Disaster Management

Disaster:

• A disaster is a mishap or hazard which causes huge loss of life and property and disrupts the balance of the economy. It is a tragic event with drastic consequences for living beings as well as social and individual development. 
• A disaster can be caused by either natural or man-made factors. Both these factors need to be taken care of to prevent a disaster or lessen its impact. 
• Disasters also arise due to inefficient management of risks. If a safety net is devised to address the potential risks, it would lead to reduction in damages triggered by disasters. Developing countries are more vulnerable to disasters.

What is a Hazard? 

• A hazard is any phenomena that has the potential to cause destruction to life and property. A hazard become a disaster when the potential to cause destruction is fulfilled. When there is harm to life and property of humans, the hazard is termed a disaster.

• Hazards do not necessarily cause any destruction. If an earthquake was to hit a barren mountain with no human community, it would simply be a natural phenomenon; or a natural hazard. Hazards can be geological (the most common), biological (epidemics) or chemical (nuclear power plant leaks, chemical industry leaks, etc).

• Thus, all disasters are hazards, but all hazards are not disasters.

 Classification of Disasters:

Impact of Disaster: