June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 1 HEAT WAVE PLANNING ABOUT THIS ISSUE Need for National Strategy ith over 2,000 casualties to for Heat wave Preparedness Wits name, heat waves have just secured their position among o more heat wave deaths are had also indicated more frequent and the various hazards to which Nneeded in India to come up severe heat waves in India's cities. India is vulnerable. The steady with a national strategy for heat wave increase in the number of victims preparedness. In South Asian cities, temperatures of heat related stress every are reaching high levels in the summer has made it imperative Over 2,000 citizens have lost life over summer, and worsening due to for the 'powers that be' to take the past few weeks due to not being climate change. In 2010, a heat spike actions to protect their citizens. prepared to face the ongoing heat in Ahmedabad caused 1,300 excess As pointed out by UN's wave. Loss of health, livelihoods, and deaths, including, among at-risk Intergovernmental Panel on business is yet to be calculated. And groups such as outdoor workers, Climate Change (IPCC), climate this loss is avoidable. children, the elderly and slum change will aggravate the dwellers. The nature and extent of frequency and severity of heat At temperatures about 40oC, a "heat impact of heat wave on homeless, waves in the coming years. Thus, wave" refers to a departure of between street vendors, baggers, traffic police, India needs an institutional level 4oC to 5oC from the normal hawkers or auto repairers in cities is planning to combat the threat of temperature while a "severe heat yet to be recorded. heat waves. wave" refers to a departure of more than 6oC. At these temperatures, The AMC health team has worked This issue of chances of a heatstroke, a possibly with Indian Institute of Public Health Southasiadisasters.net focuses on fatal illness which results from the (IIPH) and Natural Resources Defense the theme of the 'Risk of Heat overheating of the human body, are Council (NRDC) teams for over 3 Waves and Climate Change in high for the citizens under sun. years to make India's first and Asia's India'. This issue tries to highlight rare heat wave action plan. The plan the phenomena of heat waves This heat wave is not sudden. The lays out actions that the citizens, the from the perspectives of various India Meteorological Department has public and private institution, and the stakeholders ranging from the been making more accurate and enabling policy makers can take to local authorities to the vulnerable timely heat wave predications in reduce the negative impact of heat communities such as street India over past four years. The wave on citizens. The plan has vendors, construction workers, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate performed over the years and children and the elderly. The Change (IPCC) Special Report on reduced the impact. Last year less Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan "Managing the Risks of Extreme citizens died due to heat wave in has been highlighted as a policy Events and Disasters to Advance Ahmedabad and even less suffered level intervention worth Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) health issues. Drinking more water, emulating in other Indian cities. report had concluded that more heat standing under shed, are some of the Similarly, an anthropological waves will occur and in cities. The key actions. But do our cities offer perspective to heat wave Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) such facilities to common citizens? planning is also posited. Outreach Event in Dehradun by The AMC has now institutionalized Central Himalayan Environment heat wave planning and put it on its annual plan and budget. The eclectic perspectives on heat Association (CHEA) and Kolkata by waves and climate change Jadavpur University in March 2015 highlighted in this issue will help the readers understand the WITH OVER 2,000 LIVES LOST DUE TO EXTREME HEAT, challenges India faces and the INDIA NEEDS A STRATEGY TO COMBAT HEAT WAVES opportunities it can leverage to AHMEDABAD’S INNOVATIVE HEAT ACTION PLAN IS A STEP protect its citizens from heat IN THIS DIRECTION. waves and other adverse impacts of climate change. IT RELIES ON A FOUR PRONGED STRATEGY THAT CAN BE EASILY REPLICATED BY ANY INDIAN CITY.
2 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is rapidly improving the city's public health infrastructure in response to the unique Heat wave Action Plan project's recommendations. For example, ambulance services are now located strategically in places where many calls for help are issued. Hospitals receive warnings when extreme temperatures are forecast and now have extra ice packs on hand, and drinking water stations and awareness-building materials are distributed throughout Ahmedabad.
The Heat Action Plan is a four- pronged strategy and almost any city in India can take up. The first involves a communications outreach which Workshop on Highlighting the Ahmedabad Experience: Scaling Heat Action Plans for informs citizens about the risk of heat Key Cities and States in India, April 15–16, 2015, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. illness and preventive measures to take. This year, new media such as watch warning system, a nationwide Ahmedabad has shown a pathway for mobile messaging service, system of combating heat illness in towns and cities of India. At the Third WhatsApp, are being used as a case of abnormally hot weather. Some UN World Conference on Disaster dissemination channel along with studies estimates that during the 2006 Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, the more traditional means such as wall heat wave, 4,400 deaths were avoided Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan was posters and inter-personal as a result of this system being in showcased as a finalist for the communication. place. In India we do not have such prestigious Munich RE Foundation nation wide studies. RISK Award alongside 20 other "best The second involves a warning proposals" out of 145 submissions system in the case of a heat wave with Similarly, the National Workshop on from 62 countries. actionables mapped out for various Scaling up Successful Heat Action Plan governmental agencies. Who will do from Ahmedabad to other parts of Cities across the world have protected what, when, and how is clear to key India, where the Mayor and citizens with a wide range of individuals and units of key Commissioner of AMC were measures such as tree plantation on departments. The third important facilitated, attracted interest from the city roads for shade, enforcing building step involves training health care city of Nagpur where later in the bye-laws for overhangs to shade professionals-public and some month a Round Table was held and walls and windows, and increasing private-to better respond to heat more cities in Maharashtra turned up structures for individuals on duty illness while the fourth involves to prepare for Ahmedabad-like heat such as traffic police or street cleaner. adapting the physical plan of the city wave plan. Such measures are also taken in Indian to better cope with heat: mapping cities but at much smaller scale than high-risk areas, making potable Over 40 mayors at the recent event in the heat wave challenge demands. water easily accessible and building Delhi, organized by UN Habitat, temporary cooling spaces during Cities Network Campaign, and A disaster is also a creative moment periods of extreme heat. The plan is Climate and Development in the life of a nation. And so are heat revised as each new lesson is learned. Knowledge Network (CDKN), titled, waves for India. The onus is on us South Asia City Summit, showed turn this ongoing and increasing loss Strategies which public authorities interest in Ahmedabad's heat wave of life and livelihoods into world's use to deal with excessive heat are plan. The session, Scaling up largest national strategy for heat the global norm. After the 2003 heat Successful Heat Action Plan from wave preparedness that not only wave in France, which killed almost Ahmedabad to other parts of India protects citizen from the impact of 15,000 people, the French concluded that Smart Cities are Heat heat but in fact reduces the impact government formulated a heat health wave Safe Cities. itself. – Mihir R. Bhatt
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 3 HEAT WAVES IN INDIA Heat Waves in India: Key Facts and Figures
eat waves are present in population heat vulnerability are in wealthy counties when people are H countries throughout the world documented, though poverty is a literally dying of heat in the tropics. and are broadly defined as periods of presumed risk. "Heat vulnerability abnormal heat. Azhar (et al 2014) can be conceptualized as a function Heat wave in India 2015 defines them as "a prolonged period of interacting biophysical and It has already been documented that of unusually and excessively hot socioeconomic determinants that can 2400 (05/06/2015) have died due to weather, which may also be be broken down into heat hazard heat related illness (Singh H 2015). accompanied by high humidity." probability as well as factors However, it is likely this figure is Definitions vary, in part because a associated with population exposure, much higher as heat related illness is heat wave is measured relative to the susceptibility and adaptive capacity" often recorded inaccurately and usual weather in the area and relative (Azhar et al 2013: 2). The literature on figures from rural areas are hard to to normal temperatures of the season. heat vulnerability in South Asia is attain. It is suggested that it normally In the past three to four decades there considerably underdeveloped with takes a month after the heat wave to has globally been an increased trend most studies focused on the global get a true picture of the impact. in high-humidity heat waves north. However, experts say that (Masters et al 2012). Extreme heat India "must recognise rising References: events have been responsible for temperatures as a natural disaster, just • Azhar, G et al (2013) A cross- more deaths annually than like floods or earthquakes, and have sectional, Randomized Cluster hurricanes, lightening, tornadoes, a strategy to protect vulnerable Sample survey of Household floods and earthquakes combined. peoples" (Bhalla 2015). Neither the Vulnerability to Extreme Heat among Slum Dwellers in Numerous studies have documented central government or the national Ahmedabad, India. International that human induced climate change disaster management authority have Journal of Environmental Research and has increased the frequency and put in place preventive measures for Pubic heath 10. 2515-2543 severity of heat waves across the the summer nor has the union home • Azhar, G. Connolly, M., Jaiswal, A globe. However, heat waves have yet ministry declared a heat wave as a Navaankar, D Shag, T (2014). Inside to be taken seriously by most 'natural disaster'. As per the stories on climate compatible governments and NGOs working on intergovernmental Panel on Climate development. Climate and Development Knowledge network disaster risk reduction. Extreme Heat change (IPCC) the average • Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan 2015 o can lead to dangerous, even deadly, temperature is going to rise by 2-6 C • Bhalla, N. (2015) Ahmedabad offers health consequences, including heat over the next 80-100 years (Mavlankar way to beat the heat as 1,300 killed stress and heat stroke (Heat action 2015). Meaning that unless heat waves in heat wave – http:// plan 2015). are taken seriously in DRR the impact in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/28/ of heat waves and the death count india-heatwave-disasters- India could rise dramatically. The idINKBN0OD2GT20150528 Heat waves are a significant health combination of exceptional heat • Indian meteorological department http://www.imd.gov.in/section/ concern in India, extreme heat hazards stress and a predominantly rural nhac/dynamic/forecaster_guide.pdf are projected to increase in frequency population make India, especially • Master, J., Meehl, J., Trenberth, K and and severity with climate change. vulnerable to heat waves. Currently Somerville, R. (2012). Heat Waves However, few of the factors driving a quarter of the population does not and Climate Change. Climate have access to electricity (Holthaus communication HEAT WAVES ARE STILL 2015). The use of air-conditioning is • Mavlankar, D. (2015) Combating NOT CONSIDERED A increasing by a massive twenty heat wave deaths http:// www.deccanherald.com/content/ DISASTER IN INDIA. percent each year, which puts a huge 480291/combating-heatwave- strain on the country's delicate power EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT deaths.html CLIMATE CHANGE WILL grid and boosts greenhouse gas • Sing, H. (2015) Heat wave kills more FUEL MORE INTENSE emissions (Holthaus 2015). This raises than 1,100 in India CNN http:// AND FREQUENT HEAT the obvious ethical questions it is edition.cnn.com/2015/05/25/asia/ WAVES IN FUTURE hard to rationalize the need for india-heatwave-deaths/ growing greenhouse gas emissions – Grace Beards
4 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 HEAT ACTION PLAN Scaling up Heat Action Plans in India: The Ahmedabad Experience
ith increasing observed W average temperatures across India over the last decade, climate scientists project more frequent and severe heat waves. According to the most recent IPCC report, over the next two decades, a warming of about 0.2°C per decade is projected for a range of SRES emission scenarios. Temperature extremes are a major underlying cause of mortality in much of the world and the leading cause of directly–mediated weather– related mortality. Heat affects people through shock, dehydration, acute heat illnesses and the worsening of chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Preparing for D. Thara unveiled the updated 2015 Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan. and responding to health emergencies caused by a changing Knowledge Network honoured the number of hot days during 2014 when climate will be critical to saving lives leadership of the Ahmedabad temperature remained above 44°C and protecting developing Municipal Corporation for was 16 days as compared to 8 days in economies. innovative and outstanding 2010.While heat stroke cases and leadership in building disaster risk fatalities were over 75% less than In May 2010, Ahmedabad heat wave preparedness and community those in 2010, the overall all-cause was associated with 4,462 all–cause resilience, the city's first Heat Action mortality during summer reduction deaths: an excess of 1,344 when Plan in 2013. The Plan was enacted was reduced by 6.88% or 1,116 lives compared to the reference period during the 2013 and 2014 heat seasons, indicating that indirect/undiagnosed (3,118 deaths). After this deadly heat which involved stakeholder trainings casualties still exist. Though the wave of May 2010, the Indian Institute and capacity building, community reduction cannot be specifically of Public Health – Gandhinagar outreach activities, and interagency attributed to the Ahmedabad Heat (IIPHG), the Public Health communication. Action Plan, the increased awareness Foundation of India, the Natural and early warnings may be Resources Defence Council and the The summer 2014, a similar heat responsible for the reduction in Climate and Development wave occurred in Ahmedabad. The deaths.
Presenting the experiences from THE AHMEDABAD HEAT ACTION PLAN (HAP) IS THE Ahmedabad's HAP and learning from FIRST CITY LEVEL PLAN IN SOUTH ASIA TO ADDRESS global best practices, AMC, NRDC THE RISK OF HEAT WAVES. and our partners organised a THE PLAN IS BASED ON SOUND RESEARCH AND country–wide two day workshop to ROBUST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. inform interested cities and government leaders on the steps to AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WORKSHOP, OTHER CITY prepare their own early warning ADMINISTRATIONS ALSO PLEDGED TO FOLLOW systems and heat preparation plans. AHMEDABAD’S LEAD. Over 50 delegates and representatives
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 5 from city municipalities, Indian to build a greater evidence base response activities in cities that Meteorological Department, State before work could start. The reduce the negative health impacts of Climate Change Departments, Maharashtra Principal Secretary extreme heat. Through our National Disaster Management (Health), Ms. Sujata Saunik, who experience, we can show that this is Authority, leaders from NGOs and participated in the kick off workshop, easily accomplished with significant local medical hospitals participated had immediately requested IIPHG to results at minimal cost and change in in the workshop at Ahmedabad. The hold a similar workshop on 8th-9th existing infrastructure. We hope that updated version of the HAP 2015 was May, 2015 at Nagpur under the other cities take on this task to build also unveiled during the workshop. leadership of Nagpur Municipal a more resilient community in the Corporation and Public health difficult times ahead. Out of the 5 cities that participated, department. – Priya Dutta, Ajit Rajiva, the Odisha and Maharashtra teams Abhiyant Tiwari, P.S Ganguly and had pledged to start HAP in their own The HAP provides a framework for Dileep Mavalankar, Indian Institute cities. Though interested, the teams the implementation, coordination, of Public Health Gandhinagar from Hyderabad and Delhi needed and evaluation of extreme heat
CLIMATE CHANGE AND DRR Towards Climate Sensitive Disaster Management Plan in Gujarat
hat is a Disaster Management Climate Change is increasing Climate Change is directly affecting WPlan (DMP)? possibilities of disasters, IPCC 5th the communities undermining their The word disaster implies a sudden Assessment Report released in 2014 livelihoods through gradual, overwhelming and unforeseen event noted "Direct and insured losses from insidious changes in temperature and which causes damage to life and weather-related disasters have rainfall patterns, and increasing the property. Disasters are natural or increased substantially in recent frequency and/or intensity of manmade. To address disaster and decades, both globally and hazards such as floods, cyclones, minimise its impact on human life, regionally. Increasing exposure of droughts, unseasonal rains and property and environment a people and economic assets has been hailstorms, which causes extensive systematic plan is developed, such the major cause of long-term damage to crops and Agro-Rural plans are generally location specific increases in economic losses from economy. Several recent trends in and covers response mechanism for weather- and climate-related weather extremes are sufficiently all types of potential disaster of that disasters." clear to press upon the need for particular region. appropriate risk reduction efforts. Managing Climate Change in this perspective has therefore become a major challenge to humanity and Governments.
Importance of Climate Sensitive DMP in Gujarat Gujarat is a coastal State with more than 1600 KM coastline, with a population of more than 60 million and population density of 308 km2. The major potential natural disaster for Gujarat includes Flood, Earthquake, Cyclone, Drought etc. frequency of these disasters have increased drastically in last couple of Fig. 1: Adaptation to climate change is almost equals to disaster risk reduction. decades, which will be continue to
6 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 evaluation of probable Climate Change related disasters. It is also highlighted that adaptation or resilience measures for Climate Change related disasters are important and upcoming areas of work for GSDMA.
Gujarat is prone to natural disasters like Earthquake, Cyclone, Drought, Flood etc. with the historical records of such disasters in past. There is also possibilities of heat wave, unseasonal rain, hailstorms etc. Now due to increased influence of Climate Change and as per IPCC/WMO reports the frequency of disasters like flood, cyclone, drought, and heat wave will increase rapidly in terms of intensity and occurrence. In GSDMP response and preparedness for all such disasters are documented and responsibility has been delegated from level of State authorities to districts and block administration. Fig 2. Climate Change Adaptation Process is based on local parameters. Gujarat has demonstrated various increase in future as well, due to Climate Change related Disasters: adaptation initiatives for natural Climate Change. The impacts of such Vulnerability and Adaptation disasters like drought, flood, and natural disaster are widespread and India has been proactive in taking cyclone, heat waves through long-lasting, the impacts also include various policy and institutional initiatives like water harvesting, alteration of ecosystems, disruption measures towards tackling disasters river linking, coastal area of food production and water supply, through implementation of Disaster management, and development of damage to infrastructure and Management Act, 2005. In tandem, the natural shield like mangrove cover, settlements, human morbidity and State of Gujarat is the pioneer in rescue and response in epidemic and mortality, and consequences for bringing institutional framework other emergencies. There is a mental health and human well-being through Gujarat Disaster common element in adaptation to (IPCC, 2014). Management Act 2003 and climate change and disaster risk subsequent rules there under. This reduction which is shown here in fig. institutional framework helped 1, and for Climate Change Adaptation THE INTERFACE OF Gujarat to manage and respond ideal process of 8 steps is shown in NATURAL HAZARDS AND quickly to various disasters. The fig. 2 which is self-explanatory. CLIMATE CHANGE CAN Gujarat State Disaster Management – Shwetal Shah, HAVE DISASTROUS Authority (GSDMA) is now well Technical Advisor – Climate Change References: IMPLICATIONS FOR equipped and professionally managed agency for preparedness 1. Intergovernmental Panel on GUJARAT. th towards addressing the disasters and Climate Change (IPCC) 5 Assessment Report, 2014 TO ADDRESS THIS RISK post disaster relief and rescue work. 2. Gujarat State Disaster IT IS NECESSARY TO The recently prepared Gujarat State Management Plan, 2014 HAVE CLIMATE A Disaster Management Plan (GSDMP) 3. Climate Variability and Climate SENSITIVE DISASTER 2014 is comprehensive and holistic for Change: Disaster Risk Scoping tackling all types of disastrous Study for Gujarat by TARU, 2011 MANAGEMENT PLAN IN situations. Climate Change has also 4. Disaster Preparedness & Response GUJARAT. been emphasised in GSDMP with – 2013 by GSDMA
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 7 DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN Heat Waves and Disaster Management Plans in India
ummers in India are worldwide expected to soon reach Russia as Although heat wave is not as frequent Sknown for its harshness. When well4. This leads us to the first as some other natural disasters, and searching online for the best time to question… Extreme temperatures and economic issues due to this event are visit the country, one is advised weather-related disasters have been lesser, it can rank among the ones "April is hot; May and June are registered in the four corners of the with highest proportional mortality, scorching."1 But it was not possible to world as a result of the well-known, as is the case in India6. It is, therefore, predict that this year India would be but still largely-underestimated paramount to acknowledge the on many international newspapers' phenomenon of climate change. devastating impacts of climate front page. Facing one of the toughest Whether it is natural or manmade (or change, especially on those who heat waves that have ever hit its both) may be a subject of controversy, always bear the brunt of disasters: the territory, the death toll already the fact is that earth is warming and most vulnerable as children, elderly, exceeded 2,0002. Though the it imposes serious threats to and impoverished. casualties are mainly concentrated in countries' development. It shall be the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, tackled in every possible way. Being one of the most hazard-prone reaching an astonishing amount of areas in the globe, disaster 1,3003, record high temperatures are The first step towards protecting one management is a key issue in India. registered throughout the country. country from heat waves is to regard So much so that in 2005 the national them with the significance they have. government enacted the Disaster Depicting such scenario, some In other words, deadly heat waves are Management Act (DMA), providing questions may naturally cross one's natural disasters and require to be general standards and guidelines to mind. Why is that? Is it only in India? addressed accordingly. While this be followed by all districts and states Or, most important, how to avoid it? December the world leaders will in the country. The DMA requires Starting from the middle, as this gather for the 'United Nations every district to both prepare and article is written, heat waves are also Climate Change Conference' in Paris regularly review a disaster witnessed in less likely places such to agree on the next goals to better management plan (i.e. District as Britain and Canada, and it is deal with this phenomenon, India (or Disaster Management Plan, or any other country) shall not wait for DDMP). Although the law THE FIRST STEP a reversal in the current trend of enforcement is below of what would TOWARDS PROTECTING increased temperatures. Even if it was be necessary to ensure its ONE COUNTRY FROM commonly agreed that climate effectiveness, integrating heat waves HEAT WAVES IS TO change is mainly human-induced, in DDMPs are, nevertheless, a great REGARD THEM WITH and even if greenhouse gas emissions opportunity to address this issue in THE SIGNIFICANCE were drastically reduced overnight, an action-oriented, holistic, and THEY HAVE. IN OTHER it would take significant time before systematic manner - just like what is achieving again a balanced climate5. needed to tackle this natural WORDS, DEADLY HEAT That is why it is so important for disaster. WAVES SHOULD BE countries to take a stand and work – Ana Richter and Brij Chauhan CONSIDERED DISASTERS. towards preparedness.
1 Lonely Planet, "When to go and weather"
8 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 HEAT WAVE PREPAREDNESS Why Every Authority should have a Heat Wave Preparedness Plan
xtreme heat events are can have to health. Many of the In a moderate heat wave, it is mainly Eresponsible for more deaths deaths seen in 2010 and 2015 caused the high-risk groups mentioned globally than hurricanes, lightening, by exposure to excessive heat could above who are affected, however, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes of been prevented if a very few during an extreme heat wave fit and combined. Numerous studies have simple precautions were taken. The healthy people can also be affected. documental that human induced purpose of a Heat wave plan is to climate change has increased the avoid adverse health effects of Each city must decide tailor their frequency and severity of heat waves excessive heat by raising public plan to deal with heat waves in their across the globe. However heat awareness and triggering actions by specific city. However below a few waves have yet to be taken seriously those in contact with people who are generic suggestions of what the first by most governments and agencies most at risk. steps can be: working in Disaster risk reduction. Heat waves must become integral to What should heat wave plan look like? Water: disaster planning. The general A heat wave plan should be Access to water is the key aspect to perception that extreme heat events organized around a few key points reduce the impact of heat on people's are passive and have little impact on 1. Identification of a lead agency health. Placing water stations around communities (when compared to and participating municipalities the city in order to ensure poor and other natural disasters) means that 2. Use of a standardized warning vulnerable people can have free they are rarely given the attention system that responds quickly to access to water is a great way of that they desperately need. predictions of increase in limiting the impact and preventing temperatures. more serious health concerns. Ahmedabad Heat Wave Plan: 3. Building public awareness and Ahmedabad, India, became the first community outreach How to mitigate urban heat island city in South Asia to address the issue 4. Implementation of response effect: of heat waves and construct a Heat activities targeting high-risk Cities are especially vulnerable to Action plan. This was instigated after populations heat waves effect. There are a number the deadly Heat wave which hit 5. M&E practices of actions that can be taken to Ahmedabad in May 2010. The heat including the modification of surface wave action plan, fully formed in Comprehensive heat preparedness properties and integration of green 2013 by Ahmedabad Municipal and response requires involvement infrastructure. This also includes Cooperation (AMC), describes both from not only government keeping parks open for extended and immediate and longer term actions authorities but also the planting of trees is key to to increase preparedness. The plan nongovernmental organizations. It changing urban micro-climates for was formed based on information should also take into account certain the better. collected from mortality data from groups that are more vulnerable city hospitals, emergency ambulance during a heat wave. The local Importance of inclusion of other call records, heat vulnerability surveys, authority should carry out a services: focus groups and interviews with vulnerability assessment in order to It is vital that emergency services government officials. Unfortunately identify the post at risk groups. These and infrastructure is taken into the heat wave action plan that was can include: account during the planning. Water instigated in Ahmedabad has yet to • Old age companies and electricity suppliers be applied to most other Indian • Infants should be consulted and when a heat states. This is a likely cause of the • Chronic or severe illness wave is predicted any planned work heat wave in May 2015 having such • Homeless peoples should be delayed. The same disastrous consequences. • High exposure livelihoods: precautions should be taken with Street vendors, traffic police, emergency services. Dangers of Heat Waves: construction worker etc. – Grace Beards with There is a large and strong evidence • Slum dwellers Vandana Chauhan base about the impact that heat waves
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 9 GOOD PRACTICES Beating the Heat: Lessons from Ahmedabad's Heat Wave Action Plan
s India comes to terms with the the rising temperatures. The lone street vendors, construction Aover 2,000 casualties related exception to this institutional apathy workers, traffic police personnel, with extreme heat stress, it is time to is the city of Ahmedabad in the Indian children, the elderly, etc. Other devise a national level strategy and state of Gujarat. Ever since the Indian cities also house such plan to combat this disaster.1 While summer of 2010, when a deadly heat communities and they should heat waves may be at best an wave killed more than 1,300 people, also identify and designate them inconvenience to those who live and the local authorities of Ahmedabad as most vulnerable to the risks work in air conditioned spaces, the have taken concerted action to prevent of heat waves. working poor who mostly work on illness and deaths related with the streets have to fend for extreme heat.2 These efforts have • Set up of 'Public Cooling Places' themselves in the face of this extreme resulted in the Ahmedabad Heat One of the simplest yet effective heat. These include vegetable Action Plan which aims to protect the measures taken by the AMC is vendors, auto repair mechanics, cab residents of Ahmedabad from the to set up public cooling spaces to drivers, construction workers, road dangers of heat waves. provide relief to the vulnerable side kiosk operators and all others people from the sweltering heat. have to work in the extreme heat to Ahmedabad's Heat Action Plan can These cooling places have been make ends meet, often at the expense offer a lot of lessons for other Indian set up in temples, public buildings of their health. Such communities are cities to emulate and help protect and malls. Other cities too can extremely vulnerable to the adverse their citizens from the extreme heat. take emulate this and set up impacts of heat waves such as These lessons are as follow: public cooling spaces to provide dehydration, heat and sun strokes. succour from extreme heat. Therefore, it is not unsurprising that • Recognize Heat Wave as a major construction workers, homeless Health Risk • Use different media to convey people and the elderly constitute the The first step towards addressing heat wave alerts majority of heat wave casualties in a problem is acknowledging it. The AMC has been liberal with India. As mentioned earlier, heat waves the use different media to spread are yet to be recognized as awareness and alerts about heat Despite their fatal implications, heat disasters at the institutional level waves. Media like newspapers waves are not recognized as disasters in India. Other Indian cities can ads, wall posters, hoardings, TV at the institutional level in India. As emulate Ahmedabad's alerts, SMS and WhatsApp alerts a result, most Indian cities do not experience in recognizing the have been leveraged by the have a heat wave action plan to dangers of heat waves and setting AMC. Municipal authorities in initiate administrative action against up of a Heat Wave Action Plan. other Indian cities too would This would help many Indian benefit greatly by emulating the THE AHMEDABAD HEAT cities to considerably mitigate example set by the AMC. ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN the impacts of heat waves on HAILED AS AN their citizens. The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan has INNOVATION. been innovative as it is the first South • Map out the 'High Risk' Asian city to tackle the risk of heat THIS PLAN HAS Communities waves on such a grand scale. Other OFFERED MANY As part of its Heat Wave Action Indian cities and their LESSONS TO OTHER Plan, the Ahmedabad Municipal administrations can take a leaf out of CITIES TO PROTECT Corporation (AMC) mapped out Ahmedabad's book and protect their THEIR CITIZENS FROM those communities which are citizens from the dangers of extreme HEAT WAVES. most likely to be exposed to the heat. extreme heat. These include – Kshitij Gupta
1 Emulate Ahmedabad to Combat Heatwave Threat, The New Indian Express, 05th June 2015 , http:// www.newindianexpress.com/editorials/Emulate-Ahmedabad-to-Combat-Heatwave-Threat/2015/06/05/article2850147.ece 2 Ahmedabad offers way to beat the heat as 1,786 killed in heat wave, NITA BHALLA, May 29, 2015, http://in.reuters.com/ article/2015/05/29/india-heatwave-disasters-idINKBN0OD2GT20150529
10 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 CHILDREN AND HEAT WAVES Ahmedabad's Heat Action Kids: Why You Should Try Harder to Push Climate Change Policy
hmedabad is cooking. A Pavement scalds feet, bathing water is as if boiled, and to sweat is habituated. Time has lost its demarcations here- even the night withholds relief. Some Amdavadis can hop from air conditioned home, to air conditioned car, to air conditioned office, but this is a reality only for the few and wealthy. The reprieve of cooled buildings are not spaces sanctioned for the poor, nor are they places their children can go either. Photo: AIDMI. These kids, the children of Students discuss climate change at the Bapunagar Hindi School. Ahmedabad's poor, are among those most vulnerable to the extreme heat how to engage in risk reducing the daily traffic jams and chaos of the we have been suffering. They cannot behaviours. These are kids who have city is hurting their chances to grow regulate their body temperatures like experienced or know someone who up healthy. But what can they do? adults, falling victim to heat stroke has become ill from the heat. Living more readily. So what are the city's in slums where the poor condition of "Call the police!" one boy exclaims. children doing to tough it out? Before housing is exacerbated by density, And we can, in a more roundabout the heat waves rolled in this year, the children face a higher risk to heat way. Residents have the power to All India Disaster Mitigation illness at home than at school. push policy. Do you want these kids, Institute (AIDMI) visited the and yours, to grow up in a city where Ahmedabad's public schools to find When we visited the schools, we met the pollution is increasing and it gets out. with bright-eyed, engaged students in your eyes? Where the heat is worse eager to voice their knowledge and with each passing year? As The children participating in our experience. There was common Ahmedabad expands, this can only visits have a basic understanding of consensus to regularly hydrate. We get worse. climate change, natural disasters, and were informed water at home is kept in clay basins to remain cool. During The children of the city's slums are summer months, the children don inspiring. They are catalyzing forces THE CHILDREN OF white clothing to reflect the sun, in communities where parents never AHMEDABAD’S POOR covering themselves in light, went to school, scolding their parents ARE EXTREMELY breathable fabrics. They stay out of when they pollute, when their VULNERABLE TO the sun, taking refuge in what shade neighbours burn garbage. But the EXTREME HEAT STRESS. they can find. A potassium-packed most these kids can do is adapt in ways INSTEAD OF BEING treat, mango is eaten when they can that don't further contribute to SILENT VICTIMS, THESE get it. All community based harmful practices. Every bit does CHILDREN ARE mitigation measures. make a difference, but what makes a CATALYSING FORCES IN bigger difference is enforcing stricter THEIR COMMUNITIES TO The children also know why the heat regulations on polluting industries, ENGENDER ADAPTATION is getting worse: Climate Change. which is something those able to TO THE THREAT OF HEAT afford modern reprieves from this WAVES. They know that the factory puffing heat have the power to do. smoke is not for their benefits, that – Kasia Knap
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 11 SCHOOLS AND HEAT WAVES Schools to Build Resilience against Heat Waves
n recent times, heat waves have severely with deaths of animals and A lot more concrete work is required Icaused more damage to lives than loss of productivity. to be done in order to withstand these any other weather events, including waves. Heat wave is such a disaster floods. At temperatures about 40 D.S. Pai, head of the Long Range which requires extreme personal care. degrees Celsius, a "heatwave" refers Forecast Division at India At such a key juncture, the children at to a departure of between 4-5 degrees Meteorological Department, Pune, in school must be the first priority. Celsius from the normal a recent interview said that compared • The class hours in schools can be temperatures, while a "severe with the previous four decades, the adjusted so that students don't heatwave" refers to a departure of occurrence of heat waves and severe get exposure in peak hours and more than 6 degrees Celsius.1 During heat waves in the country has peak summer days. Educational the period of April-July every year, increased during the period of 1961- institutions should use the data spells of hot weather occasionally 2010, the last decade (2001-2010) being and announcements related to occur over certain parts of India. the warmest2. The most vulnerable heatwave prediction by IMD Prolonged heat wave periods result section of the population to heat (Indian Meteorological in scarcity of water, drought spells waves are however our children. Department). The IMD has been and diseases and eventually to death Children often fail to understand the making accurate and timely tolls. Generally heat waves develop variability related to extreme weather heatwave predictions in India in the north-western parts of India conditions. Depletion of salt and over the past four years. and from this area they progress to electrolyte in the body cause heat • Cool water systems may be neighbouring subdivisions of the cramps and outdoor activities under installed in and around schools. country. The 2015 Indian Heat Wave the direct sun lead to heat exhaustion • Preparing a preparedness plan has been very devastating claiming and eventually heat strokes. with high focus on awareness at more than 2500 lives till now, the the school in summer season can most affected regions being Andhra The increasing spells of heat waves be very useful. Pradesh, Telengana, West Bengal, are the in fact direct effect of changing • Plantation of trees are the key. A Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. The climate throughout the globe. With greener environment is always poultry industry too has suffered increasing carbon emissions, the a safer environment. Schools are globe is getting hotter every day. the best place to promote and CHILDREN ARE Heat waves are sort of 'Silent encourage. EXTREMELY Disasters'. They often catch us by • Provision of proper ventilation surprise. Even though heat waves are is a must in the school buildings. VULNERABLE TO expected during summers, people • Awareness campaigns related to STRESSES OF HEAT often are not prepared for them. heat waves by schools must be WAVES. Increase in temperatures is such that conducted. SCHOOLS ARE it starts effecting even before anyone IMPORTANT realising it. This is where it becomes The awareness campaigns of Do's and so very dangerous. Heat waves in our Don'ts can prove very vital in case of STAKEHOLDERS THAT country are still not considered in the standing against its ill effects. The CAN TAKE CORRECTIVE categories of other natural disasters. protection and risk reduction both are MEASURES TO PROTECT However, with its seriously increasing important component where school CHILDREN FROM THE impacts, it is high time that mitigation can play important role in the DANGERS OF HEAT measures are required in line with society. WAVES. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and – Maitreya Goswami Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).
1 Bhatt M. (2015), Too Hot to Handle, Governance Section, Ahmedabad/ Heatwave Action Plan, Views on News, http:// viewsonnewsonline.com/?p=1273. 2 The Hindu, June 04, 2015; http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/heat-waves-on-the-rise-in-india/ article7279950.ece.
12 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 NEW PERSPECTIVES IN DRR An Anthropological Approach to Understanding Heat Waves
ultural anthropology forces us Cto take the everyday seriously and to ask ourselves what we can learn from the lived experience of ordinary people. An anthropologist questions why people do what they do, observes how they make their decisions and pays attention to their priorities and values. This kind of curiosity, observation and attention breeds creative thinking and innovative solutions. Perhaps this is where an anthropological approach may provide particular insight to disaster management.
Ahmedabad's heat wave put the health and earnings of the working poor at risk. Street-based workers such as vendors, cobblers and
construction workers spend their Photo: AIDMI. entire day under the hot summer sun. Sonjibhia Patani, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. So, what do they do to bear the scorching heat? What are their daily In order to support these kinds of In many ways, the All India Disaster strategies and coping mechanisms? existing heat wave coping Mitigation Institute has a very mechanisms, an anthropological anthropological approach in that it is Vegetable vendors, in particular, face methodology has much to offer. The community-based and sees local great difficulties since their produce approach begins by paying attention culture as a resource rather than an is highly heat-sensitive. They must to the details of everyday life like the obstruction to disaster management. employ myriad solutions to meet makeshift tarp or the wet jute cloth. AIDMI has always strengthened the their needs for shade and water. A While consulting the most knowledge and coping mechanisms spot under the shade of a tree is vulnerable is clearly essential, so are of disaster-affected communities to considered prime real estate to observing and listening. The jute build their resilience. vendors during the summer months. cloth that a vendor uses may not come Those without shade attach old cotton up in an interview but a good After the Boxing Day Indian Ocean saris to lampposts to make makeshift observer will notice its importance. Tsunami of 2004, AIDMI incorporated shelters. Many vendors lay their Furthermore, an anthropologist also local building techniques into vegetables out on a wet jute sack and tries to suspend judgment, to step out temporary shelter construction for sprinkle water on leafy greens to keep of themselves and their opinions. 1,395 households in 5 locations of them fresh. These strategies to secure Doing this allows them to ask certain Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. shade and water not only protect fundamental questions: what and AIDMI's work shows us that the against heatstroke, they also extend how does this person think about heat relevance of anthropology extends the life of their perishable produce. If waves? What matters to them? far outside of academia. By drawing their produce is at-risk, so are their Through this anthropological from its methodology and core earnings. Small physical adjustments exercise, innovative heat wave principles, we may inform disaster can have large impacts on solutions regarding water, trees, management efforts. livelihoods. heat-absorbent concrete or air – Maya Potter, pollution may begin to emerge. Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellow
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 13 CLIMATE CHANGE AND DRR Climate Change within Disaster Risk Reduction
seminal policy year for with numerous A development and sustainability other challenges, occurs in 2015 due to three parallel from earthquakes to processes that seek long-term energy supply and agreements. Through the UNFCCC from discrimination negotiations, a legally binding to drought caused by agreement will be sought for climate water overuse rather change in Paris in December. than by rainfall Meanwhile, the voluntary Sendai deficits. The reality, Framework for Disaster Risk as long articulated in Reduction was signed in Japan in disasters and Roads which flood after a short downpour represent neither development March while the voluntary climate change adaptation, nor disaster risk reduction, nor Sustainable Development Goals will science, is "multiple sustainability. From the Bahamas, photo by Ilan Kelman. be finalised at UN headquarters in exposure" to New York in September. multiple challenges–some of which while being careful that no single bring multiple opportunities to do issue dominates. Little reason exists to separate these better. three processes and agreements, since In turn, disaster risk reduction should all examine and aim to deal with No reason exists to emphasise sit within development and many similar topics, namely reducing climate change over other hazard sustainability to avoid its isolation vulnerability and enhancing resilience influencers or to separate climate from wider topics and topics which to a broad range of phenomena. change from wider contexts. Instead, disaster risk reduction cannot Despite the intersections and we should be working together by address. Without this approach, we overlaps amongst climate change, linking topics and by finding might successfully address climate DRR, and sustainability, too many connections that end disagreements change while increasing disaster risk efforts exist to separate them. and that ensure our work is not or we might successfully address counterproductive to others. disaster risk while harming longer- For example, resilience is frequently term endeavours. defined in climate change circles as In particular, climate change is one being about ''returning to normal'' contributor to disaster risk, mainly What good is an energy efficient and or "bouncing back to a pre-event through influencing hazards but flood-resistant school which collapses state". That diverges from many other sometimes affecting vulnerability. in the next earthquake? What good is approaches which prefer to do better But climate change is not necessarily an energy efficient, flood-resistant, than normal by not bouncing back to the most prominent or most and earthquake-resistant school in a the state of vulnerability which fundamental contributor to disaster country where girls or lower castes caused a disaster in the first place. If risk. Yet climate change has become cannot be educated? post-earthquake Nepal were politically important, as shown by the reconstructed to its "normal" state, it run-up to the Paris meeting, yielding Integrating the topics as proposed here would mean perpetuating the an opportunity to highlight and tackle moves beyond limited expressions of inequality, governance difficulties, the deep-rooted vulnerability vulnerability and resilience towards poverty, and conflicts which ensured processes that cause ''multiple a vision of disaster risk reduction's that over 8,000 people died in the exposure''. future that ends tribalism and April catastrophe. separation in order to work together To enhance resilience processes that to achieve common goals for humanity. Similarly, the climate change notion address the challenges, a prudent – Ilan Kelman, JC Gaillard, and of ''double exposure'' highlights how place for climate change would be as Jessica Mercer vulnerability is augmented by a subset within disaster risk This article is summarised from the paper having to deal simultaneously with reduction. Climate change adaptation published earlier this year in the International problems from the impacts of global therefore becomes one of many Journal of Disaster Risk Science which is freely available at http://link.springer.com/article/ environmental change and economic processes within disaster risk 10.1007/s13753-015-0038-5 globalization. People daily must deal reduction, ensuring that it is addressed 14 southasiadisasters.net June 2015 COMMUNITY BASED DRR Documentation of Best Practice of the Community at Chaudangpathar Golaghat
he Choudangpathar Technical TTraining Centre (CTTC), a non The District Disaster government organization proved Management Authority that with knowledge, zeal and an (DDMA), Golaghat Wishes adventurous spirit an innovation is CTTC a great Success in possible. This practice began with their endeavour towards the effort and struggle of Mr Kamal building a resilient rural Bora, B.sc (President) and Mr Simanta community. Thengal, B.A (Secretary) of CTTC, at Choudangpathar, Ghiladhari Mouza under Golaghat Revenue Circle, Golaghat district about 30 km from HQ.
The CTTC was established in 2011 with the objective of making the rural educated youth self–dependent through various technical trainings. The prime focus of the Centre is the agriculture sector as the district is prone to flood and drought which affects the agrarian community in the district.
Therefore the CTTC is engaged in technical verification of the were purposely shaking the boat to developing low cost floating improvised boat. The IWT however test its balance, it still stood materials, improvised boats and life sent a note about strengthening the majestically and I was with the life jackets for the flood affected boat using aluminum sheet and tar. jacket (prepared by CTTC) and after community to respond effectively The CTTC was then instructed to traveling some distance I took it out during the flood period. retrofit the boat using aluminium as as I was free of the false notion”. directed by the IWT. The CTTC had When the CTTC came into contact in the meantime constructed boats Even in the Exhibition at the Book with the District Disaster with bamboo, aluminium wire and Fair from 15th November to 24th Management Authority (DDMA) thermocol (thermacol box available November 2014 at General Field, Golaghat, the DPO was very much from the fish market). Golaghat the model was displayed enthralled by their indigenous and highly praised by the public. The knowledge and their skill. This was This was also demonstrated at CTTC has also developed Life jackets further shared with the Addl. Deputy Banmukh village, Sibsagarh District, using cloth and thermocol. They Commissioner, DDMA, Golaghat. where the community appreciated have also prepared floating houses And after a few days of meeting and the use of the boats. The Addl. which could be used for temporary discussions, the Fire and Emergency Deputy Commissioner, DDMA, Sri shelter during emergencies and also Services including the State Disaster Rohiteswar Deori, ACS, and DPO, for recreational purpose. The CTTC Response Force (SDRF) was involved DDMA had together witnessed the is now engaged in making the flood in examining the feasibility of the viability of the improvised boats in vulnerable community aware of the boat. This idea was further shared Dhansri River of Golaghat. In the practice. with the Executive Engineer, Inland first instance “I was doubtful and had – Ronney P. Rajkumar, D.P.O, Water Transport (IWT), Dibrugarh fear of falling off the boat when DDMA, Golaghat, Assam and his team was invited for fifteen of us stood over it… some
June 2015 southasiadisasters.net 15 INFORMATION SHARING Criteria for a Heat Wave
eat wave need not be considered till maximum temperature Hof a station reaches at least 40C for plains and at least 30c for hilly regions.*
When normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40c • Heat wave departure from normal is 5c to 6c • Severe heat wave departure from normal is 7c or more
When normal maximum temperatures of a station is more than 40c • Heat wave departure from normal if 4c to 5c • Severe heat wave departure from normal is 6c or more
When actual maximum temperature remains 45c or more irrespective of normal maximum temperatures, heat waves should be declared.
* As defined by Indian Meteorological Department Source: Indian meteorological department http://www.imd.gov.in/ section/nhac/dynamic/forecaster_guide.pdf
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Denis Nkala Mihir R. Bhatt Regional Coordinator, South-South Cooperation and All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India Country Support (Asia-Pacific), United Nations Dr. Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Development Programme, New York The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, Ian Davis New York, USA Visiting Professor in Disaster Risk Management in T. Nanda Kumar Copenhagen, Lund, Kyoto and Oxford Brookes Chairman, National Dairy Development Board Universities (NDDB), Anand, Gujarat, India
ALL INDIA DISASTER MITIGATION INSTITUTE 411 Sakar Five, Near Old Natraj Cinema, Mithakhadi Railway Crossing, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad–380 009 India. Tele/Fax: +91-79-2658 2962 E-mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.aidmi.org, www.southasiadisasters.net 16 southasiadisasters.net June 2015