Disaster Management - A Case Study on 26 Dec 04 Indian Ocean Tsunami

A disaster can be defined as a sudden occurrence of such magnitude as to affect the normal pattern of life in the vicinity of and establishment causing extensive damage to life and property. Disasters are unforeseen. Any disaster can be divided into different phases. The first phase is the warning phase where we can predict the disaster to certain extent. Next is the impact phase where the disaster actually strikes and when we can do almost nothing. Then come the rescue phase, the relief phase and the restoration phase. The losses can be minimized if the work during the last three phases is well coordinated. Disaster management has a different emphasis in every different discipline. From the management science point of view, use of administrative data systems, resource utility techniques, project management and planning are integral parts of disaster management. From the planning point of view, overall preparedness includes town and regional planning, infrastructural inventory management, distribution of population and economic activities, land use, disaster architecture and planning. From a geoscience point of view, it will cover subjects such as geographical information systems about regional planning and on estimations, space technology and topography. Infact, Disaster Management includes adequate planning, efficient management and proper implementation.