Communication Facilities for Disaster

Management System

Communication facilities for disaster management System

Over the last few decades, a numbers of countries have set up disaster management
information systems according to their own specific needs. Disasters are unpredictable
and occur suddenly like earthquake, floods, drought and cyclone etc. Communication
facilities for disaster management system is most important act as it convey at the right
time communication in disaster, it may handle disaster and helping to decrease it.

Two type of information needs in disaster management

Pre disaster information: Question arise that how to get pre disaster information? It is
getting from the research and analysis department of the geography in the country.

Post disaster information: After the disaster, our first job is to find out where and where
it was occurs. What is the next step to help people?

Now a days Satellite communication play a major role in disaster management
communication. Communication facilities can be set up for rescue and relief operation
purposes. That type of early warning system developed at the different areas by itself.

Here are the disaster communication facilities:

DCWDS Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination System set at Delhi and other coast
area. It is for the pre disaster information.

The WLL - VSAT system is in terms of handsets which can be easily taken inside of the
affected areas and sends information by direct audio communication.

The MSS Type C reporting terminal developed for the sending short messages directly
through satellite in remote area.

AES-SNG is a system which can send video pictures of the affected area for online
review from the control center.

Tele medicine: It is one more step for the disaster management communication. In this
system, on line help can be provided from the hospital and super specialty doctors. Only
connect up link to laptop or PC and get the online information about cure.

Can you have some information about...





















Communication Facilities for Disaster
Management
Ham Radio
Ham Radio is also know as Amateur radio.It is a community of people that use radio transmitters and receivers to
communicate with other Amateur radio operators. If you were to ask a dozen different amateurs what ham radio
meant to them chances are you would get 12 different answers. Amateur radio operators are often called ham
radio operators or simply hams and frequently the public is more familiar with this term than with the legal term
Radio Amateur. The source of this nickname is for all practical purposes lost from the beginning. read
Communication is a major bottleneck in case of any major disaster particularly when the traditional network
system already in force brakes down. In order to strengthen communications, it has been decided that police
network (POLNET) will also be used for disaster management. For this purpose POLNET communication facility will
be extended to District Magistrates, Sub Divisional Magistrates as well as the Control Rooms.
For emergency communication, mobile satellite based units which can be transported to the site of the disaster are
being procured. A group was constituted to draw a comprehensive communication plan for disaster management
and the report has since been received. This provides for a dedicated communication system for disaster
management with built in redundancies.
Besides the satellite, communication and education can play a proactive role in mitigation through awareness about
the types of disaster and as to how prevention measures can be taken up.
There is also a Satellite based communication system called the Cyclone Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS)
for transmission of warnings. There are 250 such cyclone-warning sets installed in the cylone prone areas of east
and west coast. The general public, the coastal residents and fishermen, are also warned through the Government
mechinery and broadcast of warnings through AIR and Television.
What agencies need to be involved ?
Police
Fire
Ambulance
Hospitals
Clinics
Doctors
Red Cross
Blood Banks
Marine operations (are there bodies of water?)
Coast guard
Department of transportation
Departments of environment (if there is clean-up involved)
Airlines
Rail companies
Local transit companies
Bus companies (in case of evacuation)
Border services if applicable
The use of satellite, computers, electronics, better communication facilities are going to make significant difference
in disaster management. The data processing and computers are providing a useful tool in decision making in
disaster.
When the disaster strikes, power goes out, all modes of communication (Telephone etc.) becomes inoperable, lifts
stop functioning, when drinking water becomes contaminated, when normal modes of transportation suddenly
becomes impossible, when casualties start coming in groups that is not the time for planning but that is the time of
acting.
SOME OF THE MAJOR DISASTER EVENTS IN INDIA
Year Place Of Disasters in India Casualties
Reported
1737 Earthquake Calcutta, India
3,00,000
1961 Floods India 1,000
1977 Cyclone Andhra Pradesh, India 10,000
1979 Flash Flood Gujrat, India 2,500
1984 Chemical Disaster Bhopal, India 2,500
1988 Train Accident Quilon, India (Injured) 300(500)
1988 Air Crash Ahmedabad, India 135
1993 13 Bomb Blasts In Mumbai, India. 250
1998 Train Accident Khanna, Pusa, India. 211
2001 Earthquake Bhuj Gujrat, India. 10,000
2003 Frontier Mail Fire Ludhiyana, Punjab, India 36 (14)
2003 2 Bomb Blasts In Mumbai, India. 45
2003 Cloud Burst Himanchal Pradesh, India. 41
2003 Stampede At Kumbh, Nasik, India. 35 (75)
2002 Terrorists Attack Kaluchak, Jammu. 23
2003 Terrorists Attack on Railway Station, Jammu 20
2004 Terrorists Attack on Railway Station, Jammu. 08

Communication facilities for disaster management system is most important act as it convey at the right time
communication in disaster, it may handle disaster and helping to decrease it.
Two type of information needs in disaster management
Pre disaster information: Question arise that how to get pre disaster information? It is getting from the research
and analysis department of the geography in the country.
Post disaster information: After the disaster, our first job is to find out where and where it was occurs. What is
the next step to help people?
Now a days Satellite communication play a major role in disaster management communication. Communication
facilities can be set up for rescue and relief operation purposes. That type of early warning system developed
at the different areas by itself.
Here are the disaster communication facilities:
DCWDS Digital Cyclone Warning Dissemination System set at Delhi and other coast area. It is for the pre disaster
information.
The WLL VSAT system is in terms of handsets which can be easily taken inside of the affected areas and sends
information by direct audio communication.
The MSS Type C reporting terminal developed for the sending short messages directly through satellite in remote
area.
AES-SNG is a system which can send video pictures of the affected area for online review from the control center.
Tele medicine: It is one more step for the disaster management communication. In this system, on line help can
be provided from the hospital and super specialty doctors. Only connect up link to laptop or PC and get the online
information about cure.
Set up of a communications centre who needs access and how would it operate (generators, supplies in case
people need to stay more than 12 hours, etc).