Disaster Management Plan

for
Hydro Power Projects

Dr. A.K. Singh

Chief Engineer (Hydro Engg)
NTPC Limited

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What is a Disaster ?
 What is a Disaster ?

In general terms

Sudden or unforeseen development of

a situation, leading to unexpected
consequences pertaining to some kind
of damage or loss.
Disaster for Camera
Disaster for Cameraperson
Disaster for Cameraperson’s Vehicle
Disaster for the train
 Definition of Disaster

Occurance of an event, such as an

accident or a natural catastrophe, that
causes great damage or loss of life.
WTC – Sept 11, 2001
Japan Tsunami – Jan 2011
Haiti Earthquake - Jan 2010
Leh Flash Flood – Aug 2010
Cambodia Stampede, Nov 2010
Shanghai Fire – Nov 2010
Mount Merapi, Indonesia – Nov 2010
Hailstorm in China – April 2011
Wildfires in Arizona - June 2011
Dead Fish in River Segura – Aug 2011
Hurricane Irene – August 2011

Date - August 29, 2011

Highest Wind Speed -195 kmph

Lowest pressure - 942 m bar

Fatalities - 55

Affected Persons – 2 Million

Damage - $10.1 billion

Areas Affected – North Carolina,

New Jersey,
New York,
Eastern Canada,
Bahamas
Northern Grid Failure– July 2011
Nellore Train Fire – July 2012
Flash Flood in Uttarkashi – Aug 2012
Azarbaizan Earthquake – Aug 2012
 Situations Leading to Disaster
Some times, relatively normal sequence
of events may lead to a major disaster.

Reason:
The situation has the potential of
enhancing the implications because of
response mechanism.
Pope’s Sermon at Vatican
The hajj
Kumbh Mela at Haridwar
Buddha Festival in China
Holy Men in Procession
Huge Storage of Weapons
 Man Made Disaster Situations

Developments or creations of mankind

may have the potential of disaster.
Such locations need special care so
that our own endeavours for the good
of mankind may not turn into a disaster.
These disasters are in “avoidable”
category.

The biggest potential of man made

disasters, however, is in the human
brain.
Nuclear Power Plant
Large Water Bodies
Terrorist Activities
Sabotage Activities
 Disaster Scenarios for Hydro Projects
The major causes of Disasters in Hydro Power projects are:

1. Floods

2. Landslides

3. Earthquake

4. Hurricanes

5. Avalanches

6. Fire

7. Insurgency and other sabotage activities

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Big Spillway Discharging High Flood
Overtopping of the Dam
Dam Breach
Sayano–Shushenskaya Power House
And The Power House
on 17-8-2009; 00:13 GMT
The Rest is History
 Disasters in Hydro Power Projects
 The basic resource for Hydro Power generation is flowing water
Water flowing in the rivers involves uncertainty due to associated
meteorological phenomenon.

Major projects are located in the hill terrains of Himalayas

Himalayan belt is prone to seismic activities and land slides etc
because of its typical geo-tectonic characteristics.
The situation of flood or earthquake or landslide etc may cause
damage to project structures
Any type of damage to project or accident has serious implications not
only for the project but also puts the downstream population and
property at risk.

Such situations of major mis-happenings at the projects are termed

disasters pertaining to hydro power projects.

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 Disaster Management Plan

 The impacts of these disasters and their multipliers

may affect the safety of hydro power project.

Various structures, equipment and systems of power

generating plant and transmission system at the project
should be designed after site-specific studies to:
 Avert the danger to human lives and
Minimize the damage to plant and equipment.

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 Disaster Management Plan

These disasters can not be totally avoided, only the

impacts can be mitigated.

Preventive actions and emergency preparedness plans

recommended to mitigate the impact of disasters are
termed as Disaster Management Plan(DMP)

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 Objective of Disaster Management Plan

The purpose of Disaster Management Plan for any Hydro Power

Project is
- Prevention
- Response and
- Recovery

The basic objective of the plan is:

Guidance to develop, implement and maintain an
integrated emergency management programme for
protection of people property and environment in the
event of an emergency on the project site.

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 Components of DMP
1. Surveillance
- effective dam safety surveillance
- monitoring programme
- rapid analysis and interpretation of instrumentation and
observation data
- periodic inspection and safety reviews and evaluation.

Surveillance is important during:

• Design and Investigation Phase

• Construction Phase
• First Reservoir Filling
• Design and Investigation Phase
• Construction Phase
• First Reservoir Filling
• Early Operation Period
• Operation and Maintenance Phase
• Early Operation Period
47 • Operation and Maintenance Phase
 Components of DMP
2. Emergency Action Plan
With a view to protect or rescue downstream property and
human life

3. Preventive Action
Identification of sources of equipment, materials and labour
Expertise needed for repair
The amount and type of material required for emergency
repairs should be pre-determined for each dam

The sources/agencies required for repairs etc must have

necessary instructions for assistance during emergency.

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 Components of DMP
4. Communication System
An efficient communication system and a downstream warning
system is absolutely essential
The difference between a high flood and a dam-break situation
must be made clear to the downstream population

5. Evacuation Plans
Emergency Action Plan includes evacuation plans and
procedures for implementation based on local needs.
These could be :
•Demarcation/prioritization of areas to be evacuated.
•Notification procedures and evacuation instructions
•Safe routes, transport and traffic control.
•Safe areas/shelters.
•Functions and responsibilities of members of evacuation
team.

DAM BREAK FLOOD ANALYSIS

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 Components of DMP

6. Notifications
Notifications would include communications of either an alert
situation or an alert situation followed by a warning situation.

Alert situation - although failure or flooding is not imminent, a

more serious situation could occur unless conditions improve.

Warning situation - would indicated that flooding is imminent

as a result of an impending failure of the dam.
(includes order for evacuation of delineated inundation areas)

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 Hazard Potential Assessment
The analysis for likely damage or degree of emergency arising out
of a likely disaster.

The project components to be affected under a disaster situation

should be identified:

Floods
Underground structures & Power House
Diversion structures like dams/dykes

Earthquakes
Structural failure
General alignment

Landslides
Water conductor systems
Surface Power House
Diversion Structures like dam, dykes, etc.
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 Preparedness Plans for Disaster Situations

Preparedness in the event of heavy rainfall/storm

•Network of Rain-gauge/snow gauge station to be
set up

•Gauge Discharge sites at tributaries and at

confluence points.

•Arrangement with IMD to provide special information

about storms

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 Preparedness Plans for Disaster Situations
Preparedness in the event of Land slides in the
Reservoir
•As soon as a developing slide zone is noticed -
likely volume and its nearness to dam to be assessed
•Overtopping potential to be assessed
•Reservoir rim to be inspected prior to rains & also
during rain
•Equipment such as dumpers, dozers, cranes etc.
shall be kept in order to remove the debris, boulders
etc. form the landslide site.
•Road communication between Dam and Power
House & colony shall be restored at the earliest in
case of destruction.

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 Emergency Action Plan
The action plan for handling various emergencies consists of the
following steps:

First Information (Emergency Reporting)

Responsibility of Emergency communication
Responsibility of component co-ordinator
Responsibility of Head of Safety
Procedure for declaration of emergency
Procedure for making the emergency known in the project site
Responsibilities of Employees/ workers
Procedure for all clear Signals
Responsibilities of Key Personnel Teams to be defined

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 Conclusions
 The situation of disaster arising due to uncertainty involved in
natural events is almost unavoidable.
 Strict vigil, inspection and maintenance of various component
structures of the project may avoid some of the lower order
disasters and mitigate the impact of major disasters.
 Important to prepare a comprehensive Disaster Management Plan
 Role and responsibilities of key officials to be defined
 As the emergency can happen anytime, there should be regular
courses for emergency teams to refresh them about their roles
 The equipment and machines likely to be used in emergency
situations should also be periodically inspected and
 The Disaster Management Plans itself should also be
periodically reviewed and updated in view of emerging
technologies.
 Emergency situation should be handled with patience and in a
structured fashion
No panic No confusion during an emergency.
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