Website. www.ndma.gov.in. National Disaster Management Authority, abbreviated as NDMA, is an apex Body of Government of India, with a mandate to lay down policies for disaster management. NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act enacted by the Government of India on 23 December 2005.

Disaster Management can be defined as the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.

The International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies defines disaster management as the organisation and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all the humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters.

Examples include war, social unrest, stampedes, fires, transport accidents, industrial accidents, conflicts, oil spills, terrorist attacks, nuclear explosions/nuclear radiation. Other types of induced disasters include the more cosmic scenarios of catastrophic climate change, nuclear war, and bioterrorism.

A disaster is defined as a “sudden or great misfortune” or simply “any unfortunate event.” More precisely, a disaster is “an event whose timing is unexpected and whose consequences are seriously destructive.” These definitions identify an event that includes three elements: Suddenness. Unexpectedness.

Natural disasters are caused due to different reasons like soil erosion, seismic activity, tectonic movements, air pressure, and ocean currents etc. Natural activities taking place in the earth’s crust, as well as surface, are the main reasons for these disasters.

Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk reduction.

Below are five best practices for managing through a disaster.

1. Have an updated disaster recovery plan with very specific instructions.
2. Regularly test your disaster recovery plan.
3. Include business operations in your disaster recovery plan.
4. Check on your people first.
5. Have a communications plan.

The components of disaster management are as follows:

• Preparedness.
• Disastrous Impact.
• Response.
• Recovery.
• Development.
• Mitigation.

Government’s role in disaster management is to provide a central, coordinated plan of action to address the damage caused by such an event as well as the needs of the people affected.

Types of Disasters

• Agricultural diseases & pests.
• Damaging Winds.
• Drought and water shortage.
• Earthquakes.
• Emergency diseases (pandemic influenza)
• Extreme heat.
• Floods and flash floods.
• Hail.