Questions Answers Class 11 Chapter 9 Geography Maharashtra Board

Disaster Management

Q. 1) Choose the correct alternative :

1) Which of the following groups shows the correct type of disasters?

Answer:

2) The Meteorological Department has given information that a cyclone is likely to make a landfall at Odisha in 2 days. Which of the following group shows the correct sequence of management processes?

Answer:

3) Statement A – The cyclonic depression originating in the Bay of Bengal is marching towards Tamil Nadu at a velocity of 350 km/ hr.

Statement B – The loss of life was not much but property loss occurred on a large scale.

i) A indicates a disaster and B indicates a hazard.
ii) A indicates a hazard while B indicates a disaster.
iii) A indicates a disaster but B does not indicate a hazard.
iv) A does not indicate a disaster but B indicates a hazard.

Answer: ii) A indicates a hazard while B indicates a disaster.

• Explanation: Statement A describes a cyclonic depression, which is a hazard (a potential threat). Statement B describes the impact (property loss), which indicates a disaster (the result of a hazard affecting society).

4) India has been successful in mitigating the effects of the following disaster:
a) earthquake
b) volcanic eruptions
c) floods
d) cyclones

Answer: c) floods

Q. 2) Write notes on :

1) Vulnerability

Answer: Vulnerability refers to the geographical, social, economic, or political conditions that make people or regions susceptible to disasters. For example, coastal populations are more vulnerable to cyclones, while those in seismically active areas are prone to earthquakes. Factors like poverty, age (e.g., children or elderly), and dense populations increase vulnerability. Reducing vulnerability involves improving preparedness and coping capacity.

2) Disaster

Answer: A disaster is the result of a hazard impacting human populations, causing death, injury, property loss, or economic disruption. Unlike a hazard, which is a natural or man-made phenomenon, a disaster occurs when society cannot cope with the hazard’s effects. For instance, an earthquake in an uninhabited area is a hazard, but in a populated area like Assam, it becomes a disaster.

3) Hazard

Answer: A hazard is a natural or man-made phenomenon that poses a threat to people, structures, or economic assets and may lead to a disaster. Examples include high rainfall (potentially causing floods), earthquakes, or industrial accidents. Hazards become disasters when they affect human populations and cause significant damage.

4) Man-made disasters

Answer: Man-made disasters result from human errors, negligence, or intentional actions. Examples include industrial accidents (e.g., Bhopal gas tragedy, 1984, with 10,000 deaths and 5.5 lakh affected), transportation accidents (e.g., Firozabad rail accident, 1995, with 400 deaths), and nuclear accidents. These disasters are often preventable through proper safety measures and regulations.

Q. 3) Write in short:

1) Mitigation for cyclones

Answer: Mitigation for cyclones involves measures to minimize their impact, such as using satellite data for early warnings, evacuating vulnerable areas, constructing cyclone-resistant buildings, and strengthening embankments. For example, effective mitigation during Cyclone Fani (2019) reduced deaths to 89 compared to 10,000 in the 1999 Odisha cyclone.

2) Preparedness for floods

Answer: Flood preparedness includes awareness campaigns, training communities, and preparing emergency kits with food, water, and medicine. Other measures involve strengthening weak structures, planning evacuation routes, and using remote sensing to monitor flood-prone areas, as seen in the management of Kerala floods (2018).

3) Rehabilitation after earthquake

Answer: Rehabilitation after an earthquake focuses on long-term restoration, such as rebuilding homes, roads, and bridges, restoring basic services, and providing financial aid. For example, after the 2005 India-Pakistan earthquake (80,000 deaths), rehabilitation included reconstructing infrastructure and supporting displaced populations to restore normalcy.

Q. 4) Answer in detail:

1) Explain the types of disaster according to origin

Answer: Disasters are classified based on their origin into the following types:

• Tectonic Disasters: Caused by movements in the Earth’s crust, e.g., earthquakes (2005 India-Pakistan earthquake, 80,000 deaths), tsunamis (2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, 2,50,000 deaths), and volcanic eruptions.
• Geological Disasters: Result from geological processes, e.g., landslides (1994 Varandha Ghat landslide, 20 deaths) and mudslides (2014 Malin mudslide).
• Meteorological Disasters: Driven by weather conditions, e.g., cyclones (1999 Odisha cyclone, 10,000 deaths), floods (2005 Mumbai flash floods, 1,100 deaths), and heatwaves.
• Biological Disasters: Caused by living organisms, e.g., epidemics (1992 Surat plague) and pest attacks.
• Anthropogenic (Man-made) Disasters: Result from human activities, e.g., industrial accidents (1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, 10,000 deaths), transportation accidents (1995 Firozabad rail accident, 400 deaths), and nuclear accidents.
• Each type requires specific mitigation and preparedness strategies to reduce impacts.

2) Explain the effects of disasters with the help of examples

Answer: Disasters cause immediate and long-term effects across various sectors:

• Primary Effects: Direct results of the disaster, e.g., collapse of buildings during the 2005 India-Pakistan earthquake (80,000 deaths) or flooding during the 2005 Mumbai flash floods (1,100 deaths).
• Secondary Effects: Consequences of primary effects, e.g., fires caused by earthquakes or power and water disruptions after the 2004 tsunami.
• Tertiary Effects: Long-term impacts, e.g., loss of homes, changes in river channels, or reduced tourism after the 2004 tsunami in India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka (2,50,000 deaths).
• Other losses include economic impacts (e.g., crop and livestock losses in the 2014 Maharashtra hailstorm, affecting 2,700 farm animals) and social disruption (e.g., displacement after the 1985 Ruiz volcanic eruption in Colombia, 25,000 deaths).

3) Write about the preparedness in Disaster Management in India

Answer: Disaster preparedness in India involves proactive measures to reduce the impact of disasters:

• Institutional Framework: Post-2004 tsunami, India established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) to coordinate efforts. The Ministry of Home Affairs oversees disaster management, with nodal ministries like Agriculture for droughts.
• Technology Use: Remote sensing, GIS, and GPS are used to map disaster-prone areas, monitor cyclones (e.g., Cyclone Fani), and provide early warnings. The India Quake app by the National Centre for Seismology shares real-time earthquake data.
• Community Preparedness: Awareness campaigns, mock drills (e.g., for earthquakes), and training in flood-prone areas ensure communities are ready. For instance, evacuation plans and cyclone shelters were critical during Cyclone Fani (2019).
• Structural Measures: Retrofitting buildings and constructing flood embankments enhance resilience.
• These efforts have improved India’s capacity to cope, as seen in the reduced deaths during Cyclone Fani (89 deaths) compared to the 1999 cyclone (10,000 deaths).