Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Disaster Early Warning System in India
Disaster Early Warning System in India
CONTENTS
CHAPTER-1 INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction
1.2
1.3
Research Problem
1.4
Research Methodology
3.2
19
3.3
21
3.4
22
3.5
24
3.6
Cyclone Forecasting
29
3.7
Flood Forecasting
34
39
4.2
Conclusion
43
BIBLIOGRAPHY
44
CHAPTER-1
1.1: INTRODUCTION
India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geoclimatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a
recurrent phenomenon. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various
intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to
cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. In the decade 1990-2000, an average
of about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters
every year. The loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical.
At the global level, there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. Even as
substantial scientific and material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to
disasters has not decreased. In fact, the human toll and economic losses have mounted. It was
in this background that the United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, declared the decade
1990-2000 as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction with the objective to
reduce loss of lives and property and restrict socio-economic damage through concerted
international action, especially in developing countries.
The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in January,
2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional endeavor involving diverse
scientific, engineering, financial and social processes; the need to adopt multi-disciplinary
and multi sectorial approach and incorporation of risk reduction in the developmental plans
and strategies.
Over the past couple of years, the Government of India has brought about a paradigm shift in
the approach to disaster management. The new approach proceeds from the conviction that
development cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built into the development
process. Another corner stone of the approach is that mitigation has to be multi-disciplinary
spanning across all sectors of development. The new policy also emanates from the belief that
investments in mitigation are much more cost effective than expenditure on relief and
rehabilitation.
The steps being taken by the Government emanate from the approach outlined above. The
approach has been translated into a National Disaster Framework [a roadmap] covering
institutional mechanisms, disaster prevention strategy, early warning system, disaster
mitigation, preparedness and response and human resource development. The expected
inputs, areas of intervention and agencies to be involved at the National, State and district
levels have been identified and listed in the roadmap. This roadmap has been shared with all
the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. Ministries and Departments of
Government of India, and the State Governments / UT Administrations have been advised to
develop their respective roadmaps taking the national roadmap as a broad guideline. There is,
therefore, now a common strategy underpinning the action being taken by all the participating
organizations / stakeholders.
The whole data is based on secondary sources such as books, websites, etc. Therefore,
there is no assuaraity of correctness of data.
Huge dada is available on this topic. It is very difficult to minimize the data.
a) Primary Data:
The data collected is not belonging to primary sources. There is list possibility of collection
of data through the primary sources.
b) Secondary Data:
The sources of secondary data were collected through the various websites of internet,
newspapers, magazines, etc.
CHAPTER-2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The method used in reviewing the different environmental degradation EWSs was by
grouping them into different monitoring categories as related to land and water degradation
and associated impacts. The general approach in data collection, analysis, information
communication, and response implementation for different EWSs was then reviewed.
Accompanying illustrations and other documents come from the peer-reviewed literature and
EWS programs described in conference papers and reports.
The essential structure of any EWS depends on the objectives of the system to provide
important, timely information on specific phenomena to end-users and decision-makers,
thereby enabling effective response. These objectives determine the processes utilized in
activities related to data collection, processing, interpretation, dissemination of information,
and subsequent response. The types of data utilized in EWSs are typically environmental data
and related socio-economic data. The nature of these data, method of collection, and the
technologies used are directly related to the type of environmental issue under study and the
final EWS to be created.
Depending on factors like the spatial and temporal scale of a specific environmental
degradation, the geographic area, size of the phenomenon, and the objectives of the particular
monitoring program, some systems may not be considered as fully integrated EWS.
Accordingly, different environmental degradation awareness programs are classified as
EWSs, information dissemination systems (IDSs), or data dissemination systems (DDSs),
depending on an organizations objectives and activities in these areas (UNCCD and Italian
Cooperation, 1999). While these different systems might be operating independently, they
sometimes collaborate in data and information exchange during the establishment of some
EWSs, especially in situations of globally perceived risk from environmental degradation or
public health exigencies. Examples of fully integrated EWSs include:
3. Food and Agricultural Organizations (FAO) Global Information & Early Warning System
(GIEWS) on Food and Agriculture (ISDR, 2009)
5. World Food Programmes (WFP) Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) (UNCCD
and Italian Cooperation, 1999)
While advanced technologies, such as remote sensing and contaminant samplers, have been
utilized in data collection in most environmental monitoring systems, it is important to state
that integrated EWSs incorporate multidisciplinary data as well. Socio-economic indicators
such as population growth, market trends, food availability and prices, health status,
prevalence of malnutrition, and the sustainability of both agriculture and industry serve as
important components of multidisciplinary data for EWSs. High-tech data collection
procedures and both statistical and integral analyses are involved in providing regular
applications in EWSs.
Setting up EWSs could be very expensive and labour intensive and requires collaborative
efforts in human, financial, and institutional resources. Systems that are versatile in detecting
multiple contaminants and degradation are more expensive to set up and maintain. EWSs are
also expected to be standardized and reliable with continuous monitoring and variable
sampling frequencies with minimal false negative and false positive results to enhance
reliable contamination detection and source identification (USEPA, 2005a).
The institutional and policy mechanisms for carrying out response, reliefand rehabilitation
have been well-established since Independence. These mechanisms have proved to be robust
and effective insofar as response, relief and rehabilitation are concerned.
At the national level, the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry forall matters
concerning disaster management. The Central Relief Commissioner (CRC) in the Ministry of
Home Affairs is the nodal officer to coordinate reliefoperations for natural disasters. The
CRC receives information relating to forecasting / warning of a natural calamity from India
Meteorological Department (IMD) or from Central Water Commission of Ministry of Water
Resources on a continuing basis. The Ministries / Departments / Organizations concerned
with the primary and secondary functions relating to the management of disasters include :
India Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Urban
Development, Department of Communications, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water
Resources, Ministry of Petroleum, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of
Power, Department of Civil Supplies, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Planning Commission, Cabinet Secretariat, Department of Surface Transport,
Ministry of Social Justice, Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of
Environment and Forest, Department of Food. Each Ministry / Department / Organization
nominates their nodal officer to the CrisisManagement Group chaired by Central Relief
Commissioner. The nodal officer is responsible for preparing sectorial Action
Plan/Emergency Support Function Planfor managing disasters.
Crisis Management Group: The Central Relief Commissioner in the Ministry of Home
Affairs is the Chairman of the CMG, consisting of senior officers (called nodal officers)
from various concerned Ministries. The CMGs functions are to review every year
contingency plans formulated by various Ministries / Departments / Organizations in
their respective sectors, measures required for dealing with natural disasters, coordinate
the activities of the Central Ministries and the State Governments in relation to disaster
preparedness and relief and to obtain information from the nodal officers on measures
relating to above. The CMG, in the event of a natural disaster, meets frequently to review
therelief operations and extend all possible assistance required by the affected States to
overcome the situation effectively. The Resident Commissioner of the affected State is
also associated with such meetings.
Contingency Action Plan: A National Contingency Action Plan (CAP) for dealing with
contingencies arising in the wake of natural disasters has been formulated by the
Government of India and it had been periodically updated. It facilitates the launching of
relief operations without delay. The CAP identifiesthe initiatives required to be taken by
various Central Ministries / Departments in the wake of natural calamities, sets down the
procedure and determine the focal points in the administrative machinery.
State Relief Manuals: Each State Government has relief manuals / codes which identify
that role of each officer in the State for managing the natural disasters. These are
reviewed and updated periodically based on the experience of managing the disasters and
the need of the State.
Funding Mechanisms: The policy and the funding mechanism for provision of relief
assistance to those affected by natural calamities are clearly laid down. These are
reviewed by the Finance Commission appointed by the Government of India every five
years. The Finance Commission makes recommendation regarding the division of tax
and non-tax revenues between the Central and the State Governments and also regarding
policy for provision of relief assistance and their share of expenditure there on. A
Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) has been set up in each State as per the recommendations
of the Eleventh Finance Commission. The size of the Calamity Relief Fund has been
fixed by the Finance Commission after taking into account the expenditure on relief and
rehabilitation over the past 10 years. The Government of India contributes 75% of the
corpus of the Calamity Relief Fund in each State. 25% is contributed to by the State.
Relief assistance to those affected by natural calamities is granted from the CRF. Overall
norms for relief assistance are laid down by a national committee with representatives of
States as members. Different States can have State specific norms to be recommended by
State level committee under the Chief Secretary. Where the calamity is of such
proportion that the funds available in the CRF will not be sufficient for provision of
relief, the State seeks assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund
(NCCF) - a fund created at the Central Government level. When such requests are
received, the requirements are assessed by a team from the Central Government and
there after the assessed requirements are cleared by a High Level Committee chaired by
the Deputy Prime Minister. In brief, the institutional arrangements for response and relief
are well established and have proved to be robust and effective.
In the federal set up of India, the basic responsibility for undertaking rescue, relief and
rehabilitation measures in the event of a disaster is that of the State Government concerned.
At the State level, response, relief and rehabilitationare handled by Departments of Relief &
Rehabilitation. The State Crisis Management Committee set up under the Chairmanship of
Chief Secretary who isthe highest executive functionary in the State. All the concerned
Departments and organizations of the State and Central Government Departments located in
the State are represented in this Committee. This Committee reviews the action taken for
response and relief and gives guidelines / directions as necessary. A control room is
established under the Relief Commissioner. The control room is in constant touch with the
climate monitoring / forecasting agencies and monitors the action being taken by various
agencies in performing their responsibilities. The district level is the key level for disaster
management and relief activities. The Collector / Dy. Commissioner are the chief
administrator in the district. He is the focal point in the preparation of district plans and in
directing, supervising and monitoring calamities for relief. A District Level Coordination and
Relief Committee is constituted and is headed by the Collector as Chairman with
participation of all other related government and non-governmental agencies and departments
in addition to the elected representatives. The Collector is required to maintain close liaison
with the district and the State Governments as well as the nearest units of Armed Forces /
Central police organizations and other relevant Central Government organizations like
Ministries of Communications, Water Resources, Drinking Water, and Surface Transport,
who could supplement the efforts of the district administration in the rescue and relief
operations. The efforts of the Government and non-governmental organizations for response
and relief and coordinated by the Collector / Dy. Commissioner. The District Magistrate /
Collector and Coordination Committee under him review preparedness measures prior to an
impending hazard and coordinate response when the hazard strikes. As all the Departments of
the State Government and district level report to the Collector, there is an effective
coordination mechanism ensuring holistic response.
New Institutional Mechanisms: As has been made clear above, the existing
mechanisms had based on post-disaster relief and rehabilitation and they have proved to
be robust and effective mechanisms in addressing these requirements. The changed
policy / approach, however, mandates a priority to full disaster aspects of mitigation,
prevention and preparedness and new institutional and policy mechanisms are being put
in place to address the policy change.
It is proposed to constitute a National Emergency Management Authority atthe National
level. The High Powered Committee on Disaster Management whichwas set up in August,
1999 and submitted its Report in October, 2001, had interlaid recommended that a separate
Department of Disaster Management be set up inthe Government of India. It was; however,
felt that conventional Ministries / Departments have the drawback of not being flexible
enough speciallyin terms of the sanction procedures. The organization at the Apex level will
have to be multi-disciplinary with experts covering a large number of branches. The National
Emergency Management Authority has, therefore, been proposed as a combined Secretariat /
Directorate structure a structure which will be an integral part of the Government and
therefore, will work with the full authority of the Government while, at the same time,
retaining the flexibility of a field organization. The National Emergency Management
Authority will be headed by an officer of the rank of Secretary / Special Secretary to the
Government in the Ministry of Home Affairs with Special Secretaries / Additional Secretaries
from the Ministries / Departments of Health, Water Resources, Environment & Forests,
Agriculture, Railways, Atomic Energy, Defense, Chemicals, Science & Technology,
Telecommunications, Urban Employment and Poverty Alleviation, Rural Development and
India Meteorological Department as Members of theAuthority. The Authority would meet as
often as required and review the status ofwarning systems, mitigation measures and disaster
preparedness. When a disaster strikes, the Authority will coordinate disaster management
activities. The Authority will be responsible for:i) Coordinating / mandating Governments policies for disaster reduction / mitigation.
ii) Ensuring adequate preparedness at all levels in order to meet disasters.
iii) Coordinating response to a disaster when it strikes.
iv) Coordination of post disaster relief and rehabilitation.
The National Emergency Management Authority will have a core permanent secretariat with
three divisions - one for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation & Rehabilitation, the other for
Preparedness and the third for Human Resource Development.
At the State level, as indicated in Para disaster management was being handled by the
Departments of Relief & Rehabilitation. As the name suggests, the focus was almost entirely
on post-calamity relief. The Government of India is working with the State Governments to
convert the Departments of Relief & Rehabilitation into Departments of Disaster
Management with an enhanced area of responsibility to include mitigation and preparedness
apart from their present responsibilities of relief and rehabilitation. The changeover has
already happened in eight State Governments / Union Territory Administrations. The change
is under process in other States.
The States have also been asked to set up Disaster Management Authorities under the Chief
Minister with Ministers of relevant Departments [Water Resources, Agriculture, Drinking
Water Supply, Environment & Forests, Urban Development, Home, Rural Development etc.]
as members. The objective of setting up an Authority is to ensure that mitigation and
preparedness is seen as the joint responsibility of all the Departments concerned and disaster
management concerns are mainstreamed into their programmes. This holistic and
multidisciplinary approach is the key to effective mitigation.
At the district level, the District Magistrate who is the chief coordinator will be the focal
point for coordinating all activities relating to prevention, mitigation and preparedness apart
from his existing responsibilities pertaining to response and relief. The District Coordination
and Relief Committee is being reconstituted / re-designated into Disaster Management
Committees with officers from relevant departments being added as members. Because of its
enhanced mandate of mitigation and prevention, the district heads and departments engaged
indevelopment will now be added to the Committee so that mitigation and prevention is
mainstreamed into the district plan. The existing system of drawing up preparedness and
response plans will continue. There will, however, also be a long term mitigation plan.
District Disaster Management Committees have already been constituted in several districts
and are in the process of being constituted in the remaining multi-hazard prone districts.
Similarly, we are in the process of creating Block / Taluq Disaster Management Committees
in these 169 multi-hazard prone districts in 17 States. At the village level, in 169 multi-hazard
prone districts, we constitute Disaster Management Committees and Disaster Management
Teams. Each village will have a Disaster Management Plan. The process of drafting the plan
has already begun. The Disaster Management Committee which draws up the plans consists
of elected representatives at the village level, local authorities; Government functionaries
including doctors / paramedics of primary health centers located in the village, primary
school teachers etc. The plan encompasses prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures.
The Disaster Management Teams at the village level will consist of members of voluntary
organizations like Nehru Yuvak Kendra and other non-governmental organizations as well as
able bodied volunteers from the village. The teams are provided basic training in evacuation,
search and rescue etc. The Disaster Management Committee will review the disaster
management plan at least once in a year. It would also generate awareness among the people
in the village about dos and donts for specific hazards depending on the vulnerability of the
village. A large number of village level Disaster Management Committees and Disaster
Management Teams have already been constituted.
The States have been advised to enact Disaster Management Acts. These Acts provide for
adequate powers for authorities coordinating mitigation, preparedness and response as well as
for mitigation / prevention measures required to be undertaken. Two States [Gujarat &
Madhya Pradesh] have already enacted such a law. Other States are in the process. The State
Governments have also been advised to convert their Relief Codes into Disaster Management
Codes by including aspects of prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
In order to further institutionalize the new approach, the Government of India has decided to
enunciate a National Policy on Disaster Management. A draft policy has accordingly been
formulated and is expected to be put in place shortly. The policy shall inform all spheres of
Central Government activity and shall take precedence over all existing sectorial policies.
The broad objectives of the policy are to minimize the loss of lives and social, private and
community assets because of natural or manmade disasters and contribute to sustainable
development and better standards of living for all, more specifically for the poor and
vulnerable sections by ensuring that the development gains are not lost through natural
calamities / disasters.
The policy notes that State Governments are primarily responsible for disaster management
including prevention and mitigation, while the Government of India provides assistance
where necessary as per the norms laid down from time to time and proposes that this overall
framework may continue. However, since response to a disaster requires coordination of
resources available across all the Departments of the Government, the policy mandates that
the Central Government will, in conjunction with the State Governments, seek to ensure that
such a coordination mechanism is laid down through an appropriate chain of command so
that mobilization of resources is facilitated.
The broad features of the draft national policy on disaster management are enunciated
below:i)
A holistic and pro-active approach for prevention, mitigation and preparedness will be
adopted for disaster management.
ii)
Each Ministry / Department of the Central / State Government will set apart an appropriate
quantum of funds under the Plan for specific schemes / projects addressing vulnerability
reduction and preparedness.
iii)
Where there is a shelf of projects, projects addressing mitigation will be given priority.
Mitigation measures shall be built into the on-going schemes / programmes.
iv)
Each project in a hazard prone area will have mitigation as an essential term of reference. The
project report will include a statement as to how the project addresses vulnerability reduction.
v)
vi)
There will be close interaction with the corporate sector, non-governmental organizations and
the media in the national efforts for disaster prevention / vulnerability reduction.
vii)
viii)
A culture of planning and preparedness is to be inculcated at all levels for capacity building
measures.
ix)
Standard operating procedures and disaster management plans at state and district levels as
well as by relevant central government departments for handling specific disasters will be lay
down.
x)
Construction designs must correspond to the requirements as laid down in relevant Indian
Standards.
xi)
All lifeline buildings in seismic zones III, IV & V - hospitals, railway stations, airports /
airport control towers, fire station buildings, bus stands major administrative centers will
need to be evaluated and, if necessary, retro-fitted.
xii)
The existing relief codes in the States will be revised to develop them into disaster
management codes / manuals for institutionalizing the planning process with particular
attention to mitigation and preparedness.
With the above mentioned institutional mechanism and policy framework in position and the
actions taken to implement the policy guidelines, it is expected that the task of moving
towards vulnerability reduction will be greatly facilitated.
Most people probably envision an early warning system as including a formal bureaucratic
structure, including organizational charts showing who reports to whom. However, in many
societies there are patterns of human interactions not taking place within a building or a
ministry that qualify as EWSs, especially in traditional cultures and groups that have had to
depend on themselves for their own well-being or that have learned over time, through
generations, how to cope with certain hazards.
The preceding paragraphs underscore the need to keep the definition of a EWS broad and
flexible; broad enough as to allow for a wide range of interpretations and flexible enough
to accommodate in time and space the societal recognition of new hazards and the
development of new EWS technologies.
For example, while a drought (narrowly defined) might be seen as no more than a temporary
setback in agricultural production, it can be much more than that as its impacts ripples
throughout society. We now know that a severe drought (or any other natural hazard for that
matter) has the potential to set back a countrys development prospects for several years, and
can cause funds to be diverted from development to reconstruction.
The fact is that EWSs exist in every society. They can be formal ones with readily visible
structures that are part of the national government bureaucracy or they could be informal
ones that are not necessarily sanctioned by the government and are local and cultural in
nature. They could be operated by non-governmental organizations or corporations, each
with its special interest. Just about everyone in society would like to have a glimpse of the
future. It could be that it is part of human nature to seek insights into the future. They do this
by looking at trends and by making projections, forecasts and scenarios. They do this by
mystical and astrological means as well. EWSs are needed for all kinds of changes in human
activities and in ecological processes and for just about any change anywhere that is of
interest to someone. Searching on the Internet for early warning systems brings up
innumerable activities for which they are used. Early warning systems are part of a countrys
capacity to react to a perceived threat, in order to adapt to, mitigate or prevent harm.
Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks is to keep politics out of a EWS, even though most
early warnings arise out of a political or societal need. A EWS will expose societal
vulnerabilities and such an exposure can have political implications. Depending on the
country, the hazard or the government, some EWSs are more influenced by political
pressures than others. For example, who to warn and when to warn them can be construed as
a political (not neutral) issue. Even if a EWS were able to issue a warning deemed neutral
(that is, apolitical and objective), the responses to that warning would likely have political
implications. In this regard some have noted that a EWS should belong to the state and not to
a particular government, so that it can survive changes in governments and in ruling political
ideologies.
The structure of an early warning system varies from one kind of hazard to another and from
one socioeconomic and political setting to another. They can range from a simple system to
a very complex multi-hazard one. The point here is that the type of early warning system
should fit the needs of the society and the groups or regions at risk to hazards of concern.
The following figure (Foster, 1980) presents an idealized warning system. To be sure,
there are many variations in the structures of existing early warning systems.
EWSs can report to narrowly targeted at-risk populations, regions or socio-economic sectors
by providing timely warnings. They can report to the public by way of a press release to the
media or directly in secret memos to key government officials. Governments want to be made
aware of harms that might occur, while they are in office. However, they may not choose to
pass that warning information on to the public for a variety of reasons: they do not have the
needed funds to assist the public to take preventive actions; the region of the country that is at
risk is not in the favor of the government; the governments do not believe the warning; the
warning system has not yet built up a credible or reliable track record.
Early warning systems for the most part are seen as providing information related only to
harm or to an elevation of risks related to hazards. However, they should also report on early
warning-related good happenings. For example, the systems outputs should provide
information about advances in hazards research, advances in the development of early
warning systems, and in new technologies and techniques that can improve the effectiveness
of existing EWSs.
Differing views exist on how extensive a EWS should be. Should it only produce warnings
Or should it have responsibility for issuing a warning to all at risk targets, for assuring that
the warning is well communicated to the target audiences and understood by them, and that
there are appropriate responses to various levels of warning. Most participants suggested
that the EWS focus primarily on the warning component of early warning process.
Although it should be involved in other aspects of the early process, other groups should
have the responsibility for communicating, educating and preparing the public to take
appropriate responses. In other words the group providing the warning was not viewed as
the one that should have the primary responsibility to reduce societal vulnerability.
Nevertheless, each of the stages in the warning process from monitoring to responding must
be interactive in such a way as to keep the warning timely, understood, and providing
enough lead-time for responses.
Early warning systems have evolved considerably during the past two decades. They gained
much attention in the 1970s and 1980s during the extended droughts and famines in the West
African Sahel and in the Horn of Africa. Famine early warning systems were created in atrisk countries and regions in sub-Saharan Africa and in various agencies in donor countries
and international organizations. They were set up primarily for humanitarian purposes.
Today, formal EWSs exist for just about every hazard - technological, hydrological,
meteorological, and anthropogenic. They have also been created for conflict, ecological
changes, health-related and complex humanitarian crises. Their functions have shifted
(perhaps, more correctly, expanded) toward societal risk and vulnerability reduction and
toward sustainable development.
New technologies have also affected the functions and structures of EWSs over the past few
decades. As new earlier warning technologies and techniques have been developed or new
monitoring methods devised, EWSs have had the opportunity to become more effective in
their spatial coverage and in the lead timing of the warning. For example, cell phones may
provide one way in the future for communicating outlooks and warning to remote areas that
lack communications infrastructure. RANET, the use of satellite-based communications of
hazard warning to remote areas, is another example. However, a particular problem faced by
developing countries is that new technologies are not readily available to them, because of
cost or because of the lack of infrastructure to support the new technologies. In addition,
there is a need for trained personnel and, therefore, every EWS must involve itself in capacity
building through the training of new personnel in the activities of and technologies for EWSs.
Because of limited resources (human and financial) in these countries, it is important to
distinguish between what is desirable for an effective EWS and what is essential.
One problem that many EWSs face is related to the frequency of the hazards about which
they are expected to warn society. Because of periods of normal between the hazards, there
is a view that the EWSs have little to do during those apparent down times. For example,
the periods of down time can be productively used for education and training, as well as
normative work, such as the preparation of risk maps. As another example, the EWSs can
expand its focus to more than one hazard. They can work with other agencies and
organizations to identify underlying causes of disasters. They can report about observations
in the normal period (e.g., outlooks as opposed to warnings), as there are people who can
benefit from such information as well. EWSs can interact with the media, groups in society,
and other components of their early warning network about how to make the system more
effective.
It is clear that the structure and functions of a formal government-sponsored EWS will be
influenced to varying degrees and in different ways according to the particular political
setting in which it has to operate. The example of Cuba is illustrative. The Cuban
government can not only warn people about potential hazards, but can move large numbers
of people out of harms way on relatively short notice. Given its authoritarian form of
government, it has the responsibility for all components in a EWS, broadly defined, and it
controls to a great extent the larger political and social systems of which the EWS is an
integral part. Many governments, however, are not in a position to use its EWS in a similar
authoritative way.
A EWS serves as an enabler in the sense that, by way of its warnings (outlooks, watches,
warnings and alerts), it enables at-risk populations to take (or not take) appropriate
mitigative or preventive actions. It enables various agencies and ministries in government
and groups in the private sector to strategize on how best to respond to current as well as
future impacts of a hazard. The response to the warnings (and the efficiency of this particular
function) will depend in great measure on a EWSs track record, i.e., its warnings must
closely match the actual occurrence of hazardous events.
Various writers have identified what they considered should be the components of a EWS.
For example, one suggestion was that a EWS should have five components: selection of
indicators; communication of warnings; reception of warnings; early warning education;
generation and maintenance of awareness. A risk assessment expert suggested that a EWS
should include the following activities: monitoring, risk analysis, dissemination of the
warning, and societal preparedness. Yet another suggestion was that a EWS has responsibility
for the following: forecasts, warnings, and responses.
Other possible components include technical decision-making and responses to warnings and
impacts. Obviously, there is no agreement on the ideal structure or function of an early
warning system.
Tropical Cyclones are intense low pressure systems which develop over warm sea. They are
capable of causing immense damage due to strong winds, heavy rains and storm surges. The
frequency of the TC in the Bay of Bengal is 4 to 5 times more than in the Arabian Sea. About
35% of initial disturbances in the north Indian Ocean reach TC stage of which 45% become
severe.
Data resources are crucial to early forecasting of cyclones. Satellite based observations are
being extensively utilized. Satellite integrated automated weather stations have been installed
on islands, oilrigs and exposed coastal sites. Buoys for supplementing the surface data
network in the tropical ocean have been deployed. The Government has also started a
National Data Buoy Programme. A set of 12 moored buoys have been deployed in the
northern Indian Ocean to provide meteorological and oceanographic data.
Dynamic forecasting of TCs requires knowledge of the vertical structure of both the Cyclone
and the surrounding environment. The rawinsonde remains the principal equipment for
sounding. The Doppler radar wind profiler provides hourly soundings. A mesosphere,
stratosphere, troposphere (MST) radar has also been installed at Thirupatti. Another profiler
is being developed and will bedeployed at IMD Pune. Another important source of upper
level data is the aircraft reports. Increasing number of commercial jet aircraft are equipped
with the Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay system. This data is being made available is also
being used by the IMD for analysis and predictions.
Radars have been used to observe TCs since long. Surveillance of the spiral rain bands and
the eye of the TC is an important function of the coastal radars. 10 Cyclones Detection
Radars have already been installed. These radars are providing useful estimates of storm
centers upto a range 300-400 Km. Doppler radars provide direct measurements of wind fields
in TCs. Due to range limitation; Doppler wind estimates are usually within a range of about
100 Km. IMD has deployed Doppler radars at 3 sites on the east coast.Another set of 3
Doppler radars are being deployed in Andhra Pradesh in near future.
The meteorological satellite has made a tremendous impact on the analysis of cyclones. All
developing cloud clusters are routinely observed through satellite cloud imagery & those
showing signs of organization are closely monitored for signs of intensification. TC
forecasters everywhere use the Dvorak technique to estimate storm location and intensity. It
has been found to provide realistic estimates for TCs in the Bay of Bengal as well as Arabian
Sea. INSAT data has also been used to study the structures of different TCs in the Bay of
Bengal. IMD is also producing Cloud Motion Vectors (CMVs). Very High Resolution
Radiometer (VHRR) payload onboard INSAT - 2E which have been improved upon to
provide water vapor channel data in addition to VIS & IR onboard INSAT - 2E. A separate
payload known as Charged Couple Device (CCD) has also been deployed onboard this
satellite.
The goal of any warning system is to maximize the number of people who take appropriate
and timely action for the safety of life and property. All warning systems start with detection
of the event and with people getting out of harms way. Such warning systems encompass
three equally important elements namely; Detection and Warning; Communication; and
Response.
The two stage warning system has been in existence since long in IMD. Recently it has been
improved upon by introducing two more stages - the Pre- Cyclone watch and the postlandfall Scenario. This four stage warning system meets the requirements of Public
Administrators and Crisis Managers. The Pre-Cyclone Watch stage contains early warning
about the development of a cyclonic disturbance in the form of monsoon depression which
has a potential to threaten the coast with cyclone force winds. The coastal stretch likely to be
affected is identified. This early warning bulletin is issued by the IMD before the CycloneAlert Stage. This provides enough lead time for the crisis managers to undertake
preparedness actions.
After the early warning on the Pre-Cyclone Watch the Collectors of coastal and few
immediate interior districts and the Chief Secretary of the concerned maritime State are
warned in two stages, whenever any coastal belt is expected to experience adverse weather
(heavy rain / gales / tidal wave) in association with a cyclonic storm or a depression likely to
intensify into a cyclonic storm.
The second stage of Cyclone Alert is sounded 48 hours in advance of the expected
commencement of adverse weather over the coastal areas. Forecasts of commencement of
strong winds, heavy precipitation along the coast in association with arrival of cyclone are
issued at the alert stage. Landfall point is usually not identified at this stage. The third stage
warning known as Cyclone Warning is issued 24 hours in advance. Landfall point is
forecast in this stage of cyclone warning. In addition to the forecasts for heavy rains and
strong winds, the storm surge forecast is also issued. Since the storm surge is the biggest
killer so far as the devastating attributes of a storm are concerned, information in this regard
is most critical for taking follow up action for evacuation from the low lying areas likely to
be affected by the storm.
After the landfall of the cyclone the strong winds with gale force speeds continue over certain
interior districts of the maritime States hit by the cyclone. To take cognizance of that, a fourth
stage known as Post-landfall Scenario Stage is now identified usually as a part of the
Cyclone Warning Stage either at the time of landfall of the disturbance or about twelve hour
in advance of it. It includes warnings of strong winds and heavy rains likely to be
encountered in the interior districts.
For communications, the IMD makes use of 97 point-to-point teleprompter links connecting
different field offices. Switching computers have been provided at 5 Regional Centers. These
computers are linked to the central Regional Telecom Hub Computer at New Delhi. In
addition, 69 centers have been provided with 85 telex connections. Besides, 27 field offices
have been provided with Radio Tele type facility. IMD also utilizes VSAT technology which
has been installed at field offices. In addition, there are a number of HF / RT and VHF links.
Cyclone warnings are communicated to Crisis Managers and other concerned organizations
by high priority telegrams, telex, telephones and Police wireless. Cyclone warnings are
provided by the IMD from the Area Cyclone Warning Centers (ACWCs) at Calcutta, Chennai
and Mumbai and Cyclone Warning Centers (CWCs) at Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar and
Ahmedabad. There is also a Satellite based communication system called the Cyclone
Warning Dissemination Systems (CWDS) for transmission of warnings. There are 250 such
cyclone-warning sets installed in the cyclone prone areas of east and west coast. The general
public, the coastal residents and fishermen, are also warned through the Government
machinery and broadcast of warnings through AIR and Television.
Flooding is caused by the inadequate capacity within the banks of the rivers to contain the
high flow brought down from the upper catchments due to heavy rainfall. It is also caused by
accumulation of water resulting from heavy spells of rainfall over areas, which have got poor
drainage characteristics.
Flooding is accentuated by erosion and silting leading to meandering of the rivers in plains
and reduction in carrying capacity of the river channel. It is also aggravated by earthquakes
and landslides, leading to changes in river course and obstructions to flow. Synchronization
of floods in the main rivers and tributaries and retardation of flow due to tidal effects lead to
major floods. Cyclones bring in their wake considerable loss of life and property.
The flood forecasting and warning system is used for alerting the likely damage centers well
in advance of the actual arrival of floods, to enable the people to move and also to remove the
moveable property to safer places or to raised platforms specially constructed for the purpose.
A beginning in scientific flood forecasting was made in November, 1958 by Central Water
Commission (then known as Central Water & Power Commission) when a Flood Forecasting
Centre was set up at its Headquarters, at Delhi, forgiving timely Forecasts and Warnings of
the incoming floods to the villages located in the river areas around the National Capital,
Delhi. The network has been expanding and by now the Flood Forecasting Network of the
Central Water Commission (CWC) covers all the major flood prone inter-State river basins in
the country.
At present there are 166 flood forecasting stations on various rivers in the country which
includes 134 level forecasting and 32 inflow forecasting stations, river-wise break up of
which is as under:
Sl.
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Inflow
14
1
1
4
6
6
32
Total
85
27
2
9
3
17
8
15
166
The Flood Forecasting Network covers the 14 States and one Union Territory in addition to
NCT of Delhi. State-wise numbers of flood forecasting centers are as under:
The Flood Forecasting involves the following four main activities:i) Observation and collection of hydrological and hydro-meteorological data;
ii) Transmission of Data to Forecasting Centres;
iii) Analysis of data and formulation of forecast; and
iv) Dissemination of forecast.
On an average, 6000 forecasts at various places in the country are issued during the
monsoon season every year. The analysis of the forecasts issued during the last 25 years
(1978 to 2002) indicates that accuracy of forecasts has consistently increased from around
81% to 98%. Forecast is considered accurate if forecast water level is within 15 cm. of
actual water level of the inflow forecast (i.e. discharge) is with in 20% of actual discharge.
In monitoring the floods, severity of floods are placed in the following four categories by
the central Water Commissions.
i) Low flood stage: It is that flood situation when the water level of the river is flowing
between warning level and danger level of the forecasting stations.
ii) Medium flood stage: The River is called in medium floods when its water level is at
or above the danger level of the forecasting station but below 0.50 of its highest flood
level (HFL).
iii) High flood stage: When the water level of the river is below the HFL but within
0.50m of the HFL of the forecasting stations.
iv) Unprecedented flood stage: The River is called in unprecedented floods when it
attains water level equal to or above its previous HFL at any forecasting station.
A computerized monitoring system has been developed under which daily water levels as
observed at 0800 hrs. and forecasts issued by field units are transmitted to CWC headquarters
in New Delhi. Based on the compilation of all such data received from field divisions, daily
water level and flood forecast bulletins in two parts for stage and for inflow forecasting
stations respectively.
Special Yellow Bulletins are issued whenever the river stage at the forecasting site attains a
level within 0.50 m of its previous HFL. Red Bulletins highlighting security of the problem
are also issued whenever the water level at the forecasting stations equals or exceeds previous
HFL.
CHAPTER-4
4.1: FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS
The State Department of Relief and Rehabilitation may be converted into Department of
Disaster Management with the responsibility of looking at the whole cycle of disaster
management- prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief and rehabilitation. Steps
for prevention/mitigation will need to be taken across a number of Departments. The
Department of Disaster Management will coordinate the steps taken by the different
Department of the Government in these spheres.
iii
It has been noticed that while the local administration has the requisite skills and capabilities
for carrying out search and rescue in recurrent types of disaster like flood, there is lack of
capability for specialized search and rescue. Each State may consider setting up specialized
search and rescue teams. The teams would need to be composite with one copy of the State
Armed Police trained and equipped to carry out specialised search and rescue; one mobile
engineering unit with necessary equipment and one medical assistance team. These teams
may be constituted and trained together so as to function as a unit under the overall charge of
a designated officer. Guidance/advise required with reference to training and equipment will
be provided by the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India.
iv
It has been decided that fire services may be trained and equipped to function as all hazard
response units as in other countries. This will necessitate some additional equipment and
training to the fire units for carrying our search and rescue in all types of disasters. The
Government of India will be initiating a separate project for this.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had advised the State Governments that composite control
rooms may be set up at the State level and at the district levels under the District Magistrates
for coordinating law and order as well as disaster management and that allocations under the
Modernization of Police Forces Schemes may be used for the this purpose. Steps may be
taken to put such control room in place quickly with standby communication systems.
vi
Disaster mitigation concerns/ aspects may be made an essential term of reference for every
plan project/development scheme in the areas vulnerable to disasters. In other words, every
plan project will need to state as to how is addresses mitigation concerns. Plans/projects
specifically addressing mitigation/ prevention may be given a priority. The Secretary of
Department of Disaster Management may be made a member for all bodies/ teams
constituted for scrutinizing/approving projects/plans.
vii
Funds available under the on-going schemes may be used for mitigation/ preparedness. For
example funds under the rural development scheme can be used for construction of cycle
shelters in areas prone to cyclones. Similarly, sites and designs of primary school buildings in
flood prone areas may be so selected so that they can serve as shelters in times of floods. The
design requirements for primary school building and hospitals and other important public
buildings in seismic zones V and IV would need to be in accordance with BIS norms for
construction in these zones.
viii
Every hazard prone district may draw up specific hazard related plans. These plans may be
reviewed / updated in the months of April and May each year.
ix
Every district located in area prone to hazard will need to maintain an on line inventory of
resources available in the Government, public and private sector. This will enable easy and
quick mobilization of resources in case of need. A State-wide on line resources inventory
would enable the mobilization of resources from neighbouring districts in cases of need.
State in seismic zone V and IV may ensure that the BIS building codes for these zones have
been adopted and are rigorously enforced by the municipal bodies. All construction in the
Government sector in these areas must conform to the BIS code.
xi
The initial training curriculum of the field staff- VLWs, Karamcharis, Patwaris, Talhatis,
Block Agriculture Officers, Block Animal Husbandry Officers other Block Supervisors, State
Civil Service Officers, Constables, Sub-inspectors, Dy S.Ps etc. in the States vulnerable to
hazards may include capsules on basic dos and donts in case of disasters; disaster mitigation
and response, search and rescues techniques etc. In-service training may be organized for
xii
Special efforts may be put in for education and awareness. This should include awareness of
basic design requirements for constructing private housing in seismic zones IV and V as well
as in the belt vulnerable to cyclones.
xiii
AICTE have been advised to include engineering aspects of disaster mitigation in the
engineering courses at the undergraduate level. State Governments may take similar action
with reference to engineering colleges under their universities.
xiv
CBSE have been advised to include basic disaster related material in text books for classes
8th, 9th and 10th the basic dos and donts / precaution to be taken etc. State Government may
advise their Secondary Boards of Education to include similar in their text books.
4.2: CONCLUSION
Disaster Management has to be a multi-disciplinary and pro-active approach. Besides various
measures for putting in place institutional and policy framework, disaster prevention,
mitigation and preparedness enunciated in this paper and initiatives being taken by the
Central and State Governments, the community, civil society organizations and media also
have a key role to play in achieving our goal of moving together, towards a safer India. The
message being put across is that, in order to move towards safer and sustainable national
development, development projects should be sensitive towards disaster mitigation.
Our mission is vulnerability reduction to all types of hazards, be it natural or manmade. This
is not an easy task to achieve, keeping in view the vast population, and the multiple natural
hazards to which this country is exposed. However, if we are firm in our conviction and
resolve that the Government and the people of this country are not prepared to pay the price
in terms of massive casualties and economic losses, the task, though difficult, is achievable
and we shall achieve it.
We have taken the first few but significant steps towards vulnerability reduction, putting in
place prevention and mitigation measures and preparedness for a rapid and professional
response. With a massive awareness generation campaign and building up of capabilities as
well as institutionalization of the entire mechanism through a techno legal and techno
financial framework, we are gradually moving in the direction of sustainable development.
Our vision 2020 is to build a safer and secure India through sustained collective effort,
synergy of national capacities and peoples participation. What looks a dream today will be
transformed into reality in the next two decades. This is our goal and we shall strive to
achieve this goal with a missionary zeal.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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situations/tsunami-warning-system/
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