Need for Developing Inventories Disaster Management
Though availability of data on most of the above mentioned aspects is available in India, there is need to arrange these in a systematic manner, at one nodal point and also a mechanism to periodically updating them. This requires to establish data bank and resource centres at the National, State and District levels. Based on data and other related information, area and hazard specific
inventories should be developed so that it helps in formulating plans for disaster reduction,
preparedness and emergency response.
Nearly two thirds of the total districts in the country are prone to one or more types of natural hazards and thus frequently face disasters. Till now the response of the administration is relief oriented and very little care is taken for preparedness. Preparedness is not just readying for emergencies but it should also involve long term planning and implementation of preventive and protective measures to reduce the impact of the natural disasters. Thus the inventories for disaster management can be divided into three components :
1. Inventories of activities and material for long term planning for disaster reduction;
2. Inventories for preparedness for emergency response; and ,
3. Inventories for post disaster operations.
There are various types of natural disasters, most of them are season and location specific. There is also differential impact on various section of the population. For managing different types of natural disasters, therefore, specific inventories of activities and material resources are required. Table 1.1 and 1.2 given below indicate the vulnerability, risk and nature of impact of various types of disasters on different sections of the population.
Table – 1 : Classification of major natural hazards according to type of Impact.
Disasters that affect all aspects of life Disasters that cause loss of lives and damage to physical infrastructure Disasters that cause hardship for livelihoods and environmental degradation Disasters that threaten lives only Cyclone/Tornado
Flood
Land Slide
Earthquake
Drought
Forest Fire
Famine
Epidemics
Table –2 : Impact of Disasters on different sections of the Rural People
Effect Impact on Different Sections of Rural People Medium and big farmers business & traders Small and marginal farmers, artisans, labourers 1. Loss of Human and Animal lives
Low as they have means for protection
High as they have very poor or even no means for protection
2. Loss of property and Economic Assets
High
Low
3. Loss of means of livelihood
Low
High
4. Recovery period
Short
Long
Objectives of the Study Keeping above in view, the main objective of the study present study is to develop Inventory of Activities and Resources for Management of Floods and Cyclone Disasters.