Disaster Cycle and Management

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Disaster Basics - Defining Calamity

  • Disaster: Sudden, calamitous event causing great damage, loss, or destruction; overwhelms local capacity to cope. (Based on WHO).
  • Key Elements:
    • Hazard (H): Threatening event/phenomenon (natural/man-made).
      • Natural: Earthquakes, floods, cyclones.
      • Man-made: Industrial accidents, conflicts.
    • Vulnerability (V): Community's susceptibility to a hazard's impact.
    • Capacity (C): Resources & abilities to manage hazards, reduce impact.
  • Risk (R): Probability of harm/loss. Calculated as: $Risk = (Hazard \times Vulnerability) / Capacity$.

    ⭐ Understanding this risk equation is crucial: Higher Hazard (H) & Vulnerability (V) ↑ Risk, while higher Capacity (C) ↓ Risk.

Disaster Cycle - Round We Go

The disaster cycle is a continuous, four-phase process crucial for effective disaster management. 📌 Mnemonic: MPRRe (Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery).

  • Mitigation (Lessen Impact):
    • Measures to prevent hazards or reduce their direct effects.
    • Structural: retrofitting, flood levees. Non-structural: land-use plans, building codes, awareness.
    • Long-term, sustained effort.
  • Preparedness (Get Ready):
    • Advance measures for effective disaster response.
    • Emergency plans, training/drills, early warning systems, stockpiling supplies.
  • Response (Act Now):
    • Immediate actions to save lives, reduce health impacts, meet basic needs.
    • Search & rescue, triage, medical aid, evacuation, shelter, food/water.
  • Recovery (Bounce Back):
    • Restoring community functions and livelihoods.
    • Short-term: restore essential services (power, water).
    • Long-term: rebuild infrastructure, economic/social recovery, psychosocial support.

⭐ Mitigation activities are considered the most cost-effective measures for reducing disaster losses in the long term.

India's DM Framework - Command Central

  • National Apex Body: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
    • Chaired by Prime Minister; apex body for policy, planning, and coordination.
  • Training & Research: National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
    • Training, research, documentation, and capacity development.
  • Specialized Response Force: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
    • Specialized force for disaster response and relief operations.
  • State Level Authority: State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
    • Chaired by Chief Minister; state-level coordination and implementation of DM plans.
  • District Level Authority: District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
    • Chaired by District Collector; district-level planning, coordination, and implementation.
  • On-Scene Management: Incident Command System (ICS).
    • Standardized on-scene all-hazard incident management.
    • Key functions: Command, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin (📌 C-OPLF).

⭐ NDMA, India's apex DM body, is chaired by the Prime Minister.

Response & Relief - Action Stations!

  • Core Actions: Rapid, coordinated efforts to save lives & reduce suffering.
    • Triage: Sort victims by injury severity.
      • 📌 START (Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment): Based on Respiration, Perfusion, Mental status (RPM).
      • SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport).
    • Search & Rescue (SAR): Locate, extricate, & provide initial aid.
    • Medical Aid: Field hospitals, first aid posts, ambulance services.
    • Communication: Establish reliable systems; public information dissemination.
    • Coordination: Incident Command System (ICS) for unified command.
    • Logistics: Mobilize resources (water, food, shelter, medical supplies).
    • Psychosocial Support: Address immediate mental health needs of victims & responders.

Emergency medical aid during disaster relief

Triage Color Code Priority:

  • Red (Priority I): Immediate (Life-threatening injuries, high survival chance with immediate care)
  • Yellow (Priority II): Delayed (Serious injuries, but not immediately life-threatening)
  • Green (Priority III): Minor (Walking wounded, minor injuries)
  • Black (Priority 0/IV): Expectant/Deceased (Unlikely to survive or already dead)

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Disaster Cycle phases: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery.
  • Mitigation: Reduces hazard impact through long-term measures like zoning laws.
  • Preparedness: Planning, training, drills, and resource stockpiling for effective action.
  • Response: Immediate actions include Search & Rescue (SAR), Triage, and emergency medical care.
  • Triage (e.g., START): Prioritizes victims - Red (Immediate), Yellow (Delayed), Green (Minor), Black (Deceased).
  • Recovery: Focuses on restoring normalcy through rehabilitation, reconstruction, and psychosocial support.
  • Incident Command System (ICS): Essential for coordination and management during disaster response.

Practice Questions: Disaster Cycle and Management

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During the post-disaster period, the most commonly reported disease is:

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Flashcards: Disaster Cycle and Management

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Disaster _____ is a long term plan with ongoing multisectoral activities, which include the development of policies or programs for disaster management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Disaster _____ is a long term plan with ongoing multisectoral activities, which include the development of policies or programs for disaster management, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

preparedness

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