DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Introduction to Disaster Management

 Overview of Disaster
Management
• Introduction
• This unit looks at definitions,
terminologies, and types of potential
hazards (including natural and non-natural
disasters); understanding disasters, their
causes and implications; and the contents
of an effective disaster management plan.
 Upon completion of this unit you
will be able to:
• Define and describe disaster management,
hazard, emergency, disaster, vulnerability, and
risk.
• Distinguish between an emergency and a
disaster situation.
• Identify and describe the types of natural and
non-natural disasters.
• List and describe the main hazards to which
your region is, or may be, vulnerable
• .Identify and briefly discuss implications of
disasters on your region and environment.
 Terminology
• Disaster Management:
• Is more than just response and relief (i.e., it assumes a
more proactive approach)
• Is a systematic process (i.e., is based on the key
management principles of planning, organising, and
leading which includes coordinating and controlling)
• Aims to reduce the negative impact or consequences of
adverse events (i.e., disasters cannot always be
prevented, but the adverse effects can be minimised)
• Is a system with many components (these components
will be discussed in the other units)
 Cont……………….
• Hazard:
• “Is the potential for a natural or human-
caused event to occur with negative
consequences” (key words)
• A hazard can become an emergency;
when the emergency moves beyond the
control of the population, it becomes a
disaster.
 Cont………….
• Emergency:
• “Is a situation generated by the real or imminent
occurrence of an event that requires immediate
attention” (key words)
• Paying immediate attention to an event or
situation as described above is important as the
event/situation can generate negative
consequences and escalate into an emergency.
• The purpose of planning is to minimize those
consequences.
 Cont……………
• Disaster:
• “Is a natural or human-caused event which
causes intensive negative impacts on
people, goods, services and/or the
environment, exceeding the affected
community’s capability to respond” (key
words)
 Cont………………..
• Risk:
• “Is the probability that loss will occur as
the result of an adverse event, given the
hazard and the vulnerability”
• Risk (R) can be determined as a product
of hazard (H) and vulnerability (V). i.e. R =
HxV
 Cont………………..
• Vulnerability:
• “Is the extent to which a community’s
structure, services or environment is likely
to be damaged or disrupted by the impact
of a hazard”
 Types of Vulnerability and
Characteristics
• Tangible/Material
(easy to see; value easily determined)
People – lives, health, security, living conditions
Property – services, physical property loss, loss
of use
Economy – loss of products and production,
income
Environment – water, soil, air, vegetation, wildlife
 Cont………………..
• Intangible/Abstract
(difficult to see; value difficult to determine)
• Social structures – family and community
relationships
• Cultural practices – religious and
agricultural
• Cohesion – disruption of normal life
• Motivation – will to recover; government
response
 Vulnerability and Contributing
Factors
• Poverty
• People who are already in a depressed
state are less able to recover.
• Some people are even more vulnerable
• – pregnant women,
• children and
• the disabled
 Cont……………
• Population growth.
Population has grown dramatically over
the past decade
 Cont…………….
• Rapid urbanisation.
Growing concentration around the capital. For
example, Dar es Salaam city has a population of
>6 000000
• Transition in cultural practices
• Increase in sub-standard housing in more
heavily populated urban areas.
• Changes in traditional coping mechanisms –
declines in self-reliance, food conservation and
preservation, warning systems etc.
 Cont………………
• Environmental degradation.
As resources are consumed, vegetation
cover removed, water polluted and air
fouled, a country is more vulnerable to a
disaster
 Cont……………..
• Lack of awareness and information.
When people and government officials are
unaware or lack information about disaster
management, they fail to take appropriate
actions.
 Cont…………………..
• Civil Strife and unrest.
Resources are consumed, people are in a
stressed situation, and transportation is
restricted.
 Cont………………
• Geographical isolation.
Island countries are disadvantaged by
their relative remoteness, particular their
limited access to schools, health and cash
 Cont……………….
• High disaster impact.
Limited economies (tourism, agriculture).
Disaster impact can affect an entire economy.
• Political uncertainties/instability.
Changing government policies, changing
personnel in the national focal point, economic
weakness all can contribute to un effective
national disaster management programme.
 Distinguishing between an
emergency and a disaster
situation
• An emergency and a disaster are two
different situations:
• An emergency is a situation in which the
community is capable of coping. It is a
situation generated by the real or imminent
occurrence of an event that requires
immediate attention of emergency
resources.
 Cont……………..
• A disaster.
Is a situation in which the community is
incapable of coping.
It is a natural or human-caused event which
causes intense negative impacts on people,
goods, services and/or the environment,
exceeding the affected community’s capability to
respond;
Therefore the community seeks the assistance
of government and international agencies.
Types of natural and non-natural
disasters
• Disasters are often classified according to
their:
• (a) causes – natural vs. human
• (b) speed of onset – sudden vs. slow
 A. CAUSES
1.Natural Disasters
• These types of disaster naturally occur in
proximity to, and pose a threat to people,
structures or economic assets.
• They are caused by biological, geological,
seismic, hydrologic, or meteorological
conditions or processes in the natural
environment (e.g., cyclones, earthquakes,
tsunami, floods, landslides, and volcanic
eruptions).
Cyclones, Hurricanes or Typhoons
• Cyclones develop when a warm ocean gives rise
to hot air, which in turn creates convectional air
currents. Cyclones occur when these
conventional air currents are being displaced.
• The term hurricane/typhoon is a regionally
specific name for a “tropical cyclone”. In Asia
they are called ‘typhoons’; in the Indian and
Pacific Oceans they are called ‘cyclones’; and
over the North Atlantic and Caribbean Basin,
they are called ‘hurricanes’.
 Earthquakes
• An earthquake is a trembling or shaking
movement of the earth’s surface, resulting
from plate movements along a fault-plane
or as a result of volcanic activity.
Earthquakes can strike suddenly, violently,
and without warning at any time of the day
or night. The following terminologies are
associated with earthquakes: epicentre,
fault, magnitude and seismic waves.
 Cont……………
• For practical purposes, earthquakes are
usually defined by their magnitude (or
quantitative energy released) which is
measured using a logarithm scale of 1 –
10.
• This logarithm scale is referred to as the
Richter scale.
• The magnitude is determined by analysing
seismic data obtained from seismometers.
 Cont…………………
• The intensity of an earthquake is
measured using the Modified Mercalli
Intensity (MMI) Scale, which is determined
qualitatively by physical observations of
the earthquake’s impact.
 Tsunami
• A tsunami is an ocean wave generated by a
submarine earthquake, volcano or landslide. It is
also known as a seismic sea wave, and
incorrectly as a tidal wave.
• Storm surges (or Galu Lolo) are waves caused
by strong winds[1].
•
[1] Tsunami was known in Samoa as a Galu Afi
but the National Disaster Advisory Committee
(DAC) has now adopted SŪNAMI as its Samoan
translation.
 Cont……………………
• Hence, when an earthquake occurs, you
must need the tsunami warning, for
example, people living in low-lying coastal
areas must relocate to higher and safer
grounds immediately.
 Floods

• This phenomenon occurs when water

covers previously dry areas, i.e., when
large amounts of water flow from a
source such as a river or a broken pipe
onto a previously dry area, or when
water overflows banks or barriers.
 Cont………………
• Floods can be environmentally important to local
ecosystems. For example, some river floods
bring nutrients to soil such as in Egypt where the
annual flooding of the Nile River carries nutrients
to otherwise dry land.
• Floods can also have an economic and
emotional impact on people, particularly if their
property is directly affected.
• Having a better understanding of what causes
flooding can help people to be better prepared
and to perhaps minimize or prevent flood
damage.
 Landslides

• The term landslide refers to the downward

movement of masses of rock and soil.
Landslides are caused by one or a
combination of the following factors: change in
slope gradient, increasing the load the land
must bear, shocks and vibrations, change in
water content, ground water movement, frost
action, weathering of rocks, removal or, or
changing the type of vegetation covering
slopes.
 Cont…………….
• Landslide hazard areas occur where the
land has certain characteristics which
contribute to the risk of the downhill
movement of material. These
characteristics include:
• A slope greater than 15 percent.
• Landslide activity or movement occurred
during the last 10,000 years.
 Cont……………
• Stream or wave activity which has caused
erosion, undercut a bank or cut into a bank to
cause the surrounding land to be unstable.
• The presence or potential for snow avalanches.
• The presence of an alluvial fan which indicates
vulnerability to the flow of debris or sediments.
• The presence of impermeable soils, such as silt
or clay, which are mixed with granular soils such
as sand and gravel.
 Cont……………
• Landslides can also be triggered by other
natural hazards such as rains, floods,
earthquakes, as well as human-made
causes, such as grading, terrain cutting
and filling, excessive development, etc.
 Cont…………………..
• Because the factors affecting landslides
can be geophysical or human-made, they
can occur in developed areas,
undeveloped areas, or any area where the
terrain has been altered for roads,
houses ,utilities, buildings, etc.
 2. Human-Made Disasters

• These are disasters or emergency

situations of which the principal, direct
causes are identifiable human actions,
deliberate or otherwise.
 Cont……………………
• Apart from “technological disasters” this
mainly involves situations in which civilian
populations suffer casualties, losses of
property, basic services and means of
livelihood as a result of war, civil strife or
other conflicts, or policy implementation.
 Cont………………..
• In many cases, people are forced to leave
their homes, giving rise to congregations
of refugees or externally and/or internally
displaced persons as a result of civil strife,
an airplane crash, a major fire, oil spill,
epidemic, terrorism, etc.
 B. SPEED OF ONSET

• Sudden onset: little or no warning, minimal time

to prepare. For example, an earthquake,
tsunami, cyclone, volcano, etc.
• Slow onset: adverse event slow to develop; first
the situation develops; the second level is an
emergency; the third level is a disaster. For
example, drought, civil strife, epidemic, etc.
 Cont………………..
• The main hazards a region is, or may be
vulnerable to, will depend on the
geographic location of the country.
 Cont…………….
• In Tanzania, for example, the main
hazards which may turn into disasters are:
• Earthquakes
• Tsunami
• Flooding
• Landslides
• Epidemics
Implications of disasters on your
region and environment
• Cyclones have been a frequently occurring
disaster in Samoa for the past decade; the
impact of each occurrence has been
devastating.
 Cont……………
• The following list identifies a few of the
unpleasant impacts:
• Infrastructure damage
• Telecommunication loss
• Flooding
• Landslides
• Power disruption
 Cont………………..
• Water problems
• Agricultural damage
• Loss/damage to housing
• Damage to inland and coastal
environments
• Disruption of standard of living, lifestyle,
etc.
 Unit summary
• This unit sets the scope for what disaster management
entails. As an introductory course, the content focuses
on definitions and descriptions of terminologies;
articulating the concept of disaster management;
• distinguishing between emergency and disaster
situations; identifying and describing the types of natural
and human-caused disasters; listing and describing the
main hazards your country is vulnerable to;
• and identifying and briefly describing the implications
disasters can have on people and the environment
 Unit 2
Disaster Management Cycle
• Phase I: Mitigation
• Introduction
Disaster management is an enormous
task. They are not confined to any
particular location, neither do they
disappear as quickly as they appear.
Therefore, it is imperative that there is
proper management to optimize efficiency
of planning and response.
 Cont…………….
• Due to limited resources, collaborative
efforts at the governmental, private and
community levels are necessary.
• This level of collaboration requires a
coordinated and organized effort to
mitigate against, prepare for, respond to,
and recover from emergencies and their
effects in the shortest possible time.
Disaster management cycle:
• A cycle with phases that reduce or prevent
disasters
 Cont…………………
• Mitigation: Reducing or minimizing an impact of
a hazard or disaster.
• Risk management: Consists of identifying
threats (hazards likely to occur), determining
their probability of occurrence, estimating what
the impact of the threat might be to the
communities at risk, determining measures that
can reduce the risk, and taking action to reduce
the threat.
 Cont…………..
• Vulnerability:
A condition wherein human settlements,
buildings, agriculture, or human health are
exposed to a disaster by virtue of their
construction or proximity to hazardous
terrain.
 Disaster Management Cycle

• Disaster management is a cyclical

process; the end of one phase is the
beginning of another (see diagram below),
although one phase of the cycle does not
necessarily have to be completed in order
for the next to take place. Often several
phases are taking place concurrently.
 Cont……………..
• The diagram below shows the Disaster
Management Cycle.
Cont………
 Cont…………….
• Mitigation: Measures put in place to
minimize the results from a disaster.
Examples: building codes and zoning;
vulnerability analyses; public education.
• Preparedness: Planning how to respond.
Examples: preparedness plans;
emergency exercises/training; warning
systems.
 Cont…………..
• Response: Initial actions taken as the event
takes place. It involves efforts to minimize the
hazards created by a disaster. Examples:
evacuation; search and rescue; emergency
relief.
• Recovery: Returning the community to normal.
Ideally, the affected area should be put in a
condition equal to or better than it was before
the disaster took place. Examples: temporary
housing; grants; medical care.
 Disaster Mitigation

• Mitigation refers to all actions taken before a

disaster to reduce its impacts, including
preparedness and long-term risk reduction
measures. Mitigation activities fall broadly into
two categories:
• Structural mitigation – construction projects
which reduce economic and social impacts
• Non-structural activities – policies and
practices which raise awareness of hazards or
encourage developments to reduce the impact
of disasters.
 Cont………………..
• Mitigation includes reviewing building
codes; vulnerability analysis updates;
zoning and land-use management and
planning; reviewing of building use
regulations and safety codes; and
implementing preventative health
measures. (World Development Report,
1998)
 Cont…………….
• Mitigation can also involve
- educating businesses and
-the public on simple measures they can

take to reduce loss or injury,

 Cont…………….
• for instance fastening bookshelves, water
heaters, and filing cabinets to walls to
keep them from falling during earthquakes.
• Ideally, these preventative measures and
public education programmes will occur
before the disaster.
 Cont……………….
• The primary focus of disaster
management is to prevent disasters
wherever possible or to mitigate those
which are inevitable.
 Cont…………………
• Four sets of tools that could be used to
prevent or mitigate disasters include:
- Hazard management and vulnerability
reduction
- Economic diversification
- Political intervention and commitment
- Public awareness
 Cont…………….
• The first two apply exclusively to disasters
caused by natural phenomena while the
latter are used to mitigate any other
hazards.
 Mitigation strategies
• Two aspects of mitigation include:
-Hazard identification and vulnerability
analysis
-Various mitigation strategies or measures.
 Hazard identification and
vulnerability analysis
• A hazard can cause the full range of
natural disasters, major man-made
incidents, and resource crises that
become the concern of the entire
community, not just emergency
management personnel.
 Cont……………….
• The ideal is for communities to be
prepared at all times for all types of
hazards. In practical terms however, this is
not possible. Preparedness for one hazard
or disaster may increase your risk to
another..
 Cont…….
• For example, structures designed to
withstand hurricane force winds may incur
or cause greater damage if there is an
earthquake. The more logical solution
would be to adapt best practices as much
as possible for the most likely scenario
 Cont…….
• But what about the hazards associated
with our 21st-century lifestyle such as
chemical spills, ecological disasters,
explosions, major transportation
accidents?
 Cont…….
• Mitigation involves addressing both natural
and man-made hazards, different as they
are in many respects.
• A crucial first step in mitigation is deciding
which hazards have the greatest potential
to affect your jurisdiction.
• targeting mitigation efforts relies heavily
on correctly assessing vulnerability
 Mitigation strategies or
measures
• Adjusting normal development
programmes to reduce losses. For
instance, varieties of crops that are more
wind, flood or drought resistant can often
be introduced in areas prone to floods,
drought and cyclones.
 Cont…….
• Economic diversification. In areas
where the principal or sole source of the
income may be threatened, attempts
should be made to diversify the economy
and introduce the economic activities that
are less vulnerable. Diversification is
extremely important where economies are
dependent on a single cash crop.
 Cont……..
• Developing disaster resistant economic
activities. Some economic activities are
relatively unaffected by disasters.
• Efforts should be made to identify and
encourage the development of enterprises
that are less vulnerable to the hazards.