Disaster Management: Responding to Disasters Online Test 9th Social Science Lesson 13 Questions

The tiny Andaman and Nicobar Islands were directly in the path of the tsunami generated by the magnitude 9.1 of earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. Final total put the islands’ death toll at 1,879 alone with another 5,600 people missing.

Shortly before 8 am on 26 December 2004, the cicadas fell silent and the ground shook in dismay. The Moken, an isolated tribe on the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean, knew that the Laboon, the ‘wave that eats people’, had stirred from his ocean lair. The Moken also knew what was next: a towering wall of water washing over their island, cleansing it of all that was evil and impure. To heed the Laboon’s warning signs, elders told their children, run to high ground. ‘If the water recedes after an earthquake, run immediately to high ground’

Disaster management includes Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Disaster management involves all levels of government. Non-governmental and community-based organizations play a vital role in the process. Modern disaster management goes beyond post-disaster assistance.

An earthquake is a sudden vibration of the part of the earth caused by plate movements. It occurs along the plate boundaries. The place inside the earth where an earthquake originates is focus.

The place inside the earth where an earthquake originates is focus. The point on the earth’s surface above the called a focus is called an epicentre. The damage caused by the earthquake is the highest near the epicentre. The earthquake is measured by an instrument called a Seismograph. It is recorded in Richter scale.

Japan is in a very active seismic area and it has the densest seismic network in the world. Indonesia is in a very active seismic zone also, but because it is larger than Japan, it has more earthquakes.

Country has the most earthquakes per unit area would probably be Tonga, Fiji or Indonesia, since they are all in extremely active seismic areas along subduction zones.

A tsunami can kill or injure people and damage or destroy buildings and infrastructure as waves come forth and recede. A tsunami is a series of enormous ocean waves caused by earthquakes, underwater landslides, volcanic eruptions or asteroids.

Tsunamis can travel 700-800 km per hour, with waves 10-30 meter high. It causes flooding and disrupts transportation, power, communications, and water supply.

As per Pew Research Center analysis of 198 countries on April 11, 2015. Syria tops in riot in the world followed by Nigeria, Iraq and India.

Wildfires occur when vegetated areas are set alight and are particularly common during hot and dry periods. They can occur in forests, grasslands, bush and deserts, and with blowing wind, can spread rapidly. Fires can lead to the destruction of buildings, wooden bridges and poles, power, transmission and telecommunication lines, warehouses containing oil products and other fuel. It causes injury to people and animals.

The most common causes of fires are lightning strikes, sparks during arid conditions, eruption of volcanoes and man-made fires arising from deliberate arson or accidents. A side-effect of wildfires which also threatens inhabited areas is smoke. Fires create large quantities of smoke, which can be spread far by wind and poses a respiratory hazard.

If caught in a riot: If you find yourself caught up in a demonstration, keep to the edge of the crowd where it is safer. At the first opportunity, break away and seek refuge in a nearby building or find a suitable doorway or alley and stay there until the crowd passes. When leaving the fringe of the demonstration, just walk away – don't run as this will draw attention to you. In the event that you are arrested by the police/military, do not resist. Go along peacefully and contact your law advisor to help you resolve your predicament. If you are caught up in the crowd, stay clear of glass shop fronts, moreover, move with the flow. If shooting breaks out, drop to the ground and cover your head and neck, and lie as flat as you can.

What you should do during a fire: 1. Stay calm. 2. Pull the nearest fire alarm or call 112. 3. Give your name and location of the fire. Do not hang up until the police dispatcher tells you to do so. 4. Leave the building immediately. 5. Inform others as you pass them to leave the building immediately. 6. Walk—don’t run—to the nearest exit. 7. Never use elevators—an elevator may become a trap.

To escape a fire, stop, drop, and roll. In case your clothes burn, stop running, drop on the floor and roll to stop the fire spreading.

On an average, in India, every year, about 25,000 persons die due to fires and related causes. Female accounts for about 66% of those killed in fire accidents. It is estimated that about 42 females and 21 males die every day in India due to fire.

It is important that we know what to do if an earthquake occurs. In case we are inside the class when it occurs, instruct loudly “earth quake position – drop, cover, and hold on”. Drop down on your knee. Cover your head, neck and face. Go under a table to protect your head and neck.

DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there is no table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building. 2. Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed. 3. Stay away from glass windows, outside doors and walls and anything that could fall (such as lighting fixtures or furniture). 4. Stay inside until the shaking stops and go outside.

Modern disaster management goes beyond post-disaster assistance. It now includes pre-disaster planning and preparedness activities, organizational planning, training, information management, public relations and many other fields. Crisis management is important, but is only a part of the responsibility of a disaster manager.

Condensation Process of change of state of water from gaseous to liquid. Continental drift- The gradual movement of the Earth’s continents on the surface of the planet Coriolis Force - Deflection of winds from their original path due to Earth's rotation.

Doldrums The equatorial low-pressure belt, extending between 5°N and 5°S. Eruption The ejection of molten rock, steam, etc. from a volcano or geyser.

Asthenosphere Upper layer of the earth’s mantle below the lithosphere. Air current Movement of air when it rises upward or sinks down. Cataclysms Large scale violent events in the natural world

Disaster response entails restoring physical facilities, rehabilitation of affected population, restoration of lost livelihoods and reconstruction efforts to restore the infrastructure lost or damaged.