09 Report of CBDRM - Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (CBDRM)
Disaster is defined as a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society causing
widespread human, material, economic, or environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected
community or society to cope. Communities are the first to experience the effects of any disaster and
the first to respond to disasters. A key aspect of a successful community based initiative is partnership
with, empowerment of, and ownership by the local communities and these factors underpin sustainable
approach to community based disaster risk management programme.
Disaster management requires a planned and systematic approach towards understanding and solving
problems in the wake of disasters. It involves systematic observation and analysis of measures relating
to disaster prevention and risk reduction, emergency response, recovery and development. Therefore
disaster management is a function of community preparedness. The very essential purpose of
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Programme is to reduce the negative impact
of disaster risks. The main understanding behind such activities is to find ways and measures to
prevent, mitigate or to reduce the impact and risks of disasters through participation and involvement of
communities. The rationale for involving communities in disaster preparedness and mitigation activities
is based on the assumption that community is the real sufferer and the first responder and it has
developed its own coping mechanisms and strategy to reduce the impact of disaster. In fact building
community leadership and a chain of trained community cadres through participatory approach can
help harness the resilience and resourcefulness of the community to cope up with exigencies.
Involvement and participation of the communities will ensure a collective and coordinated action during
emergencies. Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) Programme provides
opportunities to the local community to evaluate their own situation based on their own experiences
initially. Under this approach, the local community not only becomes part of creating plans and
decisions, but also becomes a major player in its implementation. Community empowerment for
disaster risk management demands their full participation in risk assessment, mitigation planning,
capacity building, participation in implementation and development of system for monitoring which
ensures their stake. It acknowledges that as many stakeholders as needed should be involved in the
process, with the end goal of achieving capacities and transferring of resources to the community. It is
for this reason that communities should be involved in managing the risks that may threaten their wellbeing. This provides the reason to invest in Community Based Disaster Risk Management Programme.
In October 2013, the Municipal Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram started implementing Community
Based Disaster Risk Management Programme in 16 most vulnerable wards (8 coastal and 8 non
coastal) with the support of a local NGO, named Trivandrum Social Service Society. In all the selected
wards, sensitization meetings were organised which was presided by the concerned ward councilors
and attended by Kudumbashree NHG members, members of youth clubs, and representatives of
political parties including unit leaders of Head Load Unions, Resident Welfare Associations, ASHA
workers, Anganwadi Workers and other health workers. A total of 1016 people (Male 389 and Female
627) in 16 wards participated in the ward level sensitization programme. In the same ward level
sensitization meetings, four level task forces were constituted namely; 1) Search & Rescue 2)
Evacuation 3) Shelter Management and 4) First Aid having around 10-12 members. Volunteers were
selected and enrolled in task forces based on their interest, their profession and physical built up. Like
ASHA workers, Anganwadi teachers, health professionals are made volunteers of First Aid. Head load
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workers, youth club members, RWA members were made volunteers of Search/Rescue and
Evacuation Task Forces. 705 village volunteers were enrolled in 16 wards under four task forces
mentioned above.
Community approach to disaster management focuses much on enhancing the capacity of community
volunteers for effectively responding to disaster and indulge is disaster response activity including post
disaster phase of preparedness, prevention and mitigation. As part of the capacity building process
training programme were organised for the volunteers of three task forces by involving expert agency.
Following are the detail of the training programmes organised till June 20, 2014.
Shelter Management Training Programme
Training Agency/PR: Professionals who had worked in DRR/URR and KSDMA’s Disaster
Management projects
Cluster No.
Ward
Date
Venue
Volunteers Trained
Nedumcaud
Nedungad Govt. L
I
Chala
8/2/2014
18 (M: 11 & F: 07)
P School
Karamana
Vizhinjam
Animation Center,
II
Thiruvallom
14/12/2013
20 (M: 04 & F: 16)
Kovalam
Poonthura
Beemapally (East)
Govt. U.P. School
III
Valiyathura
25/01/2014
30 (M: 03 & F: 27)
Beemappally
Beemapally
Attukal
Thottam
IV
Kalady
6/2/2014
Residence
10 (M: 03 & F: 07)
Ambalathara
Association's Hall
Vettucaud
Sanghumugham
Christhuraj Book
V
26/03/2014
20 (M: 01 & F: 19)
Poundkadavu
Stall, Vettukadu
Pallithura
Total
98 (M: 22 & F: 76)
First session focused on
delivering the details of GoIUNDP-CRM
Project
and
introduced the concept of
Community Based Disaster
Risk Management to the
trainees. The trainer in his
presentation displayed the
pictures of recent disasters that
have occurred in and round
Thiruvananthapuram city and a
few pictures of disasters that
has occurred in other parts of
Kerala. The trainer asked the
trainees to carefully observe all the pictures and asked them to share their observations. The purpose
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of showing disaster related pictures
was to facilitate participation of the
trainees in the training programme and
to establish how local communities are
involved in disaster response activities.
The trainer presented the objectives,
goal and the process of implementation
of Community Based Disaster Risk
Management at ward level. The trainer
shared his personal experience of
implementing CBDRM project in 48
wards of 6 Grampanchayat situated
between Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams during 2011-12 including challenges faced by the project team.
The trainer concluded the session by presenting a case study of “Samiyarpettai” - a village near
Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu where CBDRM project was successfully implemented with support from
UNDP. The villagers were trained in various aspects of disaster responses and mock drills were also
conducted by the volunteers involving the local community members. When Tsunami struck the coastal
village on December 26th 2004, the community responded well and the deaths reported from
Samiyarpettai were few.
In the second session the trainer presented the objectives; meaning and scope of shelter management;
roles & responsibilities of different agencies like; government departments; local; national and
international NGO’s in disaster response. He cited the few examples how national and international
development organisation and state government worked for building shelters (temporary and
permanent) in the tsunami affected area in Kollam and Allappuzha districts. The trainer cited a couple
of challenges faced by the national/international and state government in handling shelter. A video
documentary on “Shelter Management” programme of Haiti was shown to the trainees and narrated the
story.
In third session the trainer explained the roles and responsibilities of the task force members of shelter
management team. The trainer described in
detail criteria’s for identifying and selection
of a safe shelters; which includes
evaluation of demographic detail of the
community which will be affected by a
hazard; what hazard is likely to struck, how
long the shall be the duration of shelter;
analyze previous experience in managing
shelters; facilities available in the existing
shelters or explore possibilities to install
facilities;
discussion
with
the
owner/management of the identified
shelter; examine whether provisions for
animal care is available; check the existing
damages in the structure of the buildings;
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review list of supplies for shelter inmates; staffing pattern of a shelter etc. The trainer facilitated on how
to do SWOT analysis of the existing shelter of their respective wards. Directions and guidance were
given to the trainee and what to focus and what not to focus. Flip Charts, maker pens and sketch pens
were issued. After 30 minutes of group exercise, the trainees presented their observations and
analysis.
In fourth session, the trainer covered
damage
assessment;
need
assessment; need analysis and
disaster reporting. The trainer said that
in the post disaster scenario, the
government shall first take up Rapid
Damage Assessment by undertaking
survey to collect the first hand
information of damages caused. This
does not include detail quantitative
assessment of the damages. The
purpose of rapid damage assessment
is to facilitate decision making.
Whereas damage assessment per se
is the estimation and description of the
damages recorded based on physical
observations, of the nature and extent of damages resulting from a particular disaster. This is done to
determine quantum of community need assessment. The trainer also talked about resource
assessment, which mainly focuses on estimation and description of priority requirements and existing
resources such as manpower, logistics and relief supplies in the disaster-stricken areas. The trainer
said that, under comprehensive damage assessment, the assessor have to establish the impact of a
disaster in terms of; casualty; damage of private property, infrastructure, agriculture; livelihood,
population affected etc. The trainer explained steps to organise an assessment mission which includes;
preparation of an assessment plan; determining the time and specific area to be visited; select
experienced assessors; arrangement of transport, food and accommodation; make clear the roles and
responsibilities of each team member and prior to departure, the team must be assembled, briefed and
equipped with survey/assessment tools, appropriate protocols, reporting format and adequate terms of
reference (TOR). The trainer also mentioned guidelines for conducting the survey and assessment. A
few of them are; to have a close personal observation of affected areas; gather information from other
agencies; coordinate with other groups with related functions; focus attention on damages related to
assigned tasks; to equip with terms of reference (TOR) (quality, quantity and scope of information to be
collected); cross-checking of data (coming from different sources). Under Need Assessment, the trainer
shared the scope and importance of need assessment. The trainer mentioned that, the purpose of need
assessment is done with the aim to ensure that, minimum humanitarian standards are fulfilled in the
areas of Water Supply and sanitation. Need assessment also included; household needs, agricultural
needs and economic needs. The trainer presented the goal of Rapid Need Assessment, a few among
them are; How bad was the disaster?; Which areas were affected?; How many people are affected?;
What are the risks to life, safety, and health?; What is the status of lifeline services? And How many
homes and businesses are not insured or are underinsured?. Towards the end of the fourth session,
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the trainer made a discussion with the participants on the general safety concerns to be implemented in
the shelter.
In fifth and final session,
the trainer spoke on the
minimum standard of relief
to be maintained in – 1)
Supply of
food and
clothing and 2) Water and
sanitation. Under supply of
food and clothing the
trainer described food
security; nutrition and food
aid. The trainer mentioned
that,
to
obtain food
security it is necessary to
examine the issues related
to food security of the
disaster affected area, small income and employment generation schemes shall be promoted which
contributed towards food security. Under nutrition support, the trainer said that, all groups of people
shall be provide with at least 2100 calories per day. Special attentions shall be given to risk groups like;
infants, pregnant and feeding mothers, chronically ill persons like; TB patient, HIV-AIDS infected
persons and others. Definition of malnutrition, moderate, severe malnutrition and micronutrient
malnourishment for urban and rural settings was discussed. The trainer also spoke food aid
management, in which he mentioned food aid planning, rationing, appropriate and acceptable food
stuffs, food quality and food storage and handling. Under non food items, the trainer made a detail
description of shelter and settlement covering points such as strategic and settlement planning;
covered living space; basics of construction and environmental impact. Under Non Food Items, the
trainer covered Individual, general household & shelter support items; Clothing & Bedding; Cooking &
Eating utensils and Stoves, fuel & Lightening.
Under minimum standard of water, sanitation and hygiene promotion the presentation was divided into
six standards – 1) Hygiene promotion; 2) Water supply; 3) Excreta disposal; 4) Vector control; 5) Solid
waste management and 6) Drainage. Under hygiene promotion, the trainer said that in a shelter,
identification of key hygiene risks are most important, as it will assist in planning hygiene promotion
activities. The inmates of the also shall be free and easy access to resources and facilities to achieve
hygiene practices. The trainer also said that, the hygiene promotion messages shall be in local
language and shall be easily understood and accepted by the community as this will facilitate
behavioral modification. Under water supply standards, the trainer mentioned that, all the inmates shall
have equitable access to sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking, personal and domestic
hygiene purposes. Public water points are sufficiently close to households to enable use of the
minimum water requirement. Indicators of water contamination and its treatment methods was
discussed in brief. The trainer said that, People shall have adequate facilities and supplies to collect,
store and use sufficient quantities of water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene and to ensure
that drinking water remains safe until consumed. Under standards and key indicators of excreta
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disposal the trainer mentioned that, sanitation options are available for men, women and children for
different geographical locations. The trainers showed pictures and videos of sanitation options to the
trainees. Under vector control, the trainer said that, all the inmates of a shelter shall have knowledge
and means to protect themselves from
diseases like malaria etc. Under solid
waste management, the trainer People
have
an
environment
that
is
uncontaminated by solid waste and have
the means to dispose of their domestic
waste conveniently and effectively; solid
waste shall be removed from the camp
side or buried before it became health
risks. Waste bins shall be installed in
specified area to avoid creating health
and environmental problems and finally
under maintenance of drainage standard,
the trainer described that, people shall
have an environment in which health and
other risks posed by stagnant water,
including storm water, flood water, domestic waste water are minimised. There shall not be standing
waste water around water points or anywhere in the settlement camp, approach road and near
sanitation facilities.
In the feedback session, the participants said that, now they are able to get a general perception about
the services that can be rendered by the government and other agencies and community members in
the post disaster phase. The participants are now aware about their pre defined roles and
responsibilities in an emergency situation. A few trainees said that, they got a brief picture about the
requirements of a shelter and its management in post disaster phase. It also gave them an idea on how
a community can equip themselves with those resources which are available in the community itself.
The training programme ended with vote of thanks delivered by animator of supporting NGO –
Trivandrum Social Service Society.
Summary of the Shelter Management training programme:Session
Objective
Delivered Outlines
I
 To understand community approach  Concept of CBDRM
to disaster management
 Community structures of CBDRM
 To understand how to strengthen
 Strengthening of community institutions
community response – strategy and  Importance of training and capacity building
its approaches
programme
II
 To understand what is a shelter
 Meaning and scope of shelter & its
from disaster management point of
management
view
 Roles and responsibilities of Central and State
 To understand major stakeholders
Government
in relief and rehabilitation
 Roles and responsibilities of International and
National organizations and NGO’s
 Overview of shelter management
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III
IV
V
To understand roles and
responsibilities of task force members
in “pre-disaster” phase focusing on: Identification of safe shelters
 Criteria for selection of safe shelters
 Prior arrangements in case of
seasonal disasters
 SWOT Analysis of existing shelters
in respective ward
To understand roles and
responsibilities of task force members
in “during disaster” and “post disaster”
phase focusing on
Coordination of shelter management
activities
1. Damage assessment of
affected site
2. Need assessment / Analysis
3. Disaster reporting
4. Safety assurance (gender
sensitivity)
To understand what are the minimum
standards of supply of food, clothing,
water and sanitation in shelters












Knowledge on identifying suitable and safe
shelter
Learned basic criteria for selecting a shelter
Learned preparing action plan to meet
community needs in the case of anticipated
disasters
Learned knowledge on the existing status of
available shelters in the community and way
forward for its strengthening
Learned basics of assessing community
needs in shelter
Learned about safety mechanism for women
and children in shelter
Learned types of reports required to
coordinate with govt. agencies for obtaining
compensation
Learned the criteria for supply of food and
clothing in shelter
Learned different types of sanitation options
available for shelters
Learned about food security and nutrient
assessment and malnutrition
Learned minimum standards for supply of
water to families in shelters
Learned good habits of sanitation and hygiene
promotion
Basic Life Support (First Aid) Training Programme
One day training programme on Basic Life Support (First Aid) was conducted in all the five clusters (16
wards) where Community Based Disaster Risk Management Programme is being implemented. The
training programme was facilitated by a medical organisation called; ANGELS (Active Network Group of
Emergency Life Savers) based at Calicut. Detail about the venue, date, participants of the training
programme is mentioned in the matrix given below:
Cluster No.
Wards
Date
Venue
No. of participants
01
Nedumcaud, Chala
Karamana
17/05/2014
Government
School, Chala
22 (F: 20 & M: 02)
02
Vizhinjam, Thiruvallom &
Poonthura
13/05/2014
Animation
Centre, Kovalam
19 (F: 13 & M: 06)
03
Beemapally (East),
Valiyathura & Beemapally
12/05/2014
Church Hall,
Cheriyathura
21 (F: 20 & M: 01)
7
04
05
Attukal, Kalady &
Ambalathara
Vettucaud, Sanghumugham
& Pallithura
15/05/2014
Thottam
Residents
Association Hall,
Ambalathara
16 (F: 15 & M: 01)
14/05/2014
Community Hall
Christhuraja
Bookstall,
Vettukadu
35 (F: 33 & M: 02)
TOTAL
113 (F: 101 & M:12)
The first session was on “Emergency Life
Care” with focus on Basic Life Support
(BLS). The trainer gave a brief orientation of
human anatomy including function of brain.
The trainer said that brain is the organ in
human body that controls the body. Photos
of human anatomy like the Brain, Heart,
Nose, Mouth, Lungs, Rib cage etc were
showed and its features and functions were
described. During the time of a medical
emergency like heart attack, accident or
similar incidents the local people are said to be the first respondent. The trainer said that there are four
parts in a Basic Life Support programme, which includes the following;
1.
2.
3.
4.
Blood circulation
Air way
Breathing
Defibrillation
External Cardiac Compression can be applied to rescue patient during the time of heart attack and this
process is called Basic Life Support (BLS). Resuscitating the stooped heart by giving external cardiac
compression is done by placing the rescuers hand on the patient’s chest at the middle as interlocked
and providing chest compression at a depth of 2 inches and at a rate of least 100/mts. There are seven
steps in Basic Life Support which are as follows;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Scene safety ( The place is safe for the patient, proper air circulation is needed)
Check the memory of the patient
Check the breathing capacity of the patient
Call the Ambulance
Check the pulse of the patient
Provide External Cardiac Compression to the patient.
Provide artificial respiration to the patient.
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Then the trainees were then divided
into three groups for demonstration
and practical session. Each group
was provided with a dummy human
and the trainers demonstrated how
to
administer
CPR
(Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).
Various other tips were also given
to the trainees for compression and
artificial respiration.
External Cardiac Compression
 Hands must be in the middle of the Chest
 Compression only 30 times in a minute
 The ratio between compression and artificial respiration is 30:2
Artificial Respiration



To remove the obstacles of proper airway of the patient due to tongue
Provide artificial respiration once in a second
To observe the changes of the chest during artificial respiration
After the deliberation of the trainers, the trainees were asked to practice administrating
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
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Second session was on ‘Trauma Care
for
Infant
Compression”
first
responder’s exercise. Infants are age
group between 0 to 1 month. Their
heart is resuscitated by giving
compression by using rescuers two
finger of one hand, 1 cm below the
middle point of the nipple line at a rate
of at least 100/mt. The steps for
External Cardiac Compression of an
infant (below 1year old) and a child
were narrated as mentioned below;





To check the child is awake
Check the breathing capacity of the child
Use 2 fingers for compression for infants
Use one hand for compression for 1-8 years child
The ratio between compression and artificial respiration is 15:2
Third session was on “Foreign Body Airway Obstruction”. The trainer described how to handle chocking
emergency. He said that some time, chocking may become fatal, if proper and prompt medical attention
is not given to the patient. There is a sign for chocking which is called as ‘Universal Sign’. The picture of
this is shown below.
This sign shows that the patient can’t breathe
and he is suffering from chocking. The
immediate medical care during this time is called
“Heimlich Maneuver”. Any foreign body that
obstruct the air way leads to chocking. It can be
simply taken out by applying a technique called
“HEIMLICH MANUEL”. For this, place the patient
in a standing position by making his legs apart,
make a fist by using rescuers dominant hand,
place this fist over the patients abdomen just
above the navel and provide a support to the fist
with other hand and make a force in a manner of backward and upward direction. Then the trainers
demonstrated the trainees how to do the ‘Heimlich Maneuver’ and helped the trainees to practice the
technique. The picture bellow illustrate the practical session on ‘Heimlich Maneuver’. The way of
treating a pregnant lady was showed by the resource person. During the case of Chocking to a
pregnant lady the force will be given to her chest not to her Abdomen. Then the group divided in to 3
for practical session and the Emergency Medical Technician monitored the group.
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In the case of infant chocking, it can be revealed by proving 5 backward slaps and 5 external cardiac
compressions. Then the trainees were divided into 3 groups for practical session and the trainers
helped the trainees to practice the techniques using an infant dummy.
Post Lunch
Fourth session was on “Accident Trauma Care”.
The trainer said that in the cases of a road
accident or a person falling from an elevated
platform or from a tree, buildings etc, special
medical care and attention shall be provided to
safely transport him/her to the nearest hospital.
During such incident special care and attention is
needs to protect the spinal code and neck of the
patient from further damage. As it is the most
crucial period, wherein a victim of an accident,
disaster, serious illness might lose his precious life or might slip into irreparable damage to his spinal
code and health appropriate lifting techniques shall be adopted to lift and transport the victim from the
place of occurrence to the hospital. The method of safely lifting the victim from the accident site was
demonstrated by the trainers and the trainees also actively participated in the demonstration exercise.
Helmet removal and the transporting the victim from the site of accident to another were also
demonstrated by the trainer’s.
Sixth session was on providing “First Aid”. The trainer described the primary objective of First Aid to the
trainees, which are as follows,




To preserve life
To prevent the cause of life
To ensure the safety of the patient
To arrange medical care
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FIRST AID during various situations
1. Drowning
Steps of Rescue
 Give some objects like long
cloths, rope to rescue
 Provide Compression and
artificial oxygenation to the
patient
 Cover the body of the victim
with
cotton
cloths
for
protecting him from cold.
 Take him to the hospital
immediately
2. Heart Attack
Steps of Rescue
 Provide Compression and artificial oxygenation to the patient
 Take him to the hospital immediately
 The trainers acted the response of a patient during the time of Heart attack
3. Stroke
Symptoms
 Sudden numbness or weakness of the arm and leg
 Facial drop
 Sudden trouble in walking
 Trouble in speaking
 Take him to the hospital immediately
4. Burns
Steps of Rescue
 Evacuate the victim from the accident place
 Provide running water for 10 minutes. It will relieves pain, damage and swelling
 Boils should not break
 Avoid band aid, ointment etc, as it will increase infection
5. Electric shock
Steps of Rescue
 Cut the electric relation (Switch OFF)
 Don’t touch the victim
 Use a non-conducting material to separate the victim from the power source
 Keep the victim laying down
 Take him to the hospital immediately
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6. SNAKE BITE
Steps of Rescue
 Make the victim relax
 If the victim is unconscious provide basic life support
 Take him to the hospital immediately
Feedback and Valediction Session
The feedback and valediction session was
handled by staff of Trivandrum Social Service
Society (Supporting NGO). The trainees
expressed their opinion and views on the
training programme. The trainees shared that it
was in fact new learning experience for them
and had learned skills to administer first aid.
They said that, all the sessions was lively and
full of demonstration and group exercises which
keep them involved through-out the day and
they had learned by doing. The input sessions
of the classroom lecture created a sense of courage and confidence to administer BLS / First Aid to a
victim. Basic Life Support is inevitable in our life. BLS shall be given to each and everybody at home or
a community. The programme ends with certificate distribution to the trainees and vote of thanks
delivered by the Coordinator/staff of Trivandrum Social Service Society.
Session
Objective



1
Learn emergency life support
focusing on Basic Life Support





2
Learn how to apply trauma care for
Infant
Delivered Outlines
Basic of human anatomy described like; Brain,
Heart, Lungs, Nose, Mouth, Ear, Rib cage etc.
Four parts of BLS - Blood circulation; Air way;
Breathing and Defibrillation
Seven steps of Basic Life Support - Scene safety;
Check the memory of the patient; Check the
breathing capacity of the patient; Call the
Ambulance; Check the pulse of the patient;
Provide External Cardiac Compression to the
patient and Provide artificial respiration to the
patient
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
External cardiac compression
Artificial respiration
Demonstration and session to practice CPR ,
External cardiac compression
Steps of technical specification for administering
CPR in infants like; check the child is awake or
not; Check the breathing capacity of the child;
Use 2 fingers for compression; Use one hand for
compression for 1-8 years child and ratio between
compression and artificial respiration is 15:2
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3
Learn how to clear Foreign Body
Airway Obstruction in adult and
infant





4
5
Learn what is accident trauma care
and its management



Learn what is first aid and methods
of first aid for different injuries

Handling of chocking emergency
Chocking some time may become fatal
Medical care to arrest chocking is called “Heimlich
Maneuver”
Demonstration and practice of how to handle a
victim of chocking including adult, infant and
pregnant women
Kinds of vulnerabilities which can happen to
human body due to accidents like, injury in spinal
code; neck and head
Lifting techniques and methods
Helmet removal technique for a victim of motor
bike accident
Objectives of first aid - to preserve life, to ensure
safety of the patient and to arrange medical care
Steps of rescue for the victims of drowning; heart
attack; stroke, burn; electric shock and snake bite
Evacuation Training Programme
One day capacity building training programme for volunteers of Evacuation Task Forces under
Community Based Disaster Risk Management Programme was conducted in three clusters covering
nine coastal and non coastal wards. The training programme was facilitated by an NGO called
PROFEXCEL, based at Kollam. Two Resource Persons from the NGO were engaged in handling
training sessions. Detail about the venue, date, participants of the training programme is mentioned in
the matrix given below:
Cluster
No.
Wards
Date
Venue
No. of participants
02
Vizhinjam, Thiruvallom
30/05/2014
& Poonthura
Animation Centre,
Kovalam
12 (M: 02 & F: 10)
05
Vettucaud,
Sanghumugham &
Pallithura
19/05/2014
Community Hall
Christhuraja Bookstall,
Vettukadu
13 (M: 01 & F: 12)
04
Attukal, Kalady &
Ambalathara
01/06/2014
Thottam Residents
Association Hall,
Ambalathara
07 (M: 6 & F 01)
TOTAL 32 (M: 09 & F: 23)
The first session was on “Community Based Disaster Management”. The trainer began the session by
interacting with the participants about how they will respond during the time of a disaster. Few of the
trainees said that first they will do all the needful to protect themselves and then they will save the life of
others. The trainer said that in the event of a disaster, it is the local community who responds first. They
are the person who takes up search / rescue; evacuating people to safer places, involving in
rehabilitation and resilience building. It is the local community who analyzes their risks and vulnerability
14
to disasters with the help of a
facilitating agency and prepare
mitigation plan. In a nutshell, it is
called as “Community Based
Disaster Risk Management”. Need
of Community Based Disaster Risk
Management as shared by the
trainer which is as follows;
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Community are at looser end
because they are the first to
experience the effects of any
disasters
In any disaster the local community is the main sufferer/victim
Community are the first to respond
Reduce delay in rescue operation and reduce disaster impact
Community are the first to become vulnerable to an hazard
The trainer shared strategies of Community Based Disaster Risk Management with the volunteers,
which is as follows:
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Organize the community in various groups and capacitate them in various fields
Apply participatory tool and prepare Social, Resource and Hazards and Vulnerability maps of
the area
Prepare Community Based Disaster Management Plan
Mobilize local organizations
Build capacity of the community on various facets of disaster management
Following are the process of implementing Community Based Disaster Management (CBDRM) was
shared with the volunteers.
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Awareness creation at village level
Mobilize coordinating committees at village level
Formation of various task forces at village level
Trainings to members of task forces
Preparation of Village DM Plan
Organize mock drills
Linking CBDRM to Panchayathi Raj institutions etc.
The trainer said that, preparation of Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) is the most important
aspect of a CBDRM programme and utmost care shall be given for its preparation. Steps for preparing
VDMP are as follows;


Conduct community studies
Identify the risk and vulnerabilities of the areas
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Mention historical data of disaster happened, its places and time
Attach resource / social map
Identify resources of the community – safe shelters, safe area etc and mention it in plan
Make and attach evacuation route map
Prepare resource inventory
Mention community structure for DM
Activities to reduce risks and vulnerability
Finance
Towards the end of the session, the
trainer said that Ward DM Plan will help
the local community to clearly identify
risks/vulnerabilities of their areas; identify
safer places; safer routes to escape etc.
This plan will also help to arrive at
Mitigation measures.
The second session was on ‘Evacuation’.
It began with a discussion on the meaning
of evacuation. In post disaster scenario,
when alert/warning is issued by the local
authority to the community, evacuation from the potentially hazardous area is carried out to bring down
casualty. The trainer then explained how the people can be evacuated from vulnerable area to safer
locations.
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Evacuation will be carried out as per warning messages
Evacuation will be based on local DM Plan of the area
Evacuation through safe routes
Evacuation will be based on the advice of Task forces
The process of Evacuation involves the following. The Task forces of an area must have a through
knowledge of the risk and vulnerabilities of the areas, they shall know safer routes to escape and
details of safer places in the locality.
Early warning system is very
important in evacuating a community
from a locality. Detail regarding
watch, alert, warning, de-warning
was discussed including national
and state agencies involved in
issuing alert/warning for various
hazards.
The trainer explained the process of
evacuating
people
from
the
community. The trainer said that in a
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village DM plan, safe routes and safer locations are clearly marked including risks and vulnerabilities of
the area. People can be evacuated to the pre designated safe routes and can assemble together in
safe area. In the DM Plan, the volunteers of evacuation task force or their sub-groups can be allocated
a section of houses/streets and it shall be the responsibility of that particular group to ensure that all the
family members including infants, women, aged people, People with Disability are all safely evacuated
and the list of families which is mentioned in the DM plan can be cross checked to ensure that there are
no one stranded in the disaster affected area.
A short film on “CBDP – Community
Based
Disaster
Preparedness”
implemented in the Tsunami affected
Nagapattanam area in Tamil Nadu
was shown and the story was
explained. The trainer said disaster
never differentiates between men /
women / rich / poor. It affect all with
same magnitude given the conditions
that these categories of people live in
a same location. He said that
community mobilisation shall be given
more importance and strategies shall
be evolved to gain confidence of men by supporting them in their livelihood and other development
programmes and thus include them in all the task forces.
In the third session (Post lunch) the trainer explained what is PLA (Participatory Learning and Action)
and how PLA tools can be used to prepare social and resource maps, hazard map and evacuation
plan. The trainer said that, PLA is a tool used for planning development programmes of an area in a
much participatory manner. It can be used for many objectives like; programme evacuation, analysis
and planning. The trainer said that PLA tools can be used for strengthening the community and
ensuring people’s participation. The merits of Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) are as follows;
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Helps to identify the development needs of the ward
Helps the prioritization of needs
Helps the plan preparation of each unit level
Helps the future plan preparation based on the identified needs
Helps the identification of resources both nature and manmade
The trainer described steps involved in preparing evacuation plan are;
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Organize the people in a common place
Prepare the map of the ward in the floor using coloured chalk powder
Identify the Risk/Vulnerable areas of the ward
Mark resources of the community
Mark social infrastructures of the ward
Identify the safer places
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
Identify the safer routes for evacuation
While preparing evacuation plan/map, people shall do the following;
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Determining of the directions of a ward.
Determining risk areas in a ward
Determining vulnerable buildings in a ward
Determining safe routes and safe places
Determining institutions and open grounds of a ward
After
providing
general
orientation, the trainees were
divided into groups and were
asked to prepare Resource /
Social and Evacuation Map of
their respective wards within an
hour. In the exercise the
trainers used to facilitate and
support the trainees in making
the maps. The After completing
the entire exercise, the group
members used to present the
map describing vulnerable area;
safe location; safe routes; social
infrastructures; community resources etc. A feedback and question – answer session was conducted
and doubts of the trainee volunteers were cleared.
-End-
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