ABOUT THE ACTION PLAN The outcome of the Internal Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction has been the notable shift of the focus from relief towards the preparedness and mitigation. This shift has necessitated the preparation of the Contingency Action Plan for disaster management at the district. Sudden disruption to the normal life of the society and damages to the life and property are caused at times due to disasters. To such an extent that normal mechanism available to the society is disrupted. The existence of a disaster preparedness and management plan plays an important role in such cases. The plan has the effect of not only speeding up the rescue and relief operation but will also be useful at pre disaster stage and it serves as a guide to officials at the critical time. A decentralized, participative, people oriented and transparent Disaster Management Action Plan for Gadag district is prepared considering the nature and frequency of disasters and as per the Government directions . We aim through this Action Plan to help the District Administration and society to be prepared to face disaster, reduce their vulnerability and prevent loss of lives and property . An effort in this plan is made to assess the capacity of the District to respond effectively to the various type of disasters to which the district is prone to. Each department’s preparedness in terms of different disasters is also assessed and included in this Plan. 1 GADAG DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN CHAPTER 1 MULTI HAZARD DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN & RESPONSE PLAN 1.1 OBJECTIVES To prevent loss of human lives and property Preparedness, prevention and mitigation of disasters Addressing disaster management training and awareness creation 1.2 JUSTIFICATION Our country is prone to multi-disasters and none of the human inhabitation area is free from disaster. The loss of life and property and infrastructure belonging particularly, to the poorest section of our society is one of the highest in the world and is also on the increase. Man is a part of Nature. Nature maintains a precise and delicate balance. Due to man’s intervention to conquer Nature to meet his needs and greed’s, the balance has been disturbed and has resulted in global warming, climatic changes, reduction in forest cover, ozone layer depletion etc. This has had global effect, particularly in the developing countries which have become more vulnerable. The traditional wisdom which says it is Natures anger but infuriated by Man has come true. In view of high incidence of disasters in the recent past there is a felt need for effective disaster management i.e., prevention, mitigation, preparedness and rehabilitation. The hard-core activity of disaster management has always taken place at the district level and, it is the district level disaster management plan which is the most crucial element of the state and national plans. Once a District Disaster Management Plan is prepared, it would reveal the strength, the weakness and the vulnerability of the area, and such an analysis would lead to prompt action, both short term and long term. Considering the nature and frequency of disasters and as per the directions of the Government, a decentralized, participative, people oriented and transparent Disaster Management Plan for Gadag district is prepared. 2 GADAG DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.3 TYPES OF DISASTERS The Longman New Universal Dictionary defines a disaster as ‘a sudden event bringing great damage, looses or destruction; broadly an unfortunate occurrence. The New Webster’s’ Dictionary defines a disaster as ‘a grave occurrence having ruinous results. The World Health Organization defines disaster as any occurrence that causes damage, economic destruction, loss of human life and deterioration in health and wealth services on a scale sufficient to warrant an extraordinary response from outside the affected community. Definitions and categorization of disasters vary according to geo sectors, the geographical and social settings in which they are located. Every new disaster adds a dimension to human suffering. In the absence of ‘official’ definitions, observations from the field suggest that disaster be classified under three broad categories: natural, human-made, and other disasters./ Among these, there are the major and minor disasters. They are as follows Disasters Natural Human Made Others Major Minor Major Major Minor Earthquake Heat wave Communal riots Epidemics Transport, Road, air, Flood Cold wave Ethnic conflicts Industrial water and railways. Drought Landslide Refugee fire Policy Pilgrimage and festival Induced Cyclone Avalanche situations related Food poisoning. Alcoholic / liquor Tornadoes tragedies. Hailstorm The High Power Committee setup to prepare a Disaster Management Plan for the country has identified 30 odd types of disasters which have been grouped into five categories which are as follows: A) WATER AND CLIMATE RELATED DISASTERS Floods and Drainage Management Cyclones Tornadoes and Hurricanes Hailstorms Cloud burst Thunder and Lightening Snow avalanches Heat and Cold wave Sea erosion Drought 3 GADAG DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN B) GEOLOGICAL RELATED DISASTERS Earthquakes Landslides and Mudflows Dam bursts Mine Fire C) CHEMICAL, INDUSTRIAL AND NUCLEAR RELATED DISASTERS Chemical and Industrial disasters Nuclear disasters D) ACCIDENT RELATED DISASTERS Urban fire Village fire Forest fire Electrical disaster and fire Serial bomb blasts Oil spills Festival related disasters Air, Road and Rail accidents Boat capsizing Mine flooding Major building collapse E) BIOLOGICAL RELATED DISASTERS Biological disasters and epidemics Pest attacks Cattle epidemics Food poisoning Disasters occur when hazards and threats of hazards, natural and human, impact on the vulnerabilities of an area/region and its people. With a mounting human cost and a barrage of criticism, government experts agree today that a shift of emphasis towards disaster preparedness and better advance worth at the grassroots is imperative to stem the rot. A multi-sectoral approach, involving the government, NGOs, academics, and the affected communities is slowly gaining currency. To meet the challenge of preparing, responding to, and equipping the community to deal with a cocktail of disasters will be the greatest human challenge in the coming days. 4 GADAG DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.4 COMPONENTS OF DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN (DDMP) The present District Disaster Management Plan is prepared disaster wise on the basis of the nature, extent, and intensity of natural and human-made disasters occurring in various parts of the district. In this Plan the following items of work have been taken care of 1. Capability Analysis Inventory and Evaluation Resources Communication and Media - Mass Media - District Communication Network Preparedness Apparatus - Control Room - Community Education and Preparedness Program - Measures available for promotion of life/crop/property insurance Preparedness measures available with different Government departments Public and Private Resources Inventory - Infrastructure available and its maintenance - Special Equipments available - List of vital installations Adequacy of Existing Inventory 2. Disaster Prevention and Reduction Issues relating to development plans and programs Long term prevention strategies and mechanisms 3. Disaster Mitigation Short term measures Long term measures Mitigation Plans 2 Hazard Identification, Vulnerability Analysis 3 Planning Evaluation, Rescue and Relief 4 Forecasting and Warning System 5 Immediate Relief and Rescue Management 6 Past Disaster Management 7 Public Awareness Building 8 Mobilizing funds for resources. 5 GADAG DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 1.5 VISION STATEMENT The District of Gadag situated in the central part of Karnataka has always been at the centre stage of natural calamities like floods, droughts etc. Keeping in mind these frequent disastrous happenings in the district that causes major setbacks to lives, livelihoods and property (both movable and immovable), the District Administration felt the urgency of the need of staying prepared to face these adverse situations well in advance. The devastation caused by floods and droughts has posed a challenge before the administration to rethink and redefine the preparedness and the mitigation strategies to analyze each and every decision making process to gear up the rescue and restoration during such situations as well as building up the capacity to face further calamities in future. The District Administration has realized the necessity to compile a plan to prevent/minimize the loss and also to facilitate faster recovery during an emergency of this kind. This plan is more of a guidebook, which can help the administration, remains better prepared for floods and drought to safeguard lives, livelihoods and property. In broadest terms, the vision of the plan will be - fail proof communication, authentic and accurate database, documented and rehearsed to be activated in the shortest possible time with minimum simple orders and procedures ensuring active participation by the administration, communities and volunteers at all levels, making optimal utilization of human and material resources with no gaps or no overlaps to prevent/minimize loss to lives and property and to ensure fastest restoration of the situation. 1.6 ROLE OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION Revenue Department is the chief agency of the Government in regard to General Administration and that is why