A disaster is any event that causes damage to humans, property, or the environment. A disaster typically refers to a natural hazard that results in a flood, hurricane, drought, tornado, earthquake, tsunami, or volcano.
A disaster can also occur as a result of deliberate human activity such as war, pollution, oil spills etc.
The Disaster Management Bill, 2005, defines disaster as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence affecting any area, arising from natural or man-made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, environment, and is of such nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.
There are three stages involved in disaster mitigation and management:
- Pre-disaster management involves generating data and information about the disasters, preparing vulnerability zoning maps and spreading awareness among the people about these. Apart from these, disaster planning, preparedness and preventive measures are other steps that need to be taken in the vulnerable areas.
- During disasters, rescue and relief operations such as evacuation, construction of shelters and relief camps, supplying of water, food, clothing and medical aids etc. should be done on an emergency basis.
- Post-disaster operations should involve rehabilitation and recovery of victims.