Geography PPT

Topic – Do’s and

Don’ts of Disasters
 Overview
• Introduction of Disasters
• Type of disasters
• Do’s and Don’ts of Earthquakes
• Do’s and Don’ts of Cyclone
• Do’s and Don’ts of Floods
• Do’s and Don’ts of droughts
• Conclusion
Introduction of Disasters

• Extreme form of hazards leads to disasters .

• Disasters is a manmade or natural event which results in widespread loss
of life and property .
• The United Nations defines as ,” the occurrence of sudden or major
misfortune which disrupts the basic fabric and normal functioning of a
society .
• The World Bank defines disasters as an extraordinary event of limited
duration which causes serious disruption of the economy of the country.
Type of
Disasters

Natural Disasters
• Earthquakes
• Cyclone
• Floods
• Drought
Do’s and Don’ts of
Earthquakes
What to Do Before an Earthquake
• Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations. Get expert
advice if there are signs of structural defects.
• Follow BIS codes relevant to your area for building standards.
• Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in
low, closed cabinets with latches.
• Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds,
settees, and anywhere that people sit.
• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These
are potential fire risks.
• Secure water heaters, LPG cylinders etc., by strapping them to the
walls or bolting to the floor.
• Identify safe places indoors and outdoors.

• Know emergency telephone numbers (such as those of doctors,

hospitals, the police, etc)
Have a disaster emergency kit ready

•Battery operated torch with extra batteries

•Battery operated radio
•First aid kit and manual
•Emergency food (dry items) and water (packed and
sealed)
•Candles and matches in a waterproof container
•Knife
•Chlorine tablets or powdered water purifiers
•Can opener.
•Essential medicines
•Cash and credit cards
•Thick ropes and cord
What to do during earthquakes

If outdoors
• Do not move from where you are. However, move away from buildings, trees,
streetlights, and utility wires.
• If you are in open space, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest
danger exists directly outside buildings; at exits; and alongside exterior walls.
Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass,
and falling objects.
If in a moving vehicle
• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near
or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or
ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.
If indoor
• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or
other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there is
no a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms
and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the
corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything
that could fall, (such as lighting fixtures or furniture).
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and
protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light
fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
Do’s and Don’ts of Cyclone
• Before the Cyclone season:
• Check the house; secure loose tiles and carry out repairs of doors
and windows
• Remove dead branches or dying trees close to the house; anchor
removable objects such as lumber piles, loose tin sheets, loose
bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in strong winds
• Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be
boarded if needed
• Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated
torches and enough dry cells
• Demolish condemned buildings
• Keep some extra batteries for transistors
• Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for use in
emergency
• When the Cyclone starts
• Listen to the radio (All India Radio stations give weather warnings).
• Keep monitoring the warnings. This will help you prepare for a
cyclone emergency.
• Pass the information to others.
• Ignore rumours and do not spread them; this will help to avoid
panic situations.
• Believe in the official information
• When a cyclone alert is on for your area continue normal working
but stay alert to the radio warnings.
• Stay alert for the next 24 hours as a cyclone alert means that the
danger is within 24 hours.
When your area is under cyclone warning get away from low-
lying beaches or other low-lying areas close to the coast

• Leave early before your way to high ground or shelter gets flooded
• Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned
• If your house is securely built on high ground take shelter in the safe
part of the house. However, if asked to evacuate do not hesitate to leave
the place.
• Board up glass windows or put storm shutters in place.
• Provide strong suitable support for outside doors.
• If you do not have wooden boards handy, paste paper strips on glasses
to prevent splinters. However, this may not avoid breaking windows.
• Get extra food, which can be eaten without cooking. Store extra drinking
water in suitably covered vessels.
• If you have to evacuate the house move your valuable articles to upper
floors to minimize flood damage.
 During a cyclone
DO NOT venture out even when the winds appear to calm down.
The 'eye' of the cyclone might be passing. Winds might intensify
and gush again and cause damage. Be safe inside till it is officially
announced that the cyclone has passed.
• Post-cyclone measures
• You should remain in the shelter until informed that you can
return to your home.
• You must get inoculated against diseases immediately.
• Strictly avoid any loose and dangling wires from lamp posts.
• If you have to drive, do drive carefully.
• Clear debris from your premises immediately.
• Report the correct losses to appropriate authorities.
Do’s and Don’ts of Flood
• What to do before a flood
• To prepare for a flood, you should:
• Avoid building in flood prone areas unless you elevate and
reinforce your home.
• Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if
susceptible to flooding.
• Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to
construct barriers (levees, beams and floodwalls) to stop
floodwater from entering the homes in your area.
• Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing
compounds to avoid seepage
If a flood is likely to hit your area, you should:
. Listen to the radio or television for information.
. Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a
flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for
instructions to move.
. Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas
known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or
without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

• If you must prepare to evacuate, you should:

• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move
essential items to an upper floor.
• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so.
Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if
you are wet or standing in water.
If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation
tips:

• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving

water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk
where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the
firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around
your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if
you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly
swept away.
Do’s and Don’ts of Drought
• Do’s
Undertake rainwater harvesting. Water harvesting practices like farm ponds ,
community tanks , watersheds and pools can prove a life saver.
Repair and rejuvenate local water bodioes before the rainy season.
Use sprinkling method/drip irrigation method for irrigation , irrigate crops during
evenings.
Arrange for irrigation facilities from available water resources.
Practice rainwater harvesting.
Participtae in water conservation programmes.
Reuse water as much as possible.
Don’ts
Do not cut trees and forests.
Do not waste rainwater collected on rooftops.
Do not mess with traditional water sources such as ponds , annicuts , well , tanks , etc.
Do not use high water requirings seeds / crops ; don’t irrigate crops during morning
hours .
Conclusion
 Natural disasters are becoming an increasing concern
globally , and the world’s poorest are becoming more
exposed to the risk of disasters , aggregated by climate
change and globalization.
 The poor suffer more from economic loss , because they are
more vulnerable to the direct economic loss and also to the
indirect losses and the secondary effects.
 When information is available on risk identification , people
with resources can find ways to avoid it , while the poor are
forced to accept a higher level of risk.