More Vulnerable Group

“A more vulnerable group is defined as a group which has some special needs in a disaster and cannot
comfortably or safely access; and use the standard resources offered in disaster preparedness, relief and
recovery.”

Categories
Includes but is not limited to :

 Women
 Children
 Old aged
 Physically and mentally challenged
 People with critical needs

 `
 Differential impact on women

 Deteoriation of health (lack of food and nutrition)

 Restricted mobility prevents from taking Early Warnings and

evacuation
 Greater stress

 Perceived to be victims rather than responders

Impact: Mother and Child

 Increased cases of complications and premature delivery
amongst women (children born are weak)

 feeding of infants (stress interferes with the release of milk in

mothers and it weakens the immune system of child)

 Children born as a consequence of gender based violence

 Impact On Aged
Vulnerable
Physical Impairments
 Natural aging process
 Impaired balance (balance disorder)
 Decreased strength
 Poor exercise tolerance
 Deterioration of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch
 Unable to hear danger signals, alarms, etc.

 Difficulty in evacuation

 Difficulty in protection

 Difficulty in getting access to relief and compensation money

 Difficulty locating avenues of escape

 Have to face the shock of losing all that they had attained in life
 Home
 Family
 Security
Physically and Mentally challenged

 Visually challenged

 Hearing impaired

 Physically disabled

 Mentally challenged
 People with critical needs

 Dependent on life sustaining medications such as with HIV/AIDS,

on dialysis, epileptic, diabetes, or are dependent on medications to
control conditions and maintain quality of life such as pain
medications, seizure control medications etc.
 Dependency upon health care facilities & health care professionals

 In disasters, pre-existing medical conditions inhibit ability to

function and are aggravated by loss of meds
 lossof health care venues (hospitals, dialysis centers,
pharmacies) and
 loss of power to access home for nebulizers, oxygen therapy,
suction devices, injections etc.
 Establish mechanisms to support the more vulnerable group to access their entitlements

 Create opportunities for them to participate in decision making.

Pre disaster Scenario

 Location

 Consultation

 Needs Assessment

 Educate the special populations specifically

Do’s and don'ts in a disaster

 Awareness Generation

Encouraging community to assist vulnerable groups and involving them in CBDRM process
 Policies should be more specific and sensitive to the more vulnerable group

 Disasters should be used as window of opportunity to empower the vulnerable group

Personal Preparedness for

 People with Special Needs

Community-based Preparedness for

 People with Special Needs

Infrastructure Preparedness for

 People with Special Needs
 IMPACT

Health
 Undernourishment, malnutrition, inadequate hygiene and sanitation

Psychological
 Fear, anxiety, Childish or regressive behavior, difficulty in sleeping and concentrating.
 Play therapy ,story telling etc

Education
 Studies discontinued, schools being used as shelters girl children dropouts

Principle for the more vulnerable group

 Define

 Locate

 Reach

 Plan

 Involve

 Manage
 Injuries
 Death
 Physical disability
 Burns
 Epidemic
 Weakness/uneasiness
 Physical illness
 Sanitation
 Miscarriage
 Reproductive health
 Fatigue, Loss of Sleep
 Loss of Appetite
 Loss of life
 Unemployment
 Loss of Livelihood
 Loss of property/Land
 Loss of household articles
 Loss of crops
 Loss of Public Infrastructure
 Change in individual’s role
 Disruption of social fabric
 Isolation
 Change in marital status
 Sexual abuse & domestic violence
 Orphans
 Single parent children
 Family & social disorganization
 Migration
 Life style changes
 Breakdown of traditional Social Status
 Distress
 Flash backs
 Intrusion/Avoidance
 Hatred/Revenge
 Dependence/Insecurity
 Grief/Withdrawn/Isolation
 Guilt feeling
 Hyper vigilance
 Lack of trust
 Helplessness
 Hopelessness
FLOOD
 To prepare for a flood, you should:
 Avoid building in a flood prone area unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
 Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
 Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
 Contact community officials to find out if they are planning to construct barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls)
to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.
 Seal the walls in your basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage

DURING A FLOOD
 If a flood is likely in your area, you should:
 Listen to the radio or television for information.
 Be aware that flash flooding can occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to
higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
 Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly.
 Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.

 If you must prepare to evacuate, you should do the following:

 Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
 Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do
not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
 If you have to leave your home, remember these evacuation tips:
 Do not walk through moving water.. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.
 Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
 Do not drive into flooded areas.
AFTER A FLOOD
The following are guidelines for the period following a flood:
 Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.

 Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be
electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
 Avoid moving water.

 Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could
collapse under the weight of a vehicle.
 Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.

 Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

 Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters.

 Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in
foundations.
 Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits, and leaching systems as soon as possible.
Damaged sewage systems are serious health hazards.
 Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Mud left from floodwater can contain sewage and
chemicals
STORMS,HURRICANES,TORNADOES
What to do before hand?
 choose a shelter in advance

 minimise the effect of storms

 take measures against flooding

 prepare a family emergency kit

1. During an emergency:
 Listen to the information and advice provided by the authorities.

 Do not go out in car or boat once the storm has been announced.

 Evacuate houses if requestedTie down any object liable to be blown away by windIf caught
outside in a storm,
 Take refuge as quickly as possible in a shelter.

 In a thunderstorm keep away from doors,windows,andelectrical conductors,unplugelectrical

appliances etc
 Donotuse any electrical appliances or the telephone
Anyone who is outside should:
 Look for shelter in a building
 never take shelter under a tree
 if in a boat,getback to the shore
 keep away from fences and electric cables
 kneel down rather than standing
AFTER THE EMERGENCY : After the storm has subsided:
 Follow the instructions given by the authorities
 Stay indoors
 Give alert as quickly as possible
 Give first aid to the injured
 Make sure the water is safe to drink
 Check the exterior of dwellings and call for assistance if there is a risk of
falling objects[tiles,guttering...]
What to do before hand :
 Repair deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs
of structural defects.
 Hang heavy items such as pictures and Brace overhead light and fan fixtures.

 Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.

 Secure a water heater, LPG cylinder etc., by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the
floor.
 Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with
latches and on bottom shelves
Identify safe places indoors and outdoors.
 Under strong dining table, bed

 Against an inside wall

 Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy
bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over
 In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, flyovers, bridges

 Have a disaster emergency kit ready

IF INDOORS:
 DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON
until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and
crouch in an inside corner of the building.
 Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even
under a bed.
 Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting
fixtures or furniture.
 Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless
you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall.
 Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur
when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave . DO
NOT use the elevators.
 If you know that people have been buried, tell the rescue teams. Do not rush and do not worsen the
situation of injured persons or your own situation.
 Avoid places where there are loose electric wires and do not touch any metal object in contact with them.

 Do not drink water from open containers without having examined it and filtered it through a sieve, a filter or
an ordinary clean cloth.
 If your home is badly damaged, you will have to leave it. Collect water containers, food, and ordinary and
special medicines (for persons with heart complaints, diabetes, etc.)
 Do not re-enter badly damaged buildings and do not go near damaged structures.
If outdoors
 Stay there.

 Move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires.

 Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings,
at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying
glass.

If in a moving vehicle
 Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees,
overpasses, and utility wires.
 Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been
damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

 Do not move about or kick up dust.

 Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

 Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last
resort.

After an earthquake
 Keep calm, switch on the radio/TV and obey any instructions you hear on it.

 Keep away from beaches and low banks of rivers. Huge waves may sweep in.

 Expect aftershocks. Be prepared.

 Turn off the water, gas and electricity.

 Do not smoke and do not light matches or use a cigarette lighter. Do not turn on switches. There may be gas
leaks or short-circuits.
 Make sure that the water is safe to drink and food stored at home is fit to eat.
What to do before hand?
 Find about evacuation plans and facilities

 Familiarize with the alarm signals used in emergencies

 Equip doors and windows with the tightest possible fastenings

 Prepare family emergency kits

CLOUDS OF TOXIC FUMES DURING AN EMERGENCY

 Do not use the telephone leave lines free for rescue services

 Listen to messages given by radio and other media

 Carry out the instructions given through media

 Close doors and windows

 Seal any cracks or gaps around windows and doors with adhesive tapes

 Organise a reserve of water

 Turn off ventilators and air conditioners

AFTER EMERGENCY :
 Follow the authorities instructions and do not go out until there is no longer any risk

 Carry out necessary decontamination measures