Disasters and their Management

Two precautions that should be taken if an earthquake strikes are:

1. Leave your home or school building and move to an open area.
2. Do not stand near windows, bookcases, mirrors, hanging pots and fans during or immediately after an earthquake.

The Indian Meteorological Department studies the development and movement of cyclones, forecast heavy rains and thunderstorms etc. Thus, it helps to warn people, airports, seaports regarding the dangers. This help people as well as government agencies to prepare themselves before the disaster.

Five necessary things that should be kept handy during flood are:

1. First-aid kit including medicines of Diarrhoea and snake bite.
2. A radio
3. A torch
4. Match box and candles
5. Stock of freshwater and dry food

Extreme shortage of water due to very less or no rainfall is the main cause of drought.

The weapons of mass destruction (WMD) include those articles which can cause nuclear, chemical or biological warfare. Nuclear weapons and misuse of chemicals for destructive purposes are examples of weapons of mass destruction.

A biological attack means the release of germs or other biological substances. Such substances can enter the body through inhalation, cuts in the skin and food, and make one sick.

Two precautions that should be taken in case of accidental disasters are:

1. We should follow the traffic rules to avoid road accidents.
2. We should inform the police station or fire station immediately after any road, rail or fire accident.

The preparedness to handle a disaster before it occurs, the response given during a disaster and the recovery activities undertaken after a disaster so as to prevent or mitigate the impact of a disaster is called disaster management.

Three works carries out by NDRF in times of disaster are:

1. Evacuate people and animals and shift them to safe shelters before a cyclone strikes.
2. Search and rescue people.
3. Remove fallen and uprooted trees to clear roads.

NIDM was set up for training and research on disaster risk mitigation and management. It aims to make India disaster free by developing and promoting a culture of prevention and preparedness at all levels.

The national parks which are affected by Assam floods are:

1. Kaziranga National Park
2. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Nameri National Park

Gorkha earthquake was caused due to the sudden release of stress along the fault line between the Indian and the Eurasian tectonic plates.

Oil Slick is a thin layer of oil on the surface of water which is formed after an oil spill.

An oil spill affects the marine birds, mammals and fish. The oil penetrates into the plumage of birds and furs of mammals which restricts their movement in water and reduces their ability to find food or to escape from predators. Besides, the oil is also swallowed by the birds and other marine creatures which affects their digestive system and finally kills them.

Puducherry is a cyclone prone area.

In India floods mostly occur between June and September .

The Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean after it hit an iceberg.

The NIDM provides fund for disaster mitigation.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill occured in the Gulf of Mexico.

1. Volcanic eruption
2. Tsunami
3. Drought
4. Earthquake
5. Flood

A tsunami develops when a large mass of water is displaced. When an undersea earthquake occurs it causes large areas of the sea floor to rise or subside. This leads to the occurrence of huge waves. The waves travel at a high speed of about 500 to 1000 kilometers per hour.

The River Brahmaputra and its tributaries bring large amount of water and silt from its upper course in the mountains. The silt deposits on the river bed and reduces the water-holding capacity of the river. In addition to this, when heavy rainfall occurs during the monsoon, the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries are unable to carry the excess water resulting in floods every year.

The two types of disasters are:

1. Natural disaster
2. Human-made disaster

Richter scale

The occurrence of floods is forecasted by the Central Water Commission.

False

Tsunami is caused by an undersea earthquake or a volcanic eruption.

The disasters caused due to deliberate actions of individuals, groups or governments are called human-made disasters.

False
The atomic bombs were dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.

Chemical

Three organizations that the Government of India has set up for disaster management are:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
2. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
3. National Institute of Disaster Management (NDIM)

The NDRF searches and rescues people in times of disaster.

Focus

Drought

Nuclear

reduce

Barpak