Alleviation: An International Journal of Nutrition, Gender & Social Development, ISSN 2348-9340
Volume 3, Number 3 (2016) : 32-36
©Arya PG College, Panipat & Business Press India Publication, Delhi
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Mobilization and Integration of Information Technology in the Management of Natural Disasters

Dr. Anjali Dewan
Head, Department of Home Science, St. Bede’s College, Shimla
(Himachal Pradesh), India
Email: dewananjali@rediffmail.com

Introduction

India is prone to a number of natural hazards and it has witnessed devastating natural disasters in recent past like droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, etc. Drought like situation in various parts of the country has been caused due to shortfall in the rainfall. Severe earthquakes have caused widespread damage to the life and property. Research and developmental activities in the area of information technology are being given more attention so as to prevent disasters.
Disasters cut across organizational, political, geographic, professional, and sociological boundaries. So there is a need to integrate information across many organizations, disciplines, and geographical regions. The responsibility of undertaking rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures rests with the concerned state government under the existing framework in the country. The central government gives logistic and financial support in the event of major disasters. District Plans are prepared at the district level in advance for implementation during a crisis with adequate powers for decision-making. At the national level, a Calamity Relief Fund provides additional funds required for various actions

Information Technology and Disaster Management

The disaster information infrastructure encompasses three subsystems: Knowledge, Interconnectivity and Integration infrastructures. Knowledge infrastructure is related to observation techniques for data collection and visualization, information analysis, event forecasting, knowledge modeling, and information management. To retrieve and distribute data and dissemination of information products, interconnectivity subsystem is employed. Integration infrastructure addresses the operational system, standards and protocols, procedures for evaluation of quality and reliability and training of key personnel. Operational use of technology in terms of information gathering and their real time dissemination leading to effective risk reduction at the local and national level requires appropriate infrastructure, techniques and institutional systems to be in place. An ideal system needs to have subsystems on vulnerability, risk assessment, early warning and monitoring, emergency communication and short and long term mitigation strategies.
By creating proper awareness of the likely disasters and its impact, by developing a suitable warning system, disaster preparedness and management through application of information technology tools, sufferings can be minimized. The IT tools are discussed below:

Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing

GIS helps in providing a tool for effective and efficient storage and manipulation of remotely sensed data and other non-spatial data and spatial types for both scientific management and policy oriented information. This can be used to facilitate measurement, mapping, monitoring of data related to natural phenomenon. The specific GIS application in the field of risk assessment is the hazard mapping to show earthquakes, landslides, floods, and fire hazards. These maps could be created for cities, districts or even for country. Remote sensing observes any object from a distance without coming into actual contact. It can gather data much faster than ground based observation. Some applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in various disasters are as follows:
Drought relief management: In drought relief management, GIS and remote sensing can be used e.g strategies to organize relief work can be planned due to early warnings of drought conditions. To target potential ground water sites for taking up well digging programmes and for evaluating areas subject to desertification, satellite data may be used.
Earthquakes, floods and landslides: In order to assess the exact nature of risks, GIS and remote sensing can be used for preparing seismic hazards maps. For mapping and monitoring the flood inundated areas, flood damage assessment and post-flood survey of rivers, satellite data can be effectively used. Landslide zonation map has an inbuilt element of forecasting and is hence of probabilistic nature. A landslide hazard zonation map is able to provide information concerning location, extent of the area likely to be affected and rate of mass movement of the slope mass, according to the methodology adopted and the comprehensiveness of the input data used.
Use of Internet
It provides useful platform for disaster mitigation communications. For the rapid, automatic, and global dissemination of disaster information, launching of a well defined web site is a very cost-effective, new and potentially revolutionary option. For real-time dissemination of weather observation and forecasts, satellite, and other data; a large number of individuals and groups, including several national meteorological services are experimenting with the internet.
Warning and Warning and Forecasting System
In determining whether a natural hazard will assume disastrous proportions or not, an advance system of forecasting, monitoring and issuing early warnings plays the most significant role. The country has the following forecasting systems:
Indian meteorological department: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is useful in providing cyclone warnings from the Area Cyclone Warning Centres (ACWCs). Based on an Optimal Interpretation (OI) analysis and a limited area Primitive Equation (PE) model, IMD runs operationally a Limited-area Analysis and Forecast System (LAFS) to provide numerical guidance.
National remote sensing agency: By the use of satellite data obtained by national remote sensing agency, long term drought proofing programmes on the natural resources of the district are very helpful.
Seismological observations: Through national network of 36 seismic stations operated by the IMD, seismological observations in the country are made.
Warning system for drought: The Department of Space for the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation has developed the National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Management System (NADAMS). The drought assessment is based on a comparative evaluation of satellite observed green vegetation cover (Both area and greenness) of a district in any specific time period, with that of any similar period in previous years.
Flood forecasting: The Central Water Commission (CWC) issues the warnings to the Ministry of Water Resources Flood forecasts. Information is collected from the CWC's vast network of forecasting stations on various rivers in the country.
Cyclone tracking: Cyclone warnings information is furnished on a real-time basis to the control room set up in the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Along the coastal belt of India, High-power Cyclone Detection Radars (CDRs) that are installed have proved to be a very useful tool to the cyclone warning work. Within a range of 400 kilometers, these radars can locate and track approaching tropical cyclones.
Financial Arrangements for Natural Disasters in India
On developing economies such as India, natural disasters are huge economic burdens. For rescue, relief and rehabilitation works following natural disaster occurrences; every year huge amount of resources are mobilized. As far as mobilization of financial resources is concerned, the central government plays a major role. For each state with contribution from the central and state government to undertake relief and rehabilitation measures, a scheme called Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) has been constituted. A National Fund for Calamity Relief (NFCR) has been created to deal with hazards of rare severity managed by a National Calamity Relief Committee (NCRC) in addition to CRF. A memorandum for this purpose giving details of damage and destruction, and the cost of relief and rehabilitation has to be submitted by the state governments. Then the government of India decides on an individual basis whether a central team is required.
Administrative Structure of Disaster Management in India
The nodal department for all matters concerning natural disasters’ relief at the centre is the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Relief and rescue operations are launched by the National Contingency Action Plan (CAP). Cabinet Committee for effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of natural calamity and National Crisis Management Committee are various committees at the national level for disaster management.
In planning and implementation of hazards reduction, advancement in information technology in the form of internet, GIS, remote sensing, satellite communication, etc. can help in a great way. Several new initiatives have been taken up and a paradigm shift in disaster management emphasizing mitigation, prevention and preparedness has occurred due to critical assessment of the current system and technological advances. On the basis of the strength of technology inputs and resilience building in commu nities, a roadmap has been drawn up. Institutionally, separate Disaster Management Authority is being set up in the States. A National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is being established to coordinate all aspects of disaster management effectively at the national level.
To improve the quality and power of analysis of natural hazards assessments, to guide development activities and assist planners in the selection of mitigation measures and in the implementation of emergency preparedness and response action, GIS can play an important role. On the other hand, Remote Sensing can be very much helpful in identification of hazardous areas, monitoring the planet for its changes on a real time basis and giving early warning to many impending disasters. Communication satellites are important for providing emergency communication and timely relief measures. Awareness should be created amongst the public as well as decision makers for allocating resources for appropriate investments in information technology.
Role of Armed Forces
During disaster emergencies providing prompt relief to the victims even in the most inaccessible and remote areas of the country, the armed forces of the country have played a vital role. With their disciplined and systematized approach and with their skills in technical and human resource management, the armed forces have become indispensable for such emergency situations.
Conclusions
To develop human resources particularly in the developing countries who are chronically suffering from natural disasters, awareness and training in information technology is required. In rural areas, stress is being given for non-engineering construction to make them earthquake-proof. At national level, cyclone monitoring and mitigation group has been set up to look into the protocols for cyclone warning and dissemination and appropriate mitigation measures. There should be a greater emphasis on development of new technologies in disaster mitigation.
For disaster management support, a web-based inventory of specialist resources has been operationalized. The National Institute for Disaster Management is entrusted with developing training capsules, disaster management codes, human resource development, awareness creation programme and education.
Disaster Management Information System must be formed in every district of the country linked with each other, available on the web and also in public libraries. No amount of state help can substitute for community based structures for self help. To make the disaster management programme in the country more effective, information technology inputs and grass-root level participation are mandatory.
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