INTRODUCTION

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Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives rise to casualties and damage or loss of properties, infrastructure, environment, essential services or means of livelihood on such a scale which is beyond the normal capacity of the affected community to cope with. Disaster is also sometimes described as a “catastrophic situation in which the normal pattern of life or eco-system has been disrupted and extraordinary emergency interventions are required to save and preserve lives and or the environment”. 

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Every year around the monsoon, our newspapers are filled with the news of our rivers over flooding in North India. Most of the low-lying areas are supposed to be vacated. We organize events to make people aware about the calamities that could devastate and cripple communities.

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The area under Delhi-NCR region comes under Zone 4, which is a high intensity Earthquake zone.As per Vulnerability Atlas of India (1997), for shaking intensity VIII, 6.5% houses in Delhi have high damage risk, and 85.5% houses have moderate damage risk.

Chhattisgarh has 44.21% of recorded forest area of the entire geographical area of the state. With the maximum temperature in the range of 45 degrees to 48 degrees, it becomes highly vulnerable to fires.

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This makes it immensely important to make people aware of the disasters and its risk management.

 

AIMS/OBJECTIVES

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• To spread awareness about the action plan to be followed in case of disasters like Earthquake, Floods, Urban Flooding and Fire.

 

• To tell people about the Do’s and Don’ts to be followed during risk management.

 

• Formulation of viable emergency plans.

 

APPROACH WE FOLLOW

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Awareness Drive- PARAS India organises many awareness campaigns and disaster relief and response campaigns. We also do road shows in Metro stations and Malls and Cinema for the general awareness and sensitivity. We advise them to do the following in case of disaster:-

• Listen to weather forecast at All India Radio, Doordarshan. Also, messages by Municipal bodies from time to time and act accordingly.

• Make sure that each family member has identity card.

• Switch of electrical supply and don’t touch open wires.

• Look before you step-after a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, which may include broken bottles, sharp objects, nails etc. Floors and stairs covered with mud and debris can be slippery.

• Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations.

• Secure water heaters, LPG cylinders etc., by strapping them to the walls or bolting to the floor.

 

Disaster prevention awareness involves explaining to the people that engineering intervention in buildings and structures must be taken care of to make them strong enough to withstand the impact of natural hazards. Bureau of Indian Standards has laid down the code of practice for design criteria of structures.

Collaboration with the Government- PARAS India also participates as an active communicator and facilitator for Government organised Mock Drills. This is aimed to help them be prepared for such an event, and how it’s crucial not to panic and help women, elderly and children in such an event. 

Demonstrated how to identify vulnerabilities in buildings and how to reduce earthquake risk. We try to build the narrative of converting the flood water into a resource than a problem.
 

METHODS

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• Nukkad Nataks, Street Play , Puppet show, Magic show

• Public Lectures, Rallies, Flyer distribution,

• Media campaign: FM Radio, Newspapers, Outdoor campaign on Metro, Bridge Panel, etc.

• Orientation and sensitization workshops

• Preparatory Mock Drills 

• Organize training for selected participants

• Organize donation camps 

           

TO SUM UP

• People are more aware about their course of action during disasters.

• They have their emergency kits ready, in case of disasters, after PARAS India intervention.

• Number of people using the emergency disaster service have increased manifold after our intervention.

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