International Journal of Disaster Risk Management
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Understanding Crowd Dynamics and Disaster Risks in Kerala Temple Festivals: Strategies for Effective Management
Get PDFTemple festivals in Kerala are vibrant cultural events that draw massive crowds, creating a complex environment where crowd dynamics can pose significant disaster risks. The large number of attendees, combined with limited space and inadequate safety measures, makes these festivals vulnerable to incidents such as stampedes, fires, and structural collapses. Despite the recurrence of crowd-induced disasters, there remains a gap in comprehensive disaster management strategies tailored to these unique events. This paper examines the critical aspects of crowd behaviour during Kerala\u27s temple festivals and the associated disaster risks. It explores past incidents to identify key risk factors and assesses current preparedness and response mechanisms. This study explored a mixed-methods approach to examine crowd dynamics and disaster risks in Kerala temple festivals. Primary data were collected through field observations and semi-structured interviews with festival organizers, local authorities, and participants. Secondary data included incident reports and archival records of past festivals. The findings were synthesized to propose evidence-based management strategies. The analysis revealed critical risk factors associated with crowd dynamics during Kerala temple festivals, including overcrowding in confined spaces, inadequate evacuation routes, and lack of real-time communication systems. GIS-based spatial mapping highlighted congestion hotspots and high-risk zones. Interviews with stakeholders identified gaps in preparedness and coordination among organizers and emergency services. The proposed management strategies demonstrated the potential to mitigate risks, enhance crowd safety, and ensure efficient emergency response. Effective crowd management at temple festivals requires a multidisciplinary approach that involves spatial analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and robust catastrophe preparedness. The study highlights the significance of conducting preventive risk assessments and dynamic crowd monitoring techniques to avoid disasters. Implementing the proposed measures can considerably improve public safety, serve as a model for comparable cultural events, and help to shape legislation for disaster risk reduction in large crowds
Psychological Preparedness of the Rescuers and Volunteers: A Case Study of 2023 Türkiye Earthquake
Get PDFWhen disaster strikes, first responders must be not only operationally and logistically but also psychologically prepared. Psychological preparation for a potential adverse event can have a critical impact on the success of responses, and recovery efforts. The aim of this paper is to analyze the psychological preparedness of rescuers and volunteers from Bosnia and Herzegovina who were assigned to the mission of minimizing the consequences of the earthquake in the Republic of Türkiye in February 2023. As a module in the training of the organizations that engaged them, the existence of psychosocial assistance provided to rescuers and volunteers (psychological first aid) in the circumstances of natural disasters was analyzed. The psychological readiness of the rescuers sent from Bosnia and Herzegovina to perform the assigned tasks, their status and condition during the mission were analyzed. The research was conducted in the period March – June 2023 using an anonymous questionnaire with combined questions. The results of this research determined that the majority of respondents believe that training aimed at protecting mental health and preventing the harmful effects of stressful situations in their work organization does not meet the challenges they encountered during the rescue mission in the Republic of Türkiye in February 2023. The results of this research highlight the need to find practical solutions - the inclusion of psychosocial assistance activities. It is therefore vital that psychological preparedness be included in emergency response plans
Management of COVID: The Creeping Disaster in the Indian Scenario
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed an enormous challenge to the Indian healthcare system, leading to a creeping disaster in the country. This research article aims to analyze the management strategies adopted by the Indian government to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and highlight the challenges faced in the Indian scenario. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of various secondary sources, including government reports, scientific literature, and news articles. The findings suggest that the Indian government implemented several measures to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, including nationwide lockdowns, scaling up testing and treatment facilities, and vaccination drives. However, the implementation of these measures was plagued by several challenges, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, inadequate funding, shortage of medical supplies, and misinformation. The study also highlights the need for a coordinated response from different stakeholders, including the government, healthcare workers, and the general public, to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study recommends the need for a robust healthcare infrastructure, investment in research and development, and public awareness campaigns to address the challenges posed by COVID-19. Overall, this research article provides insights into the management of the creeping disaster COVID-19 in the Indian scenario and underscores the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to effectively mitigate the impact of the pandemic
Implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Get PDFThe high mortality rates resulting from the disaster have led to significant losses. This study is of utmost importance as it aims to evaluate the implementation of the four thematic areas of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in the Secondary Public Schools located in the Province of Benguet Philippines. The study also aims to identify the variations in implementing DRRM across the participating schools and the challenges and training needs related to DRRM. While the findings indicate a high level of implementation for disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, recovery, and rehabilitation, disaster response needs improvement in the implementation. DRRM raises various concerns among institutions, such as lack of budget, multiple tasks assigned to the school DRRM coordinator, and insufficient parental support. However, with the right interventions, these challenges can be overcome. Moreover, public school educators must receive training in the field of DRRM, such as basic life support training, first aid training, contingency training, and incident command systems, which presents an opportunity for improvement. As a result, a lack of resources, emergency supplies, communication systems, and effective response mechanisms will not be delivered, and this can turn out to be disastrous to the learners and the teachers. With this, collaboration needs to be established with other government agencies and the private sector
Role of Emerging Technology in Disaster Management in India: An Overview
Get PDFIndia\u27s diversified topography and dense population present unique challenges for disaster management. Developing technologies for disaster management plans has the potential to improve reaction times and lessen the adverse effects of natural catastrophes. This paper meticulously examines the role of various technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), mobile communication systems and drones, in fortifying disaster management efforts across India. Through a literature review and multiple case studies, including the 2018 Kerala floods, Cyclone Fani in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic response, this research demonstrates how AI-driven predictive models enabled early warning and resource optimization, GIS facilities precise hazard mapping and rapid damage assessment, and drones provided critical aerial data in inaccessible areas for relief efforts and rescue operations. This research underscores the potential of technology to enhance recovery operations management, accelerate disaster prediction, and enhance response times. However, we must acknowledge technical constraints, infrastructure shortcomings, and legislative barriers to achieve full-scale application. This article argues that regulatory changes, improved training initiatives, and expanded public-private partnerships are necessary to create more resilient disaster management systems. Subsequent investigations should concentrate on creating flexible and durable technology to tolerate the intricate disaster situations encountered in India. The present study highlights the pivotal function of technology in revolutionizing disaster management methodologies in India, promoting a proactive strategy for incorporating cutting-edge technological solutions
Integrating Multi-Source Geospatial Data and AHP for Flood Susceptibility Mapping in Ain Smara, Constantine, Algeria
Get PDFMapping flood susceptibility is essential for identifying flood-prone areas and informing flood risk management strategies. This study applies a multi-criteria decision-making approach to assess flood vulnerability in Ain Smara and its surrounding areas in Constantine, Algeria, which are highly susceptible to flooding. The analysis combines the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Ten key flood-related criteria were selected, including the Topographic Wetness Index, Elevation, Slope, Precipitation, Land Cover/Land Use, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Distance from Rivers, Distance from Roads, Drainage Density, and Lithology, along with more than 25 sub-criteria. A pairwise comparison matrix (PCM) was used to assign relative importance to each criterion based on its impact on flood susceptibility. The Topographic Wetness Index was identified as the most significant criterion, while Distance from Roads was deemed the least significant. The results reveal that approximately 4.00% of the area is classified as having high to very high flood susceptibility, particularly near the Rhumel River. Roughly 30% of the area has low to very low susceptibility, and the remaining 66% is categorised as moderately susceptible to flooding. Notably, most of the identified flood-prone zones correspond with areas that experienced flooding events in 2019, 2020, and 2021, predominantly within 1,000 meters of river courses. These findings demonstrate the GIS-AHP technique’s effectiveness in generating reliable flood susceptibility maps, especially when numerous criteria are considered
Private sectors’ interventions in Disaster Risk Management
Get PDFThe private sector can play a pivotal role in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) by providing services to strengthen resilience such as climate-resilient infrastructure, supply chain, recovery planning, etc. It can also lead the projects to enhance preparedness by providing expertise in risk assessment, relief coordination, and financial protection. With these capabilities, the private sector can extend its cooperation to the government and public sector to reduce people’s vulnerability to various disasters. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is one of the prominent ways in which the private sector can contribute towards DRM. In India, private sector-led bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are prominently contributing to DRM through CSR towards capacity-building programs. Private firms of varied sizes such as Mahindra, Reliance, and TATA, make varying financial and non-financial contributions toward relief operations and resilience at the individual level. However, a contribution to disaster preparedness in India by collective private bodies and industry associations has the upper edge because they push for improving the scalability and efficiency of innovative solutions and ease of community use of advanced technological tools. The present study highlights the prominent programs these private bodies such as Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) India that promote the private sector’s contribution to disaster risk management. Based on the best practices of these programs the recommendations are drawn that stress a strong partnership (Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)) between different stakeholders (Public and Private) to improve the accountability and feasibility of disaster preparedness
Dynamics of Internal Migration in the Southwest Region of Bangladesh
Get PDFBangladesh is well-known as a developing nation around the world. Migration is common in Bangladesh, particularly within the country. To raise their living conditions (income, housing, education, health, communication, etc.), many people move to new areas. Dacope Upazila is located in the southwestern region of Bangladesh, and this study seeks to examine the factors that contribute to the dynamics of internal migration by assessing the social and economic changes in the living standard of internal migrants following the migration. Both primary and secondary data were analysed statistically. The use of a questionnaire survey has allowed for the collection of primary data. Priority ranking matrix, Satisfaction Index, Economic Status Index (ESI), and Social Status Index (SSI) were computed to analyse the data. Statistical methods were also used to derive demographic information of the migrants. The study found that the majority of migrants were men who were either unemployed or living in poverty. The lack of economic opportunities, the inability to protect one\u27s financial well-being from natural disasters, and the absence of adequate market infrastructure were the primary driving forces of migration. Migratory choices are heavily influenced by economic factors, and a lack of employment opportunities was ranked as the top factor. The Satisfaction Index highlighted the high levels of contentment experienced by internal migrants. Both the ESI and SSI showed greater improvement in the migrants\u27 social and economic standing after migration. One could say that internal migration has a significant effect on the resulting population
Analyzing in Post COVID-19 era: The Effect of Occupational Stress and Work-Life Balance on Employees Performance
Get PDF For any organization, employee has a significant role in the overall performance and development. They have been considered the main asset of the organization. Employee performance has been dependent on various factors and contextual understanding. Drawing on the theory of self-determination, this research study focused on antecedents of employee performance in post COVID-19 context. The motivation behind this research study is to investigate the effects of occupational stress and work-life balance on employee performance in post COVID 19 era. To achieve the aim of the study 208 respondents were approached, who have been serving as middle-tier officers in reputed public sector medical universities and institutions. Statistical techniques (Normality of data, Correlation Analysis, Control Variables, Reliability Analysis and Regression Analysis) are applied to analyze the data through SPSS. The findings of this study depict that occupational stress and work-life balance create negative effects on employee performance in the context of fear of COVID-19. Accordingly, recommendations are provided for the targeted sector and others in general
Use of New Technologies in the Field of Protection and Rescue During Disasters
Get PDFNowadays, dealing with natural disasters is becoming more and more challenging due to climate changes that lead to more frequent and intense natural disasters. Traditional protection and rescue methods are often not sufficient to meet all the challenges posed by these disasters. Therefore, the integration of new technologies becomes crucial for more effective risk management. Research of various aspects use of modern technologies in prevention, detection, response and restoration, in the context of natural disasters, it is necessary to focus on innovative approaches. By using artificial intelligence (AI), drones, sensor technologies, advanced communication systems, and the NICS system (Next-Generation Incident Command System), the goals of protecting civilian populations, reducing damage and improving the efficiency of rescue operations are achieved. Since 2016, the ARCECP Project (Advanced Regional Civil Emergency Coordination Pilot Project) has enabled the partner countries of the Western Balkans to acquire, implement and adapt the NICS system, in strengthening the capacity of emergency response and management in the region. The NICS system has partially taken root in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), and this paper will mostly refer to the implementation of the application in BiH and recommendations for its development at all levels of the BiH government. Through the analysis of existing case studies and the application of new technologies, the work identifies key success factors, challenges and potential directions for future development in this area