Know About Disaster Management

Introduction

Disasters are caused due to accidents or due to natural causes. Knowledge of disaster management can help an individual stay safe and minimize risk. This article aims to educate readers on the topic of disaster management in various situations – natural and accidental.

History

1] Earthquake: If you ever are unfortunate enough to encounter an earthquake; then the best way is to move out onto open land as quickly as possible. Inside a building you face the possibility of being trapped under the debris if the structure collapses. However, it can be difficult to move out as earthquakes are almost always accompanied by power failures. Darkness can be disorienting, especially if you live in a large building. The elevators will stop working and it might not be possible to move out at the given time. In such a case, hide under a strong table. If at all something from above falls down, then you will not hurt yourself as the table will protect you. Another way to stay safe is to stand under the frame of a door. These are some of the strongest parts of a building and have the least chance of collapsing – disaster management is all about knowledge. If you happen to have a gas cylinder, then turn it off immediately. A gas leakage may lead to a fire which will be nearly impossible to control during such a catastrophe.

Most modern constructions are earthquake proof, thus the possibility of them collapsing is quite less. If you act sensibly and keep your wits about you; then you will stay safe. Panic prevents people from acting wisely in emergencies – this leads to ineffective disaster management. Many people become stupefied by the calamity. This is natural but standing still in a state of shock will not aid your cause. Gather yourself and act to save yourself as well as any other family members who may be in need of assistance. This is easier said than done, but being alert is your best chance at surviving any disaster. Alacrity of thought is key to efficient disaster management.

Features

2] Floods, tsunamis: Proper disaster management can prevent fatalities during floods. Get up as high as possible. The best chance you have of staying away from the water is to get on top of your house or any other solid building. This also makes you visible in case helicopters or other rescue teams arrive onto the location. Many people have items like tyres and pool floats around the house. These items which were formerly used for recreation can be life saving in such conditions – especially if you have non-swimmers in the family. These can also be used for wading around to safer locations. Try not to come in contact with water. Flood water is full of infectious micro-organism. This is because of the fact the sewage water gets mixed with flood water. Try to create smoke or any other kind of signal to draw the attention of rescue operations. Disaster management involves making use of existing resources to get to safety.

3] Fire: This is probably the hardest to control. Call your local fire brigade as soon as possible. If you have a fire extinguisher, use it to extinguish the fire. If the fire is already out of control, then your best option is to make it out of the building safely.

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