Disaster Management

• Check your house, repair doors and windows, wherever necessary.
• Keep a Hurricane Lantern filled with kerosene, flashlight, match boxes, candles and enough dry cells.
• Make sure that your radio set is fully serviceable. Keep an extra set of batteries ready for transistor
• Don’t venture into the areas where streams or rivers flow, high water due to heavy rains, may surge.
• Bolt up glass windows and put shutters in place.
• Get extra food stored, particularly that type which does not require cooking , such as, flat Rice, Sattu ( Pulse Powder). Store extra drinking water.
• When you are moving to a shelter, move your valuable articles to upper floors or tie it to the roof so that these would not be submerged.
• Make provisions for children and old people requiring special diets.
• Be calm. Your ability to meet an emergency will inspire and help others.
• Stay in the shelter, as long as you are informed to do so.

While in the shelter, follow the instructions of personnel – in – charge.

•  Do not keep loose objects like cans, tins and other implements. They may become weapons of destruction during strong winds.
•  Do not spread rumors nor listen to them, only official version of the warnings may be listened to through Radio.
•  Do not stay in your house, when advised to vacate by authorities, especially when your house is located in a low – lying area. You may run the risk of being marooned.
•  Do not venture out, if the weather suddenly clears during a storm as indicated by a lull in the wind and rain.
• Remember strong wind will return equally suddenly from the opposite direction, with even greater velocity. This happens when the eye of the storm passes over your area.
•  Avoid any loose wires, hanging from the poles to avoid electrocution.

Drink only safe water.

• Check house, secure loose tiles by cementing wherever necessary, repair doors and windows.
• Check the area around the house, remove dead or dying trees, anchor removable objects, such as, lumber piles, loose zinc sheets, loose bricks garbage cans, and sign – board etc.
• Keep some wooden boards ready, so that, glass windows can be boarded.
• Keep lanterns filled with kerosene, flashlights, match boxes, candles, and extra dry cells.
• Promptly demolish condemned (unsafe) buildings.

Those who have radio sets should ensure that the radio is fully serviceable. In case of transistors, an extra set of batteries should be kept handy.

• They should remain in shelters until informed by those in charge that they may return home.
• They should get themselves inoculated against diseases immediately at the nearest hospital and seek medical care for the injured and sick.
• Any loose and hanging wire from the lamp post should be strictly avoided. ( A person should be kept to watch so that nobody goes near the wire and the nearest electrical authorities should be informed.
• People should keep away from disaster areas, unless they are required.

Anti – social elements should be prevented from doing mischief.

• Houses and dwellings should be cleared of debris.
• The losses should be reported to the revenue authorities (proforma to be obtained from District Administration)

Relatives should be promptly informed about the safety of persons in the disaster area.

• Follow Earthquake Resistant Building Codes for new construction and Retrofitting of existing building.
•  Prepare First Aid Box and learn first aid treatment.
•  Organize occasional home earthquake drill. This will provide your family with knowledge of how to avoid injury and panic during an earthquake.
•  Prepare life saving kits which include torch, candle, matchbox, blanket, ready-made good items, water bottle, medical kits and radio with additional batteries.Family members should know location of electric switches, so that at the time of disaster it can be switched off.

•  Remain calm, think patiently before moving, provide reassurance to others and think about the consequences of any action you may take

• Take protection under table or other sturdy furniture.
•  Kneel, sit or stay close to the floor.
•  Be prepared to move with your family.
•  You could kneel, sit or stay close to the floor, an interior wall or corner.
•  Move away from glass window, bookcase and unsecured heavy object.
•  Try to switch of Gas and Electricity switches.
•  Switches off all gas, refrigerator, heater etc.Don’t use lift for getting down from multistoried building.

• Don’t run for an exit.
•  Move away from window glass display cases or other obvious hazards.
•  If you must leave the building, choose your exist as carefully as possible.Don’t be near electric points and cables. Be away from week portion viz. partition walls, false ceiling of building.

• Take protection under desk or table.
•  Don’t rush for exists.
•  Stay in the building until shaking stops and until directed to evacuate.
•  Don’t use elevator.

• Avoid high buildings, walls, power lines and other objects that could fall.
•  Don’t run through streets.If possible move to an open area away from all hazards.

• Use the telephone to inform, if you are stranded.
•  Remain in a safe position until shaking stops.
•  Check electricity and water services and turn off; if necessary.
•  Listen to your radio for information and advice.
•  Be patient and encourage family members to be patient.
•  Transfer flammable material to a safer place.
•  Be ready to experience aftershocks of earthquake.
•  Try to get out of dilapidated building.If injured, get it treated at the earliest.