The Disaster Threat

THE DISASTER THREAT

Types of Disaster:-

2. The following types of disaster are covered in this chapter:

• Earthquake

• Volcanic eruption

• Tsunami

• Tropical cyclone (typhoon, hurricane)

• Flood’

• Landslide

• Bushfire (or wildfire)

• Drought

• Epidemic

• Major accident

• Civil unrest

3. Wartime civil defense or protection measures have not been specifically included. It has been assumed that the kind of disaster management measures advocated throughout the handbook would be broadly applicable to most wartime civil defense requirements these measures could then be augmented or expanded by individual governments, as considered necessary.

General Effects of Disaster:-

4. In general terms, typical effects of disasters tend to be:

• Loss of life.

• Injury.

• Damage to and destruction of property.

• Damage to and destruction of subsistence and cash crops.

• Disruption of production.

• Disruption of lifestyle.

• Loss of livelihood.

• Disruption to essential services.

• Damage to national infrastructure and disruption to governmental systems.

• National economic loss.

• Sociological and psychological after-effects.

5. Most, if not all of the above effects could be expected from the types of disaster listed in Para. 2 above

6. in pars. 7-18, where the separate types of disaster are covered in more detail, some specific effects (additional to those in Para. 4) have been included.

Outlines of Individual Disasters:-

7. Earthquake

Characteristics

• Usually no warning. However, following a major earthquake, secondary shocks may give warning of a further earthquake.

• Speed of onset usually sudden.

• Earthquake-prone areas are generally well identified and well known.

• Major effects (see also Para. 4) arise mainly from land movement, fracture or slippage; specifically they include damage (usually very severe) to structures and systems, plus considerable casualties due to lack of warning.

General counter measures :-

• Development of possible warning indicators.

• Land-use regulations.

• Building regulations.

• Relocation of communities.

• Public awareness and education programs..

Special problem areas for disaster management:-

• Severe and extensive damage, creating the need for urgent countermeasures, especially search and rescue, and medical assistance.

• Difficulty of access and movement.

• Widespread loss of or damage to infrastructure, essential services and life support systems.

• Recovery requirements (e.g. restoration and rebuilding) may be very extensive and costly.

• Rarity of occurrence in some areas may cause problems for economies of counter-measures and public awareness.

8. Volcanic Eruption

Characteristics:-

• Volcanoes which are likely to constitute a disaster threat are internationally well documented and, in many cases, monitored for possible activity. Usually, therefore, major eruptions can be predicted. .

• Volcanic blast can destroy structures and environmental surrounds, and also cause fires, possibly including forest fires.

• Land-surface cracking, resulting from volcanic explosion,, may affect buildings and other structures.

• Lava flow can bury buildings and crops. It may also cause fires and render land unusable.

• Ash, in its airborne form, can affect aircraft by ingestion into engines.

• Ground deposit of ash may destroy crops and also affect land use and water supplies

• Ash many also cause respiratory problems.

• Mud flows may arise from associated heavy rain.

General counter-measures:-

• Land-use regulations.

• Lava control systems.

• Development of monitoring and warning system.

• Evacuation plans and arrangements. -

• Relocation of population.

• Public awareness and education programs.

Special problem areas for disaster management:-

• Access during eruption.

• Timely

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