Basic Principles of Disaster Mitigation

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DISASTER MITIGATION

Mitigation is defined as “sustained action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects.” It describes the ongoing effort at the government and individual levels to lessen the impact of disasters on families, homes, communities and economy.

Disaster mitigation measures may be 

• structural (e.g. flood dikes) or 
• non-structural (e.g. land use zoning). 

Other examples of mitigation measures include: 

• Hazard mapping
• Adoption and enforcement of land use and zoning practices

There are three types of mitigation plans: 

• Local
• State and 
• National

The term Mitigation can be considered as part of prevention. Mitigation means to reduce the severity of the human and material damage caused by the disaster. Prevention is to ensure that human action or natural phenomena do not result in disaster or emergency. 

The mitigation strategy is made up of three main components: 

• mitigation goals
• mitigation actions and an 
• action plan for implementation. 

This provides the framework to identify, prioritize and implement actions to reduce risk to hazards. The four basic components of a risk assessment are:

• Hazard identification
• Profiling of hazard events
• Inventory of assets and.
• Estimation of potential human and economic losses based on the exposure and vulnerability of people, buildings, and infrastructure.

Disaster Preparedness needs to be followed by disaster mitigation, as it is essential for providing long-term relief to the victims of disasters. Disaster mitigation involves measures to reduce the effects of disaster-causing phenomena. Mitigation involves all actions to reduce the impact of a disaster that can be taken prior to its occurrence, including preparedness and long-term sisk reduction measures. It also includes the planning and implementation of measures to reduce the risks of human-made hazards, and the process of planning for effective response to disasters. Disaster mitigation includes scientific analysis of risk assessment, social, economic, legal and technical processes in the development of mitigation measures and administrative and political processes in the application of these measures. The most important part of implementing any mitigation program is an understanding of the nature of threat. For instance, in India, different states are vulnerable to different types of hazards. Some states are prone to foods and droughts, while some are prone to earthquake, falling in highly active seismic zone (zone IV or V), Most of the states are prone to a conbination of various hazards. Mitigation is required in all types of hazards. 

DISASTER MITIGATION: THE CONCEPT

Mitigation includes efforts or measures taken to reduce the adverse effects of disaster on people, livestock and physical structures. The aim of mitigation is to lessen the risks associated with disasters, through a combination of measures. The Government of India acts as the biggest insurer to help the population in distress due to any natilral calamity through relief and rehabilitation programmes, loans and subsidies. At this stage, a number of voluntaty agencies also come forward in

a big way to help mitigate tlie disastrous effects on the population. Contingency plans are normally available with the district administration and civil defence authorities for use after every minor or major disaster. A number of government departments and institutions are engaged in activities, which are multifaceted in nature. It is a team effort.

Sustainability is the key word in the developlnent process. The compounded costs of disasters relating to loss of life, assets, economic activities, and cost of reconstruction of not only assets but of lives can scarcely be borne by any commnunity or nation. Therefore, all development schemes in vulnerable areas should include disaster mitigation analysis, whereby the feasibility of any projet is assessed with respect to vulnerability of the area and the mitigation measures required For

sustainability. Environmental protection, afforestation programs, pollution control, construction of earthquake-resistant structures etc., should therefore be given high priority in the plans.