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(Disaster Risk Management)

A case study on Response and Relief for Earthquake

Er. Amit Pokhrel

11/15/2012

This is a case study on Earthquake-response and relief of disaster risk management

to find out what the things which we should concern while disaster took place all

of sudden. The response and relief patterns should be more effective for the people

who suffered a lot.

EARTHQUAKE ASSESSMENT ON RESPONSE (RECOVERY AND RELIEF)

we know,

Disaster = Hazard *Vulnerability

which implies,

Vunerability * lesser Coping Capacity = More disaster

Vunerability * better Coping Capacity = Less disaster impact

An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic

waves.

Emergency Response is necessary during the disaster because earthquake pose a severe threat to

life and could cause extensive damage to natural resources and economic infrastructures.

Emergency Response (or Rescue and Relief) during the Disaster:

Search, rescue and evacuation

Shelter for victims

First Aid

Distribution of food, water, medicine and clothes

Clearance of debris by machinery equipment like crane, excavator.

Movement of injured to hospitals

Disposal of dead human and animals

Symphatetic attitude towards victims

Assisting rescue teams

Security of property

Information disseimination and checking of rumours

Immediate damage assessment

Filing of claims

Protection of life and property.

Critical Data and Analysis

A study was conducted in Kathmandu, Nepal, to analyse the “Building issue and concerns in

the context of Earthquake in Nepal and to suggest ways of disaster mitigation and

management planning

Methodology

The study was based on the Survey of Kathmandu districts. Kathmandu was chosen for field

survey because it is one of the hardest hit districts by the devasting Earthquake of

1934.(whose epicentre is Kathmandu)

Due to unproper land use planning, unproper settlements and due to centralization, the

Kathmandu cities are growing day by day in physical structures. which means the city is in

more hazard due to massive mass of cement and concrete buildings which is a serious

condition for under developed countries.

Case Studies

Case studies were made in order to probe deeper into the condition of Earthquake who were

not practicing the building codes to prevent it from natural disasters which was of seismic

hazard prone. due to this, disasters causing the loss of thousands of human lives and the

destruction of physical property worth billion of rupees. the case study showed that people

are not much concerned till today on disaster preparedness and Earthquake (and other

disasters) related problems as well as people aren’t following NBC (Nepal Building Code)

and NBA (Nepal Building Act); and due to this, more than 80 percent of houses and other

physical structures in Kathmandu districts was found poor in Eartquake resistance.

Recent study has predicted that in Kathmandu, in the near future, there can be an Earthquake,

capable of causing immense loss of life and property, though every part of the country is

vulnerable to Earthquake.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The findings of the study, when critically analysed, led to various conclusions and

recommendations. The on-going and future plan of action for Earthquake management

should take serious view of these conclusions and recommendations.

Conclusions

An overwhelming majority of physical structures in the Earthquake affected areas

(Kathmandu districts) covered by this study belong to the middle class and the poorest

section. due to awareness and poor knowledge, people are not following the rules and

regulations. some people even dont know anything about Building codes and other

preparedness program. and some people also think that it is too costly to build earthquake

resistance buildings and some people didn’t went according to NBC because municipality

workers used to create problem when designing their buildings.

Recommendations

The findings of the study reveal the need for a multi-pronged approach to disaster

management, particularly in the context of an Earthquake. In this regard it seems necessary to

initiate a long-term programme towards management of Earthquake in Kathmandu districts

and kathmandu valley and every part of the country.

Activities to be undertaken for the management of Earthquake should focus on protective

measures and awareness programmes, while the activities relating to response should

concentrate on capacity building of the community for disaster preparedness and mitigation.

since womens, children and aged people are the most vulnerable sections of the society and

since they have needs and concerns different from those of men, it is important to adequately

incorporate womens, children and aged and handicapped issues in disaster preparedness,

response, mitigation and management plans.

From,

Amit Pokhrel

M.Sc. Urban Design and Conservation

Khwopa Engineering College

libali, Bhaktapur