Disaster Management
Introduction
Various disasters like earthquake, landslides, volcanic eruptions, fires, flood and cyclones are natural hazards that kill thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. The rapid growth of the world's population and its increased concentration often in hazardous environment has escalated both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. With the tropical climate and unstable land forms, coupled with deforestation, unplanned growth proliferation non-engineered constructions which make the disaster-prone areas mere vulnerable, tardy communication, poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing countries suffer more or less chronically by natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties due to natural disaster. Among various natural hazards, earthquakes, landslides, floods and cyclones are the major disasters adversely affecting very large areas and population in the Indian sub-continent. These natural disasters are of (i) geophysical origin such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, land slides and (ii) climatic origin such as drought, flood, cyclone, locust, forest fire. Though it may not be feasible to control nature and to stop the development of natural phenomena but the efforts could be made to avoid disasters and alleviate their effects on human lives, infrastructure and property.
MEANING:
Disaster management, also known as emergency management, arose out of Cold War era Civil Defense initiatives. Since Sept. 11, 2001, businesses and government agencies have worked to improve disaster readiness to minimize civil and commerce disruption in the event of a catastrophe. In the United States, disaster management is spearheaded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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
Various disasters like earthquake, landslides, volcanic eruptions, fires, flood and cyclones are natural hazards that kill thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. The rapid growth of the world's population and its increased concentration often in hazardous environment has escalated both the frequency and severity of natural disasters. With the tropical climate and unstable land forms, coupled with deforestation, unplanned growth proliferation non-engineered constructions which make the disaster-prone areas mere vulnerable, tardy communication, poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing countries suffer more or less chronically by natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties due to natural disaster. Among various natural hazards, earthquakes, landslides, floods and cyclones are the major disasters adversely affecting very large areas and population in the Indian sub-continent. These natural disasters are of (i) geophysical origin such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, land slides and (ii) climatic origin such as drought, flood, cyclone, locust, forest fire. Though it may not be feasible to control nature and to stop the development of natural phenomena but the efforts could be made to avoid disasters and alleviate their effects on human lives, infrastructure and property.
MEANING:
Disaster management, also known as emergency management, arose out of Cold War era Civil Defense initiatives. Since Sept. 11, 2001, businesses and government agencies have worked to improve disaster readiness to minimize civil and commerce disruption in the event of a catastrophe. In the United States, disaster management is spearheaded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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