Question 1

How many phases of the Disaster Management Cycle are recognised in standard frameworks?

Accepted Answer

4. Standard disaster management frameworks recognise 4 phases: Mitigation (reducing risk before a disaster), Preparedness (planning, training, early warning), Response (search, rescue, relief, evacuation), and Recovery (reconstruction, rehabilitation, build back better). These four phases form a continuous cycle where lessons from each phase inform improvements in the next. India's National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2016 is structured around these four phases.

Question 2

Which phase of disaster management focuses on reducing the risk and impact of future disasters?

Accepted Answer

Mitigation. Mitigation is the phase focused on reducing or eliminating the long-term risks and impacts of disasters before they occur. Mitigation measures include earthquake-resistant construction, flood embankments, coastal mangrove restoration, and land use planning that avoids hazard-prone zones. Investment in mitigation is widely recognised as the most cost-effective phase of disaster management — every rupee spent on mitigation saves multiple rupees in response and recovery costs.

Question 3

Which phase of disaster management involves planning, training, and early warning systems?

Accepted Answer

Preparedness. Preparedness encompasses all activities undertaken before a disaster strikes to enhance the ability of governments, organisations, and communities to respond effectively. Key preparedness activities include developing contingency plans, conducting mock drills, training responders, pre-positioning relief supplies, and establishing early warning systems. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues guidelines for preparedness across all hazard types in India.

Question 4

Which disaster management phase includes search and rescue, relief distribution, and evacuation?

Accepted Answer

Response. Response is the phase of disaster management that occurs immediately after a disaster strikes and includes life-saving activities such as search and rescue, medical aid, evacuation, and distribution of emergency relief. Effective response depends critically on preparedness activities carried out before the disaster. In India, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the primary agency responsible for specialised disaster response operations.

Question 5

The 'Build Back Better' (BBB) principle is associated with which phase of disaster management?

Accepted Answer

Recovery. Build Back Better (BBB) is a key principle of the Recovery phase — it means that reconstruction and rehabilitation after a disaster should not simply restore pre-disaster conditions but should improve them, integrating disaster risk reduction measures into rebuilt infrastructure and communities. BBB is a central principle of both the Sendai Framework 2015–2030 and the NDMP 2016. It ensures that post-disaster reconstruction reduces future vulnerability rather than recreating it.

Preparedness & Response — Set 1