MPA-018: Disaster Management

(TMA)
Course Code: MPA-018
Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2018
-19
Marks: 50

This assignment consists Section

of -I and Section
-II. There are ?ve questions in each section.
You have to answer a total of ?ve questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt
at least two questions from each section. Each question carries 10 marks.

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SECTION - I

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1) Describe major environmental concerns. 10

2) Discuss the major objectives of TDRM approach and highlight enabling

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10

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mechanismsfor the successful execution of this approach.

3) Bring to light major trends in Disaster Management.

4) Write a note on vulnerability analysis.

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5) Discuss the problem areas in mitigation and describe guiding principles 10
of mitigation.

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SECTION - II e s

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6) Explain various rescue methods. 10

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7) Discussthe ten-pint Guideline on temporary shelter provision. 10

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8) Point out major problems encountered in relief distribution. 10

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9) Discuss the rationale of First Response. 10

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10)Describe the role and functions of a disaster manager. 10

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 ASSIGNMENT SOLUTIONS GUIDE (2018-2019)
M.P.A.-18
Disaster Management
Disclaimer/Special Note: These are just the sample of the Answers/Solutions to some of the Questions given in the

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Assignments. These Sample Answers/Solutions are prepared by Private Teacher/Tutors/Authors for the help and guidance
of the student to get an idea of how he/she can answer the Questions given the Assignments. We do not claim 100%

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accuracy of these sample answers as these are based on the knowledge and capability of Private Teacher/Tutor. Sample
answers may be seen as the Guide/Help for the reference to prepare the answers of the Questions given in the assignment.

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As these solutions and answers are prepared by the private teacher/tutor so the chances of error or mistake cannot be

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denied. Any Omission or Error is highly regretted though every care has been taken while preparing these Sample

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Answers/Solutions. Please consult your own Teacher/Tutor before you prepare a Particular Answer and for up-to-date

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and exact information, data and solution. Student should must read and refer the official study material provided by the
university.

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This assignment consists of Section-I and Section-II. There are five questions in each section. You

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have to answer a total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least two

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questions from each section. Each question carries 10 marks.

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SECTION - I

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Q. 1. Describe major environmental concerns.

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Ans. Main environmental concerns are indiscriminate and rampant exploitation of natural resources which has
led to imbalance between man and nature. Overuse of natural resources and disasters like forest fires and oil leaks

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cause irreparable damage to the environment. Measures for safety and maintenance of resources must be taken for

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sustainable development. Given below are some environmental concerns:
(i) Global Warming and Extreme Climate
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Global warming is a major concern for the mankind. It can completely alter the Earth. Glaciers are shrinking and

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sea levels are rising because of global warming. India faces floods as well as water shortages since the entire water

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system is being disrupted due to shrinking glaciers. El Nino and La Nina are disastrous for the human lives and

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property.

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According to scientific research, the Himalayan glaciers would stop producing the water levels in the next fifty

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to sixty years. That would lead to tremendous social upheaval. There will be no water downstream. It would be
difficult for agricultural economies of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to survive. Similarly, the coastal areas would be in

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undated and that would cause displaced population and loss of properties.
Environmental change is resulting in extreme weather conditions. Heat and cold waves in northern and coastal
parts of India have been causing a large number of deaths.

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(ii) Agro-forestry
Increasing population and developmental activities have led to excess use of natural resource resulting in various
types of environmental disasters. In recent years India has witnessed frequent floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides,
forest fires and desertification. These disasters have caused economic losses and claimed a large number of human
lives. Excessive biotic and abiotic interferences are the main causes of these excessive uses of natural resources.
Rampant deforestation and mismanagement have led to various kinds of environmental degradations such as soil
erosion, water depletion and global warming. Deforestation is the main factor in increasing the frequency of floods.
It also leads to drought and desertification. Increasing demand for food and fodder has led to destruction of forests.
Mining and other human activities have led to over exploitation of natural resources. Degradation of the Himalayan
ecosystem is a danger to the greenery of the Indo-Gangetic basin and thus to the country. About two-thirds of the 142
million hectare of agricultural land in India is drought-prone and about 40 million ha area is vulnerable to flood. About
56 per cent of the country is vulnerable to earthquake.

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 India’s population is now more than 1 billion and the livestock population has crossed 445 million. The per capita
availability of farm land has dropped from 0.53 ha in 1950 to 0.15 ha in 2000 and is expected to decline to 0.12 ha by
2015. India would need 275 million tonnes of food grains, 1083 million tonnes fodder and 235 million m3 fuel wood to
meet the needs of 1.2 billion people and 600 million livestock population by 2015. If the current level of production is
maintained, there will be a shortfall of 73 million tonnes food grains, 570 million tonnes, fodder and 195 million ml of
fuel wood. Pressure on forest resources would further worsen land degradation. There is a rise in food production
from 51 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 203 million tonnes in 2000-01, but uneven development of agriculture has widened
the disparity between the rich and poor farmers. It has led to low levels of productivity. Agriculture in the hilly regions
has led to soil loss. The government has thus now been giving importance to sustainable development in rainfed zone.
Use of land can be diversified to meet various needs, control soil erosion, ensure sustainable production on a long-
term basis and reduce risks caused by weather aberrations. Agro-forestry is a multiple use concept of land management.

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Agro-forestry is an important tool for disaster management. It is a technique of growing food crop along with woody
perennials. It minimises the risk of environmental degradation, maximizes the use of natural resources and reduces

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the requirements for inputs. It can lead to stability and sustainability in production to provide ecological and economic
security. Agro-forestry has been included in various developmental schemes in the Five Year Plans with an objective

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to prevent natural disasters and to help the affected people. Some of the programmes that the government has
introduced are Agriculture Development Programmes, Integrated Rural Development Programmes (IRDP), Forestry

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Development Scheme and Drought Prone Area Development Programme (DPADP).

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Environmental benefits of agro-forestry are: reduces soil erosion, minimizes desertification, controls floods, reduce
drought , reduces groundwater pollution, improves bio-diversity, increases food security, checks deforestation, reduces

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pressure on forests, reduces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and helps in disaster prevention.
(iii) Urban Risks

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Indian urban population has doubled in just two decades. According to the estimate, 25.7 per cent (1991) urban

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population will be more than 50 per cent by 2025. By 2011, urban population has a share of 32 per cent.

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Urbanization and metropolitanization will result in creation of huge urban agglomerates. Some of them today have

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more than 10 million people. The population in such agglomerates will continue to rise. Cities will be thus at greater

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risk of loss and damage to life and property if a disaster happens.

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Urbanization increases the vulnerability. Urban population is vulnerable to natural hazards, fires, flooding, earthquake,

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collapse, road accident. Urbanization dramatically increases vulnerability, whereby communities are forced to squat

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on environmentally unstable areas such as steep hillsides prone to landslide, by the side of rivers that regularly flood,

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or on poor quality ground, causing building collapse.

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Nature of Risks

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Fire and floods are the most prominent among the disasters happening in urban areas. There are also incidences

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of landslides, earthquakes, droughts and cyclones. Floods have more devastating effects because their impacts are

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widespread and periodic. Fires cause heavy losses of life and property in urban areas.

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Loss of life and damage to property due to floods has increased in the past decade. This is mainly because of the
unplanned urban growth on the river banks and in other low-lying areas. In 2005, floods of Maharashtra caused the

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sewage system to overflow. It contaminated water lines. In 2005, the government declared an epidemic of leptospirosis
in Mumbai and its outskirts. Disaster conscious urban planning and development can help avert these kinds of disasters.
Fire issue has also now been taken seriously in urban planning. In slum and squatter settlements, fires are very

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common. Fire fighting capabilities are very essential. However, preventive measures have to be taken to address this
issue effectively and efficiently. Proper land use zoning, sub-division of land and regulations of building are important.
Q. 4. Write a note on Vulnerability analysis.
Ans. To formulate effective policy related to disasters, understanding about the threats, their expected intensity
and frequency and locations at risk and who and what will get most affected by these threats are required. Vulnerability
assessment is the analysis of the vulnerability of various variables – livelihoods, physical assets, economic, agriculture,
political and adminis-tration – that are exposed and vulnerable to the risks.
Vulnerability is how much a community, properties and infrastructure are likely to be affected by a hazard. The
damage has a long term effects on the people’s lives and livelihood. A fire in a market may not kill anybody but may
destroy goods and it will have a long-term impact on livelihoods of traders. Thus, in vulnerability assessment, the aim
is not only to know who will be affected but also who are the least or most capable to recover.

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 Identifying the most vulnerable and the reason is the objective of vulnerability assessment. The political economy
approach is reinforced in vulnerability analysis. In this the government is responsible to carry out mitigation measures
for prevention of hazards. It also creates conducive environment for taking non-structural steps for mitigation of
hazards through activities like improving social capital to promote community participation. Tokyo is earthquake-
prone area, but people are less vulnerable in the city because measures like zoning regulations, building codes,
communications systems and earthquake training have been enforced in the city. The situation in Managua is different,
where people are much more vulnerable since they are still living in mud house.
Rapid and unchecked urbanization leads to landslides and flooding. People with low income settle on vulnerable
areas such as along the banks of flood-prone rivers or on the steep of hills. They get effected more by any disaster.
Rural unemployment, or if a large number of people immigrated into a country from a violence-hit neighbouring

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country, famines may happen.
Collapse low-cost houses belonging to the weaker sections lead to high number of deaths when an earthquake

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strikes an area.

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Destruction of natural environment such as removal of reefs, cutting windbreaks and clearing inland forests leads

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to higher loss of life and damage to property in case of disasters like cyclones and tsunamis.
Disaster happens when vulnerable human conditions come in contact with hazards.

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Process of Vulnerability Analysis

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The following are the two stages in the process of vulnerability analysis:
1. Before a disaster strikes, an inventory of items to be affected has to be made. The inventory of data should

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include population, livelihoods, cultural assets, local institutions, economies, buildings, infrastructure and agriculture
and fisheries.

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2. In the second stages an accurate assessment of the vulnerability would be made. It includes the details how

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the elements would be affected and how the community are able to cope with the disaster situation.

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The social, economic and political systems are important factors that determine vulnerabilities as well as capacities

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of people. If there are any prejudices on the basis of religion, social class or ethnicity, they are reflected in the

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systems. These vulnerabilities limit people’s access to opportunities and resources and they even lose control over

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themselves.

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Principal Vulnerable Elements

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Floods: Tangible elements affected by floods are weak buildings, infrastructure, crops, livestock, machinery and

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equipment. Intangible elements affected include community structures cohesion, social cohesion and cultural artifacts.

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Earthquake: Tangible elements affected by earthquake include buildings and occupants, machinery, infrastructure

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and livestock. Intangible elements affected include social cohesion, community structures cohesion and cultural artifacts.

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Landslides: Tangible elements affected by landslide are roads and infrastructure and buildings. Intangible elements

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affected are social cohesion, community structures cohesion and cultural artifacts.

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Strong winds: Tangible elements affected by strong winds include buildings, trees, crops and livestock. Intangible
elements are community structures, social cohesion and cultural artifacts.

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Technological disasters: Tangible elements affected by technological disaster are lives and health of the
community, building, infrastructure, crops, livestock and equipment. Intangible elements affected are environment and
culture.

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Q. 5. Discuss the problem areas in mitigation and describe guiding principles of mitigation.
Ans. Mitigation is affected by the following problems:
(a) The entire region or country may have accepted the hazard as part of life. The government and the public
may be feeling that traditional measures are sufficient to deal with the problem.
(b) Mitigation measures can be too expensive. For example, following building codes may enhance the cost of
houses.
(c) Mitigation does not importance because of other national priorities. Lack of initiative at the national level due
to some problems like political issues.
(d) There may be lack of expertise for applying mitigation measures.
(e) Disaster mitigation gets inadequate attention because of limited resources.
(f) Political tensions between neighbouring countries affect international cooperation to deal with common
vulnerabilities in the region.

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 (g) Perception that disasters cannot be tackled effectively precludes mitigation in develop-ment planning.
(h) Lack of R&D affects mitigation.
Certain questions which can be raised over mitigation in view of resource constraints, according to Coburn,
Spence and Pomonis, are on:
(a) the appropriate level of hazard for which mitigation should be designed,
(b) facilities that need to be strengthened,
(c) development of buildings, and
(d) the fund or resources to be invested in mitigation.
Addressing these questions will serve to assess the choices available and help in taking appropriate decision over
resources and other concerns.
Limitations of Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)

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Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) is used to calculate gains and losses in a proposed programme. In this analysis, the

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present losses are borne for future gains. A social discount rate provides the society’s preference for present benefits
over future benefits. This rate is applied in all types of project assessments. However, CBA has limitations.

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(i) Very large uncertainties about the likely losses,

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(ii) gainers and losers are not the same people,

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(iii) It is not possible to quantify Intangible costs or benefits are not quantifiable.

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Goal-oriented Risk Reduction is another approach. People take decision on the amount of resources to be invested
on disaster mitigation.

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In California, buildings designed according to the codes should resist

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(i) major earthquakes without major failure of the building,

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(ii) moderate earthquakes with some non-structural damage and without major structural damage, and

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(iii) minor earthquakes without any damage.

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To decide on acceptable level of risk, balanced risk and cost-effectiveness criteria can be applied. In balanced

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risk criterion, some minimum level of risk in all activities pursued in society is accepted. In cost-effective approach,

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dangers and benefits are balanced. It evaluates the cost of saved lives before taking decision.

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Guiding Principles of Mitigation

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The principles given below provide a guide to disaster mitigation:
Initiation

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1. Hazard provides opportunities to implement mitigation measures.

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2. Reconstruction, new investment and the present environment are the contexts in which mitigation can be

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introduced. Each of them offers different opportunities to implement measures for reduce risk.
Management

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1. Effective leadership and coordination are required for effective implementation mitigation measures.

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2. Safety measures across a range of diverse integrated activities make the mitigation measures most effective.

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3. Mitigation measures which rely on incentives are more effective than measures that are based on regulation
and restrictive laws.
4. Mitigation should be integrated with other disaster management activities such as preparedness, reconstruction,

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relief and rescue.
Prioritisation
1. Protection of major special groups, important services and key economic structures should get the priority if
resources are limited.
Monitoring and Evaluation
1. Monitoring and evaluation of mitigation measures should be done continuously so that changing trends of
hazards and related factors can be effective handled.
Institutionalization
1. Sustainable mitigation measures can resist public difference during long gaps between disasters.
2. Mitigation initiatives need political commitment.

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 SECTION - II
Q. 9. Discuss the rationale of First Response.
Ans. The time gap between when a disaster strikes and the administrative machinery reaching the site is a
crucial period. During this time, casualties increase. Now it has been realized that the coping capacity of the community
is important because it if the affected people who can be the first responder during a disaster.
Immediately after earthquake strikes Mexico City, untrained spontaneous volunteers rescued 800 people, but 100
people died while trying to save the trapped ones.
It means the first responders should be trained for effective response. Efforts have been made globally in recent
years to prepare first responders. For example, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 set up the Disaster
Preparedness Division to train citizens and private and government employees to deal with fire disasters.

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The community people cannot be expected to respond on their own, they need to be trained. Official agencies
have to inculcate it in the people and equip them with requisite knowledge and logistics such as gloves, mask, goggles

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and disaster supplies like bandages, flashlight and dressings. In the United States, the Community Emergency Response

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Team members (CERT) has been entrusted with task. They undergo regular training programme conducted by their

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State Training Office for Emergency Management or the Emergency Management Institute. In the training, the
members understand the disaster (s). The education and training converts an ordinary civilian into a voluntary disaster

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worker. The members get training on how to save themselves and rescue their family members in case of any

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disaster. For example, they are taught about how to suppress fire through education in fire chemistry, hazardous
materials and ways to extinguish small fires, administration of first aid to sufferers in such cases. They are also

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informed about legal and organisational formalities. After the 11, September 2001 attacks, the US has organized

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people under Citizen Corps and provided them basic knowledge on how to save themselves. In view of the terrorism

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threat, First Response is more crucial. In case of a biological or a chemical attack on the civilians or government

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offices and hospitals, the administrative machinery will be paralysed. Self-help on the part of people is significant.

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Response from the people can reduce impacts of a disaster and save on precious time. People in America have been

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asked to be prepared for any biological warfare. In such situation, people have to protect themselves from germ
attack.
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First Response in France is a specialized service. First responders include personnel from the fire department, or

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staff form a private ambulance company, or by a medical team including a physician, a nurse and an ambulance

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technician. The first responders are trained to perform the pre-hospital care. This types of first responders are

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required in India in view of the Meerut Fire Tragedy in India (2006). Volunteers are trained by agencies such as the

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Red Cross.

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Q. 10. Describe the role and functions of a Disaster Manager.

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Ans. Disasters disrupt normal human activities, distabilise economies and create chaos. Such a situation requires

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solution for returning to normalcy and managerial skills and principles can be applied to at this point of time. The

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following are certain problems a disaster manager may face:
(i) Lack of clarity on the impacts of disasters.

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(ii) Multiple information, some of them are unreliable and competing.
(iii) Inadequate resources.
(iv) Complex nature of disaster – its magnitude and repercussions.

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(v) Indeterminate behaviour of stakeholders and community involved.
Disasters require quick decisions. Managers have to think and decide very quickly. Application of management
principles thus help managers handle the situation effectively and bringing the situation under control. The managerial
principles:
(i) Give a decision-making framework.
(ii) Help managers in taking prompt and quick decision.
(iii) Assist in proper utilization of limited resources.
(iv) Guide for effective execution of action plan.
There are both in routine situations and crises and management principles can be applied in both the situations.
Emergency operations are required to be carried out during the crisis situations. Preventive and rehabilitation phases
are non-crisis situations. For instance, building a dam or embankments in a flood prone area is a project to be carried
out during non-crisis situation.

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 Disaster management includes multifaceted activities. There is a shift in disaster management. Accordingly, the
role of disaster manager is also changing. Earlier, manager job was confined to relief provision and discharging certain
specific ad hoc activities during or after an emergency. Now manager job has become development-oriented.
The disaster manager job is to minimize vulnerabilities to hazards, meet the needs and expectations of the
community. Managers have to be entrepreneurial, result-oriented and innovative while managing disasters and disaster
management organizations are becoming responsive in governance.
Today, disaster managers have to become more people-oriented in providing services. The table given below
shows the difference:
Traditional Contemporary

Stress on relief Pre-disaster Post-disaster activities are part of

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development goals
Decision-making is centralized Decision-making is decentralized and participative

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Quantity of Relief measured Quantity and quality of services measured
Approach is reactive Approach is proactive

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The role of the manager should consider the following aspects:

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(i) Major issues in managing disasters should be identified.
(ii) Disaster prevention and preparedness should be integrated into development.

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(iii) Vulnerables have to be protected.

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(iv) The community needs to be involved.
(v) Disaster assistance should be provided in an equitable and consistent manner.
(vi) Disaster management programme should be transparent in implementation.
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(vii) The local ecology should be protected.

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(viii) The emergency plan should be flexible, effective, sustainable, efficient and affordable.

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(ix) Disaster management activity should be integrated and need oriented.

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A disaster manager should be entrepreneurial, proactive, innovative, risk taking and catalytic. Multifaceted activities

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require broad base of knowledge. A disaster manager in achieving the assigned tasks addresses the aspects given

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below:

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(i) Linking disaster with development
(ii) Preparedness for future disasters
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(iii) Taking disaster mitigation measures

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(iv) Assessment of risk and vulnerabilities

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(v) Logistics and infrastructure

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(vi) Rehabilitation and reconstruction in the aftermath of disaster.

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The following are the broad set of activities the disaster manager has to carry out:

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Management of Risks
An important role of a disaster manager is to manage risk. He has to identify the probable hazards, assess the

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possibility of their occurrence, their impact on community and take steps to minimize the risks. Appropriate development
activities have to be started to tackle the crisis situation.

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Management of Losses
Disasters cause huge losses including human, livestock, infrastructure and property. A manager has to manage losses
before, during and after the disaster. Pre-disaster activities can also be taken to minimize losses. The following activities can
be carried out to reduce losses:
(i) Informing the communities and other stakeholders about the disasters.
(ii) Improving the resistant capacities of the buildings and physical structures.
(iii) Making arrangement for the safety of the community.
(iv) Using social networking mechanisms to mobilise people under risk.
After the disaster, the manager has to aim at improving the response. The affected people should be properly
compensated. A host of rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts need to be carried out after the disaster.

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Control of Events
After a disaster struck, it becomes a crisis situation and a manager has to take the following measures:
(i) Understanding the cause and effect of events,
(ii) Taking measures to reduce disaster,
(iii) Gathering information to assess and prioritise response activities,
(iv) Taking appropriate steps to meet disaster requirements,
(v) Identifying the problem and applying appropriate strategy,
(vi) Involve the people in various programmes targetted to meet their needs,
(vii) Bringing discipline in all disaster management activities for effective functioning; and
(viii) Ensuring that disaster victims get fair treatment and compensation.

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Resource Management
A manager has to manage various types of resources such as financial, personnel, information and logistics.

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Managerial techniques and skills are required to manage these resources effectively. Managers are now applying

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innovative practices to manage resources. The communities are now being mobilized to contribute to mitigation

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activities either in cash, kind or labour.
Apart from these functions, disaster managers are expected to perform some broad functions. Managerial functions

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can be divided into three categories:

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(i) Managing Organizations
(ii) Managing Operations, and

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(iii) Managing People
Managing Organisations

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Managers undertake POSDCoRB (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting and

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Budgeting), monitoring, evaluation and resource management.

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Planning refer to making strategy in advance about the activities to be conducted and the methods to be followed

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to attain the objectives. In disaster management, planning includes contingency planning, forward planning and strategic
planning.
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Contingency Planning is taken to meet a crisis situation. In a situation of uncertainty, managers take actions to put

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thinks in order.

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Forward Planning is taken when a disaster is about to happen. Managers take forward planning to as precautions

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to impending crisis.

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Strategic Planning is taken as long-term measures to meet exigencies in future.

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Organizing refers to setting up formal structure of authority and dividing, arranging and coordinating works

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accordingly. It also implies arranging activities to be carried out to implement the strategies.

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Disaster management activities are related to prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. The roles and

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responsibilities are assigned to all concerned. Inter-agency and inter-departmental arrangements are made to support
control, coordination and planning.

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Staffing refers to hiring of personnel at various levels, providing training, building team and motivating them to
carry out the task.
Directing is providing required directions for carrying out activities to achieve the purpose.

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Coordinating means bringing together the activities of various units to work towards the targetted goals. In an
organization, there may be top management, middle and field management, the manager has to coordinate the activities
of all the teams. In disaster management, appropriate pooling of resources is required. Different types of activities
will be carried out at a time and the manager has to carry out it.
Reporting refers to organization reports to the higher level. For example, a manager may requires to report to
the senior manager or the general manager.
Budgeting is fiscal planning and accounting. A manager has to plan the budget which includes expenses, the
sources of funds and the present funds.
Managing People
It means assigning functions and responsibilities to people, supervising their activities and maintaining communication
and resolving conflicts.

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Managing Operations
Managing various operations related to different phases of disasters. It can be related to logistics, emergency,
information and crisis handling. The following are some of the aspects:
Logistics Management
Logistics management is managing resources between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to
meet some requirements. The resources managed in logistics can include physical items, such as food, materials,
equipment, liquids, and staff, as well as abstract items, such as time, information, particles, and energy. The logistics
of physical items usually involves the integration of information flow, material handling, production, packaging, inventory,
transportation, warehousing, and often security. Management of logistics is very crucial in any disaster situation. It
shows the manager’s ability to identify the resources required for effective disaster management.
Managing inventory is vital in logistics management. It requires a proper inventory control system. It refers to

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procuring and supplying right quantity and quality at the right time and right place. Some materials such as food grains
and medicines are required in large quantities during disasters. Managers use inventory control techniques like ABC

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(Always Better Control) and VED (Vital, Essential and Desirable) to control inventory. With ABC analysis, a manager
can determine the quantity of consumption required and the value of the items. Managers may require to categorise,

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catalogue and record the logistic requirements before, during and after disasters situations. The inventory can be of
the following:

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(i) Essential commodities.

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(ii) Sources of supplies which may include government, international aid agencies and NGOs.
(iii) Facilities for storage such as warehouse.

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(iv) Transport facilities and means.

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Managers carry out assessment of logistics which are required to undertake disaster management activities. In

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case of flood, assessment will be made about:

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(i) Accessible and inaccessible areas for carrying out relief work

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(ii) Likely during of the crisis situation

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(iii) Essential commodities to be supplied to rescued people, and

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(iv) Taking measures to protect and preserve commodities.

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A logistics management plan includes the following aspects:

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(i) Requirements of fuel, oil, tents, food, water, etc.
(ii) Procurement of all the required items.
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(iii) Security for food items.

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(iv) Making inventory of targeted beneficiaries.

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(v) Warehouse and store facilities.
(vi) Transport means.
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(vi) Distribution of dry ration and wet ration.

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Information Management
Information management for disasters is a vital component of disaster response and relief. It is based on the

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premise that accurate and timely information is available before, during and after disasters. Information management
involves coordination, delivery of relief assistance, beneficiary involvement, marketing and external relations, monitoring
and evaluation.

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Information about the community, topography of the affected area, weather conditions, infrastructure available
are required for carrying out various activities. Various actors such as government, private sector, NGOs and international
agencies now generate data. All these data need formatting so that the information can be used for meaningful purpose. A
disaster management information system with a network connecting those who provide the data, the government and the
community is required. Well-equipped Management Information System (MIS) with the required infrastructure and expertise
to monitor the risk profile of possible disasters is needed.
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