Disaster management on epidemics cyclone and fire

Presented by G. Elizabeth charlien

Epidemics
Introduction a common belief associates with disaster is that the epidemics of communicable diseases. This happens only if the insanitation condition are allowed to prevail in disaster stuck areas The disease starts to set in dew to insanitary living condition, over crowding and contamination of drinking water and food.

 No access to proper civic amenities after a disaster due to disrupted sewage disposal system and this is conducive for epidemic outbreak A disaster is often found in medical and other health facilities disrupted areas.

Vulnerable groups
Single parent family Pregnant and lactating women Mentally and physically handicapped people Neonate and pediatric group Geriatric group Relief workers

Relief measures
Decision making

implemen tation

Community participation

evaluation

monitoring

Relief measures
Hygiene and sanitation Control of insects and rodents Proper storage of food Quality control and food preparation center Proper disposal of solid and liquids

Relief measures- surveillance

Events

Response

Collection of data

Analysis of data

Phases in epidemics
Public health action

Pre disaster phase

Disaster phase

immediate

Short term

Long term

Pre disaster phase management

Data collection, analysis and planning Demographic profile Epidemiological details Resource availability Man power Materials Collaboration and networking with other agencies Health education for community awareness and participation.

Disaster phase in disaster management

Immediate Basic report First aid Management and evacuation of causalities Provision of safe portable water and food Sewage management

 Short term management Surveillances as immediate measures in addition Surveillance epidemiological studies for health education including community awareness and participation Nutritional interventions Immunization Psychological support intervention

 Long term management Same as short term management in addition Rehabilitation

cyclone

A weather system consisting of an area of low pressure, in which winds circulate at speeds exceeding 61 km/hr, also known as Cyclone or Tropical Storm. These are non-frontal synoptic scale weather systems originating over tropical waters with organized convention and definite cyclonic surface wind circulation. Winds rotate around the low pressure centre in an anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

Cyclone risk mitagation framework

Cyclone Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Mapping, Assessment, Analysis & Monitoring
Participatory risk assessment
Remote sensing and geo information

Risk modeling

total risk= mitigable risk + acceptable risk Risk mitigation structural Sea wall Bio shield
Cyclone shelter
Warning and communication
Non structural

preparedness
Contingency plan at all levels and sector

awareness
Early warning and dissemination
Risk transfer and risk financing

Community based disaster preparedness

Evacuation plan
Health plan and mock drills

Risk Mapping, Assessment and Analysis The first and probably the most complex task of cyclone mitigation is to map the hazard, risks and vulnerabilities of cyclone at all levels, analyze and assess the levels of risks and monitor it continuously. It is only on the basis of such a knowledge base that a proper and effective strategy for cyclone risk mitigation and preparedness can be developed.

Total and acceptable risk

The concept of total risk connotes the sum total of all probable harmful consequences or expected losses from a disaster such as deaths, injuries, damages to movable or immovable property, livelihoods, infrastructure, disruption of economic activities or environment damages.

acceptable risk would vary from place to place and also from time to time. Once the level of acceptable risk is decided countries and communities must be prepared to face these risks so that the damages to life, livelihood and property from these risks can be reduced to their minimum.

structural and non-structural.

Structural mitigation measures generally refer to capital investment on physical constructions or other development works, which include engineering measures and construction of hazard resistant and protective structures and other protective infrastructure.

Non-structural measures refer to awareness and education, policies techno-legal systems and practices, training, capacity development etc.

Sea Wall and Embankments

A seawall is a coastal defense constructed usually of reinforced concrete on the inland part of a coast to prevent the ingress of storm surges arising out of cyclones. Sometimes the sea wall is constructed with a multiple purpose of reclaiming low lying land or preventing coastal erosion. The height of sea walls is determined according to the maximum observed height of storm surges which may be as high as 10 meters.

Sea walls can be vertical, sloping or curved. Modern concrete sea walls tend to be curved to deflect the wave energy back out to sea, reducing the force.
The massive stone seawall in Pondicherry constructed and maintained by the French engineers kept the historic city center dry even though tsunami waves of December 2004 had driven water 24 feet above the normal high tide mark. Similarly 3.5 meter high sea wall in Maldives saved the city of Male from the tsunami.

Bio-Shields Bio shields usually consist of mangroves, casuarinas salicornia, laucaena, atriplex, palms, bamboo and other tree species and halophytes and other shrub species that inhabit lower tidal zones. These can block or buffer wave action with their stems, which can measure upto 30 meter high and several meters in circumference. They trap sediment in their roots, thereby maintain a shallow slope on the seabed that absorbs the energy of tidal surges. They also break the high velocity of winds and thus protect agricultural crops and shelters besides providing shelter and grazing lands for the livestock and farms. They reduce evaporation from the soil, transpiration from the plants and moderate extreme temperatures. They protect fertile coastal agricultural land from erosion.

CYCLONE SHELTER : community cyclone shelters constructed at appropriate places within the easy access of the habitations of the vulnerable communities
can provide an immediate protection from deaths and injuries due to the collapse of houses.

shelters are usually built on pillars above the danger level of storm surges/inundation, are specious enough to accommodate a few hundred people of the neighboring hamlets and provide provisions of drinking water, sanitation, kitchen, etc.
During the normal season such shelters can be utilized as schools, dispensaries or other community purposes.

Steps in management
Early warning Communication and dissemination Structural mittigation measures buildings, including multi-purpose cyclone shelters; road links, culverts and bridges; canals, drains, and surface water tanks, etc saline embankments; and communication towers and power transmission networks.

Management of costal zones Communication of risks Evacuation Health management

Cyclone is a natural calamity cannot be prevented but can make changes for protection

Fire

Although a fire disaster need not necessarily reach catastrophic proportions, it will present some of the characteristic aspects of a disaster because of the highly destructive action of fire and of the considerable number of victims. The surviving casualties will have mainly serious and extensive burns requiring immediate rescue procedures that cannot always be provided by local resources.

A fire of vast proportions can moreover cause damage to the surrounding environment by the massive production of heat and the emanation of burn gases and fumes. 5 Smoke and gas, because of their suffocating action and their direct action on the airways, represent other specific danger elements. The danger of smoke and gas is generally underestimated by the population.

the basic points of any health management plan in the event of a burn disaster must include: rapid evaluation of the extent of the disaster specific and rapid health assistance response on site assessment of the capacity of local specialized structures to receive burn victims selective evacuation of casualties from the disaster area.

The behaviour of the rescuers in immediate care can be summarized as follows: Self-control Self-protection Reduction of the fire Extraction and transfer of victims to the open air Appropriate action when clothing is on tire Removal of burning clothing Emergency treatment of burned areas Knowledgeable action pending more complete relief Dealing with chemical burns Dealing with electrical burns

The following are ten points that these medical first aid teams must follow: Immediate triage of all victims Inspection of the upper airways Qualitative assessment of the burns Quantitative assessment of the burns Intravenous resuscitatory therapy Analgesic therapy Bladder catheterization Pressure-relieving incisions Examination of the patient with particular attention to respiratory capacity Hospital transfer

A widely adopted method is to attach tags of various colours, in relation to priority of health care and critical condition. There is no standard system but the following is quite practical red tag = immediate treatment for very serious lifeendangering lesions green tag = secondary priority with urgent but stable trauma yellow tag = less urgent lesions black tag = deceased or fatal lesions

Nodal Agencies for Disaster Management

1. Floods : Ministry of Water Resources, CWC Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department Epidemics : Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Avian Flu: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and Forests Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour Rail Accidents : Ministry of Railways Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation Fire : Ministry of Home Affairs Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic Energy Mine Disasters : Department of Mines

New Directions for Disaster Management in India

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been set up as the apex body for Disaster Management in India, with the Prime Minister as its Chairman. Disaster Management Authorities will be set up at the State and District Levels to be headed by the Chief Ministers and Collectors/ Zilla Parishad Chairmen respectively.

New Directions for Disaster Management in India

A National Disaster Mitigation Fund will be administered by NDMA. States and districts will administer mitigation funds. A National Disaster Response Fund will be administered by NDMA through the National Executive Committee. States and Districts will administer state Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Response Fund respectively. 8 Battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are being trained and deployed with CSSR and MFR equipments and tools in eight strategic locations. A National Disaster Management Policy and National Disaster Response Plan will also be drawn up.

Lessons Learnt
Be Prepared : Preparedness and Mitigation is bound to yield more effective returns than distributing relief after a disaster. Create a Culture of Preparedness and Prevention. Evolve a code of conduct for all stakeholders

Future Directions
Encourage and consolidate knowledge networks Mobilise and train disaster volunteers for more effective preparedness, mitigation and response (NSS, NCC, Scouts and Guides, NYK, Civil Defence, Homeguards) Increased capacity building leads to faster vulnerability reduction. Learn from best practices in disaster preparedness, mitigation and disaster response

Future Directions
Mobilising stakeholder participation of Self Help Groups, Womens Groups, Youth Groups, Panchayati Raj Institutions Anticipatory Governance: Simulation exercises, Mock drills and Scenario Analysis Indigenous knowledge systems and coping practices Living with Risk: Community Based Disaster Risk Management Inclusive, participatory, gender sensitive, child friendly, eco-friendly and disabled friendly disaster management Technology driven but people owned Knowledge Management: Documentation and dissemination of good practices Public Private Partnership