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Understanding and Managing Disasters

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Course Type Course Code No. Of Credits
Discipline Core 4

Course coordinator and team: Dr. Soma Sarkar and Dr. M.M.Anees

Course Details:

Summary

Thiscourse is shaped by three perspectives of understanding and managing disasters – environmental, community, and state. Module 1 encompasses the understanding of disasters through the lens of its evolutionary history– focusing on debates around how human-led developmental activities and contemporary issues like climate change have modified the character of natural calamities. Module 2 explores how characters of communities play a role in the outcome of disasters. This includes location, social, economic, and cultural risk components, which are intertwined with development politics that shape community resilience and differential outcomes of disaster. Modules 3 and 4 are designed to explore the institutional frameworks and policies developed and implemented to manage disasters. Besides emphasizing national and international frameworks and policies, this module also focuses on the role of technology, indigenous knowledge, and community participation in disaster management systems. Module 5 details the disaster management ecosystem of India. This includes acts, policies, financial arrangements, agencies, and institutions responsible for mitigating the impacts of disasters and building resilience at various levels of governance and society.

Modules 1,2 and 4 ends with a focus on case studies and lessons learned from India. These specific disaster-based case studies have been introduced to offer students the opportunity to analyze and understand the complexities of disaster events, including their causes, impacts, and responses, within diverse socio-cultural, geographical, and political contexts.Case studies play a crucial role in disaster management curricula by providing real-world examples that illustrate theoretical concepts, practical challenges, and effective strategies. They also foster empathy and a deeper understanding of the human dimensions of disasters, including the experiences of affected communities and the role of various stakeholders in disaster response and recovery efforts.

Statement of Purpose

Globally, India is counted among the top countries with the highest disaster risk. The diverse physiographic characteristics and unplanned urban growth make India vulnerable to several natural and man-induced disasters. 22 states are categorized as multi-hazardous states, and with the increased climate change crisis, the count may rise in the future. Although disasters transcend geographical boundaries and human-made area classifications, with climate change impacts and increasing urbanization a synergistic impact of both is felt in cities. Cities are vulnerable to natural disasters like floods, cyclones, earthquakes, and heatwaves, exacerbated by factors like poor urban planning and inadequate disaster preparedness. These disasters result in loss of life, displacement, economic losses, and environmental degradation, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. UNDRR recognized the decade 1990–1999 as the “International Decade for National Disaster Reduction,” with a focus on disaster management planning for prevention, reduction, mitigation, preparedness, and response to reduce disaster loss. Youth plays a critical role in improving the capacity of the nation to respond to disasters. Thus, by introducing disaster management courses, universities can equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to disasters. This proactive approach fosters resilience within communities and reduces the loss of life and property damage during emergencies.

Disaster management involves various disciplines, including geography, environmental science, engineering, sociology, public health, and more. Integrating disaster management courses into university programs encourages interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to understand the complex nature of disasters and develop comprehensive solutions. Experiential learning through case studies and fieldwork allows learners to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios, enhancing their problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills. With the increasing frequency and severity of disasters globally, there is a growing demand for professionals trained in disaster management. Including this course in university curricula can prepare students for careers in emergency management agencies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, consulting firms, urban planning, and humanitarian organizations. Effective urban disaster management requires improved infrastructure, early warning systems, community resilience-building, and the integration of disaster preparedness into urban planning policies. Thus, equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills can help them get involved in urban planning for disaster-resilient cities. Disasters transcend geographical boundaries and affect people worldwide. Universities, serving as hubs of knowledge and innovation within communities, can cultivate a sense of global citizenship and encourage students to contribute to international relief efforts and sustainable development goals.

Objectives

  • To impart knowledge on the concepts and frameworks of disaster management.
  • To introduce the disaster profile of India and its institutional framework to manage disasters.
  • To develop a positive attitude towards traditional and modern disaster management solutions.
  • To build the skill sets necessary to evaluate disaster management related datasets and learning through case studies.

Learning outcome

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Decipher the key concepts and frameworks around the principles and practices of disaster risk reduction and management.
  • Develop a deeper understanding about human responses to different kinds of disasters.
  • Identify the institutional mechanisms governing disaster management at global and national levels.
  • Develop the capacity to participate in debates on disaster governance and societal reconstruction. 

Overall structure

This course is organized around five modules.

 

Topic / Unit / Modules

Duration*

1.

Introduction to Disasters

3 week

2.

Vulnerability, Risk and Adaptive Capacity

2 weeks

3.

Disaster Management Cycle

2 weeks

4.

Institutional Framework and Technology in Disaster Management

3 weeks

5.

Disaster Profile of India

2 weeks

* With four hours per week

Readings

      • Coppola D P, 2007. Introduction to International Disaster Management, Elsevier Science (B/H), London.
      • World Disasters Report, 2022. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, Switzerland
      • 2022 Disasters in numbers: Climate in action, CRED, EM-DAT annual reports
      • UNISDR, 2002. Natural Disasters and Sustainable Development: Understanding the links between Development, Environment and Natural Disasters, Background Paper No. 5.
      • Hazard definition & classification review technical report, 2020 - UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
      • Mark Pelling and Kathleen Dill, 2008. Disaster politics: from social control to human security. Environment, Politics and Development Working Paper Series, Department of Geography, King’s College London.
      • Rajesh Venugopal & Sameer Yasir (2017) The politics of natural disasters in protracted conflict: the 2014 flood in Kashmir, Oxford Development Studies, 45:4, 424-442, DOI: 10.1080/13600818.2016.1276160
      • Amitav Ghosh, 2006. The Hungry Tide. Harper Perennial. ISBN 9780618711666 (ISBN10: 061871166X).
      • Biswajit B., Saha S., Bhattacharjee S., 2023. Sinking and sleeping of Himalayan city Joshimath, Quaternary Science Advances, vol. 12,100100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100100.
      • Coppola D P, 2007. Introduction to International Disaster Management, Elsevier Science (B/H), London.
      • IPCC. Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Working Group II. IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.
      • IPCC, 2012. Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (Eds.) Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. Cambridge University Press.
      • Füssel, H.-M. (2007). Vulnerability: A generally applicable conceptual framework for climate change research. Global Environmental Change, 17(2), 155–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2006.05.002
      • Brooks, N. (2003). Vulnerability, risk and adaptation: A conceptual framework. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Working Paper, 38, 1-16.
      • Gu, D., Gerland, P., Pelletier, F., & Cohen, B. (2015). Risk of Exposure and Vulnerability to Natural Disasters at the City Level: A Global Overview. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
      • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2023). GAR Special Report: Measuring Resilience for the Sustainable Development Goals. Geneva.
      • Uniyal, A., 2013. “Lessons from Kedarnath Tragedy of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India.” Current Science, vol. 105, no. 11, pp. 1472–74.
      • Coppola D P, 2007. Introduction to International Disaster Management, Elsevier Science (B/H), London.
      • ADB 2008. Disaster Management: A Disaster Manager's Handbook, Asian Development Bank. India.
      • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) Publications on specific disasters (https://nidm.gov.in/NDMAPublication.asp)
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2007. Guidelines on Management of Earthquakes.
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2007. Guidelines on Chemical Disasters
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2008. Guidelines on Management of Floods
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2010.Guidelines on Management of Drought.
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2010.Guidelines on Management of Urban Flooding.
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2010.Guidelines on Management of Tsunamis.
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2010.Guidelines on Management of Landslides and Snow Avalanches.
        • National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), 2010. Guidelines on Management of Cyclones.
      • Center, A.D.R., 2015. Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015–2030. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction: Geneva, Switzerland.
      • National Institute of Urban Affairs 2022. Disaster Resilience: Training Manual on ClimateSmart Cities Assessment Framework - Urban Planning, Green Cover & Biodiversity, Climate Centre for Cities, NIUA, New Delhi.
      • Words into Action: Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems. A guide to multi-hazard early warning systems, 2023. UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
      • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and World Meteorological Organization (2023). Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems. Geneva, Switzerland.
      • Compendium of multi-hazard early warning cooperation, 2023. United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacifc (ESCAP).
      • Ghosh, C. (2023). GIS and Geospatial Studies in Disaster Management. In: Singh, A. (eds) International Handbook of Disaster Research. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8388-7_214.
      • Bhagat, S.N., 2013. Community Based Disaster Management Strategy in India: an experience sharing. PDPU Journal of Energy and Management, pp.11-17.
      • Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, 2011. Module 9: ICT for Disaster Risk Management.The Academy of ICT Essentials for Government Leaders Module Series.
      • GOI-UNDP 2012. Good Practices in Community Based Disaster Risk Management.  GOI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme (2002 – 2009), India.
      • UNISDR 2008. Indigenous Knowledge Disaster Risk Reduction: Policy Note. UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction for Asia & the Pacific UNESCAP, Thailand.
      • Clark, T.D. 2017. Natural Disasters, Vulnerability, and Resilience in Indigenous Communities: Literature Review and Conceptual Framework. Technical Report. Willow Springs Strategic Solutions. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.15670.60489
      • Cadrin, M., Rana, M.S., Sarker, K.H., Rahman, K.S., Kamal, M.M., Hussain, Z., Al Shafie, H., Mita, H.A., Hussain, S., Hasan, M.M. and Isalm, G.K., 2011. Local Wisdom: Indigenous Practices for Mitigating Disaster Loss.Program for Strengthening Household Access to Resources (PROSHAR). USAID.Bangladesh
      • Kawyitri,N., and Shekhar, A.,2021. Assessing vulnerability and capacity of Bhubaneswar as a progressive smart-city: An empirical case study of Fani cyclone impact on the city, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,Vol.56,101986, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101986.
      • Singh, D., 2019. What states can learn from Odisha in disaster preparedness and mitigation. World Bank India interview. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/speech/2019/06/14/odisha-fani-disaster-preparedness
      • M C Gupta, Manual on natural disaster management in India, NIDM, New Delhi
      • Rajendra K. Pandey, 2024. Disaster Management in India Policies, Institutions, Practices. Routledge India
      • National Disaster Management Policy, 2009, Government of India.
      • Kapur Anu 2010: Vulnerable India: A Geographical Study of Disasters, IIAS and sage Publishers, New Delhi.
      • Disaster Management Act 2005, Publisher by Govt. of India
      • ADB 2008. Disaster Management: A Disaster Manager's Handbook, Asian Development Bank. India.
      • Sinha, A., Srivastava, S.S., 2010. Disaster Management in India: Policy Interventions and Recent Initiatives. In Patel S., and Revi A. (eds.) Recovering from Earthquakes Response, Reconstruction and Impact Mitigation in India. Routledge India.
      • National Disaster Management Plan 2016
      • International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. (2007). Building Disaster Resilient Communities: Good Practices and Lessons Learned – A Publication of the “Global Network of NGOs” for Disaster Risk Reduction. http://www.unisdr.org/files/596_10307.pdf.

 

  1. Pedagogy:
    1. Instructional design

The course will be a combination of lectures, videos/movies, group discussions and site visits/fieldwork.

    1. Special needs (facilities, requirements in terms of software, studio, lab, clinic, library, classroom/others instructional space; any other – please specify)

Facility for power-point presentations, audio/video display and transportation for site visits.

    1. Expertise in AUD faculty or outside

AUD

    1. Linkages with external agencies (e.g., with field-based organizations, hospital; any others)

The course is a potential vehicle to develop further linkages with organizations like National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) through ‘India Universities and Institutions Network on Disaster Risk Reduction’ (IUINDRR-NIDM), which works strongly towards advancing disaster management strategies and promoting sustainable practices.

  1. Assessment structure (modes and frequency of assessments)

The course will have three types of assessment situations.

  • Assessment-1: Term paper based on documentation and assessment of any known/neighbourhooddisaster and presentation of the study findings (30%).
  • Assessment-2: The mid-semester assessment (written test) OR class activities (including short response papers, quizzes, affinity mapping etc)(30%).

The end-semester assessment will consist of a final summative examination (40%).

 

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