CBSE Class 11 Disaster Management Introduction

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Objectives of the chapter:

The main objective of this chapter is to have a basic understanding of various concepts used in Disaster Management. The concepts explained here are: Disaster, Hazard, Vulnerability, Capacity, Risk and Disaster Management Cycle. Apart from the terminologies, the chapter also tries to explain various types of disasters. In standard VIII, IX and X many of you have already been introduced to some of these concepts. This chapter has been designed to upgrade your knowledge and skill so as to have a better understanding of natural hazards, disasters and their management.

After reading this chapter the students and the teachers will be able to have a basic understanding of the concepts and should be able to differentiate between them with suitable examples.

Background:

The global context: Disasters are as old as human history but the dramatic increase and the damage caused by them in the recent past have become a cause of national and international concern. Over the past decade, the number of natural and manmade disasters has climbed inexorably. From 1994 to 1998, reported disasters average was 428 per year but from 1999 to 2003, this figure went up to an average of 707 disaster events per year  showing an increase of about 60 per centover the previous years. The biggest rise was in countries of low human development, which suffered an increase of 142 per cent. The figure 1.1 shows the deadliest disasters of the decade (1992 – 2001). Drought and famine have proved to be the deadliest disasters globally, followed by flood, technological disaster, earthquake, windstorm, extreme temperature and others. Global economic loss related to disaster events average around US $880 billion per year.

Indian scenario:

The scenario in India is no different from the global context. The super cyclone of Orissa (1999), the Gujarat earthquake (2001) and the recent Tsunami (2004) affected millions across the country  leaving behind a trail of heavy loss of life,property and livelihood. Table 1.1 shows a list of some of the major disasters that have caused colossal impact on the community.

While studying about the impact we need to be aware of potential hazards, how, when and where they are likely to occur, and the problems which may result of an event. In India, 59 per cent of the land mass is susceptible to seismic hazard; 5 per cent ofthe total geographical area is prone to floods; 8 per cent of the total landmass is prone to cyclones; 70 per cent of the total cultivable area is vulnerable to drought. Apart from this the hilly regions are vulnerable to avalanches/ landslides/hailstorms/cloudbursts. Apart from the natural hazards, we need to know about the other manmade hazards which are frequent and cause huge damage to life and property. It is therefore important that we are aware of how to cope with their effects. We have seen the huge loss to life, property and infrastructure a disaster can cause but let us understand what is a disaster, what are the factors that lead to it and its impact.

What is a Disaster ?

Almost everyday, newspapers, radio and television channels carry reports on disaster striking several parts of the world. But what is a disaster? The term disaster owes its origin to the French word “Desastre” which is a combination of two words ‘des’ meaning bad and ‘aster’ meaning star. Thus the term refers to ‘Bad or Evil star’. A disaster can be defined as “A serious disruption in the functioning of the community or a society causing wide spread material, economic, social or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources”.

A disaster is a result from the combination of hazard, vulnerability and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential chances of risk.

A disaster happens when a hazard impacts on the vulnerable population and causes damage, casualties and disruption. Fig: 1.2 would give a better illustration of what a disaster is. Any hazard – flood, earthquake or cyclone which is a triggering event along with greater vulnerability (inadequate access to resources, sick and old people, lack of awareness etc) would lead to disaster causing greater loss to life and property. For example; an earthquake in an uninhabited desert cannot be considered a disaster, no matter how strong the intensities produced.

An earthquake is disastrous only when it affects people, their properties and activities. Thus, disaster occurs only when hazards and vulnerability meet. But it is also to be noted that with greater capacity of the individual/community and environment to face these disasters, the impact of a hazard reduces. Therefore, we need to understand the three major components namely hazard, vulnerability and capacity with suitable examples to have a basic understanding of disaster management.

What is a Hazard ? How is it classified ?

Hazard may be defined as “a dangerous condition or event, that threat or have the potential for causing injury to life or damage to property or the environment.” The word ‘hazard’ owes its origin to the word ‘hasard’ in old French and ‘az-zahr’ in Arabic meaning ‘chance’ or ‘luck’. Hazards can be grouped into two broad categories namely natural and manmade.

Please refer to the link below - CBSE Class 11 Disaster Management Introduction