Introduction to Disasters, Hazard, Vulnerability, Resilience, Risk, Types, Impacts and Disaster Do’s & Don’ts
Unit 1 introduces the basic concepts of disaster management. It covers disaster, hazard, vulnerability, resilience, risk, types of disasters, causes, impacts, differential impacts, global trends, urban disasters, pandemics, climate change and do’s and don’ts during disasters.
A disaster is a serious disruption in the functioning of a community or society due to hazardous events. It causes human, material, economic or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected community to cope using its own resources.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hazard | A dangerous event or condition that can cause loss or damage. |
| Vulnerability | Weakness of people, buildings or systems that increases disaster impact. |
| Resilience | Ability to recover quickly after a disaster. |
| Risk | Possibility of loss due to hazard and vulnerability. |
| Disaster | Serious event causing major damage and disruption. |
Caused by natural processes like earthquake, flood, drought, cyclone and landslide.
Caused by human activities like industrial accidents, fire, chemical leakage and war.
Caused by diseases and infections such as pandemics and epidemics.
Caused by failure of technology, machines, industries or infrastructure.
| Disaster | Description |
|---|---|
| Earthquake | Sudden shaking of earth surface due to movement of tectonic plates. |
| Landslide | Movement of rock, soil or debris down a slope. |
| Flood | Overflow of water over normally dry land. |
| Drought | Long period of low rainfall causing water shortage. |
| Fire | Uncontrolled burning that can damage life, property and environment. |
| Impact Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Social Impact | Displacement, loss of family, breakdown of community life. |
| Economic Impact | Loss of property, business, agriculture and infrastructure. |
| Political Impact | Pressure on government, policy changes and administrative challenges. |
| Environmental Impact | Soil erosion, pollution, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem damage. |
| Health Impact | Injuries, diseases, lack of clean water and sanitation problems. |
| Psychological Impact | Fear, stress, trauma and insecurity among affected people. |
Disasters do not affect everyone equally. The impact depends on caste, class, gender, age, location, disability and economic condition.
Urban disasters occur in cities due to high population density, poor planning, weak drainage, unsafe buildings and infrastructure failure.
A pandemic is the spread of disease across countries or continents. Complex emergencies are situations where multiple problems like conflict, disaster, disease and displacement occur together.
Climate change increases the intensity and frequency of many disasters such as floods, droughts, heat waves, cyclones and forest fires.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Stay calm and follow official instructions. | Do not spread rumors. |
| Keep emergency kit ready. | Do not ignore warnings. |
| Move to safe place during disaster. | Do not use damaged buildings. |
| Help children, elderly and disabled people. | Do not panic or create crowding. |
| Use emergency contact numbers. | Do not touch fallen electric wires. |
| Hazard | Disaster |
|---|---|
| Potential source of harm. | Actual event causing serious damage. |
| May or may not cause loss. | Always causes major disruption and loss. |
| Example: Cyclone warning. | Example: Cyclone causing destruction. |
| Risk exists but damage may not occur. | Damage has already occurred. |
| Topic | Exam Importance |
|---|---|
| Disaster, Hazard, Vulnerability, Risk | Very High |
| Types of Disasters | Very High |
| Impacts of Disasters | High |
| Differential Impacts | High |
| Climate Change and Disasters | High |
| Do’s and Don’ts | Medium |