Disaster management: Approach and practice

Abstract

In the current era, the underlying theme of Disaster Management is the transition of focus from the three Rs (relief, rehabilitation, and recovery) to the two Ps (prevention and preparedness). In India, there must be seamless integration between the Disaster Management Act, National Policy on Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines and the plans prepared by the Central/state governments. This study identifies critical gaps in management of disasters in India and leveraging technology / social media in effectively managing disasters by examining the best practices for handling disasters from across the world. An empirical approach to Disaster Management focusing on Cyclones is dealt with Odisha’s state Relief Code on Natural Calamities and how well it can be implemented in practice is dealt with two examples of recent cyclones in the country. An attempt through primary research has been made to understand and analyse the various factors that contributed to the Odisha government's success in minimizing the devastation caused by Cyclone Phailin which struck Odisha in October 2013. This received UN recognition for the state's act of timely evacuation of people prior to the calamity. With advanced cyclone detection systems, one year later, on the contrary, the neighbouring state Andhra Pradesh exhibited substandard methods of Disaster Management when Hoodhood hit the Vishakhapatnam coast on 12th October 2014. An analysis of what went wrong in this case was drawn. Best practices were suggested incorporating the learnings from Disaster Management practices across the world as well as identifying the feasibility of inclusion of Civil Military as a part of ongoing Disaster Management practice.