1.

Pre-Disaster Phase: Before Mitigation:

disaster to reduce the potential
• Mitigation includes all
for human, material or
measures taken to reduce both
environmental losses caused by
the effects of the hazard itself
hazards and to ensure that these
and the vulnerable conditions to
losses are minimized when the
it in order to reduce the scale of
disaster actually strikes.
a future disaster.
2. During-Disaster: It is to ensure
• Mitigation also aims at
that the needs and provisions of
reducing the physical, economic
victims are met to alleviate and
and social vulnerability to
minimize suffering.
threats and the underlying
3. After Disaster: After a disaster causes for this vulnerability
to achieve rapid and durable
• Example: some countries
recovery which does not
regard the development and
reproduce the original
application of building codes
vulnerable conditions.
(which can reduce damage and
Pre-disaster Phase: loss in the event of earthquakes
and cyclones) as being in the
Prevention and Mitigation:
category of mitigation.
Prevention:
Preparedness:
• Action within this segment is
• It includes measures that
designed to impede the
enable governments,
occurrence of a disaster event
communities and individuals to
and/or prevent such an
respond rapidly to disaster
occurrence having harmful
situations to cope with them
effects on communities or key
effectively.
installations
• Example: the formulation of  Search and Rescue
viable emergency plans, the  Provision of emergency
development of warning systems food, shelter, medical
etc. assistance etc.
Early Warning:  Survey and assessment
 Evacuation measures
• This is the process of  Maintenance of Law &
monitoring the situation in Order
communities or areas known to
be vulnerable to slow onset
hazards, and passing the Post- Disaster Phase:
knowledge of the pending
Recovery:
hazard to people.
• Recovery is the process by
The Disaster Impact:
which communities and the
• This refers to the “real-time nation are assisted in returning
event” of a hazard occurring and to their proper level of
affecting elements at risk. functioning following a disaster.
During Disaster Phase: • Recovery encompasses the
Response: three overlapping phases of
emergency relief, rehabilitation
• This refers to the first stage and reconstruction.
response to any calamity
Reconstruction:
Typical measures include:
• Reconstruction attempts to
 Implementation of plans return communities to improved
 Activation of the counter- pre-disaster functioning.
disaster system
• Example of measures: the
replacement of buildings;
infrastructure and lifeline
facilities etc.

Development:

• It is an ongoing activity

• Example: Long term disaster

reduction measures for

Examples like construction of

embankments against flooding,
irrigation facilities as drought
proofing measures.

India's efforts in disaster management

 Disasters Management Act, 2005
o The act lays down institutional, legal, financial and
coordination mechanisms the National, State district and
local levels,
 o It seeks a paradigm shift from the relief-centric approach to
a more proactive, holistic and integrated approach of
strengthening disaster mitigation, preparedness and
response.
 National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009.
 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) set up as the
Apex Body with Hon'ble PM as Chairperson, with SDMA (State
level) and DDMA (District level): Headed by Chief Minister and
District Magistrate, respectively.
 National Executive Committee (NEC)
o It is the executive committee of the NDMA, and is mandated
to assist the NDMA in the discharge of its functions and also
ensure compliance of the directions issued by the Central
Government.
o The NEC prepares the National Plan for Disaster
Management based on the National Policy on Disaster
Management.
o The NEC comprises the Union Home Secretary as
Chairperson, and the Secretaries to the Gol in the
Ministries/Departments of various fields (E.g. Agriculture,
Atomic Energy, Defence, etc.)

• National Disaster Management Plan: To make India disaster resilient,

achieve substantial disaster risk reduction, and significantly decrease
the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets- economic, physical, social,
cultural and environmental.

 National Disaster Response Force: Specialized force for DM.

 National Institute of Disaster management: Entrusted with various
responsibilities, namely, to develop training modules, undertake
research and documentation in disaster management.
 National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC):
o Comprises high level officials of the Gol headed by the Cabinet
Secretary, and deals with major crises which have serious or
National ramifications.
o It is supported by the Crisis Management Groups (CMG) of the
Central nodal Ministries and assisted by NEC as may be
necessary. The Secretary, NDMA may be a member of this
Committee.
 Armed Forces: The Armed Forces are called upon to assist the civil
administration only when the situation is beyond their coping
capability.
The structure of Disaster Management in India has two distinct
features:

1. The structure is hierarchical and functions at four levels –

centre, state, district and local.

2. It is a multi-stakeholder setup, i.e., the structure draws

involvement of various relevant ministries, government
departments and administrative bodies

National Disaster Management Authority

(NDMA)
• Initially constituted in 2005 under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister
vide an executive order

• Formally constituted in 2006 in accordance to the National Disaster

Management Act, 2005

Mandate of NDMA

1. Lay down policies on disaster management

2. Approve the National Plan;

3. Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the

Government of India in accordance with the National Plan;

4. Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in

drawing up the State Plan;

5. Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or

Departments of the Government of India for the purpose of integrating
the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its effects
in their development plans and projects;

6. Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and

plan for disaster management;

7. Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation;

8. Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters

as may be determined by the Central Government;

9. Take such other measures for the prevention of disaster, or the

mitigation, or preparedness and capacity building for dealing with the
threatening disaster situation or disaster as it may consider necessary;
10. Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the
National Institute of Disaster Management

National Executive Committee (NEC)

• National Executive Committee is constituted in accordance to the

Disaster Management Act, 2005

• NEC has the responsibility to act as the coordinating and monitoring

body for disaster management, to prepare a National Plan, monitor the
implementation of National Policy etc.
 DISASTER MANAGEMENT - POLICIES AND
GUIDELINES
Disaster Management Act, 2005

• The National Disaster Management Act was enacted in 2005.

• It brings about a paradigm shift in India’s approach to disaster

management. The approach shifted to preparedness, prevention and
planning from earlier response and relief centric approach.

The Act provides for establishment of:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

2. State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

3. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)

The Act also provides for -

• Constitution of Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Mitigation Fund

at National, State and District levels

• Establishment of NIDM and NDRF

• Provides penalties for obstruction, false claims, misappropriation etc.

• It states that there shall be no discrimination on the ground of sex,

caste, community, descent or religion in providing compensation and
relief.

National Disaster Management Plan, 2016

• It is the first ever national plan prepared in the country for disaster
management

• The NDMP has been aligned broadly with the goals and priorities set
out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

• The Plan incorporates five thematic areas of action:

1. Understanding Risk

2. Inter-Agency Coordination

3. Investing in DRR – Structural Measures

4. Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures

5. Capacity Development

• The NDMP provides a framework and direction to the government

agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle.

• The Plan also highlights that the disaster risk reduction will be
achieved by mainstreaming the requirements into the developmental
plans.

• The plan identifies major activities such as early warning, information

dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue,
evacuation, etc. to serve as a checklist for agencies responding to a
disaster. It also provides a generalized framework for recovery and
offers flexibility to assess a situation and build back better.

• NDMP also provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all
the agencies and departments of the Government.
National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), 2009

• The NPDM envisages a safe and disaster resilient India.

• It aims to do so by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster

oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of
prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response

• The policy covers all aspects of disaster management including

institutional and legal arrangements, financial arrangements, disaster
prevention, mitigation and preparedness, techno-legal regime,
response, relief and rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery,
capacity development, knowledge management, research and
development.

• The issue of equity and inclusiveness has been given due

consideration in the policy. It addresses the concerns of all sections of
the society with regard to relief and rehabilitation

Prime Minister’s 10-point Agenda

At the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2016,

Indian Prime Minister outlined a ten point agenda, to pursue the
implementation of disaster risk reduction efforts in the region with
renewed vigor.

It includes:

1. Ensuring development projects - airports, roads, canals, hospitals,

schools, bridges – are built to appropriate disaster resilient standards
and contribute to the resilience of communities they seek to serve.
Building a coalition to support disaster resilient infrastructure
2. Working towards risk coverage for all – starting from poor
households to small and medium enterprises to multi-national
corporations to nation states

3. Encouraging greater involvement and leadership of women in

disaster risk management

4. Investing in risk mapping globally for all hazards

5. Leveraging technology to enhance efficiency of our disaster risk

management efforts

6. Developing a network of universities to work on disaster issues

7. Utilizing the opportunities provided by social media and mobile

technologies

8. Building on local capacity and initiative

9. Ensuring that the opportunity to learn from a disaster is not wasted.

Establishing a facility for technical support to post-disaster
reconstruction of houses

10. Bringing about greater cohesion in international response to

disasters
India's geo-climatic conditions and high degree of socio economic
vulnerability makes it one of the highly disaster prone areas in the
world.

 India is the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change

induced extreme weather events (Global Climate Risk Index,
2019).
 The geo-tectonic features of the Himalayan region & adjacent
alluvial plains make the Vulnerability region susceptible to
earthquakes, landslides, water erosion etc.
 60% of landmass prone to earthquake.
 76% of the 7,500 kilometer-long coastline is prone to cyclones and
tsunamis.
 1. Earthquakes
• The Bureau of Indian Standards with the help of Indian
Meteorological Department has grouped the country into four seismic
zones, based on modified Mercalli scale.

• Of these, zone V is the most active which comprises of whole of

Northeast India, the northern portion of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Pradesh, J&K, Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Earthquake Prevention and Mitigation

1. National earthquake Risk Mitigation Project

The project aims at strengthening the structural and non-structural

earthquake mitigation efforts and reducing the vulnerability in the high
risk districts prone to earthquakes.
2. National Building Code:

The salient features of the NBC 2005 include meeting the challenges
posed by natural calamities and reflecting the state-of-the-art and
contemporary applicable international practices

3. Seismic retrofitting

It is the modification of existing structures to make them more resistant

to seismic activity, groundmotion, or soil failure due to earthquakes

PRE-DISASTER PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

Long-term

• Re-framing buildings' codes, guidelines, manuals and byelaws and

their strict implementation-Tougher legislation for highly seismic areas

• Incorporating earthquake resistant features in all buildings in high-risk

areas.

 Making all public utilities like water supply systems, communication

networks, electricity lines etc. earthquake-proof.

• Creating alternative arrangements to reduce damages to

infrastructure facilities

• Constructing earthquake-resistant community buildings and buildings

(used to gather large groups during or after an earthquake) like schools,
hospitals, prayer halls, etc., especially in seismic zones of moderate to
higher intensities.

• Supporting R&D in various aspects of disaster mitigation,

preparedness and prevention and post-disaster management
Medium -Term

• Retrofitting of weak structures in highly seismic zones

• Preparation of disaster related literature in local languages with do’s

and don'ts for construction

• Getting communities involved in the process of disaster mitigation

through education and awareness.

• Networking of local NGOs working in the area of disaster

management

POST-DISASTER PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Maintenance of law and order, prevention of trespassing, looting etc.

• Evacuation of people

• Recovery of dead bodies and their disposal

• Medical care for the injured

• Supply of food and drinking water

• Temporary shelters like tents, metal sheds etc.

• Repairing lines of communication and information

 2. Tropical Cyclones
What is a Tropical Cyclone?

• Tropical cyclone is the term used globally to cover tropical weather

systems in which winds equal or exceed ‘gale force’ (minimum 62
kmph).

• These are intense low pressure areas of the earth-atmosphere

coupled system and are extreme weather events of the tropics.
Prevention and Mitigation:

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)

Aim: The scheme aims to:

• upgrade cyclone forecasting, tracking and warning systems,

• build capacity in multi-hazard risk management

• Construct major infrastructures including multi-purpose cyclone

shelters and embankments.

Principal Components: The major components under the scheme are:

1. Community mobilisation and training

2. Cyclone Risk Mitigation Infrastructure (construction of cyclone

shelters, roads/missing links and construction/repair of Saline
Embankments etc.)

3. Technical assistance for capacity building on Disaster Risk

Management (risk assessment, damage and need assessment)

4. Capacity Building and knowledge creation along with project

management and implementation support

Mitigation Measures

1. Hazard Mapping – It suggests that using hazard mapping, one can

predict the vulnerable areas affected by the storms. It maps the
pattern of old cyclones using their wind speed, areas affected,
flooding frequency etc.
2. Land use planning – With the effective implementation of land
use planning, the key activities and settlements can be avoided in
the most vulnerable areas. For example, a settlement in the
floodplains is at utmost risk. Hence, authorities should plan ahead
to avoid such risks.

3. Engineered Structures – These structures withstand the wind

forces and prove to mitigate the losses. The public infrastructure
of the country should be designed keeping in mind the hazard
mapping of the cyclone.

4. Retrofitting Non-Engineered Structures – The settlements in non-

engineered structures should ensure that they are aware of their
houses’ resistance to the wind or certain disastrous weather
conditions. A few examples of retrofitting the non-engineered
structures given by UN-HABITAT are:

 Construction of a steep-slope roof to avoid the risk of being

blown away.

 Anchoring strong posts with solid footings on the ground.

 Plantations of trees at a safe distance from the house to

help break the wind forces.

 Repair of the shelters before time.

5. Cyclone Sheltering – At national, state and regional level, the

construction of cyclone shelters should be taken up to help the
vulnerable community from cyclones. The shelters should be
built considering the population density, transportation and
 communication, distance from the affected areas of the past, and
the areas’ topography.

6. Flood Management – As the cyclonic storms lead to heavy

rainfall that further lead to flooding in various areas; important
should be given to the flood management. The drainage systems
should be well-designed to mitigate flooding. The participation
both from the government and the local community is required
for this.

7. Vegetation Cover Improvement – To increase the water

infiltration capacity, improving vegetation cover is of high
importance. Planting trees in rows, coastal shelterbelt
plantations, mangrove shelterbelt plantations, etc. can help
break the wind force and mitigate the severe losses.

8. Mangrove Plantation – The ecologically-efficient mangroves

should be planted more. India has 3 per cent of the world’s
mangroves cover. The root systems of mangroves help in
mitigating tsunamis, soil erosion etc.

9. Saline Embankment – Along the coast, saline embankments help

protect habitation, agricultural crops, and other important
installations.

10. Levees – They act as an obstruction to the wind forces and

also provide a shelter during floods.
11. Artificial Hills – These act as the refuge during flooding, and
should be taken up in the right areas.
12. Awareness of the public – The participation of the
community increases with the number of public awareness
initiatives. The governments at all levels should initiate programs
bringing awareness about the natural calamities and making
provisions for higher local participation in the mitigation process.
 3. Tsunami
What is a Tsunami?

A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a

large volume of a body of water, usually an ocean.

How is a Tsunami formed?

• Seismicity generated tsunamis are result of abrupt deformation of sea

floor resulting vertical displacement of the overlying water.

• When earthquakes occur beneath the sea level, the water above the
reformed area is displaced from its equilibrium position.

• The release of energy produces tsunami waves which have small

amplitude but a very long wavelength.

• It may be caused by non-seismic event also such as a landslide or

impact of a meteor.
 Measures for Safety from Tsunamis and Storm Surges in Coastal
areas:

Structural measures:

1. Plantation of mangroves and coastal forests along the coast line

2. Development of a network of local knowledge centers (rural/urban)

along the coast lines to provide necessary training and emergency
communication during crisis time (e.g. centers developed by M.S.
Swaminathan Foundation in Pondicherry)

3. Construction of location specific sea walls and coral reefs in

consultation with experts

4. Development of break waters along the coast to provide necessary

cushion against tsunami hazards

5. Development of tsunami detection, forecasting and warning

dissemination centres

6. Development of a “Bio-Shield” - a narrow strip of land along

coastline.

7. Identification of vulnerable structures and appropriate retrofitting

for tsunami/cyclone resistance of all such buildings as well as
appropriate planning, designing, construction of new facilities like:

• Critical infrastructures e.g. power stations, warehouses, oil and

other storage tanks etc. located along the coastline.

• All other infrastructure facilities located in the coastal areas

• Public buildings and private houses

Non-Structural Measures:

1. Strict implementation of the coastal zone regulations (within 500 m

of the high tide line with elevation of less than 15 m above m.s.l.

2. Mapping the coastal area for multiple hazards, vulnerability and risk
analysis up to taluka /village level.

3. Capacity building requirements for the local people and the

administration for facing the disasters in wake of tsunami and cyclone

4. Developing tools and techniques for risk transfer in highly vulnerable

areas

5. Launching a series of public awareness campaign throughout the

coastal area

6. Training of local administration in forecasting warning dissemination

and evacuation techniques

7. Awareness generation and training among the fishermen, coast

guards, officials from fisheries department and port authorities and
local district officials etc., in connection with evacuation and post
tsunami storm surge management activities.

Tsunami Warning and Communication System

• The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) has been

established at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences,
(INCOIS - ESSO) Hyderabad.

• It has the responsibility to provide tsunami advisories to Indian

Mainland and the Island regions
 6. Heat Waves

What is a Heat Wave?

• Extreme positive departures from the normal maximum temperature

result in a heat wave during the summer season.

• Decrease in the Diurnal Temperature Range (DTR) due to urbanisation

is a new factor leading to human mortality and discomfort.

• Increased minimum temperatures in summer do not allow the

necessary nocturnal cooling to neutralize the high maximum
temperature during a heat wave epoch

PREVENTION & MANAGEMENT OF HEAT WAVE: NDMA GUIDELINES

Sates Checklist for Preparation of Heat Action Plan

 Government Engagement
o Participation from State and district government leaders,
municipal health agencies, disaster management authorities
and local partners.
o -For e.g. Odisha's dedicated Heat Management Committee,
chaired by State Disaster Management Authority, with
departmental representatives from water, animal husbandry,
sanitation etc.
 Appointing State Nodal Agency and Officer at state/district level to
oversee State Heat Action Plan build capacity of key officials,
conduct table-top exercises, simulations and drills before the heat
 season as well as to ensure communication & coordination among
various stakeholders
 Vulnerability assessment and establishing Heat-Health threshold
temperatures.
o Identify vulnerable areas & population to establish priorities
and threshold temperatures for heat alert & activities. The
state should coordinate with IMD to develop threshold
temperatures
 Drafting and developing Heat Action plan-The State Nodal Officer
can coordinate with local IMD office to start receiving summer
season forecasts and release early warning and daily alert system
with colour codes
 Implementation and monitoring -focus on wide dissemination of
"Do's & Don'ts and special messages to cater vulnerable groups
(elderly, children, outdoor workers, slum residents etc.) in local
languages through media, social media, SMS etc.
 Evaluating and Updating the plan -After every heat season, the city
or state must assess the efficacy of the heat action plan, including
processes, outcomes and impacts.
 Strategies for reducing extreme heat exposures and adapting to
climate change (Long Term Plan) - States should consider mitigation
strategies to reduce impact of heat, such as increasing green cover in
a city to reduce Urban Heat Island (UH) effect or implementing cool
roofs.
CROWD MANAGEMENT AT PLACES OF MASS GATHERINGS: NDMA
GUIDELINES

 Guiding principle for crowd control- Managing demand-supply

gap through
o Understanding demand: based on Historical numbers,
Crowd arrival pattern, Growing popularity, types of visitors
o identify mass arrival time windows creating peaks
o Advance ticket booking, registration, and public transport
timetable
 Understanding the supply by calculating the seating/holding
capacity at the venue
 Understanding visitors and stakeholders Determined by
o Type of event (Religious/ School University events, Sports
event, Political gatherings, etc.)
o Gathering intelligence about the motives of various visitors
and unwanted visitors
 Understanding crowd behaviour - as unlawful actions of a few
people can result in larger numbers following the identity and
separate such miscreants at the earliest with tact and firmness
 Constant monitoring of crowds for developing hazard points
 Require the organizers of crowded events to discourage general
admissions and have plans to handle VIP visitors
 The 2030 Agenda for sustainable development adopted by the
UN General Assembly in 2015 curetted disaster risk management
in most of its sustainable development Goals (SDG’s) with specific
targets for building disaster resilience across different sectors of
development.
The interlinkage between SDGs and Disaster risk reduction is well
displayed:--