Group - I Earthquakes

Moderator :
Prof. A. S. Arya, National Seismic Advisor, Ministry of Home Affairs

Co-Moderator:
Prof. G.M. Bhat, Department of Geology, University of Jammu

Rapporteur:
Dr. G. M. Dar, Associate Professor, Disaster Management, J&K
IMPA
Preparation, Prevention and early warning- structure, processes
and manuals at State and District levels

1. Vulnerability Map:-

We should have a realistic map at the micro level specifying

all themes.

We should have it at the state level and at the village level,

it has to be disseminated to the local people. Also people’s
participation needs to be chalked out as how people will
participate in preparing it.

Sensitization of all concerned under DRM programme of

UNDP & GOI.
 NIDM may be asked to prepare a template for vulnerability
maps at the village level.

2. Involvement of community in preparation of

vulnerability maps

For volunteers, home guards, ex-servicemen, students etc.

awareness, sensitization, training has to be an integral part for
formulation of vulnerability maps at the village level

3. Administrative structures and processes, required for

dissemination of early warning.
 It was because of Army’s presence that the
communication was ensured through them
otherwise the network of landlines as well as
mobiles towers was collapsed.

Functionaries in the villages need to be

sensitized and made responsible to pass on
information to the higher ups.

Possibilities of a foolproof communication

system.
 Government of India, Ministry of Home
Affairs already committed to establish E.O.C.

4. Ensuring construction of Earthquake resistant

buildings:

Public Buildings coming up like schools,

Anganwari Centres, Health Centres etc. need to be
made EQ. Resistant.
 All the safety measures must be incorporated
in all the government buildings.

Already existing government buildings and

bridges needs to be retrofitted.

Seismic safety needs to be highlighted in the

Design itself.

BIS and NBC codes cab be incorporated in

the states depending upon their vulnerability.
 States can adopt the National Codes or make
their own codes specific to the state.

Fixing of responsibility of adhering to the

building codes and norms.

Cost norm inadequate to incorporate

Earthquake resistance. Safety first – rest afterwards.
Hospital safety may be given top priority
 Building and equipment of Hospitals guidelines are
being framed out by MHA.

Group Insurance like that of Gujarat can be extended

elsewhere.

Community Insurance where government will be a

partner can be thought of especially high risk areas.

5. Integration of Development Plans with Disaster

Mitigation Plans:-
 At the district level, adequate stocks of
essential commodities should be always ensured at
the District headquarters which can be utilized in
case of a disaster.

Lending rates by banks for disaster prone

areas and people should be comparatively less.
Media and Disasters:

Possibility of protocols for media during

disasters.

Some space/time to be reserved for

advertisements related to disasters prior, during and
after in the media.

Media needs to be sensitized and made a

partner in Disaster Mitigation.
 Media Managers from the concerned Department.

Advertisements over radio, TV and other channels at

peak time of news. These advertisements can be region
specific and disaster specific in different local languages.

7. Evaluation and assessment of the level of

preparedness in district level:

Preparation of a checklist or template to assess and

evaluate the level of preparedness both for public and
private sector.
This can be developed by NIDM or the state DMCs
of ATIs or any other Institute.
Enhancing the capacity of the vulnerable groups and
how to ensure relief
for them

Empowering them shall start from keeping

them informed/educated.

Both men and women should be equally

benefited in terms of relief and other
compensations. The cheques Accounts have to be
issued in the name of both equally.
 Gujarat success stories need to be extended to
other regions on the basis of their vulnerability.

9. Integration of the efforts of corporate sector in

relief and rehabilitation

Requirements of relief material should be

specified and communicated to the suppliers/donors
to avoid supply of any unwanted relief items.
 The demands/requirements should be made
known to people through All India Radio &
Doordarshan.

The list of minimum basic requirements of

relief should be prepared keeping in view the
vulnerability of the District/Tehsil.

Performance criteria to be fixed in case some

agency wants to work in a district hit area.
 Facility for stock piling of relief material at
the district Headquarters should be created.

The District Authority should have a

protocol to manage the relief material.

It can also be done through the Indian Red

Cross Society at the state, divisional and district
level.
 The District Disaster Management
Committee can review the same in different
meetings.

Simulation/Mock exercises can be carried

out where all the concerned functionaries will
participate and an assessment of the preparedness
can be made.

Some amount say 10% of the MPs or MLAs

Constituency Development Fund be reserved for
retrofitting of existing weak public buildings like
schools, hospitals and Anganwari Centres etc.
Disaster Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitation-structure
processes and manuals at state and district level.

1. Structure of Disaster Management at Sub-district

level

Tehsil level Disaster Management committees

under Tehsildar with other departments as members
should be constituted with due representation of
panchayats & NGO’s
Visits of VVIP

While preparing the State Disaster Management Bill,

it should be incorporated in the bill as to how to minimize
the protocol of the VIPs during disasters.

3. Civil Military synergy already exists.

4. Inventory of resources / equipment needed

Resource inventory listing out all crucial equipment

available and requirements at the district and tehsil levels
needs to be prepared and updated.
 IDRN can be taken benefit of.

5. Empowering the community:

Civil Defence and Red Cross volunteers,

students, teachers, panchayat functionaries should be
involved and strengthened to empower community.
Dissemination of the Disaster Management Plan:

Involving of media – both print and

electronic in dissemination of the Disaster
management plan .

Through Panchayats at the village and block

levels in various meetings the plan can be
disseminated.

SOPs should be highlighted with roles of

everyone.
Assistance for rehabilitation of the victims:

Assistance as far as possible should be

uniform and be distributed through the NGO’s
under the guidance of the district authorities.

8. Medical Relief:

Stretchers to be available in all settlements.

Local volunteers and first aiders to be

involved.
 Post-mortem of causalities in disasters should
not be impressed upon.

Long term/ counselling and guidance of the

disaster effected people should be made available to
the traumatized people.

Earmarking of the hospitals for treatment of

the victims.

Training of first aiders in all the locations

Timely procurement of relief material

A trigger mechanism to convey the

requirements of relief material needs to be
developed.

Role of Army, NGOs, Civil Defence

1. Time of calling Army.
As and when it is felt extremely necessary.
 Dovetailing of district disaster management wit
that of defence forces
Institutional mechanism should be developed fo
ensuring this.
3. Resource pool of Ex-Servicemen
Sainik Welfare Officer with his resources (men
to be made a partner in handling disasters. He shoul
be used as a resource.
Use of Civil Defence / Home Guard / Territorial Army
Civil Defence/ HG personnel should be used as a
basic force for Disaster Management.

5. NGOs: Performing as per expertise and resources

need to be supported and encouraged.

Capacity Building in Community – local bodies and

Government Functionaries.

1. Community awareness

Students media etc.

Community expertise in preparation of DM Plan

Recognition of the available expertise at the

local levels should be ensured. Sometimes the best
solutions come from the simplest man.

3. Disasters during night:

Emergency operation centers at the district

level with all required expertise and equipment,
functional round the clock needs to be established at
the earliest.
 Concept of a Command or Duty Officer.

4. Preparation of the local Disaster management

Plan

To be done through Panchayats and other local

bodies.

5. Assigning of roles

This can again be done through capacity

building.
Thank You