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• Explosion, fi re or leakage of corrosive • Activation of emergency operation
chemicals immensely damage structures. centres (control room)
If the chemical takes on a gaseous form, • Deployment of search and rescue teams
the geographical spread is fast and wide. • Issuing updated warnings
Th e immediate eff ects include death or • Setting up community kitchens using
other symptoms like dizziness, headache, local groups
and irritation. Th e long-term eff ects may • Setting up temporary living
include serious conditions like cancer, accommodation and toilet facilities
heart failure, brain damage, dysfunction • Setting up medical camps
of immune system, deformation, genetic • Mobilising resources
disorders or congenital (by birth) disorders Recovery: Recovery includes measures
in children. which are initiated to undertake the
reconstruction of the physical infrastructure
Disaster Management and the restoration of economic and emotional
well-being. Th e main elements are listed below.
Disaster management usually refers to the
• Community awareness on health and
management of catastrophes such as fi re,
fl ooding or earthquakes. It is the discipline of safety measures
avoiding risks and dealing with any disruption • Counselling programmes for those who
immediately. It involves preparing for a have lost their near and dear ones
disaster before it happens, disaster response • Restoring the essential services—roads,
(e.g., emergency evacuation, quarantine, mass communication links, electricity, etc.
decontamination, etc.) as well as supporting • Providing shelters
and rebuilding society aft er natural or man- • Providing fi nancial support
made disasters have occurred. • Reconstructing new buildings
Disaster management has four basic Prevention: Prevention includes measures
components. to eliminate or reduce the magnitude and
Preparedness: Th ese are measures to ensure severity of the impact of the disaster. Th e
that communities and services are capable of main elements are listed below.
coping with the eff ects of disasters. It has the • Land use planning
following main elements.
• Preventing habitation in risk zones
• Community awareness and education
• Construction of disaster resistant buildings
• Preparation of disaster management
• Finding ways to reduce risks even before
plans for the community, schools and the disaster strikes
individuals
• Mock drills, training and practice • Community awareness and education
• Proper warning systems Government Initiatives on Disaster
• Mutual aid arrangements Management
• Identifi cation of vulnerable groups
Response: Response refers to measures taken Th e Government of India has set up a
in anticipation of or during and immediately National Committee on Disaster Management
aft er a disaster in order to minimise its adverse (NCDM) under the chairmanship of the Prime
impact. Th e following are its main elements. Minister. Th e recommendations of the NCDM
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