Write an article on disaster management in 120 words.
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Disaster Management
Petra Nemcova has very wisely said, “We cannot stop natural disasters but we can arm ourselves with knowledge: so many lives wouldn't have to be lost if there was enough disaster preparedness.” It is quite true life is uncertain and unpredictable only for those who don’t prepare themselves for its uncertainties. Many people lose their life on account of some large scale natural disasters and catastrophes. This large scale loss of property and human life could be prevented if proper preventive measures are taken. Usually the human beings become aware and proactive only after the tragedy strikes its deadly blow!
Natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and tornadoes can be tackled and handled quite safely if proper warning and safety measures are taken well in advance. It has been observed that these disasters wreaked quite havoc when these disasters took the victims by surprise. Wherever there was a warning, and preparedness, there was less destruction and loss.
With all the technological advancement, it is possible now to predict natural disasters well in advance. The weather satellites orbiting the earth, the early warning systems installed at key locations are already doing wonders in keeping millions of people safe.
All the natural disasters that struck India and that took a very heavy toll of human life and property could have been averted, if Indian Government in the past had acted wisely and proactively. For example if the Government had installed early warning systems in volcano, tsunami prone areas, catastrophes such as, Bhuj earth quake on January 26, 2001, Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004, flash floods in Kedarnath in 2013, many avalanches in the Himalayas, etc could have been avoided.
The bitter truth is we as nation are usually quite careless. We take life for granted. We really need to reset our priorities. We must be responsible for ensuring our safety. We have the required infrastructure and resources to be capable of predicting any natural disaster that might strike our nation; however, the focus and will of the people of our country as on trivial things and issues.
ISRO, DRDO, BHEL, BDL, many scientists, students in colleges, schools, and universities can be roped in inventing newer devices and technologies to predict natural disasters well in advance accurately. We must ensure national and world safety by developing and installing early warning systems. NASA can be looked upon as an ideal role model in this regard. NASA is keeping a very vigilant eye on some life-endangering comets or meteorites that might be heading towards earth for collision. NASA has made all arrangements to handle the situation in case there is any possibility of such collision.
The need of the hour is Government and people along with the prediction mechanism further must work more proactively to be prepared for natural disasters. It is not the infrastructure and means we lack; we lack proper attitude to the disasters. So, we must set our attitude right.
A disaster is an extreme disruption in the functioning of a habitat that causes widespread human, material, or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected population to cope with its own resources. Landslides, earthquakes, tsunami, cyclones, droughts, floods etc are some of the examples of disasters. Disaster management is the discipline by which human beings continuously make effort to mitigate the harm caused by the disasters.
Disaster refers to the mishap, calamity or the grave occurrence from the natural or man-made reasons which can’t be stopped or tackled immediately by the affected community. Earthquakes, cyclones, droughts, floods etc are some of the natural disasters resulting into huge loss of lives and properties. The direct or indirect impacts of disasters, either natural or man-made are colossal damage, destruction and death.
The disaster management is the discipline by which human beings continuously makes efforts to reduce the harm caused by the disasters. India has set up many departments and organizations for the same such as national disaster management authority (NDMA). But we are yet to achieve satisfactory progress with regard to timely management of disasters. This can be done by raising adequate awareness about the ways to cope with disasters and greater co-ordination between the centre and state agencies.
DisastersA disaster is a sudden, calamitous event that seriously disturbs the functioning of a community or society and causes human, material, and environmental losses that exceed the community’s or society’s ability to cope with using its own resources. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origin as well such as major fire or leakage in a nuclear plant due to human negligence.
Disaster management is a well-planned strategy for making efforts to reduce the hazards caused by the disasters. Disaster management though does not avert or eliminate the threats; it focuses on formulating plans to decrease the effect of disasters. In India, national disaster management authority (NDMA) has been set up to coordinate responses to natural or man-made disasters across the country. NDMA runs various programs for mitigation and responsiveness for specific situations.
These include the national cyclone risk management project, school safety project, decision support system etc. But going by the lack of preparedness exposed by the outbreak of recent disasters in the country, the NDMA needs to make more organized and effective efforts to mitigate the losses caused by disasters. In fact, the society as a whole must make efforts to co-operate with the central and state agencies in coming out with a collective response to deal with disasters.