Disaster 1

Disaster
A disaster is either a natural or man-made
hazard which has come to fruition, resulting
in an event of substantial extent causing
significant physical damage or destruction,
loss of life, or drastic change to the natural
environment. It is classified as either a
natural disaster or a man-made disaster. A
disaster can be ostensively defined as any
tragic event with great loss stemming from
events such as earthquakes, floods,
catastrophic accidents, fires, or explosions.

In contemporary academia, disasters are

seen as the consequence of inappropriately
managed risk. These risks are the product of
Ruins from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, remembered as one of the worst
hazards and vulnerability. Hazards that natural disasters in United States history
strike in areas with low vulnerability are not
considered a disaster, as is the case in uninhabited regions.[1]

Developing countries suffer the greatest costs when a disaster hits – more than 95 percent of all deaths caused by
disasters occur in developing countries, and losses due to natural disasters are 20 times greater (as a percentage of
GDP) in developing countries than in industrialized countries.[2]

Etymology
The word derives from Middle French désastre and that from Old Italian disastro, which in turn comes from the
Greek pejorative prefix δυσ-, (dus-) "bad"[3] + ἀστήρ (aster), "star".[4] The root of the word disaster ("bad star" in
Greek) comes from an astrological theme in which the ancients used to refer to the destruction or deconstruction of a
star as a disaster.

Classification
Researchers have been studying disasters for more than a century, and for more than forty years disaster research has
been institutionalized through the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center. The studies reflect a common
opinion when they argue that all disasters can be seen as being human-made, their reasoning being that human
actions before the strike of the hazard can prevent it developing into a disaster. All disasters are hence the result of
human failure to introduce appropriate disaster management measures.[5] Hazards are routinely divided into natural
or human-made, although complex disasters, where there is no single root cause, are more common in developing
countries. A specific disaster may spawn a secondary disaster that increases the impact. A classic example is an
earthquake that causes a tsunami, resulting in coastal flooding.
Disaster 2

Natural disaster
A natural disaster is a consequence when a natural hazard (e.g., volcanic eruption or earthquake) affects humans
and/or the built environment. Human vulnerability, caused by the lack of appropriate emergency management, leads
to financial, environmental, or human impact. The resulting loss depends on the capacity of the population to support
or resist the disaster: their resilience. This understanding is concentrated in the formulation: "disasters occur when
hazards meet vulnerability". A natural hazard will hence never result in a natural disaster in areas without
vulnerability, e.g., strong earthquakes in uninhabited areas.

Disaster management
With the tropical climate and unstable landforms, coupled with high population density, poverty, illiteracy and lack
of adequate infrastructure, India is one of the most vulnerable developing countries to suffer very often from various
natural disasters, namely drought, flood, cyclone, earth quake, landslide, forest fire, hail storm, locust, volcanic
eruption, etc. Which strike causing a devastating impact on human life, economy and environment. Though it is
almost impossible to fully recoup the damage caused by the disasters, it is possible to (i) minimize the potential risks
by developing early warning strategies (ii) prepare and implement developmental plans to provide resilience to such
disasters (iii) mobilize resources including communication and telemedicinal services, and (iv) to help in
rehabilitation and post-disaster reconstruction. Space technology plays a crucial role in efficient mitigation of
disasters. While communication satellites help in disaster warning, relief mobilization and tele-medicinal support,
earth observation satellites provide required database for pre-disaster preparedness programmes, disaster response,
monitoring activities and post-disaster damage assessment, and reconstruction, and rehabilitation. The article
describes the role of space technology in evolving a suitable strategy for disaster preparedness and operational
framework for their monitoring, assessment and mitigation, identifies gap areas and recommends appropriate
strategies for disaster mitigation vis-à-vis likely developments in space and ground segments.
Various disasters like earthquake, landslides, volcanic eruptions, flood and cyclones are natural hazards that kill
thousands of people and destroy billions of dollars of habitat and property each year. The rapid growth of the world's
population and its increased concentration often in hazardous environment has escalated both the frequency and
severity of natural disasters. With the tropical climate and unstable land forms, coupled with deforestation,
unplanned growth proliferation non-engineered constructions which make the disaster-prone areas mere vulnerable,
tardy communication, poor or no budgetary allocation for disaster prevention, developing countries suffer more or
less chronically by natural disasters. Asia tops the list of casualties due to natural disaster.
Among various natural hazards, earthquakes, landslides, floods and cyclones are the major disasters adversely
affecting very large areas and population in the Indian sub-continent. These natural disasters are of (i) geophysical
origin such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, land slides and (ii) climatic origin such as drought, flood, cyclone,
locust, forest fire. Though it may not be possible to control nature and to stop the development of natural phenomena
but the efforts could be made to avoid disasters and alleviate their effects on human lives, infrastructure and
property. Rising frequency, amplitude and number of natural disasters and attendant problem coupled with loss of
human lives prompted the General Assembly of the United Nations to proclaim 1990s as the International Decade
for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) through a resolution 44/236 of December 22, 1989 to focus on all issues
related to natural disaster reduction. In spite of IDNDR, there had been a string of major disaster throughout the
decade. Nevertheless, by establishing the rich disaster management related traditions and by spreading public
awareness the IDNDR provided required stimulus for disaster reduction. It is almost impossible to prevent the
occurrence of natural disasters and their damages.
However, it is possible to reduce the impact of disasters by adopting suitable disaster mitigation strategies. Disaster
mitigation mainly addresses the following:
• minimize the potential risks by developing disaster early warning strategies
• prepare and implement developmental plans to provide resilience to such disasters,
Disaster 3

• mobilize resources including communication and tele-medicinal services

• to help in rehabilitation and post-disaster reduction.
Disaster management, on the other hand involves:
• pre-disaster planning, preparedness, monitoring including relief management capability
• prediction and early warning
• damage assessment and relief management.
Disaster reduction is a systematic work which involves with different regions, different professions and different
scientific fields, and has become an important measure for human, society and nature sustainable development.

Management
The local communities at the time of disaster or before the disaster make groups for helping the people from
suffering during the disaster. These groups include, First Aid group, Health group, Food and Welfare group etc.
They all are well trained by some local community members. All the groups are sent for helping any other local
community that is suffering from a disaster. They also migrate the people from the area affected from disaster to
some other safe regions. They are given shelter and every possible facilities by those local management
communities. Today, Government is also making effort to provide good facilities during the disaster. In India, in the
rural areas, the community(group of families) are choosing a leader and developing their Disaster management skills
to protect themselves and other local communities as well.

See also
• Business continuity
• Civil protection
• Crisis
• Disaster convergence
• Emergency
• Emergency management
• Human extinction
• List of disasters
• Maritime disasters
• Risk governance
• Risk management
• Risks to civilization, humans and planet Earth
• Sociology of disaster
• Survivalism
• Mechanical_resonance#Resonance_disaster
• The Klaxon.com
Disaster 4

Notes
[1] Quarantelli E.L. (1998). Where We Have Been and Where We Might Go. In: Quarantelli E.L. (ed). What Is A Disaster? London: Routledge.
pp146-159
[2] "World Bank:Disaster Risk Management" (http:/ / web. worldbank. org/ WBSITE/ EXTERNAL/ TOPICS/ EXTURBANDEVELOPMENT/
EXTDISMGMT/ 0,,menuPK:341021~pagePK:149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:341015,00. html). .
[3] "Dus, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, "A Greek-English Lexicon", at Perseus" (http:/ / www. perseus. tufts. edu/ cgi-bin/
ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999. 04. 0057:entry=#28613). .
[4] "Aster, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, "A Greek-English Lexicon", at Perseus" (http:/ / www. perseus. tufts. edu/ cgi-bin/
ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999. 04. 0057:entry=#16528). .
[5] B. Wisner, P. Blaikie, T. Cannon, and I. Davis (2004). At Risk - Natural hazards, people's vulnerability and disasters. Wiltshire: Routledge,
ISBN 0-415-25216-4

References
• Barton A.H. (1969). Communities in Disaster. A Sociological Analysis of Collective Stress Situations. SI: Ward
Lock
• Catastrophe and Culture: The Anthropology of Disaster. Susanna M. Hoffman and Anthony Oliver-Smith, Eds..
Santa Fe NM: School of American Research Press, 2002
• G. Bankoff, G. Frerks, D. Hilhorst (eds.) (2003). Mapping Vulnerability: Disasters, Development and People.
ISBN 1-85383-964-7.
• D. Alexander (2002). Principles of Emergency planning and Management. Harpended: Terra publishing. ISBN
1-903544-10-6.

External links
• The Disaster Roundtable (http://www.dels.nas.edu/dr/) Information on past and future Disaster Roundtable
workshops
• EM-DAT (http://www.em-dat.net/) The EM-DAT International Disaster Database
• RSOE EDIS Emergency and Disaster Information Service (http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php) An
up-to-the-minute world wide map showing current disasters.
• Articles On Food Shortage - Food Shortage Information. (http://www.foodshortageusa.com/Articles.html)
• Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (http://www.gdacs.org) A United Nations and European
Commission sponsored website for disaster information.
• United Nations Programme for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response
(http://www.un-spider.org/) United Nations programme covering the full disaster management cycle with
usage of space technology
• Top 100 aviation disasters (http://www.airdisaster.com/features/top100/top100.shtml) on AirDisaster.com
• Guinness Book of World Records (http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/)
• The world's worst massacres Whole Earth Review (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1510/is_1987_Fall/
ai_5151514/pg_2)
• War Disaster and Genocide (http://www.arthurhu.com/INDEX/genocide.htm)
• Armageddon Online - Daily News and articles about ongoing natural and human made disasters (http://www.
armageddononline.org)
• Geohotspots (http://geohotspots.worldbank.org/hotspot/hotspots/disaster.jsp)
• Disaster Video (http://disastervideo.net/) Disaster News and Video
• Disaster Alert (http://www.ubalert.com/) Notification and Reporting
• The Disaster News Network (http://www.disasternews.net/) - Live Monitors and Updates about Disasters
• The Calamity of Disaster (http://www.publicsafetydegrees.com/articles/disasters.php) - Recognizing the
possibilities, planning for the event, managing crisis and coping with the effects.
Disaster 5

• Beyond Katrina: Disaster on the Gulf Coast Continues (http://www.hurricane-katrina.org) - Gulf Coast
hurricane & disaster recovery, 2010 oil spill, the interaction of the oil spill and the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane
Season
• Journal of Injury and Violence Research

United States
• Citizen Corps (http://www.citizencorps.gov/) Guide
• DisasterHelp.gov (http://www.disasterhelp.gov/) United States Egov reference
• Ready.gov (http://www.ready.gov/) United States Ready Egov reference
• The Disaster Center (http://www.disastercenter.com/) Internet source for disaster information
• Nonprofit Disaster Planning (http://www.CARDcanhelp.org/) CARD - Collaborating Agencies Responding to
Disasters
CHANGE IN THE EARTH'S ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD:- After collision of any comet or large asteroid the
electromagnetic field of the earth changes & the activity of the various electronic will be disturbed.
Article Sources and Contributors 6

Article Sources and Contributors

Disaster  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=395008435  Contributors: 100110100, 62.253.64.xxx, 790, A Macedonian, A. Falcao, AThing, Agape25, Ahoerstemeier, Alan
Liefting, Alan W, Alansohn, Alpha Quadrant, Alpha ridge, Amog, Andonic, Andrew O. Shadoura, Anna Lincoln, AnyFile, Arakunem, ArmadilloProcess, Asadsyed, Ascidian,
AstroHurricane001, Astronaut, Astudent, Atemperman, Avenged Eightfold, Avono, B, BD2412, Baldhur, Beki710, Beland, BigChicken, Bigjimr, Bisected8, Bloodshedder, Bluemarie0428,
Bluerasberry, Bluray, BobbieCharlton, Brian0918, Bricaniwi, Bryan Derksen, Bucephalus, CALR, CKHideki, CTSCo, CambridgeBayWeather, Cameron Dewe, Can't sleep, clown will eat me,
CanisRufus, Capricorn42, Carcharoth, CardinalDan, Carlosguitar, Cburnett, Chairboy, Chaosdruid, Chimchar monferno, Chmee2, Chris 73, Churtonbudd, Closedmouth, Cokoli, Coleminer8,
CommonsDelinker, Conscious, Conversion script, Cromwellt, Curps, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, DChristner, DJ Clayworth, DJBullfish, Dark Tea, Darkfoxsk8er11, DeadEyeArrow, Dersonlwd,
Diamaster14, Diplodoc, Disdero, Doublepoly123, Drembe, Drmies, Duffman, Eclecticology, Edward, Eeekster, Elizaz, Enzo Aquarius, EvelynToseland, Everything counts, Evil Monkey,
Fastfission, Felisopus, Fieldday-sunday, Fifth Fish Finger, Finngall, GCarty, Gadfium, Galoubet, Geeoharee, Gholson, Gilliam, Gioto, Gjvossius, Glenn, Globaled, Globalrightpath, Golbez,
Gracenotes, Grafen, Graham87, Gromlakh, Gryph667, Guitarthing111, Gung-ho, Gökhan, HKRising, HRH, Hadal, Happenstance, HappyJake, Hemmer, Herbee, Heron, Hertz1888, Hessite,
Hi44rw, Hinotori, Hmains, Hotlorp, Hydrogen Iodide, IDRC, II MusLiM HyBRiD II, IKato, Icseaturtles, Iguadont, InShaneee, Infromation, Insanephantom, Isobelrosepa, J.delanoy,
JCDenton2052, JIP, JamesFox, Jamesooders, Jay, JayEsJay, Jfurr1981, Jim.henderson, Jmlk17, John, John Broughton, JonWee, Jonel, Junkys priyanka, JustinTime55, Justme89, Kaare,
Kchishol1970, Kevinalewis, KnowitallWiki, Kpjas, La goutte de pluie, Lacurus, Lady Aleena, Lankiveil, Laurips, Lazulilasher, Liamdaly620, Lilac Soul, Liu Bei, LonelyMarble, Lord Pistachio,
Lorenzarius, Louisng114, Lyght, MC MasterChef, MC10, MECU, MER-C, MPF, MacGyverMagic, MacsBug, Madhero88, Manco Capac, Marcika, MarkGallagher, MaryBeth23, Massimo
Macconi, Mathpianist93, Mav, Maxmc, MechBrowman, Meggar, Mejor Los Indios, Mentifisto, Metamagician3000, Midgrid, Mike4ty4, Mikeblas, Miller52, MiloKral, Mkhbgpa, MsAMJones,
Msaizan, Mschiffler, Mwanner, NSABC, Natcase, Natmaka, Neelix, Netoholic, Newportm, Nhl hockey 541@hotmail.com, Nihiltres, Nikai, Nlu, NuclearWarfare, Oda Mari, OlEnglish, Olivier,
Omicronpersei8, Omnipaedista, Ottawa4ever, Pabix, Patrick, Peterrhyslewis, Philip Trueman, Piano non troppo, PierreAbbat, Pinethicket, Pinkadelica, Piotrus, Pjvpjv, PoccilScript, Poetier, Poor
Yorick, Pschemp, Quantumobserver, R Lee E, Rdsmith4, Reach Out to the Truth, Revmachine21, RexNL, Rich Farmbrough, Roadrunner, Robinson weijman, Ronz, Rossami, Rrburke, Rror,
Runescimi722, Runningonbrains, Rxnd, SVTCobra, Sam Hocevar, Sameera Wijerathna, Samhoffman, Sandahl, Sanderk, Sc147, Scohoust, Seloloving, Shalom Yechiel, Shannon1, Shiftchange,
Sikis, SimonP, Slawojarek, SlimVirgin, Slvr32, Sneakysnaga, Soumya92, Srikeit, Stevensrikaran, Storkk, Storm05, SuperHamster, Synthmon, Szyslak, Tadasana, Tedickey, Testmaennchen, The
Enslaver, The Evil Spartan, The Rambling Man, The Thing That Should Not Be, The Transhumanist, TheNewPhobia, Tickkid, Tinton5, Tmorton166, Tommy2010, Totnesmartin, Traal, Trasel,
Treisijs, Trwier, Ukrained, UnitedStatesian, Urhixidur, Utcursch, Uw badgers, V95micfa, Van helsing, Vegaswikian, Verrai, Versageek, Vkem, Vranak, Vsion, Wallie, Warofdreams,
Wavelength, Wayne Miller, Wengero, Whoisjohngalt, Wiki alf, Wikiminiha, Wikipedia Express, Wikipelli, Woohookitty, Wouldyou, Xdenizen, Xezbeth, Y0u, Yamamoto Ichiro, Ylem, Z o l t a
r, ZayZayEM, Ziggurat, Zinc2005, Zondor, Zoostation, ²¹², ธวัชชัย, €pa, 691 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Post-and-Grant-Avenue.-Look.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Post-and-Grant-Avenue.-Look.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Awadewit, Evian
Pepper, Madmax32

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
http:/ / creativecommons. org/ licenses/ by-sa/ 3. 0/