DEPARTMENTAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN...Departmental Disaster Management Plan Irrigation Design & Research Board Page 2 Foreword Increasing incidence of disaster across the globe is

DEPARTMENTAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN

MARCH 2017

IRRIGATION DESIGN &

RESEARCH BOARD

Government of Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram

IRRIGATION

DEPARTMENT

Departmental Disaster Management Plan

Irrigation Design & Research Board Page 2

Foreword

Increasing incidence of disaster across the globe is creating a devastating impact on the lives, property and

livelihoods of people. Disasters whether man-made or natural, will impede development and consume resources

earmarked for growth and welfare. A well-developed disaster preparedness and management plan will

considerably reduce the effects of a disaster and mitigate the suffering of people. For the effective handling of a

disaster, management plans are to be developed at various levels including the community likely to be affected

and concerned government departments.

This document is prepared for the officers of Irrigation Department for being aware of the procedures to be

adopted during preparedness for disaster and for the phases during & after the disaster. The Disaster

Management Plan was formulated in 2005 by the department by incorporating the dam break studies with

respect to Neyyar dam. This version of the Plan is based on the National guidelines for the preparation of this

kind of document. The Flood, Drought, Dam Break, Coastal Erosion etc are the water related disasters to be

handled by the Irrigation Engineers. Knowledge of various actions to be taken will help the engineers deal

with a possible disaster effectively for reducing the hardship of the general public and for reducing the loss of

lives and assets. This document shall be read in conjunction with National and State Disaster Management

Plans which are available in the net.

The disaster preparedness of the Irrigation Department shall be on basis River Basin /Division and the

concerned Executive Engineers will be the Nodal officers for making this plan suitable for their divisions by

adding relevant maps, phone numbers and other details. This document can be considered as first draft and

suggestion & comments can be mailed to [email protected]

Thiruvananthapuram T.G.Sen

/03/2017 Chief Engineer (I & D)

Irrigation Design & Research Board



Table of Contents Chapter 1 Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Plan

1.1 Purpose and scope ............................................................................................................................ 5

1.2 Brief Profile of the Department ........................................................................................................ 5

1.3 Measures of mitigation for natural disasters.................................................................................... 5

1.4 Mitigation and Prevention in Annual Plan ........................................................................................ 6

1.4.1 Provision of funds for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity-building and preparedness . 6

1.5 Mitigation, preparedness and response plan ................................................................................... 7

1.6 Review the enactments for prevention of disasters, mitigation or preparedness ........................... 7

1.7 Provision of emergency communication in the affected areas ........................................................ 7

Chapter 2 Response Plan

2.1 Mechanism for early warning and dissemination ............................................................................. 9

2.2 Trigger Mechanism for response ...................................................................................................... 9

The following aspects may be considered in dissemination of warning. ................................................. 9

2.3 Response Plan ................................................................................................................................. 10

2.4 Appointment of Nodal Officers ....................................................................................................... 11

2.5 Reporting procedures and formats ................................................................................................. 11

2.6 System of assessing the damage from any disaster ....................................................................... 12

2.8 Disaster Specific Response Plan ...................................................................................................... 23

2.8.1 River Flood .................................................................................................................................. 23

2.8.1.1 Urban Flood ................................................................................................................................ 23

2.8.1.2 Forecasting, Warning and Monitoring ........................................................................................ 24

2.8.1.3 Preparedness and Response ....................................................................................................... 25

2.8.2 Drought ....................................................................................................................................... 25

2.8.2.1 Predictability, Forecasting, Warning and Mitigation .................................................................. 26

2.8.3 Cyclones ...................................................................................................................................... 26

2.8.3.1 Cyclone Warning and Forecasting System .................................................................................. 27

2.8.4 Coastal Erosion ............................................................................................................................ 27

2.8.4.1 Monitoring Prediction and Warning ........................................................................................... 27

2.8.4.2 Protection Measures and Preparedness ..................................................................................... 28

2.8.5 Tsunami ....................................................................................................................................... 28



2.8.6 Disasters involving Dams ............................................................................................................ 28

2.8.6.1 Development of Emergency Action Plan .................................................................................... 29

2.8.6.2 Dam Break Simulation ................................................................................................................. 30

2.8.6.3 Disaster Mapping ........................................................................................................................ 30

2.9 Identification of suppliers for departmental supplies and pre-contracting for supplies in case of

emergencies ................................................................................................................................................ 32

Chapter 3 Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction

3.1 Norms of Relief ............................................................................................................................... 33

3.2 Minimum Standards of Relief ......................................................................................................... 33

3.3 Rehabilitation Plan .......................................................................................................................... 34

3.4 Shelter planning and environment concerns .................................................................................. 35

3.5 Basic services: ................................................................................................................................. 35

3.6 Transitional education: ................................................................................................................... 35

3.7 Health facilities: .............................................................................................................................. 35

Chapter 4 Knowledge Management

4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 36

4.2 The Knowledge Management Cycle................................................................................................ 36

Chapter 5 Review, Updation and Dissemination of Plan

5.1 Preparation and updating of Disaster Management Plan .............................................................. 38

5.2 Post Disaster Evaluation Mechanism .............................................................................................. 39

5.3 Coordination with various agencies ................................................................................................ 39

Appendix I Contents required in Departmental Disaster Management Plans as per

National Guidelines.

Appendix II Types of emergency problems in dams

Appendix III Important Telephone Numbers

Appendix IV Maps of the area



Chapter 1 Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Plan

1.1 Purpose and scope

Kerala had faced number of natural disasters like flood, coastal erosion and landslides

in the past decades. The state is also prone to disasters like earthquakes, drought, and

cyclone and dam failures. Any disaster will cause innumerable miseries, loss of life and

appreciable economic loss to the state. The Disaster Management Plan and Emergency

Action plan are intended to guide the concerned officers in identifying, monitoring,

responding to and mitigating the emergency situations. It is also useful to assist the

officials to take immediate action in a critical situation, before getting a formal approval

from higher authorities.

1.2 Brief Profile of the Department

The main function of the Irrigation Department is to formulate water policies, the

maintenance of the completed projects, prepare Irrigation projects and execute them in

time within the prevailing rules and regulations for the benefit of the people of the state.

The Irrigation Department is the agency that investigates, designs, constructs, operates

and maintains, Minor, Medium and Major Irrigation Projects, flood control works on river

banks, coastal protection works, inland navigation, hydrological information data

collection, drainage works, salinity extrusion and land reclamation works, engineering

research, coastal engineering, field studies etc., based on suitable budget provisions.

The Command Area Development works is done for the completed projects under

CADA program.

The office address and telephone numbers of the main offices of the Irrigation

department are given in the appendix.

1.3 Measures of mitigation for natural disasters

A natural disaster could occur due to an immediate extreme event or it could be the

result of a long duration process, which disrupts normal human life in its social,

traditional and economic system to a considerable extent. Disaster is commonly used to

denote any extreme event, be it natural or man-made, which brings about loss of life,

property, infrastructure, essential services and means of livelihood to an extent that it

becomes difficult to cope with the situation due to it being beyond the normal capacity of

the affected communities to deal with unaided.



Severity of a disaster is assessed on the basis of disruption to the normal pattern of life;

impacts like loss of life and property, injury hardship and adverse effects on health;

community needs, specially shelter, food, clothing, medical assistance and social care;

damage to infrastructure, buildings communications and the requirement of

rehabilitation.

The Irrigation Department has to be part of the Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness

plan for the following natural Disasters likely to affect the state of Kerala

a) Floods

b) Droughts

c) Cyclones

d) Coastal Erosion

e) Tsunami

f) Land slides

g) Earthquakes or Earth Tremors

h) Dam Break

1.4 Mitigation and Prevention in Annual Plan

The Irrigation Department has proposals to include the prevention of disaster and

mitigation in the departmental Annual Plan. The Irrigation Design & Research Board has

2 head of accounts 2701-80-800-92- DSO DSM & 4700-80-800-97 DSO DSM for the

upkeep of dams under the control of the department. The training program of disaster

management and preparation of inundation map in the case of disaster involving dam is

proposed to be included in the next plan. It also includes Physical/structural mitigation

works, Land-use planning and building codes Education, training and awareness about

risks and prevention Risk transfer and preparedness

1.4.1 Provision of funds for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity-building and preparedness

Requirement of funds for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity building and

preparedness shall be worked out by the District Level Disaster Management Cell

and communicated to the State Level Disaster Management Cell. The Government

in Revenue and Disaster Management Department will make adequate provision of

funds for the purpose. Head of each District Level Disaster Management Cell shall

have adequate financial power for withdrawal and disbursement of funds for

preparedness of the cell and for its disaster management.



As a provision of funds for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity building

and preparedness from the respective departmental budget head, an amount of

Rs. 370 lakhs was allotted for purchasing satellite imageries for preparing

Emergency Action Plan for dams.

1.5 Mitigation, preparedness and response plan

The Disaster Management Plan has to be developed for each division in the

Department and the concerned Executive Engineer will be the Nodal Officer for

developing the plan and implementing the disaster preparedness capability. The officers

concerned are to be trained in mitigation, preparedness, and response plans, data

collection and capacity building as per the Departmental/ State/ National Disaster

Management Plans.

1.6 Review the enactments for prevention of disasters, mitigation or preparedness

The enactment of Kerala State Disaster Management Rules, 2007 and promulgation of

Kerala State Disaster Management Policy, 2010 in line with National DM Act, 2005

marked defining steps towards holistic disaster management in the State. The Disaster

Management Act, 2005 provides that there shall be a plan for disaster management for

every State to be called the State Disaster Management Plan and enjoins upon the

State Government to make provisions for financing the activities to be carried out under

the State Plan. While the process of hazard vulnerability and risk analysis on which DM

Plans should ideally be made has begun, it is highly felt that the preparation of plans

should not await the outcome of risk analysis, rather it should be formulated on the

basis of extant information and knowledge. Taking in to account past lessons and

experiences and building on the good existing systems to further streamline them, a

makeshift Disaster Management Plan for the State has been prepared by Department of

Disaster Management. The State Disaster Management Plan Profile launched herewith

establishes operational and management procedures for DM and include broad

vulnerability of the State, strategies to be adopted for the prevention and mitigation of

disasters, capacity building measures to be taken and the roles and responsibilities of

different Departments of the State in responding to threatening disaster situations.

1.7 Provision of emergency communication in the affected areas

Warning system with respect to the safety of a dam is primarily operated by the

Assistant Engineer in charge of dams. The communication will systematically reach to



the district administration level and alert announcements will be made. At the time of

warning , system will automatically send Alert SMS messages to all the

concerned officials. For this, the details of all concerned officers with respect to a

particular Dam (District collector, Village officer, Thahasildar, NGO’s etc ) with their

respective mobile numbers need to be updated in the system.



Chapter 2 Response Plan

2.1 Mechanism for early warning and dissemination

The Indian Meteorological Department can provide early warning of an impending

Cyclone or heavy rain. The state emergency operation centre or District control

centre shall analyse the data and provide early warning or dissemination of a

developing disaster. On receipt of the information the Nodal officer shall intimate the

concerned officers and make sure that the system is fully alert to tackle any situation.

The Contact lists of the important officers in the state are given in the appendix. The

local contact list and the map of the area under their jurisdiction shall be appended to

this document by the Nodal officer for each division and River basins.

2.2 Trigger Mechanism for response

In the case of a dam, warning system is primarily operated by the Assistant Engineer

in charge of dams. Alert / Warning indicates the onset of a disaster for which a

warning system is essential. The system may range from alarms (ex: for fires), sirens

( ex: for industrial accidents) to public announcement through radio, television etc (

ex: for floods) and other traditional modes of communication (ex: beating of drums,

ringing of bells, hoisting flags). At district level, district administration is the prime

agency responsible for issuing the disaster warning.

The following aspects may be considered in dissemination of warning.

• All warning systems should be maintained in working condition and checked

regularly.

• Communities in disaster prone areas should be made aware of the warning

systems.

• Alternate warning systems must be kept in readiness in case of technical

failure.

• Only designated officers / agencies will issue the warning.

• The warning should be, to the extent possible, clear about the severity, the

time frame, the area that may be affected.

• Warning statements should be conveyed in the local dialect, in simple non-

technical language and incorporate day-to-day usage patterns.

• The do’s and don’ts should be clearly communicated to the community to

ensure appropriate responses.



• Warning statements should not evoke curiosity or panic behavior.

• Rumor control mechanisms should be activated.

• All relevant agencies and organizations should be alerted.

• Once a warning is issued, it should be followed up by a subsequent warning in

order to keep the people informed of the latest situations.

The IDRB has established an ‘Online monitoring of reservoir level’ software for the

helping the alert mechanism. The mobile numbers of the officers, who is

authorized to update the Dam reservoir details will be included in the system as

master data. Everyday this officer may send the reservoir details in the

prescribed format (date, time, water level and seepage) from the respective mobile

as SMS message. System will automatically segregate the data and update in

the system properly. The State administration, the district Collector as the head is

alerted during an emergency situation and necessary immediate steps are

coordinated. For online updating separate Login ID & Password can be provided

to each officer, so that they can enter the daily reservoir details directly into the

system.

2.3 Response Plan

The Nodal officer of the department (Executive Engineer of division/ River basin) shall

formulate a response plan for responding effectively and promptly to any threatening

disaster situation or disaster in accordance with the state plan, and in accordance with

the guide lines or directions of the National Executive Committee the State Executive

Committee the State Government and State Disaster Management Authority. The

response plan for each of the emergency situation along with telephone numbers shall

be appended with this document.

The disaster management plan provides indicative instructions for response since

disasters by their very nature are different and often involves a combination of aspects

which may not have been considered during the planning process. In case of

immediate threat to community, ie, when the public is exposed to danger within three

hours and when evacuation within one kilometre distance is to be effected, only

designated persons may order evacuation at the site:

The head of District Level Disaster Management Cells shall mobilise the Cell for

meeting the requirements as demanded by the situation/disaster. He will also assess



the situation further and if required he will immediately contact the State Executive

Committee and SDMA and seek necessary assistance from them promptly.

2.4 Appointment of Nodal Officers

Nodal officers are to be appointed to perform Emergency Support Functions

(ESFs)/roles in emergency in the format already circulated by the State Government

The Nodal officer of the Irrigation Department will be the Concerned Executive

Engineer and he will be acting under the direction of the District Collector and other

officials designated in the State Disaster Management plan. The Executive Engineer

shall maintain official records concerning District Level Disaster Management. He shall

also ensure timely mobilisation of resources available under the District Level Disaster

Management Cell for timely mitigation. Mock drills and awareness programmes shall

be organised periodically.

The Nodal officer shall constitute Incident Response Teams (IRTs) at all levels with

provision of delegation of authority in accordance with the National and State Disaster

Management plans. Incident Response Team (IRT) may be formed as a part of the

District Level Disaster Management Cell with representation of district level officers

across various departments. The mandate of IRT include evacuation of affected

population to safer places, rescue, temporary shelter, medical assistance to the

affected persons, supply of food and drinking water and other necessary technical

support. Further, IRT may also take up technical analysis of the need for disaster

mitigation and, if required, seek assistance from the State Level Disaster Management

Cell.

2.5 Reporting procedures and formats

Initial information shall be sent by the Assistant Engineer to the Nodal officer of the

Department through telephone/e-mail with magnitude of the disaster. Thereafter, the

reports on realistic assessment of damage may be communicated along with

requirement of funds may be submitted with due approval of the District Level Disaster

Management Cell. The format for reporting should be disaster specific so as to capture

the intensity of disaster as well as extent of damage caused. The final report on the

entire disaster management operation will be submitted by the District level Disaster

Management Cell to the State Level Disaster Management Cell for their appraisal.

As far as in the case of Irrigation Department once the level of water in dams reaches

a certain value near the Full Reservoir Level information is passed to the District



administration for alerting the public. Once an emergency situation arise service of

NGOs, Voluntary Sector etc are needed to be obtained. Coordination between the

various departments has to be ensured.

2.6 System of assessing the damage from any disaster

On occurrence of disaster, the risk / extent of damage will be assessed by multi-

disciplinary team. The officers of the Department in association with Revenue, Local

Self Government, Police departments may take up the assessment of the damage.

The Irrigation department shall keep a note of the repeated disasters like River

flooding, Coastal erosion etc. This will form a valuable database for formulating

prevention methods and new designs to effectively protect the river banks and coastal

region. The department shall submit the report to the Government with due vetting of

the District Level Disaster Management Cell.

Moreover the system of assessing the damage from any disaster needs to be

assessed by Revenue Department in co-ordination with Department of Irrigation.

This includes assessment of structural damages, live stock hazards, provision of food

and shelter etc. Also rehabilitation process is to be initiated immediately along with

evacuation.

Department has to act as a single unit having coordination with the officials concerned

in the process of disaster management. The role of the department includes pre

disaster, during disaster and post disaster management. The department is maintaining

18 dams for the purpose of irrigation and the officers concerned shall be aware of the

safety of the dams.

A dam burst is a sudden release of large quantities of water causing havoc in

downstream areas, damaging structures & installations, disrupting socio-economic

activities, loss of life & property and causing ecological and environmental damage.

Dams and barrages need careful planning and analysis to ensure minimum

environmental intrusion. Dams of all sizes must be submitted to careful review of

environmental criteria and assessment.

With advancements in technology, frequency of dam bursts or breaches has reduced

considerably. The structural stability of a dam can be threatened by floods, torrential

rains, rockslides, landslides, earthquakes, deterioration of the heterogeneous

foundation, poor quality of construction, improper management, sabotage, acts of war

etc. Out of this, floods and seismic disturbances are the primary causes of dam bursts



or breaches. The Earth fill dams have been involved in the largest number of failures,

followed in order by gravity dams, rock fills, and multiple and single arches. The failure

of dams causes economic losses that transcend immediate property damages and loss

of life. Predicting the consequences of dam breach is the first step in ensuring dam

safety.

Possible impacts of dam bursts are loss of life and high number of injuries demanding

immediate attention Extensive damage to houses, personal belongings, livestock, crops

and plantations, land etc Loss of production. Dam Break Analysis is being conducted for

assessing intensity and vulnerability of disasters associated with dam failure. The Dam

Break Analysis is the modeling of possible breakage of dam using appropriate software.

It will help to evolve a specific response plan and possible inundation areas. Inspection

shall be carried out of all roads, road bridges including under water inspection of

foundation and piers in the inundation areas. All government buildings and structures,

and life line structures shall also be inspected. The location of emergency tool kits and

maintains inventory of resources shall be identified.

2.7 Roles and responsibilities and coordination mechanism for the department.

Actionable/Deliverable in Disaster Management Planning

Sl.

No

Identified

officer Actionable Deliverable

1. Assistant

Engineer

Pre-Disaster

a. Preparation of Contingent Plan with

probable cost estimate.

b. Advance arrangement of additional

man power and equipments required.

c. Advance proposal for procurement of

materials, eatables and medicinal aids

and other accessories.

d. Rehabilitation of the already

encroached area in main water ways

by the assistance of Revenue

Department especially in Danger

zone (flood zone).

a. Preventing encroachments

in water ways.

b. Training, research and

development and

documentation with respect

to Flood Management.

c. Flood zone mapping.

d. Earthquake resistant

construction practice for

irrigation structures.

e. Coastal zone management

and shore protection



e. Waste dumping should be prevented

in the flood zone area as it creates

severe blocks.

f. Flood mark of the Dam both alarming

zones and critical zone should be

exhibited at all the nearby Junctions of

the Dam especially in local markets,

shops, restaurants etc.

g. Irrespective of the parties mobile

numbers of all the representatives

including members of Local Body

should be collected and should be

grouped ( a group of maximum

50,000) in the latest Social Media

Network (Facebook, WhatsApp

etc).This is the best method to inform

in between the public. This should be

made possible in such a way that the

information should reach the handsets

eventhough the set is in off mode.

h. The information should be updated

timely and meetings should be

convened periodically and as an when

required. Representatives from local

body, health dept, Irrigation,

PWD,LSGD, Revenue, Police

Department etc should be coordinated

i. Accurate list of the people living on

either two banks must be collected

and updated.

j. The officer concerned must be aware

that how much refugees can be

accommodated in a particular

identified building so that the victims

can be evacuated easily to higher

measures.

f. Analysis of rainfall and

runoff relationship, rainfall

pattern.

g. Continuous Dam monitoring

systems.

h. Analysis and monitoring of

water storage in dams,

Seepage analysis,

deposited sediments etc.

i. Repair& restoration.

j. Protection wall should be

constructed especially in the

flood zone areas. Monthly

inspection should be done

and proper maintenance

should be carried out.

k. Proper Instrumentation of all

the dams (especially strain

gauges, Seismograph etc )

must be done so that failure

can be notified much earlier

than a disaster.



altitudes than the existing.

k. The nearby food processing units

must be identified and their contact

numbers should be collected so that

they can be coordinated immediately

as the preliminary necessity is for food

during a disaster.

l. Phone numbers of important

government officials must be collected

and should be recorded so that they

can contribute much if they are

working in the related departments.

m. Collect the list of the active local

clubs, yuvagana sankhadana’s and

related units so that they can act

immediately.

n. Dam break analysis and flood zone

mapping of the dam should be

carried out.

During-Disaster

a. The Engineer in Charge should at first

inform the collectorate when there is a

dam outbreak.

b. The Engineers in charge should

ensure to exhibit Flash News through

the media.

c. Early warning/ and dissemination of a

developing disaster that will

systematically reach to the district

administration level and further

necessary alert announcements.

d. First information report to Assistant

Executive Engineer regarding the

disaster.

e. Planning for utilization of existing

a. The Assistant Engineer in

charge is the responsible

authority to give

announcements, should

inform press, nearest Police

Station, Collectorate.

b. The Engineer should ensure

to give 1st, 2nd and 3rd

warning and then only open

the shutter.



Manpower.

f. Action in accordance with the disaster

management plan of the Department.

g. Close coordination with other line

Departments in Government

especially Revenue Department.

h. Regular reporting of situation & action

taken report.

i. Both side of the dam must be treated

separately and the information should

be communicated in such a way that

the message should reach right bank

and left bank independently.

Post-Disaster

a. Preparation of Damage Assessment.

b. Report & Estimation of damage for

immediate restoration. Submission of

Contingent Plan with probable cost

estimate for approval.

c. Advance arrangement of additional

manpower required.

d. Eco friendly protection of waterways

should be encouraged.

e. Agriculture department in co-

ordination with the revenue

department should ensure the

issuance of compensation.

f. Separated families and missing

people causing family disorganization

must be managed.

g. Law and order problem must be

arranged.

a. Submission of proposal for

procurement of materials.

b. Identification of sources &

advance agreement for

availing the required

spares/machineries &

equipments in short notice.

2 Assistant

Executive

Engineer

Pre-Disaster

a. Submission of Contingent Plan with

probable cost estimate for approval.

a. Ensuring the above

deliverables & reporting to

higher authority



b. Advance arrangement of additional

manpower required.

c. Submission of proposal for

procurement of materials.

d. Identification of sources & advance

agreement for availing the required

spares/machinaries & equipments in

short notice.

e. Rehabilitation of the already

encroached area in main water ways

by the assistance of Revenue

Department especially in Danger

zone (flood zone).

f. Practice of constructing road by

destructing the ponds and waterways

should be banned.

g. Flood mark of the Dam should be




h. Irrespective of the parties mobile




grouped ( a group of 50,000) in the

latest Social Media Network

(Facebook, WhatsApp etc).This is the

best method to inform in between the

public. This should be made possible

in such a way that the information

should reach the handsets even

though the set is in off mode.

i. The officer concerned must be aware

that how much refugees can be

accommodated in a particular building

b. Upward transmission of first

information received from

Assistant Engineer

regarding the disaster.

c. Protection wall should be

constructed especially in the

flood zone areas. Monthly

inspection should be done

and proper maintenance

should be carried out.

d. Gate pass should be

provided at each Kadavu

and proper inspection

should be done in

coordination with the

Revenue, Irrigation and

Police department.

e. Heavy loaded vehicle should

not be permitted to enter the

Kadavu.



so that the victims can be transferred

to higher altitudes than the existing.

j. The nearby food processing units

must be identified and their contact

numbers should be collected so that

they can be coordinated immediately

as the preliminary necessity is for food

during a disaster.

k. Phone numbers of important

government officials must be collected

and should be recorded so that they

can contribute much if they are

working in the related departments.

l. Collect the list of the active local

clubs, yuvagana sankhadana’s and

related units so that they can act

immediately.

m. Dam break analysis and flood zone

mapping of the dam should be carried

out.

n. In the case of an earthen dam

seepage analysis should be carried

out.

o. Proper monitoring of the dam body

and the minor deflections in the dial

gauges embedded should be noted.

p. Co-ordination between the Priests of

the temple, Thangal of Mosque,

Father of Church should be

maintained and their contact numbers

should also be linked in the social

media network.

During-Disaster



a. The Engineer should ensure




dam outbreak.

b. Approval/recommendation of

proposals of AE as per competency.

c. Deployment of manpower/

machineries from unaffected areas.

d. Overall supervision of the affected

areas.

e. The Engineers in charge should

ensure to exhibit Flash News through

the media.

f. Both side of the dam must be treated

separately and the information should

be communicated in such a way that

the message should reach right bank

and left bank independently.

g. If the responsible Engineer is not

available the officers in hierarchy

should take initiatives and act

accordingly. That is if AE is not

available AEE should take the

responsibility, if AEE is not available

EE should take the responsibility.

Post-Disaster

a. Submission of Damage Assessment

Report & Estimate for immediate

restoration for approval.

b. Migration causing social disruption

and breakdown of social order should

be managed.

c. Extensive damage to environment like

soil erosion, water pollution, silting,

denudation of land etc should be

managed.


the shutter.

a. The list of domestic animals

in the household should be

collected and informed to

the revenue Department.

3 Executive

Engineer

Pre-Disaster


a. Procurement of essential




dam outbreak.

b. A standing order should be

implemented in such a way that all the

facilities (including vehicles, hospital

facilities) can be availed without any

further Government orders as if during

an election. During an emergency

situation no time can be wasted for

government proceedings.

c. Submission of Contingent Plan with

probable cost estimate for approval to

Higher Authority.

d. Procurement of materials.

e. Opening of Control Room.

f. Religious Personalities can influence

a lot at the time of a disaster hence

that should also be coordinated.

g. Practice of constructing road by

destructing the ponds and waterways

should be banned. Without prior

consultation with the Irrigation

Department, Local Self Government

Institutions are constructing roads and

other structures in the flood zone

areas. This practice should be

avoided.

h. Flood mark of the Dam should be




i. Irrespective of the parties mobile




materials, hire of required

equipments & timely

distribution to the affected

areas.

b. Co-ordination with District

Administration to avail

required assistance as per

the situation.

c. Updating the Departmental

Authority on the situation.

d. Unauthorised sand mining

from water bodies without

any prior consultation with

irrigation Department should

be banned.

e. During disaster road,

telephone and electricity etc

shall fail hence satellite

phone network (LEO

Telephones (Low Earth

Telephones) may be

adopted.



grouped ( a group of 50,000) in the

latest Social Media Network (

Facebook, WhatsApp etc).This is the

best method to inform in between the

public. This should be made possible

in such a way that the information

should reach the handsets even

though the set is in off mode.

During-Disaster

a. Upward transmission of first

Information received from AE

regarding the disaster.


proposals of AE as per competency.

c. Coordinating other line Departments

/Organisations for assistance.

d. Monitoring of the situation.

e. Co-ordination with District

Administration.

f. Operationalisation of Control Room

round the clock.

g. Regular interaction with the AE/AEE

for effective maintenance of the

system.

Post-Disaster

a. Submission of Damage Assessment

Report & Estimate for immediate

restoration for approval.

b. Dam desiltation must be carried out

timely and this sand can be utilized as

an alternate source for extraction of

sand

a. The Engineer should ensure



the shutter.

b. The Engineers in charge

should ensure to exhibit

Flash News through the

media.

c. If the responsible Engineer

is not available the officers

in hierarchy should take

initiatives and act

accordingly. That is if AE is

not available AEE should

take the responsibility, if

AEE is not available EE

should take the

responsibility.



c. Extensive damage caused to

infrastructure including buildings,

railway line, power supply,water

supply, sewer lines, underground

cables should be repaired

4. Superinte

nding

Officer

a. Overall monitoring & supervision of

works of the affected ULBs &

reporting to CE.


proposals of EE as per competency.

c. Tributaries should be maintained and

all the rivers should be protected from

deterioration.

d. All the water bodies must be protected

and government should take steps in


Department.

e. Without prior consultation with the

Irrigation Department, Local Self

Government Institutions are

constructing roads and other

structures in the flood zone areas.

This practice should be avoided.

f. A standing order should be

implemented for full financial support

from the Revenue Department to

withdraw amount during a disaster

a. Overall Monitoring &

Supervision

b. Unauthorised sand mining

from water bodies without

any prior consultation with

irrigation Department should

be banned.

5. Chief

Engineer

a. Furnishing the State-wide contingent

plan to Administrative Department.


proposals of SE as per competency.

c. Close monitoring of the situation

across the State.

d. Reporting to Government

e. Tributaries should be maintained and

a. Co-ordinate with

Administrative Department,

Disaster Management

Department

b. Release of funds.

c. Closely monitoring the

situation.



2.8 Disaster Specific Response Plan

Response plan for major disasters such as earthquake, flash flood/cloudburst, snow

avalanche, landslide etc. in which state level response would be needed;

2.8.1 River Flood

Flood denotes inundation or accumulation of water resulting from an imbalance

between inflow and out flow of water. Flood can occur through heavy rains, dam

failure, rapid snow melts, river blockages or even bursting of water mains. Flood

result in damage, death and injuries and create problem in drinking water supply and

food shortages. There are three types of floods

i. Flash Floods – Flash floods are generally events of hill areas where sudden

heavy rain over a limited area can cause strong flow. Flash floods also occur

when a temporary blockage in hilly areas impounds water, which when released

suddenly creates the havoc.

ii. River Floods- River floods occur due to heavy inflow of water from heavy rainfall,

snow melt and short intense storms. Flooding in rivers also caused by

inadequate capacity within the banks of river to contain high flows, river bank

erosion and silting of river beds, synchronization of flood in the main and tributary

rivers and flow retardation due to tidal and backwater effects.

iii. Coastal Floods- Coastal floods are caused due to tsunami or heavy rainfall from

cyclones and the storm surge associated with a cyclone.

2.8.1.1 Urban Flood

The problem of urban flooding is a result of both natural factors and land-

use changes brought about by urban development. Urban flooding is

significantly different from rural flooding as urbanization leads to developed

all the rivers should be protected from

deterioration.

f. All the water bodies must be protected

and government should take steps in


Department.



catchments which increases the flood peaks from 1.8 to 8 times and flood

volumes by up to 6 times. Consequently, flooding occurs very quickly due to

faster flow times, sometimes in a matter of minutes. Urban flooding is

caused by the combination of meteorological, hydrological, and human

factors. Due to land-use changes, flooding in urban areas can happen very

rapidly with large flow. The challenges of Urban Floods Disaster

Management (UFDM) tend to be considerably different from that of flooding

in other areas. In 2010, the NDMA published separate guidelines for UFDM.

Problems associated with urban floods range from relatively localized

incidents to major incidents, resulting in inundation of some or large parts

urban areas for several hours’ to many days. The impact can vary from

being limited to widespread. It may result in temporary relocation of people,

dispersal of animals, damage to civic amenities, deterioration of water

quality and risk of epidemics.

2.8.1.2 Forecasting, Warning and Monitoring

Loss of lives and property can be reduced significantly by giving advance

information about the likelihood floods. People, cattle and valuable

moveable property can be transferred to safe places in that case.

The Central Water Commission issues flood forecasts when river stage at

the forecasting station is at or above the ‘warning level’, which is normally

one metre below the danger level of the forecasting site. This has been

made possible by the computer aided flood forecasting and warning

network and performance appraisal system (FFWNPAS). A system similar

to this is being planned for Kerala State to forecast heavy rain and flood

under National Hydrology Project. We may have to depend on the IMD’s

forecast till the new system is in place.

Flood forecasting, warning and monitoring have gone a long way in

providing reasonably reliable and timely information on flood disaster

facilitating prior mitigation steps from the agencies concerned. Significant

reduction of flood damages and suffering of the people have been achieved

by the flood warning system together with matching rescue and relief

measures. Flood forecasting and warning have been helping in evacuation

of people and cattle, removal of moveable property, setting up of relief

camps and deployment of boats and taking appropriate action to mobilize



medical relief, food, clothing and drinking water, thereby mitigating the

adverse effects of flood disaster to a large extent.

2.8.1.3 Preparedness and Response

Disaster preparedness in the context of floods ought to deal with all the

aspects so as to prepare the community and government to face the

problems effectively in the event of occurrence of floods. The primary

responsibility of ensuring disaster preparedness for floods rests with the

State and District Administration. They prepare comprehensive plans for

disaster preparedness on the basis of risk analysis and vulnerability

assessment.

The response consists of a number of activities and each activity is formally

or informally governed by a set of policies and procedures and each activity

is typically under a nodal agency. The major disaster response activities

include warning, evacuation/migration, search and rescue, relief, camp

management, health, hygiene, post–disaster assessment, survivor

response and coping, security, emergency operations, reconstruction,

rehabilitation and resettlement.

2.8.2 Drought

Drought is a temporary reduction in water availability on an area for unusually long

period. Depending on the resulting water scarcity, a drought has disastrous and

long-term socio-economic impacts, which may last for months and in some cases

years. It is a slow onset phenomenon.

Three types of droughts are recognised

a. Meteorological drought: When the monthly or seasonal rainfall over an area

is appreciably below normal.

b. Hydrological drought: When the water scarcity over an area results in

reduction in available water in surface water bodies and water table also

recedes.

c. Agricultural Drought: When the water scarcity results in partial or total loss of

crops and affects agricultural activity adversely.

Drought is generally caused by adverse water balance or scarcity of water to satisfy

the normal needs of agriculture, livestock or human population. It can also occur in

areas that normally enjoy adequate rainfall and moisture levels. Drought may be



caused due to excessive evapo-transpiration losses, high temperature and low

holding capacity.

2.8.2.1 Predictability, Forecasting, Warning and Mitigation

As drought is very much linked with the performance of the monsoon, the

predictability of droughts is also linked to the monsoon. Widespread drought

is not very frequent occurrence in India. As occurrence of droughts is

closely linked with lack of precipitation, it is obvious that the causes of

drought would be in the situations that inhibit precipitation.

Forecasting of drought is wholly linked to the ability to forecast monsoon.

Drought does not have a sharp starting point. It builds over a period of time

when apart from the availability of rains, factors such as water use and

availability of additional water resources has to be taken in to account. Early

Warning system would make use of past and present data from

meteorological observations, agriculture observations, hydrological

observations, remote sensing observations etc.

As drought is forecast and monitored on the basis of availability of water,

meteorological forecast and warning systems and satellite monitoring of

underground water sources and the condition of growing crops constitute

the basis of drought monitoring and warning system. The commonly

adopted mitigation strategies in India are as follows

Check dams to store water, Watershed management, water-rationing, cattle

management, proper selection of crop for drought affected areas, soil

conservation techniques, reducing deforestation and firewood cutting in the

affected areas, education and training to the people etc

2.8.3 Cyclones

Tropical cyclones are characterized by destructive winds and copious rainfall, which

causes flooding. In such storms, winds can exceed speeds of over 120kmph. Due

to such strong wind forcing seawater accumulates ahead of the cyclones as it

moves towards the coast. When a cyclone hits the coast, the accumulated

enormous mass of sea water strike the coast as a giant sea wave called storm

surge which can have heights of the order of tens of meters.



2.8.3.1 Cyclone Warning and Forecasting System

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has a well-established

organizational set up for observing, detecting, tracking and forecasting

cyclones and issuing cyclone warning whenever a cyclone develops.

IMD’s cyclone tracking system is an integrated system consisting of 562

observatories for taking meteorological data from the earth’s surface, 98

observatories for making measurements of wind in the upper atmosphere

up to altitude 20-25km, ships observation, 10 cyclone detection reader

along the costs and Geo-stationary INSAT satellites.

The important components of cyclone warning are the forecast of the future

path intensity and the associated destructive weather such as strong winds,

heavy rainfall and storm surge. For the forecast of path of cyclone and

storm surges, the modern methods which utilise computers are applied in

addition to the conventional methods.

2.8.4 Coastal Erosion

The coastline of Kerala is subjected to severe erosion in a major portion of its length

during monsoon, when the sea becomes rough due to consistent attack of waves.

The coastline is sometimes subject to tidal overflow also, when adjoining low lying

lands get submerged. Erosion is very severe in the coastal areas during the

southwest monsoon period.

Storm tides occur all along the coast during the monsoon season. During the

monsoon, the high waves coupled with storm surges cause overflow and flooding of

the low lying backshore lands along the coast, resulting in considerable loss of

property, destruction of private and Government buildings, communications,

dislocation of life of lakhs of population and disruption of other activities affecting

economy.

2.8.4.1 Monitoring Prediction and Warning

The nature of coastal erosion is such that even accreting zones can

become eroding at any time due to inconsistencies of the driving forces or

as a result of human interventions. Continuous monitoring of shoreline

trends is required to initiate timely actions. This should cover entire course

of events with close grid observation in identified areas. Timely and efficient

interventions require prediction capabilities to understand the expected

shoreline changes resulting from human intervention and formation of mud



banks. For this the available prediction models can be fine tuned and

adopted for the coast of the state.

2.8.4.2 Protection Measures and Preparedness

These are the emergency measures for arresting the adverse impacts of

erosion hazards during monsoon. Temporary protection measures like

stacking sand bags and temporary resettlement of affected people are

possible on emergency situation. Emergency measures should be

temporary, so that, these will not adversely affect the nearby coastal

stretches. These should not be in conflict with the long-term shoreline

management plan.

Close monitoring of shoreline changes and near shore processes along the

high-risk areas during monsoon for real-time identification of areas requiring

emergency intervention has to be entrusted with R&D centers like CESS,

having sufficient facilities and infrastructure. Government departments like

Revenue, Irrigation, Police, Fire Force and the Local Bodies should work in

close coordination in this function. Their services are also required in the

preparation of shoreline management plans.

2.8.5 Tsunami

Tsunami is Japanese term for giant sea waves generated by undersea

earthquakes. These waves may originate from undersea or coastal seismic activity,

or volcanic eruption. Whatever may be the cause; seawater is displaced into violent

and sudden motion ultimately breaking over land even at very long distances with

great destructive power.

In most cases, tsunami could be the after-effect of undersea earthquake due to

which the abrupt vertical movement of ocean floor generates waves, which travel at

high speed in the ocean. As they approach land, their speed decreases while their

height increases .It can be highly destructive to coastal areas as was witnessed

during the catastrophic tsunami event in December 2004.

2.8.6 Disasters involving Dams

The Irrigation Department is maintaining 18 dams for the purpose of giving irrigation

and drinking water supply. The Dams store large quantity of water and any

untoward incident involving safety of the dam may cause severe damage in the

downstream of the dam.



The common measure for prevention of Disaster and mitigation that can be

implemented in Irrigation Department is preparation of Emergency Action Plan

(EAP) for all Dams. The Emergency Action plans are intended to guide the

concerned officers in identifying, monitoring, responding to and mitigating the

emergency situations. The EAP specifies actions the dam owner should take to

moderate or alleviate the problems at the dam site as well as in the areas

downstream of the dam. It contains procedures and information to assist the dam

owner in issuing early warning and notification messages to responsible emergency

management authorities, viz., District Magistrate / Collector, Armed forces,

Paramilitary forces, Project Authorities and other Central/ State Agencies. It also

contains inundation maps to show the emergency management authorities of the

critical areas for necessary relief and rescue actions in case of an emergency.

2.8.6.1 Development of Emergency Action Plan

Emergency Action Plan for the dam is intended to help the concerned

officials to save lives, to minimise the damage to property and structures in

the event of a flooding caused by large release from dam, dam failure or

such other hazardous conditions. The EAP is to be prepared for any kind of

disasters other than the natural disaster, which can be anticipated and

prevented to some extent. For the disaster involving dams, the Emergency

action plan will be more appropriate than a Disaster Management plan.

The process of developing an EAP generally follows nine steps as listed

below:

Step 1: Determine the potential inundated area, by defining PMF / SPF/100

years’ flood / dam break flood profiles downstream of the dam. Conditions

to be considered may include: Fair-weather dam failure at normal full pool

levels, Design flood with and without failure As appropriate, other flood flow

conditions, with and without failure, to determine the worst-case scenarios.

Step 2: Prepare inundation maps which clearly depict the flooded areas

under conditions mentioned at step 1.

Step 3: Determine & identify those situations or triggering events that would

initiate an emergency action, and specify the actions to be taken and by

whom.

Step 4: Identify all jurisdictions, agencies and individuals who will be

involved in the EAP. Discuss the development of the EAP with these

parties. This interaction should include discussion on the need for and



operation of an emergency operations centre and reception centre, as well

as a discussion of evacuation (destinations, priorities & procedures), post-

flood actions (recovery & cleanup), and other measures in the event of an

emergency.

Step 5: Identify primary & auxiliary communication systems, both internal

(between persons at the dam) and external (between dam personnel &

outside entities).

Step 6: List and prioritize all persons and entities involved in the notification

process, and draft the Notification Flowchart.

Step 7: Develop a draft of the EAP.

Step 8: Hold coordination meeting(s) with all parties included in the

notification flowchart for review and comments on the draft EAP. Some

nongovernmental experts can also be invited.

Step 9: Make any revisions, obtain the necessary approvals / concurrences

on EAP and disseminate the EAP to those who have responsibilities under

the plan.

2.8.6.2 Dam Break Simulation

The study of flood water flow can be simulated in the DAMBRK software.

The study can be done for various types of ruptures and water level and an

assessment of downstream damage and possible inundation can be

estimated

2.8.6.3 Disaster Mapping

A map is a graphic representation of physical location and spread of an

element in geographical terms. Maps are to be prepared with universally

accepted standard references like latitude, longitude as well as north- south

directions. Maps should be prepared on a suitable scale and various land

marks, structures, rivers etc are to be shown in different colours and

symbols.

The maps of the area are to be prepared by the designated officer in charge

of the disaster management/ preparedness. Advanced techniques like

remote sensing and geographical information system can be used for the

preparation of the map. All necessary details like roads, bridges, rivers,

populated areas, hospitals etc and evacuation shelters like schools, public

buildings etc shall be marked in the map.



The GIS can improve the quality and power of analysis of natural hazard

assessments, guide the development activities and assist planners in the

selection of mitigation measures and in the implementation of emergency

preparedness and response action. The GIS provides representation of

data in the form of map with many layers of information about location of

public facilities, communication links and transportation network at district

and state levels. These maps along with the satellite images available for

the particular area facilitate district administration and state government to

carry out hazard zonation and vulnerability assessment.

Vulnerability zones are to be marked for easy identification. The flooding

areas can be assessed and marked. The areas susceptible to land slide

near the habited areas can be obtained from the CESS,

Thiruvananthapuram and can be incorporated in the map. Low lying areas

near the coastal areas are also to be marked.

Inundation maps are to be prepared in case of the preparation of the

emergency action plan for dams. The zone of flooding in the downstream

side of the dam in case of heavy flooding or dam break are to be marked in

the inundation map. This map will help the authorities to take appropriate

action in the case of a hazardous situation.

The preparation of Inundation map and Dam Break analysis is being done

at IDRB as part of the DRIP project using Satellite image and will be issued

at a later date. For the time being the respective divisions shall prepare the

maps showing inundation/flood damage areas on the following thump rule.

o The inundation level due to due to dam breakage in the nearby areas to

dam in hilly region can be taken as 3m above the high recorded flood

level, 2m above in mid land region and 1m above in coastal region.

o Inundation maps shall be at a scale sufficient to determine the extent of

and duration of flooding in relation to people at risk, properties and

access routes.

o Structures (bridges etc.) likely to be destroyed are to be identified in the

map.

o Indication of main flow areas (damage potential of flow) shall be done.

o Timing of the arrival and peak of the flood wave.



o Identification of features likely to affect mobility / evacuation during and

after the event including impact on infrastructure and the deposition and

scour of debris and sediment.

2.9 Identification of suppliers for departmental supplies and pre-contracting for supplies in case of emergencies

The supplies required by the department for different types of disaster will vary as per

the requirement. If an emergency situation demands the necessity of particular types

of supplies then the suitable suppliers will be identified. A list of suppliers and

Contractors who can provide materials and services in an emergency situation is

included in the appendix.



CHAPTER 3 Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction

(This chapter is included as per the recommendation for the preparation of

Departmental Disaster Management plan. Officers are advised to refer the State

Disaster Management Plan for more details)

3.1 Norms of Relief

All disasters, emergencies and crises events are chaotic and highly dynamic, creating

physical, emotional, and social disorders. “Response measures are those which are

taken immediately during and after the disaster. Such measures are directed towards

saving lives, alleviating sufferings, protecting property and dealing with the immediate

damage caused by the disaster.” Emergency Medical services will be required by

affected population and to prevent likely outbreaks of epidemic diseases after the

disaster. Hospital services would also be affected.

Using school buildings as temporary relief camps during disasters disrupts the

education of children for long periods. Alternative arrangements for housing relief

camps will be put in place through various mitigation projects to gradually reduce

dependence on the buildings of educational institutions.

3.2 Minimum Standards of Relief

As per the G.O. (P) No.303/08/DMD dated 09.09.08, the District Disaster

Management Authority was established in all districts chaired by the District Collector.

Relief Measures include

• Deployment of the cut-off areas with medicine

• Stock piling and of required medicines/ORS packets/

• Chlorine tablets

• Treatment of the wounded

• Transportation of the injured to hospitals

• Awareness messages to stop the outbreak of epidemics

• Disease surveillance and transmission of reports to the higher authorities on a daily

basis.

• Vaccination

• Constitute mobile teams and visit the worst affected areas

• Disinfection of water sources

• Identification of site operation camps



• To obtain/transmit information on natural calamities to field functionaries

• Advance inoculation programme in the flood prone areas

• Arrangement of fodder/medicines for the animals Vaccination

• Site operation camps

• Carcasses disposal

3.3 Rehabilitation Plan

The details of following suggested Support Agencies such as Dispensaries, Mobile

Dispensaries, Hospitals, Ambulance Service, Blood Bank, NSS, Rotary Club, Lions

Club, and IMA. Private medical association, Medicine Stockiest, Indian Red Cross,

Civil Defence, Fire Service, WDMTs, NGOs, CBOs, etc shall be collected for the

preparation of response and rehabilitation plans. Medical Response and Trauma

Counselling will look after emergency treatment for the injured people immediate after

the disaster take place.

Government of India passed the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and with it came a

paradigm shift from response and relief centric approach to a proactive prevention,

mitigation and preparedness-driven approach for preserving development gains and

for minimizing loss to life, livelihood and p ro pe r t y . The scope of Department of

Revenue has been enhanced to include prevention, mitigation and preparedness

aspects of Disaster Management apart from its traditional responsibility of relief and

rehabilitation. The department will be the nodal department for disaster management.

The Principal Secretary to Government will act as the State Relief Commissioner. The

organizational structure of the Department dealing with disaster management will be

so tailored as to reflect the change in focus from post-disaster relief and rehabilitation

to prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

District Disaster Management Committee is the high-powered committee at District

level to look after disaster management and emergency response. The District

Panchayath President is the Co-Chairperson and Additional District Magistrate, The

Superintendent of Police, the District Medical Officer (Health), Assistant Divisional

Officer, Fire and Rescue Services and the Deputy Director of Fisheries, are the Ex

officio Members, nominated for the committee.

Response operations may get adversely affected if the support from the above

mentioned departments gets delayed is inadequate or inappropriate. This situation can

arise if effective prior coordination arrangements have not been catered by the relevant



departments. Therefore effective preparedness measures will be taken to ensure better

and quick coordination and response.

3.4 Shelter planning and environment concerns

Planning of shelters is one of the crucial aspects of camp management. It should be

done considering the expected population, access to basic amenities and services,

access to entry and exit gates, security and most importantly the environment and

natural resources of the site. Environmental concerns are a feature of every camp and

need to be taken into account from the moment a site is selected and till it has been

responsibly closed. Soil erosion and the loss of natural vegetation cover are some of

the most common and visible environmental impacts. Others, such as ground water

pollution and soil contamination might be less visible but are equally important. An

environmental management plan made together with camp residents/committees (or,

where available, village-based environmental groups), can identify the priority areas to

be addressed.

3.5 Basic services:

Provision of services such as water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management are

basics of good camp management. Specialist agencies and teams can be involved in

this task. Equity and participation of camp inhabitants would be taken care of.

3.6 Transitional education:

Facilities should be provided for children living in the camp by engaging local

teachers and youth, specialist agencies and experts.

3.7 Health facilities:

Maintaining health and hygiene is one of the most important functions of camp

management. Surveillance of seasonal and chronic diseases of the area, and water

borne and vector borne diseases should be delegated to a special group of health

professionals. The camp should have medical and healthcare facilities, which are

accessible to all. Special vaccination drives and disinfection drives would be taken up

periodically. Participation of camp inhabitants for maintaining a hygienic environment

in the camp should be ensured.



CHAPTER 4 Knowledge Management

4.1 Introduction

Knowledge Management is the creation and subsequent management of an

environment which encourages Knowledge to be created, shared, learnt, enhanced,

organized and utilized in and outside the organization. It is about applying the collective

knowledge of the entire workforce to achieve specific organizational goals. It is about

facilitating the process by which knowledge is created, shared and utilised. Knowledge

is defined as “the fact or condition of knowing something with a considerable degree of

familiarity through experience, association or contact.”

There is a need for a disaster knowledge networking platform to facilitate interaction and

have simultaneous dialogue with all related expertise dealing with disaster management

in India. The knowledge management initiative shall be thoughtfully envisaged as a tool

to store, retrieve, disseminate and manage information related to disaster management.

Knowledge management is all about getting the right knowledge, in the right place, at

the right time.

4.2 The Knowledge Management Cycle

Knowledge processes in an environment are managed to convert knowledge for action

and to achieve the desired results of increased value in the organization or specific

operations .There are three general perspectives in the Knowledge Management cycle:

Management, Application and Organization:

Management focuses on capturing, organizing and facilitating knowledge.

Application focuses on effective retrieval of relevant content through advanced searches and

drawing out to conduct knowledge-related work and tasks and on the use of the results for

discovery. It relies on the knowledge combination portion of the model.

Organizations focus on learning, sharing and collaboration. This is the education component

of the cycle that is within the internalization quadrant, moving into the socialization portion.

The Knowledge Management is an important tool in the Disaster Preparedness. A

Decision Support System (DSS) and inputs based on Geographical Information

System (GIS) platform are essential for carrying out successful evacuation.

Responsibilities of each organization need to be fixed beforehand in the form of SOPs.

Immediately after the disaster, there is an urgent need for rapid damage assessment



is needed in terms of loss of life, injury, and loss of property. The objectives of damage

assessment are to mobilize resources for better rescue and relief, to have detailed

information of damage extent and the severity of the disaster, and to develop

strategies for reconstruction and restoration facilities.

The Knowledge management shall be effectively used

To work towards reducing death and suffering–particularly among children—due to

natural hazards in the most vulnerable communities through preparedness and

mitigation.

To reduce disaster losses by helping vulnerable communities recognize their risk and

the methods to manage it.

To identify and promote strategies, potential practices and programs that support

comprehensive school safety.

To educate communities and organise various kinds of awareness raising and training

programs regarding natural hazards and possible preparedness measures.

To promote disaster safety in communities by developing awareness generation

materials.

To assist in building a safer and disaster resilient India by partnering with the

Government in developing holistic, pro-active, multi-disaster and technology-driven

strategies for disaster risk reduction through collective efforts of all Government

Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations.



CHAPTER 5 Review, Updation and Dissemination of Plan

The Disaster Management Plan provides an institutional mechanism for a quick and

coordinated response for preventing disasters and also for initiating appropriate

response activities in case of an event of a disaster. The Nodal Departments are

expected to initiate action on their own, as per their Standard operating procedures

(SOPs) in the event of a disaster or a threat of a disaster and act promptly as per the

directions from the higher authorities. In a disaster situation, a quick rescue and relief

mission is essential. However, the ensuing damage can be minimized to a

considerable extent if adequate preparedness and mitigation measures are taken up in

a timely and proactive manner. Indeed, it has been noticed in the past, that as and

when attention has been paid to adequate preparedness measures, the loss to life and

property has been considerably reduced. Thus, the state will organize series of

awareness camps and skill trainings at all levels thus ensuring a state of ‘culture of

preparedness’ and a ‘Disaster resilient Ke ra la ’.

5.1 Preparation and updating of Disaster Management Plan

The organizational structure suggested in Plan will be based on following three

concepts:

Plans will work only in the case when present organizational structure is responsible

to its non-emergency duties i.e. if a job is done well every day, it is best done by that

organization during emergency.

Crisis should be met at the lowest and most immediate level of government. Plans

call for local response supplemented if necessary, by the next higher jurisdiction.

Voluntary response and involvement of the private sector should be sought and

emphasized. The emergency management partnership is important to all phases of

natural and man-made disasters.

Disaster Management Plan of the Department shall be a public document. It will be

the part of all concerned departments.

Preparation of the Disaster Management Plan of the Department is the responsibility

of each Nodal Officer under the guidance State Disaster Management Authority. The

first draft plan is to be discussed in the Department.

The same procedure is to be followed in updating of the plan document. The

Disaster Management Plan of the Department is to be updated annually by the

Department. In order to update the document, all information from subordinate offices



is to be collected and updated. After each annual updating of the Disaster

Management Plan, version number shall be given serially. Copy of the updated

document shall be circulated to each stakeholder of disaster management of the

Department. The plan shall be uploaded in departmental website for wide publicity.

Meetings, seminars etc shall be conducted to get the views of the stakeholders.

Besides the above procedure of updating of the Plan, a regular data collection system

shall be set up at the main office and the data shall be verified and uploaded under the

supervision of Department.

5.2 Post Disaster Evaluation Mechanism

Disasters are always unexpected. Each disaster causes huge loss of human lives and

property. And every disaster repeats after a particular interval. Also lessons learnt from

a particular disaster will help to plan for another potential hazard. The Department shall

make special arrangements to collect data on a particular disaster irrespective of size

and vulnerability. This post disaster evaluation mechanism shall be set up with

qualified professions, experts and researchers and the collected data shall be

thoroughly crosschecked and documented at the AE level for further reference. This

document shall be made with proper attention keeping in view the relief and

rehabilitation measures.

5.3 Coordination with various agencies

Although involvement of different emergency services like Police, Fire Brigade and

Hospital services is inevitable, some other Public Utility Services, such as local bodies,

Railways, Air lines, etc., have to be involved also in most cases for dealing with the

situation effectively. All such agencies are very different organizations, with different

hierarchies and chains of command and responsibility, all talking different languages

with different areas of expertise and priorities. If rescue and recovery work is to be

effective, all these different agencies have to work together in a co-ordinated way. All

these agencies, therefore, have to be aware of each other’s areas of responsibility and

systems of working. Comprehensive discussion and agreement among these agencies

in the planning stage and communication of the decisions down the chain of command

the lowest functionary of each agency and their training is, therefore, of utmost

importance so that they know as to who is responsible for what and shall be aware of

their roles and responsibility and can appreciate the need for Multi-Service Involvement

in such a situation.



In disaster situations, a quick rescue and relief mission is inevitable. However,

considerable damage can be minimized if adequate preparedness levels are achieved.

Indeed, it has been noticed in the past, that as and when attention has been paid to

adequate preparedness measures, the loss to life and property has been considerably

reduced.



Appendix I

A. Contents required in Departmental Disaster Management Plans as per

National Guidelines.

Chapter 1 : Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Plan

1. Brief profile of the department

2. Measures necessary for prevention of disasters, mitigation, preparedness and

capacity-building in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National

Authority and the State Authority.

3. Integration into its development plans and projects, the measures for prevention

of disaster and mitigation in the departmental annual plan.

4. Provision of funds for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity- building and

preparedness from the respective departmental budget head

5. Drawing up mitigation, preparedness and response plans, capacity-building, data

collection and identification and training of personal in relation to disaster

management

6. Review the enactments administered by it, its policies, rules and regulations with

a view to incorporate therein the provisions necessary for prevention of

disasters, mitigation or preparedness

7. Provision of emergency communication in the affected areas for the department

8. Such other actions as may be necessary for disaster management

Chapter 2: Response plan

1. Mechanism for early warning and dissemination thereof based on warnings

issued by IMD, State Emergency Operations Centre or the District Control Rooms

2. Trigger Mechanism for response – who in the department will alert the concerned

officers in the department and if alerted what triggers are to be initiated by the

concerned officer

3. Response plan for responding effectively and promptly to any threatening

disaster situation or disaster in accordance with the State plan, and in

accordance with the guidelines or directions of the National Executive Committee

and the State Executive Committee and the State Government and the SDMA

4. Appointment of Nodal Officers to perform Emergency Support Functions

(ESFs)/roles in emergency in the format already circulated by the State

Government V. Constitution of the incident Response Teams (IRTs) at all levels

with provision of delegation of authority



5. Reporting procedures and formats; Vii. Role of NGOs and Voluntary Sector and

coordination thereof

6. System of assessing the damage from any disaster

7. Roles and responsibilities and coordination mechanism for the department

8. Disaster Specific response Plan – Response plan for major disasters such as

earthquake , flash flood/cloud burst, snow avalanche, landslide etc in which State

level response would be needed

9. Identification of suppliers for departmental supplies and pre- contracting for

supplies in case of emergencies

Chapter 3: Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction

1. Norms of relief if applicable

2. Minimum Standards of relief

3. Rehabilitation Plan

4. Financial mechanism

5. Action plan for reconstruction – ‘Building back better’

Please mention schemes of insurance and relief packages available in the

department. Norms of the National /State Disaster Response Fund may be

mentioned separately

Chapter 4: Knowledge Management

1. Documentation of losses in the animal husbandry & dairy sector for every

department

2. Documentation of lessons learnt

3. Documentation of best practices and uploading of the same in the

departmental websites

Chapter 5: Review, updation and Dissemination of Plan

1. DM Plan is a “ living document” – would require regular improvement and

updation – at least once a year

2. System of updation – who, when and how?

3. Dissemination of Plan to stakeholders – how? – Printing of document , uploading

in departmental website, meetings, seminars etc

Annexures

1. Important contact details – National, State, local level of the department etc

2. Resource list (available with Department) with contact persons details ( kindly

follow IDRN Format)www.idrn.gov.in

3. Resources available with National Govt. level

http://www.idrn.gov.in/



4. Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all phases of disasters –

before, during and after

5. List of NGOs/INGOs/CBOs working in the field of the department

6. List of suppliers relevant for the department

7. Damage Assessment Formats

8. Reporting formats



Appendix II

Types of emergency problems in dams

In spite of advances made in site explorations, scientific design and improved

construction techniques, emergencies do occur in the dam now and then. The

Engineers in charge of maintenance of dam must have thorough knowledge of the

common types of emergencies and methods of remedial measures so that they can

strive in save the structure from imminent failure.

The following are the common types of emergencies.

a) Embankment and Foundation Piping:

Piping or progressive erosion due to leaks has caused a large number of catastrophic

failures. Piping may occur if the pressure head of seepage water at the exit is

sufficiently high to dislodge the soil particles at the exit causing a series internal erosion

along the path of seepage.

A pervious foundation of dam or pervious or open jointed rock at the bed of cut off

trench or leaky reservoir bottom is a frequent cause of excessive water loss and

occasionally piping. The conditions usually responsible for foundation piping are:

• Strata and lenses of sand or gravel in the alluvial deposits on which the earth dam is built particularly in case of partial cut off.

• Presence of buried channels under the seat of dam, open joints in basalt and faults or fracture zone in the foundation rock.

Buried previous channels of boulders and debris in the embankment core may also cause piping. At the junctions with masonry and outlets, inadequate junction construction measures as well as separation of soil mass may also lead to seepage and piping.

b) Boils:

The boils may occur due to pervious foundation strata like the layers of alluvium sand and gravel on which the embankment rest. Boils may lead to piping if not properly treated. The most effective and practicable method of controlling individual large boils is to provide a ring bund of sand bags .The diameter of the ring must be at-least 10 times that of diameter of the boils. If the phenomena of piping are observed on a dam, the same must be tackled on emergency footing by adopting the following immediate as well as on long term measures.

• Laying inverted filter of the filter materials laid in site or pre-fabricated filter packs over the discharge face.



• Emergency lowering of the reservoir.

• Dumping of soil , murrum and rock on the upstream.

• Preventing overtopping by raising the crest as well as emergency lowering as stated above if subsidence is noted.

• Providing relief wells.

• Providing drainage trenches.

• Providing upstream impervious blanket.

• Grouting of the defective barriers.

c) Control of Boils or excessive seepage:

A boil is a condition where by enough pressure produced by a high water pressure so

that water is piped under the embankment with sufficient velocity to carry earthen

materials to the landward side. Such danger spots are serious and other materials are

also being carried in suspense by the discharging water. If not controlled those particles

of the earthen material will be eroded from within embankment at an accelerated pace

thus causing a local subsidence of the embankment section. The continuation of this

process will eventually result breach of the embankment.

The common method of controlling boils consists of building up a water tight ring of

sand bags around the boil to a height necessary to reduce the velocity of flow to the

point at which earth materials is no longer discharged from the boil. A point to be

specially noted is that the flow of water should never be stopped completely, as this

may cause the boil to break out in the area adjacent to the existing ring of sand bags.

This ring around the boil should be large enough to effectively encompass the defective

area in the immediate surroundings. If several boils of sufficient force to displace sand

or earth are observed, a subsidiary embankment of sand bags may be built around the

entire nest to such a height that none of the boils will discharge with enough velocity to

move material from the embankment.

When the reservoir level sub-sides if such boils are few isolated ones, longitudinal

trenches have to be constructed to trace the cause of the leak. After doing so, trenches

have to be constructed right across the embankment with bed lower than the bottom of

the leak and the trench is to filled up with selected sand and earth duly watered and

remedial measures using any insecticides if necessary may be carried out. For post

monsoon maintenance a careful record of causes of such leakage may maintained.

If the reaches where boils are occurring are fairly long and spread out then special

treatment comprising one of the following or a combination of these would have to be

adopted.

• Providing a long opening of suitable depth and length on river berm side of the embankment and in the upstream slope of the embankment.



• Providing cut off clay trenches below the embankment.

• Providing relief valve at suitable intervals on the land side at a short distance from the top of the embankment.

• Flattening the land side slope of the embankment or providing Pushtas to the embankments.

• Providing plantation, shrubs etc. on the river side berms of the embankment for arresting silt.

• Tackling a leak through an earth dam.

When unusual leakage is observed on dams, the following actions should be taken:- 1. If clear water is coming out through a leak:

The situation is not serious. The discharge should be measured and the leakages

reported immediately to the Executive Engineer with copy to the Superintending

Engineer.

2. If Turbid water is coming out through a leak : The matter is serious and may develop into a dangerous situation. The leakage discharge should be estimated. An immediate inspection of the dam should be made to discover whether any settlement, however, small and any longitudinal or transverse cracks have developed. It should also be observed whether any sloughing of the embankment has occurred. The occurrence with full facts should be telegraphically communicated to the Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer and Chief Engineer. The Executive Engineer must rush to the site on receipt of the information about such an occurrence to direct and supervise the remedial actions. Simultaneously the following action should be immediately taken to deal with the leak.

If the leakage is small, a bowl shaped excavation should be made in the slope of the embankment and a filter consisting of sand, or metal and rubble should be constructed in excavation. The layer of the sand should be deposited against the leakage face. If the leakage is large there would be no time for excavation and the filter should be built

above the embankment slope. It should be noted that the purpose of the filter is to trap

soil particles danger due to a leak arises out of the removal of soil particles from the

body of embankment, ultimately resulting in an uncontrolled piping. The foundation of

the filter is to arrest the movement of soil particles. It is therefore most important that the

filter materials of the correct size should be obtained and stacked in advance near the

rear toe of the dam. If after the filter is built, the turbidity of the leakage flow disappears

and even if clear water continuously comes out, the filter has served its purpose.

After the filter is successfully built the fact of having done so should be communicated –

telegraphically to the Executive Engineer, the Superintending Engineer, and the Chief

Engineer. The clear water discharge should be kept under constant observation

throughout the period until the reservoir is drained.



d) Foundation slides:

Many slides are caused by weak foundations. The sliding is accompanied by bulging

and outward or a heave of the foundation beyond the toe of the embankment soft clay

strata, weathered rock and shells are responsible for development of foundation failure.

The sliding is often preceded by slow outward slip of slope or slow subsidence of the

embankment. However, the movement is difficult to defect without accurate

measurements or careful observations. Foundation failure may take place due to

excessive water pressure in confined silt or sand seams. The movement may also

develop very rapidly, usually without a warning after a gradual rise of ground water table

and water logging.

e) Slides in embankment slopes:

Slides in the embankment slopes are characterized by a typical subsidence of semi-

circular portion of dam top and a bulging embankment slope in the lower part or just

above the toe. The movement develops slowly and is preceded by cracks on the top or

on the slope near the top. Sometimes the lower slope bulges upward slowly along with

the cracks forming perpendicular to the dam axis. Embankment slides can occur on

either the upstream or downstream face if the slope is too steep for the strength of the

soil. Failure can also take place during construction even when the reservoir has not

begun to fill.

The soil is weakened by the development of temporary pore pressure during

construction, which may cause slides in the embankment. Sudden draw down of the

reservoir may also cause failure by way of slides in the upstream. Shallow slides occur

on downstream of dam, most of which follow heavy rain storm. Poorly drained

downstream berms or poorly drained roads on the downstream slope also allow

accumulation of surface puddles, which saturate the embankment directly below the

berm or road and lead to slides.

f) Longitudinal and Traverse cracks in Embankment:

They are caused by differential settlement between adjacent lengths embankment

usually between the portion located at the abutment and portion in center of the valley.

The worst cracking develops when the foundation under higher portion is compressible

and the abutments are steep and relative incompressible. The most dangerous cracks

are those which run transversely create a path through the core for concentrated

through the core.

g) Breaches in embankment:



The possible causes for breaches have been dealt with in the earlier paras. The most

frequent cause of the breach is however the development of a leak. If the establishment

is sufficient, vigilant and resourceful in (1) Detection of leak (2) locations of direction of

leak and (3) taking prompt measures in closing of leaks, breaches can be successfully

avoided. If a breach occurs or is threatened, the Oversear /Assistant Engineer or the

Sub-Engineer should immediately send special messenger to the Assistant Executive

Engineer and Executive Engineer intimating the position of the embankment and later

send a report covering the following:

• Name of embankment

• Reduced distance of site of breach

• Time of occurrence

• Time at which report of the same reaches the Assistant Engineer

• Time at which the Assistant Engineer reaches the spot

• Causes of breach

• Width of breach at time of report

• Depth of water at site of breach

• Nature of soils, and

• Strength of labour and material at site On receipt of the message, the Executive Engineer should immediately inform the

Superintending Engineer the Collector and other Executive Engineers nearby and the

Divisional Forest Officer. The Assistant Engineer and Executive Engineer should rush

to the spot immediately and attempt to get the breach repaired in their presence. The

assistance of the Army should be sought for only when the situation is beyond the

control of civil authorities.



Appendix III

Telephone Numbers Officials & list of suppliers and Contractors who can

provide materials and services in an emergency situation

Sl No Name

Office Phone Number Mobile Fax No

Kerala State Executive Committee / Crisis Management Group

1 Chief Secretary to Government 0471-2333147,2327376 9447773303

0471-

2327176

2 Principal Secretary, Revenue

Department 0471-2325239 9447132755 0471-

2335467

3 Secretary, Finance Department 0471-2327586

0471-

2326990

4 Secretary, Home Department : 0471-2327451, 9446440085

0471-2327451

5 Secretary, Health Department 0471-2336602 9895033377

0471-

2336602

SDMA Secretariat / Technical Wing

1 Secretary ,Commissionarate of

Land Revenue 0471-2324 120 9446313133 2333 198

2

Technical Expert

,Commissionarate of Land

Revenue

9526454705

3

Section Officer ,

Commissionarate of Land

Revenue

9447901994

4

Clerk , Commissionarate of

Land Revenue

9496204334

5

State Project Officer, State level

Emergency Operation Centre

(EOC): Commissionarate of

Land Revenue

: 0471 - 2331639, 0471

- 2333198. 9744797371

6

Programme Coordinator, URR, ,

State level Emergency Operation

Centre (EOC): Commissionarate

of Land Revenue

9995824251



7

Documentation &

Communication Officer, State

level Emergency Operation

Centre (EOC):

Commissionarate of Land

Revenue

9447573494

8

IT/GIS Specialist, , State level

Emergency Operation Centre

(EOC): Commissionarate of

Land Revenue

9746396112

DM Nodal Officers of Major departments

Department Nodal Officer Phone &

Fax no.

1

Police Department - Addl.

Director General of Police( South

Zone) 0471- 2323775

9497999993 0471-

2323573

1.1

Police Department - Addl.

Director General of Police (North

Zone)

0495-2368500 9497999998 0495-

2369190

2

Fire & Rescue Services -

Commandant General 0471-2320868 0471-

2320868

3 Health Department - Director 0471-2303025 9946105491 0471-

2303025

4

Agriculture Department -

Additional Director & Head Soil

Survey

0471-2466145 9847138143 0471-

2468190

5

Irrigation Department - Chief

Engineer ( Irrigation &

Administration)

0471-2322927

0471-2322927

6

Mining & Geology department -

Director 0471-2447429 0471-

2447429

7 Director of Ports - Director 0471-2324842 0471-

2324533

8

Animal Husbandry Department -

Director 0471-2302283 0471-

2302283

9

Motor Vehicles Department - Dy.

Transport Commissioner (South

Zone)

0471-2333336 9539010261

0471-2333336

10

Industries & Commerce

Department - Joint Director 0471-2308721 9895146826 0471-

23054493

11

Factories & Boilers Department -

Director 0471-2463597 0471-

2477141

12 Panchayat Department - Director 0471-2323286 9447183286 0471-

2323286



13

Fisheries Department - Asst.

Director of Fisheries 0471-2304348 9496410944

14

Civil Supplies Department -

Commissioner 0471-2321152 9447744200 0471-

2321152

15

Social Welfare Department - Asst.

Director 0471-2300672

0471-230067

District

16 Chief Engineer ,I & A

17 Superintending Engineer

18 Executive Engineer

19 Assistant Executive Engineer

20 Assistant Engineer



Appendix IV

Maps of the basin

Documents

DEPARTMENTAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN...Departmental Disaster Management Plan Irrigation Design & Research Board Page 2 Foreword Increasing incidence of disaster across the globe is