary
effects. e.g., identify potential landslide sites
and restrict construction in those areas.
In earthquake prone areas insurance should
be obtained for buildings under construction
and those in use.
Insurance policies for natural disasters
should be made compulsory and priced
specifically on available scientific data of
hazards in the region.
SOLUTION TO VULNERABILITY
India and Natural Disasters
India is one of the most disaster prone countries in the world.
Types of Disasters
Natural - Manmade
Disasters affecting India
EARTHQUAKE
VOLCANIC ERUPTION
TSUNAMI
CYCLONE
FLOOD
LANDSLIDE
BUSHFIRE
DROUGHT
MAJOR ACCIDENT (FIRE, EXPLOSION)
CIVIL UNREST
GENERAL EFFECTS OF DISASTER
LOSS OF LIFE
INJURY
DAMAGE TO AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
DAMAGE TO AND DESTRUCTION OF PRODUCTION.
DISRUPTION OF LIFESTYLE
LOSS OF LIVELIHOOD.
DISRUPTION TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES
DAMAGE TO NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
DISRUPTION TO GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEMS
NATIONAL ECONOMIC LOSS
SOCIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTER EFFECT.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Response
Recovery
Prevention &
Mitigation
Preparedness
RESPONSE
Response measures are usually those which
are taken immediately prior to and
following disaster impact.
Typical measures include :
Implementation of plans
Activation of the counter-disaster system
Search and Rescue
Provision of emergency food, shelter, medical assistance etc.
Survey and assessment
Evacuation measures
RECOVERY
Recovery is the process by which communities and the
nation are assisted in returning to their proper level of
functioning following a disaster.
Three
main categories of activity are normally regarded as
coming within the recovery segment:
Restoration
Reconstruction
Rehabilitation
PREVENTION & MITIGATION
Organisation (Contd.) :
Warning Systems
Survey & Assessments
Information Management
Emergency Logistics
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Resource Utilization :
Identification of resources
Assessment of resources with relation to their
capability & availability
Allocation of appropriate tasks
Level of skill in handling allotted tasks and
experience
Activation time for deployment/availability
Co-ordination with line authorities of resource
organizations
Coalition of accurate information for effective
deployment of resources.
AGENCIES
Training :
Identification of Training needs.
Scope of Training programmes.
Training policy.
Implementation of training.
PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Training (Contd.):
EARTHQUAKE
Less than Generally not felt, but recorded.
3.5
3.5-5.4 Often felt, but rarely causes damage.
Under 6.0 At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.
Can cause major damage to poorly constructed
buildings over small regions.
6.1-6.9 Can be destructive in areas up to about 100
RICHTER EARTHQUAKE
kilometers across where people live.
7.0-7.9 Major earthquake. Can cause serious damage
MAGNITUDES EFFECTS
over larger areas.
8 or Great earthquake. Can cause serious damage in
greater areas several hundred kilometers across.
FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE OF
EARTHQUAKES
8.0 to 9.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7.0 to 7.9 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
6.0 to 6.9 6 5 4 7 2 4 7 9 9 2
5.0 to 5.9 63 41 63 54 25 47 51 72 85 26
4.0 to 4.9 281 290 536 541 284 345 346 366 432 172
3.0 to 3.9 917 842 1535 1303 1362 1475 1213 1137 1485 745
2.0 to 2.9 660 646 1228 704 1336 1738 1145 1173 1579 1199
1.0 to 1.9 0 2 2 2 1 2 7 11 14 12
0.1 to 0.9 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
No Magnitude 415 434 507 333 540 73 13 22 20 10
.
Total 2342 2261 3876 2946 3550 3685 2783 2791 3624 2167
.
Estimated Deaths 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
WORLDWIDE EARTHQUAKE
RELATED DEATHS FOR
2000 - 2009
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Estimated
231 21357 1685 33819 228802 82364 6605 712 88011 369
Deaths
If winds reach 74 mph, then they are called:
"hurricane" (the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast
Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South
Pacific Ocean east of 160E)
"typhoon" (the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the
dateline)
"severe tropical cyclone" (the Southwest Pacific
Ocean west of 160E or Southeast Indian Ocean east
of 90E)
"severe cyclonic storm" (the North Indian Ocean)
"tropical cyclone" (the Southwest Indian Ocean)
HURRICANE
TOP 10 DEADLIEST HURRICANES
(ATLANTIC)
LIGHTNING
LIGHTENING FATALITIES IN 2009
No. Date Day State City Age Sex Location Activity Victim
1 3/15 Sun TX Port Aransas 63 M On beach Walking to vehicle Stan Grassel
2 4/25 Sat KS Perry 45 M Highway Riding motorcycle Troy Gentzler
3 5/6 Wed MN St. Cloud 42 M Back yard Yard work Chad Giroux
4 5/16 Sat MS Yazoo County 16 M Corn field Andrew Williams
5 6/3 Wed CA Fontana 40 F Under tree Walking to bus Tina Marie Bond
6 6/3 Wed VA Fredericksburg 12 M Ball field Playing baseball Chelal Matos
7 6/3 Wed TX Crystal Beach 33 M Beach Jogging Isaias Lara-Matinez
8 6/3 Wed CA Portola 70 F Near tree Yard work MaryAnn Heald
9 6/5 Fri CO Evans 21 M Open field Walking Efrain Trevizo-
Molina
10 6/8 Mon FL Coral Springs 53 M In yard Trimming grass Dessalines Oleus
11 6/8 Mon NC Fairview 65 M In field Clearing brush Donald Michael
Lynch
12 6/10 Wed KY Shelbyville 44 M Under tree Waiting for car ride Brian Larsh
13 6/11 Thu IN Indianapolis 10 M Near tree Camping, going to car Jeremiah Miller
14 6/11 Thu FL Sebring 32 M Near tree Golfing Pierre Hyppolite
15 6/17 Wed MO Columbia 23 F Open Field Fishing Georgette Tillett
16 6/27 Sat PR Moca 43 M Outside Home Cutting lawn Antonio Cruz
Mangual
17 7/1 Wed MA Orleans 41 M Boat Shellfishing Christopher West
a burning mass of material
FIRE
THE OVERALL FIRE
PICTURE - 2007
There were 3,430 civilians that lost their lives as the result of fire.
There were 17,675 civilian injuries that occurred as the result of
fire.
There were 118 firefighters killed while on duty.
Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
84 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences.
There were an estimated 1.6 million fires in 2007.
Direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $14.6 billion.
An estimated 32,500 intentionally set structure fires resulted in
295 civilian deaths.
Intentionally set structure fires resulted in an estimated $733
million in property damage.
an unusually large sea wave produced by a
seaquake or undersea volcanic eruption
TSUNAMI
DAMAGING TSUNAMIS
VS NON-DAMAGING TSUNAMIS
- WORLDWIDE
a vent in the earth's crust through which lava,
steam, ashes, etc., are expelled, either
continuously or at irregular intervals
Volcano Statistics
http://www.epicdisasters.com/index.php/site/comments/the_worlds_
worst_volcanic_eruptions/
VOLCANO
DEADLIEST VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS
Location Date Death Toll
Mt. Tambora, Indonesia April 10 - 15, 1816 92,000
Top Blizzards in US
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0886098.html
http://nsidc.org/snow/blizzard/storms.html
BLIZZARD
TOP 10 DEADLIEST BLIZZARDS
Flood Statistics
http://www.floodsafety.com/national/life/statistics.htm
FLOOD
TOP 10 DEADLIEST FLOODS
AND LANDSLIDES
more than 100,000 St. Felix's Flood, storm surge Netherlands 1530
100,000 Hanoi and Red River Delta flood North Vietnam 1971
Tornado Statistics
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/online/monthly/newm.html
TORNADO
LATEST U.S. TORNADO
STATISTICS
2006 2007 2008 2009 Three Year
Average
Number of 1103 1098 1691 1053 1297
Tornados
Number of 67 81 126 21 91
Tornado Related
Deaths
Number of Killer 25 26 37 9 29
Tornados
A long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that
adversely affects growing or living conditions.
DROUGHT
Statistical Information http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/drought/drght_alleve.html
The cost of losses due to drought in the
United States averages $6-8 billion every
year, but range as high as $39 billion for the
three year drought of 1987-1989, which was
the most costly natural disaster documented
in U.S. history.
The two major droughts of the 20th century,
the 1930s Dust Bowl drought and the 1950s
drought, lasted five to seven years and
covered large areas of the continental U.S.
DROUGHT FACTS
TOP 10 DROUGHTS REPORTED -
ECONOMIC DAMAGES
Disaster Date Cost
China P Rep 1994 13,755,200,000
Australia 1981 6,000,000,000
Spain 1990 4,500,000,000
United States 2002 3,300,000,000
Iran Islam Rep 1999 3,300,000,000
Spain 1999 3,200,000,000
China P Rep 2006 2,910,000,000
Zimbabwe 1981 2,500,000,000
Australia 2002 2,000,000,000
Brazil 2004 1,650,000,000
an air mass of high temperature covering an extended area and
moving relatively slowly
a period of abnormally hot and usually humid
HEAT WAVE
floods
tsunamis
loss of power
loss of power
This movement
displaced the overlying
water, generating a
massive tsunami, or
tidal wave.
Scale of devastation
Thousands are reported
to have been killed, but
there has been little
news from the worst-hit
areas where all
transport and
communication links
were destroyed.
bbc.co.uk 27.12.04
Low lying coastal
areas were left
obliterated and
flooded as here in
Aceh province in
Sumatra, Indonesia
Current reports
indicate that the north
and west coasts of
Sumatra have
experienced the worst
destruction
Whole villages were flattened as here in Sri Lanka
Fishing boats, which provide essential food supplies for local
people here in India, have been washed ashore
Scenes which were
repeated across the
Indian Ocean
Sri Lanka
Phuket,
Thailand
Low lying areas have
been left flooded with
seawater which quickly
becomes contaminated
with sewage and
decomposing bodies
Male in the
Maldives
Banda Aceh in
Sumatra, Indonesia
Millions of people have
been left homeless
Cuddalore, south of
Madras, India
Penang, Malaysia
V Govindan, 55, fish
seller
Beach debris at
Phuket, Thailand
All that remains of luxury
holiday accommodation on Phi
Phi Island, Thailand
Devastation on Khao Lak a once beautiful beach
resort in Thailand
Communications have
been completely
disrupted
Distribution of food in
Madras state, India
In some areas relief
supplies are piling up
Disruption of communications
means that emergency
supplies cannot be
distributed efficiently
Coffins await transport to remote areas near
Phuket in Thailand
Co-ordination of relief efforts from throughout
the world is proving to be a major challenge
INDIAS VULNERABILITY TO
DISASTERS
SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN INDIA
180 AD - 2004
DISTRIBUTION OF EPICENTERS OF EARTHQUAKES GREATER THAN
MAGNITUDE 5.0 FOR THE PERIOD 1976-2000, SOUTH EAST ASIA AND
INDIAN OCEAN
Areas of Concern
Activating an Early Warning System network and its close
monitoring
Mechanisms for integrating the scientific, technological
and administrative agencies for effective disaster
management
Terrestrial communication links which collapse in the
event of a rapid onset disaster
Vulnerability of critical infrastructures (power supply,
communication, water supply, transport, etc.) to disaster
events
Areas of Concern
Funding : Primacy of relief as disaster response.
Preparedness and Mitigation very often ignored.
Lack of integrated efforts to collect and compile data,
information and local knowledge on disaster history and
traditional response patterns.
Need for standardised efforts in compiling and interpreting
geo-spatial data, satellite imagery and early warning signals.
Weak areas continue to be forecasting, modelling, risk
prediction, simulation and scenario analysis, etc.
Areas of Concern
Absence of a national level, state level, and district level
directory of experts and inventory of resources.
Absence of a National Disaster Management Plan, and State
level and district level disaster management plans.
Sustainability of efforts
Effective Inter Agency Co-ordination and Standard Operating
Procedures for stakeholder groups, especially critical first
responder agencies.
Emergency medicine, critical care medicine, triage, first aid
Nodal Agencies for Disaster Management
Floods : Ministry of Water Resources, CWC
Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department
1. Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department
Epidemics : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Avian Flu: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and Forests
Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour
Rail Accidents : Ministry of Railways
Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation
Fire : Ministry of Home Affairs
Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic Energy
Mine Disasters : Department of Mines
Dynamics of Disasters
There is a high probability of a low probability
event happening somewhere sometime soon
The unpredictability of disaster events and the high
risk and vulnerability profiles make it imperative to
strengthen disaster preparedness, mitigation and
enforcement of guidelines, building codes and
restrictions on construction of buildings in flood-
prone areas and storm surge prone coastal areas.
New Directions for Disaster
Management in India
The National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA) has been set up as the apex body for
Disaster Management in India, with the Prime
Minister as its Chairman.
Disaster Management Authorities will be set up at
the State and District Levels to be headed by the
Chief Ministers and Collectors/Zilla Parishad
Chairmen respectively.
New Directions for Disaster
Management in India
A National Disaster Mitigation Fund will be administerd by
NDMA. States and districts will administer mitigation funds.
A National Disaster Response Fund will be administerd by
NDMA through the National Executive Committee. States
and Districts will administer state Disaster Response Fund
and Disaster Response Fund respectively.
8 Battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are
being trained and deployed with CSSR and MFR equipments
and tools in eight strategic locations.
A National Disaster Management Policy and National
Disaster Response Plan will also be drawn up.
Lessons Learnt
Be Prepared : Preparedness and Mitigation is bound to yield more effective
returns than distributing relief after a disaster.
Create a Culture of Preparedness and Prevention.
Evolve a code of conduct for all stake-holders
Future Directions
Encourage and consolidate knowledge networks
Mobilise and train disaster volunteers for more effective
preparedness, mitigation and response (NSS, NCC, Scouts
and Guides, NYK, Civil Defence, Homeguards)
Increased capacity building leads to faster vulnerability
reduction.
Learn from best practices in disaster preparedness,
mitigation and disaster response
Future Directions
Mobilising stakeholder participation of Self Help Groups, Womens
Groups, Youth Groups, Panchayati Raj Institutions
Anticipatory Governance: Simulation exercises, Mock drills and
Scenario Analysis
Indigenous knowledge systems and coping practices
Living with Risk: Community Based Disaster Risk Management
Inclusive, participatory, gender sensitive, child friendly, eco-friendly
and disabled friendly disaster management
Technology driven but people owned
Knowledge Management: Documentation and dissemination of
good practices
Public Private Partnership
Invest in Preparedness
Investments in Preparedness and Prevention (Mitigation) will yield sustainable results,
rather than spending money on relief after a disaster.
Most disasters are predictable, especially in their seasonality and the disaster-prone
areas which are vulnerable.
Communities must be involved in disaster preparedness.
Best Practices
On 12 November, 1970 a major cyclone hit the coastal belt
of Bangladesh at 223 km/hr. with a storm surge of six to
nine meters height, killing an estimated 500,000 people.
Due to the Cyclone Preparedness Program, the April 1991
cyclone with wind speed of 225 km/hr. killed only 138,000
people even though the coastal population had doubled by
that time.
In May 1994, in a similar cyclone with a wind speed of 250
km/hr. only 127 people lost their lives.
In May 1997, in a cyclone with wind speed of 200 km/hr.
only 111 people lost their lives.
New possibilities
National Urban Renewal Mission for 70 cities:
recent experience of unprecedented extreme
weather conditions in a few major metros and
megacities
100,000 Rural Knowledge Centres
( IT Kiosks): Need for Spatial e-Governance for
informed decision making in disaster-prone areas:
before, during and after disasters
BMTPC
NBSSLUP SOI Dept. of Space
GoI
NRSA Ministries NDMA Census
of India
NIC
PSUs
IMD NATMO CGWB
CWC
NSDI GSI ISRO
Spatial Information
FSI Electronic Clearing House
CPCB
URBAN
BSI Private Sector BODIES
Academic
NRDMS
NNRMS & Research
PRIs NGOs
Institutions
Knowledge Networking
Thank you