Natural Disasters Overview
Natural disasters are catastrophic events resulting from natural processes of the Earth, leading to significant damage and disruption.
Phases of Disaster Management
- Mitigation: Actions taken to prevent disasters or reduce their impact, such as land-use planning and building codes.
- Preparedness: Strategies and plans developed to respond effectively when disasters occur, including training and drills.
- Response: Immediate actions taken to ensure safety and provide aid during a disaster, which includes search and rescue operations.
- Recovery: Long-term efforts to restore affected communities, involving rebuilding infrastructure and providing psychosocial support.
Types of Disasters
- Earthquakes: Sudden shaking of the ground caused by tectonic plate movements, leading to destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
- Floods: Overflow of water onto normally dry land, often caused by heavy rainfall, leading to property damage and loss of life.
- Tsunamis: Series of ocean waves caused by underwater seismic activity, resulting in devastating coastal impacts.
- Hurricanes: Strong tropical storms with high winds and heavy rain, causing widespread destruction in coastal areas.
Risk, Hazard, Vulnerability, and Resilience
- Risk: The probability of loss or damage occurring due to a hazard.
- Hazard: A natural phenomenon that might cause harm, such as earthquakes or floods.
- Vulnerability: The susceptibility of a community to the impacts of hazards, influenced by factors like location and poverty.
- Resilience: The ability of a community to recover from disasters, supported by emergency plans, resources, and social networks.
Disaster Preparedness and Early Warning Systems
- Preparedness: Involves creating emergency plans, stockpiling supplies, and educating communities.
- Early Warning Systems: Technologies and processes that provide timely alerts about impending disasters to reduce loss of life, such as seismic detectors for earthquakes.
Disaster Response and Humanitarian Logistics
- Disaster Response: Immediate humanitarian efforts post-disaster, such as search and rescue, medical aid, and food distribution.
- Humanitarian Logistics: The planning and implementation of logistics operations focused on delivering aid, which includes transportation, warehousing, and inventory management.
Community-Based Disaster Management (CBDM)
- Community Involvement: Encouraging local populations to take part in disaster risk management planning and execution.
- Capacity Building: Training community members to respond effectively to disasters, enhancing local resilience and preparedness.
Climate Change and Disaster Risk
- Increased Frequency: Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as floods and storms.
- Vulnerability: Poor communities are often more vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to limited resources and infrastructure.
Legal and Institutional Frameworks
- Legislation: National and local laws governing disaster response, aimed at reducing risk and improving preparedness.
- Institutional Coordination: Collaboration among various government and non-governmental organisations to ensure an effective disaster response.
