Disaster "Earthquake"- Rescue and Relief Asseement

(Disaster Risk Management) A case study on Response and Relief for Earthquake Er. Amit Pokhrel 11/15/2012

This is a case study on Earthquake-response and relief of disaster risk management to find out what the things which we should concern while disaster took place all of sudden. The response and relief patterns should be more effective for the people who suffered a lot.

EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENT ON RESPONSE (RECOVERY AND RELIEF)

we know, Disaster = Hazard *Vulnerability which implies, Vunerability * lesser Coping Capacity = More disaster Vunerability * better Coping Capacity = Less disaster impact An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.

Emergency Response is necessary during the disaster because earthquake pose a severe threat to life and could cause extensive damage to natural resources and economic infrastructures.

Emergency Response (or Rescue and Relief) during the Disaster: •

Search, rescue and evacuation

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Shelter for victims

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First Aid

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Distribution of food, water, medicine and clothes

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Clearance of debris by machinery equipment like crane, excavator.

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Movement of injured to hospitals

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Disposal of dead human and animals

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Symphatetic attitude towards victims

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Assisting rescue teams

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Security of property

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Information disseimination and checking of rumours

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Immediate damage assessment

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Filing of claims

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Protection of life and property.

Critical Data and Analysis

A study was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, to analyse the “Building issue and concerns in the context of Earthquake in Nepal and to suggest ways of disaster mitigation and management planning

Methodology The study was based on the Survey of Kathmandu districts. Kathmandu was chosen for field survey because it is one of the hardest hit districts by the devasting Earthquake of 1934. (whose epicentre is Kathmandu) Due to unproper land use planning, unproper settlements and due to centralization, the Kathmandu cities are growing day by day in physical structures. which means the city is in more hazard due to massive mass of cement and concrete buildings which is a serious condition for under developed countries.

Case Studies Case studies were made in order to probe deeper into the condition of Earthquake who were not practicing the building codes to prevent it from natural disasters which was of seismic hazard prone. due to this, disasters causing the loss of thousands of human lives and the destruction of physical property worth billion of rupees. the case study showed that people are not much concerned till today on disaster preparedness and Earthquake (and other disasters) related problems as well as people aren’t following NBC (Nepal Building Code) and NBA (Nepal Building Act); and due to this, more than 80 percent of houses and other physical structures in Kathmandu districts was found poor in Eartquake resistance.

Recent study has predicted that in Kathmandu, in the near future, there can be an Earthquake, capable of causing immense loss of life and property, though every part of the country is vulnerable to Earthquake.

Conclusion and Recommendation The findings of the study, when critically analysed, led to various conclusions and recommendations. The on-going and future plan of action for Earthquake management should take serious view of these conclusions and recommendations.

Conclusions An overwhelming majority of physical structures in the Earthquake affected areas (Kathmandu districts) covered by this study belong to the middle class and the poorest

section. due to awareness and poor knowledge, people are not following the rules and regulations. some people even dont know anything about Building codes and other preparedness program. and some people also think that it is too costly to build earthquake resistance buildings and some people didn’t went according to NBC because municipality workers used to create problem when designing their buildings.

Recommendations The findings of the study reveal the need for a multi-pronged approach to disaster management, particularly in the context of an Earthquake. In this regard it seems necessary to initiate a long-term programme towards management of Earthquake in Kathmandu districts and kathmandu valley and every part of the country.

Activities to be undertaken for the management of Earthquake should focus on protective measures and awareness programmes, while the activities relating to response should concentrate on capacity building of the community for disaster preparedness and mitigation. since womens, children and aged people are the most vulnerable sections of the society and since they have needs and concerns different from those of men, it is important to adequately incorporate womens, children and aged and handicapped issues in disaster preparedness, response, mitigation and management plans.

From, Amit Pokhrel M.Sc. Urban Design and Conservation Khwopa Engineering College libali, Bhaktapur