Community planning for disaster management”
Describe disasters, its types and various ways to manage it
along with examples.(approx 3-4 pages)
Answers
Disaster, as defined by the United Nations, is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or society, which involve widespread human, material, economic or environmental impacts that exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources . Disaster management is how we deal with the human, material, economic or environmental impacts of said disaster, it is the process of how we “prepare for, respond to and learn from the effects of major failures” . Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. According to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies a disaster occurs when a hazard impacts on vulnerable people. The combination of hazards, vulnerability and inability to reduce the potential negative consequences of risk results in disaster .Types of DisasterNatural DisastersAccording to the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies Natural Disasters are naturally occurring physical phenomena caused either by rapid or slow onset events that have immediate impacts on human health and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering. These disasters can be :Geophysical (e.g. Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis and Volcanic Activity)Hydrological (e.g. Avalanches and Floods)Climatological (e.g. Extreme Temperatures, Drought and Wildfires)Meteorological (e.g. Cyclones and Storms/Wave Surges)Biological (e.g. Disease Epidemics and Insect/Animal Plagues)The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction characterises Natural Disasters in relation to their magnitude or intensity, speed of onset, duration and area of extent e.g. earthquakes are of short duration and usually affect a relatively small region whereas droughts are slow to develop and fade away and often affect large regions . Man-Made DisastersMan-Made Disasters as viewed by the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies are events that are caused by humans which occur in or close to human settlements often caused as a results of Environmental or Technological Emergencies. This can include:Environmental DegradationPollutionAccidents (e.g. Industrial, Technological and Transport usually involving the production, use or transport of hazardous materials)Community Planning for Disaster Management. Role of Village Disaster Management Committee: The BDO that is the main responsibility would be create awareness amongst the community members so as to reduce the impact of any hazard and also guide the community in the preparation of the village Disaster management Plan.
I hope this will help you to complete (alteast 2-3 pages)