Disaster Management
Short Questions
1. What is a disaster?
Answer: A disaster is the impact of a hazard on human populations causing death, injury, or property loss.
2. What is a hazard?
Answer: A hazard is a natural or man-made phenomenon that poses a threat to people or assets.
3. What is vulnerability in disaster management?
Answer: Vulnerability is the condition that makes people or regions susceptible to disasters.
4. Name a tectonic disaster.
Answer: Earthquake is a tectonic disaster.
5. What is an example of a geological disaster?
Answer: Landslide is a geological disaster.
6. Give an example of a meteorological disaster.
Answer: Cyclone is a meteorological disaster.
7. What is a man-made disaster example?
Answer: Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) is a man-made disaster.
8. What is the primary effect of a disaster?
Answer: Primary effects are direct consequences like building collapse during an earthquake.
9. What is a secondary effect of a disaster?
Answer: Secondary effects are consequences triggered by primary effects, like fires after an earthquake.
10. What is disaster preparedness?
Answer: Disaster preparedness involves measures to reduce disaster effects, like awareness campaigns.
11. What is mitigation in disaster management?
Answer: Mitigation refers to actions taken to minimize disaster impacts before they occur.
12. Name one structural mitigation measure.
Answer: Constructing river embankments is a structural mitigation measure.
13. What is a non-structural mitigation measure?
Answer: Public education on disasters is a non-structural mitigation measure.
14. Which Indian agency oversees disaster management?
Answer: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) oversees disaster management in India.
15. How does remote sensing help in disaster management?
Answer: Remote sensing maps disaster-prone areas and monitors events like cyclones.
Long Questions
1. Explain the difference between a hazard and a disaster with an example.
Answer: A hazard is a potential threat, like an earthquake occurring in an uninhabited area, while a disaster is the impact of a hazard on human populations, causing damage. For example, an earthquake in the Sahara Desert is a hazard, but the 2005 India-Pakistan earthquake, killing 80,000, was a disaster. This distinction highlights that disasters depend on human vulnerability and exposure.
2. What are tectonic disasters, and provide an example from the chapter?
Answer: Tectonic disasters are caused by movements in the Earth’s crust, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruptions. An example is the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which killed 2,50,000 people across India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. These disasters are often unpredictable but can be mitigated through preparedness.
3. Describe the role of vulnerability in disaster impact with an example.
Answer: Vulnerability refers to conditions like geography or socio-economic factors that make people susceptible to disasters. For instance, coastal populations in Odisha are more vulnerable to cyclones, as seen in the 1999 cyclone (10,000 deaths). Reducing vulnerability through preparedness lowers disaster impacts.
4. How does the capacity to cope reduce disaster impact? Give an example.
Answer: Capacity to cope is the ability to manage disasters using skills and resources, reducing vulnerability. For example, improved early warning systems and evacuations during Cyclone Fani (2019) resulted in only 89 deaths compared to 10,000 in the 1999 Odisha cyclone. This shows how better coping mechanisms save lives.
5. What are the primary effects of disasters? Illustrate with an example.
Answer: Primary effects are the direct consequences of a disaster, such as death or infrastructure damage. For example, during the 2005 Mumbai flash floods, 1,100 people died due to flooding. These immediate impacts highlight the destructive power of disasters.
6. Explain the role of remote sensing in disaster management with an example.
Answer: Remote sensing uses satellite data to map disaster-prone areas and monitor events, aiding preparedness and response. For instance, during Cyclone Fani (2019), satellites tracked its path, enabling timely evacuations in Odisha. This technology enhances disaster management efficiency.
7. What is the disaster management cycle, and why is it called a cycle?
Answer: The disaster management cycle includes preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and rehabilitation, addressing disasters before and after they occur. It is called a cycle because these phases are interconnected and continuous, ensuring ongoing improvement in disaster resilience. For example, lessons from Cyclone Fani (2019) improved future preparedness.
8. How does India’s disaster management framework function post-2004 tsunami?
Answer: Post-2004 tsunami, India established the NDMA, NIDM, and SDMAs to coordinate disaster management. The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees operations, with nodal ministries like Agriculture for droughts. This structured framework improved responses, as seen in Cyclone Fani’s low death toll.
9. What are structural and non-structural mitigation measures? Provide examples.
Answer: Structural measures involve physical constructions like river embankments to reduce disaster impacts, while non-structural measures include policies or education, such as public awareness campaigns. For example, retrofitting buildings (structural) and disaster training (non-structural) were key in reducing Cyclone Fani’s impact. These measures work together to enhance safety.
10. Why did the 2019 Cyclone Fani cause fewer deaths than the 1999 Odisha cyclone?
Answer: Cyclone Fani (2019) caused only 89 deaths compared to 10,000 in the 1999 Odisha cyclone due to improved early warning systems using satellites. Timely evacuations and cyclone shelters ensured safety, reflecting enhanced preparedness. India’s disaster management advancements significantly reduced vulnerability and losses.
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