Here is an essay on ‘Disaster Risk Management (DRM)’ for class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Disaster Risk Management (DRM)’ especially written for school and college students.
Essay on the Disaster Risk Management (DRM)
Essay # 1. Introduction to Disaster Risk Management:
The purpose of Disaster Risk Management is to reduce the underlying factors of risk and to prepare for and initiate an immediate response should disaster hit. The Disaster Risk Management (DRM) framework, illustrated in Fig. 7.1 distinguishes, conceptually, the different phases of the DRM cycle: pre-disaster, response and post-disaster.
DRM actions in the pre-disaster phase are aimed at strengthening the capacities and resilience of households and communities to protect their lives and livelihoods, through measures to avoid (prevention) or limit (mitigation) adverse effects of hazards and to provide timely and reliable hazard forecasts.
In the response phase, communities and relief agencies focus on saving lives and property. In the post-disaster phase, the focus is on recovery and rehabilitation. In reality, the shift between these phases is fluid, in particular, between the stages in which communities move from rehabilitation to development, integrating aspects of hazard mitigation into their developmental activities.
The elements of the framework further elaborated below that include both structural (physical and technical) and non-structural (diagnostic, policy and institutional) measures in the three phases.
The originality and value of this framework is its ability to promote a holistic approach to DRM and demonstrate the relationships between hazard risks/disasters and development. For instance, the activities on mitigation and prevention comprise the development portion, while relief and recovery comprise the humanitarian assistance portion, with preparedness linking both types of efforts.
Furthermore, the framework provides the basis to address public commitment and institutional systems, including organizational capacities, policy, legislation and community action, as well as environmental management, land-use, urban planning, protection of critical facilities, application of science and technology, partnership and networking, and financial instruments.
The framework also provides the space to positively value and constructively include communities’ and households traditional coping strategies, recognizing the importance of their ownership of the DRM process, thus diminishing the (passive) dependency typically generated by relief offered by outsiders.
The key elements of the DRM framework are reflected in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA) which elaborates the five priorities for action adopted by the World Conference on Disaster Reduction to achieve its strategic goals by 2015.
Essay # 2. Elements of Disaster Risk Management:
(A) Pre-disaster:
1. Ongoing development Activities:
Ongoing DRM aspects in development programmes
2. Risk Assessment:
Diagnostic process to identify the risks that a community faces
3. Prevention:
Activities to avoid the adverse impact of hazards
4. Mitigation:
Structural/ non-structural measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact
5. Preparedness:
Activities and measures undertaken to limit the adverse impact
6. Early Warming:
Provision of timely and effective information to avoid or reduce risk
(B) Disaster Response:
1. Evacuation:
Temporary mass departure of people and property from threatened locations.
2. Saving people and Livelihoods:
Protection of people and livelihoods during emergency
3. Immediate Assistance:
Provision of assistance during or immediately after disaster
4. Assessing Damage and Loss:
Information about impact on assets and loss to production
(C) Post-Disaster:
1. Ongoing Assistance:
Continued assistance until a certain level of recovery
2. Recovery:
Actions taken after a disaster with a view to restoring infrastructure and services
3. Reconstruction:
Actions taken after a disaster to ensure resettlement/relocation
4. Economic & Social Recovery:
Measures taken to normalise the economy and societal living
5. Ongoing Development Activities:
Continued action of development programmes
6. Risk Assessment:
Diagnostic process to identify new risks that communities may again face
Essay # 3. Framework Adapted to Disaster Risk Management:
Insightful analytical approach to help identify which types of households are likely to be particularly vulnerable. This is accomplished through the analysis of the inter-relationships between shocks, vulnerabilities and households’ bundles of assets and coping strategies, within the context of on-going policy, institutional and development processes.
The SL framework puts households and their livelihoods at the center of analysis, assuming that they are continuously influenced by potential threats of shocks and/or disasters. In the SL framework, vulnerabilities, of all kinds, and institutions form core parts of the overall context within which development processes.
The different bundles of assets of different households, social groups and communities and the institutional context ultimately determine the capacities of these households, social groups and communities to cope with disasters before, during and after their occurrence.
The SL framework adapted to DRM, represents a cause-effect model for understanding the situations that poor households face, depending on the relationships between household assets, the vulnerability context and institutional processes which shape their lives. For instance, while some hazards may affect all members of a community to a similar degree (e.g.,) a hurricane or heavy snow), richer households with greater assets may have the means to adopt more effective coping strategies that can prevent a hazard turning into a disaster.
Furthermore, the framework’s focus on the institutional context describes how effective community and higher level institutions can cushion the effects of a disaster on poor households, mobilizing community or outside action for the benefit of the most vulnerable.
While the linkages between the DRM and the SL frameworks are complex, they highlight a number of key factors that determine the degree of vulnerability of different socio-economic groups to disaster situations, as evidenced by the following examples:
I. Natural resources provide key livelihood assets and security, especially in rural areas
II. Disasters reduce household livelihood assets to different degrees depending on the asset
III. Type of disaster and lead to livelihood in security (and may result in death or injury)
IV. Policies and institutions influence household livelihood assets positively or negatively
V. Policies and institutions can increase or decrease vulnerability to disaster
VI. Enabling institutions and diversified household assets widen livelihood options
VII. Asset ownership decreases vulnerability and increases ability to withstand disaster impacts
VIII. Livelihood outcomes depend on policies, institutions, processes and livelihood strategies
IX. Livelihood outcomes influence the ability to preserve and accumulate household assets
Policies and institutions are thus key factors that influence access by different population groups to assets and DRM technology, livelihood options and coping strategies as well as key services to reduce the loss of lives and property in the aftermath of a disaster.
Essay # 4. Analysis of Disaster Risk Management:
The sound analysis of DRM systems will make a crucial contribution to assessing, and strengthening the institutional capacities needed for achieving the HFA strategic goals and the five priorities for action which are all closely linked to the broader context of sustainable development. The strengths or weaknesses of existing DRM systems can favour or threaten development progress.
The close link between DRM and development and the integral role of DRM within development are illustrated by the following examples:
I. Natural Disasters Set Back Development Gains:
The destruction of infrastructure and erosion of livelihoods are direct outcomes of disasters. Disasters cause significant pressures on national and household budgets diverting investments aiming to reduce poverty and hunger and provide access to basic services.
II. Unsustainable Development Increases Disaster Risk:
Unplanned urbanization, environmental degradation and inappropriate land use are key factors contributing to the increase in natural hazards and loss of lives and assets when hazards turn into disasters. For example, the destruction of forests can increase the risk of devastating mud slides during heavy rains and storms.
III. Disaster losses may be considerably reduced by integrating DRM practices in development programmes:
Development policies and programmes can make a vital difference to reducing vulnerability and risk by:
(i) Strengthening institutions and mechanisms for DRM;
(ii) Assisting vulnerable groups to build assets, diversify income- generating activities and strengthen community-based self-help institutions; and
(iii) Adopting DRM practices and principles in sectoral development and post-disaster rehabilitation plans.
IV. Special long-term interventions may be needed to increase the coping capacities of the poorest and most vulnerable:
While an entire community may be vulnerable to a particular hazard (e.g., drought, flood, hurricane), the poorer population groups are likely to be at greater risk of the hazard turning into a disaster. Their meagre assets, heavy dependence on their labour for survival, limited opportunity for migration/ evacuation and little or no access to insurance and credit contribute to their vulnerability.
Development policies and programmes that assist poor men, women and youth to build livelihood assets, diversify income-generating activities, improve human capacities (health, nutritional status, education, technical skills), and strengthen community-based self-help organizations, can make a major contribution to reducing vulnerability and risk, and improving the coping strategies of the poorest.
V. Improved technologies can help prevent or mitigate damage caused by natural hazards:
Various methods of water control, for example, can reduce the danger of flood damage, or help humans, animals and plants survive drought. Improved crops varieties that are drought- or flood-tolerant and/or disease- and pest-resistant can make the difference between crop failure and an acceptable harvest.
Improved or zero tillage methods and soil conservation techniques can increase production in unfavourable agro-ecological areas, halting environmental degradation and ensuring greater sustainability. Development programmes need to get these DRM technologies into the hands of farmers in vulnerable communities.
VI. Disasters may become opportunities for building back better development practices:
Relief associated with enhancing development in the post-disaster, recovery and rehabilitation periods, has a strong multiplier effect. It represents the difference between giving a person a fish, and teaching her/him how to fish. This means that s/he will be more independent and self-sufficient in the future, and thus, in terms of the cyclical nature of the DRM framework, will be better able to strengthen her/his resilience to future hazards.
Essay # 5. Crucial Role of Institutions in Disaster Risk Management:
Institutions play a key role in operationalizing the different phases of the DRM framework and mediating the link between development, DRM and humanitarian actions. Without institutions, there would be no action and DRM would remain a concept on paper. For example, during the mitigation/prevention phase, a variety of institutional actors including the public sector technical ministries and agencies (e.g., agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, education, local government), international organizations, professional bodies, NGOs and other civil society organizations, operate important programmes to build up livelihood assets, improve household production and incomes, and enhance resilience and coping strategies.
In the relief stage, for instance, these various organizations focus on “save and rescue” operations, and meeting basic needs such as shelter, food and water. In the rehabilitation stage, their aim is to prevent further erosion of productive assets or coping strategies and to help households reestablish their livelihoods. Specialized DRM focal point ministries/agencies are expected to play a vital role in coordinating these many activities and ensuring their relevance to medium- and long-term development objectives and activities.
In this context, sound analyses and understanding of the role of formal and informal organizations in DRM, their institutional and technical capacities (including strengths and weaknesses), best operational and technical practices, and comparative strengths in coordinating and promoting vertical and horizontal linkages are required.
A particular challenge for governments and development agencies is to buildup strong local capacities, and mobilize public and private sector and civil society organizations at different levels to participate actively, according to their comparative advantages, in the design and implementation of locally relevant DRM strategies.
Essay # 6. Involving Parents in Disaster Risk Reduction Management:
The family represents a natural environment for the development of a child and provides the basis for which the child’s future personality is formed. In the family, a child gets involved in all types of activities – intellectual-learning, working, social, value-orientation, arts-creative, playing or free relation. The feeling of love accompanies a child in the family throughout his/ her life —starting before birth and reaching adulthood.
This feeling positively affects the child’s development and growth: it provides a constant feeling of happiness; it acts as a reliable anchor for the child’s existence and provides protection from outside hazards. The parents meanwhile, fulfill the role of respected advisers, supporters and older friends.
In order for children to behave safely, only having information is not sufficient. We would like to teach a child to use this information in order to develop vital skills. Parents should help them in this. For the development of appropriate reactions and skills, practical education occupies a leading place.
Thus, it is important to involve parents in preventive works to be carried out with respect to natural disaster risk reduction. Involving parents in the mentioned issues can be achieved by parent meetings and individual or group consultations facilitated by the head of class, with the assistance of the activities provided in the manual, etc.
It is also desirable that the head of class asks the students together with the family to analyse and fill in the annexes provided in the manual, placing special emphasis on developing the family disaster plan with the help of the manual. It is important that the parents’ interest and participation is achieved, as active cooperation in this process facilitates the establishment of closer cooperation between the school and family on issues that focus on ensuring children’s safety.
Essay # 7. Role of The Education System in Disaster Risk Management:
The development of DRR skills among children and adults is one of the most urgent challenges of modern society. Children are the most vulnerable members of the population during disaster situations because they often do not have access to information and therefore lack the knowledge and skills that would enable them to protect themselves and make correct decisions during these difficult circumstances.
Schools can play an important role in DRR because they often are important centers of community life. Therefore, schools directly impact not only the lives of teachers, students, parents and their relatives, but also the community as a whole. The majority of children spend most of their time at school and the school environment can determine their future destiny.
The best way to avoid disaster risk is to change human behaviour through the dissemination of knowledge and the obtainment of the skills necessary for personal and collective safety. This is the most effective DRR tool.
In order to get this goal, it is important to:
1. Disseminate DRR information at all levels, especially among populations living in the high risk zones;
2. Develop educational programs in DRR;
3. Develop a safe behavior model and skills among students.
Society, as well as schools, has a great moral responsibility to create a safe environment for students and their teachers. The greater the level of self-organization that exists within society, the greater its potential becomes to avoid or mitigate the negative consequences of natural or man-made disasters.
All initiatives targeted to increase the level of safety and disaster-preparedness must be implemented by school administrations, teachers and students in close cooperation with the emergency management authorities.
In addition to introducing DRR teaching programs, it is also necessary to understand the responsibility we have for the students’ lives. It is mandatory that we take the initiative in working with them in order to reduce the risks posed to them. It is true that due to psychological and age-specific features, students are usually passive in seeking out information about disaster risk reduction and do not fully grasp the gravity of the problem entirely.
However, as a result of proper efforts, even the youngest ones can become important messengers of critical information to their families and others around them. During the teaching process, students not only perceive the essence of the potential dangers posed to them from disasters, but also realize that DRR is a collective responsibility and most importantly, a way of saving their own lives.
It is also worth noting that at the present, one of the biggest challenges we face today, is providing children with information about the complex cause and effect relationship between mankind and the environment in an easily understandable format. The goal is to help them develop vitally important skills and enable them to make correct decisions in critical situations.