Disaster Management MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Disaster Management - Download Free PDF

Key Points

• GIS (Geographic Information System) is widely used in flood risk assessment to model floodplain areas and assess the vulnerability of infrastructure and communities (Statement I).
• GIS can integrate real-time weather data and hydrological models to predict potential flood events and their impact (Statement II).
• GIS technology is instrumental in planning evacuation routes and emergency response strategies during flood events (Statement III).
• The statement "GIS is not effective in assessing flood damage to infrastructure" is incorrect, as GIS is highly effective in analyzing post-flood damage to physical assets and infrastructure (Statement IV is false).
• Thus, statements I, II, and III accurately describe the application of GIS in flood risk assessment.

Additional Information

• GIS in Flood Risk Management:
  • GIS is used to overlay topographic, meteorological, and hydrological data for accurate flood risk mapping.
  • It helps identify high-risk zones, enabling authorities to focus on critical areas for flood prevention measures.
• Floodplain Mapping:
  • Floodplain mapping involves determining areas likely to be submerged during floods using GIS and remote sensing.
  • This assists in urban planning, zoning, and disaster risk reduction.
• Real-Time Data Integration:
  • GIS integrates data from sensors, satellites, and weather stations to provide real-time updates on potential flood risks.
  • It aids in issuing timely alerts and warnings to communities.
• Post-Flood Damage Assessment:
  • GIS is used to analyze satellite imagery and field data to assess the extent of damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems post-flood.
  • This supports recovery planning and insurance claim processes.
• Evacuation and Emergency Planning:
  • GIS helps design optimized evacuation routes and identify safe zones during disasters.
  • It ensures efficient resource allocation for rescue and relief operations.

Key Points

• Evacuation drills are conducted to test the efficiency of evacuation routes and procedures, ensuring communities can respond quickly during disasters.
• Early warning systems are implemented to provide timely hazard-related information to people in vulnerable areas, helping them take preventive measures.
• Community education programs aim to raise awareness about disaster risks and safety measures, empowering individuals and groups to act responsibly.
• Emergency supplies stockpiling ensures the availability of essential resources, such as food, water, and medical supplies, during disaster events.
• Matching the actions with their purposes is crucial for enhancing disaster preparedness and minimizing risks to life and property.

Additional Information

• Disaster Preparedness:
  • It involves planning, organizing, and training to enhance readiness for disaster response.
  • Effective preparedness reduces the impact of disasters and ensures quicker recovery.
• Evacuation Drills:
  • These are simulated exercises to practice orderly evacuation during emergencies.
  • They help identify gaps in evacuation plans and improve response strategies.
• Early Warning Systems:
  • Technologies like weather forecasting and seismic monitoring are commonly used.
  • These systems are critical for reducing casualties and damages in hazard-prone areas.
• Community Education Programs:
  • Focus on educating individuals about natural and man-made disaster risks.
  • Promote proactive safety measures like first aid training and hazard identification.
• Emergency Supplies Stockpiling:
  • Includes resources like food, water, medicines, and communication tools.
  • Vital for sustaining affected populations during prolonged disaster situations.

Key Points

• Seismic retrofitting (A) refers to strengthening existing buildings and infrastructure to make them capable of withstanding seismic activities such as earthquakes.
• Floodplain zoning (B) involves regulating land use and restricting construction in flood-prone areas to minimize damage during floods.
• Afforestation (C) is the process of planting trees to reduce the risk of environmental hazards like landslides and flooding by stabilizing soil and improving water absorption.
• Disaster-resistant building design (D) focuses on constructing buildings using specific materials and techniques that minimize damage during disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, and floods.
• The matching is: A-2 (Seismic retrofitting with earthquake resistance), B-3 (Floodplain zoning with land regulation), C-1 (Afforestation with tree planting), and D-4 (Disaster-resistant design with resilient structures).

Additional Information

• Seismic Retrofitting
  • It is widely used in earthquake-prone regions to reinforce buildings and bridges.
  • Techniques include adding steel braces, base isolators, and dampers to existing structures.
  • Improves the structural integrity of buildings without the need for complete reconstruction.
• Floodplain Zoning
  • Floodplain zoning helps prevent the loss of life and property by avoiding construction in flood-vulnerable areas.
  • It is a crucial part of urban planning and disaster risk management policies.
  • Examples include creating green belts or parks in flood-prone areas.
• Afforestation
  • Afforestation reduces soil erosion, enhances biodiversity, and mitigates climate change impacts.
  • It is a cost-effective and sustainable measure to combat environmental degradation.
  • Helps restore the ecological balance in disaster-prone regions.
• Disaster-Resistant Building Design
  • Designs include features like reinforced concrete, shock absorbers, and aerodynamic shapes for wind resistance.
  • These techniques are mandatory in high-risk regions, such as cyclone-prone coastal areas.
  • Ensures long-term sustainability and safety of infrastructure in disaster-prone zones.

Key Points

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are crucial tools for disaster mitigation as they help in mapping disaster-prone areas and identifying vulnerable populations. This enables effective planning and resource allocation.
• Remote sensing technology provides real-time data during disaster events, such as satellite imagery for tracking hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, aiding swift decision-making and response.
• Social media and mobile applications are increasingly used for disaster alerts, communication, and coordination, making information dissemination faster and more accessible to affected communities.
• Early warning systems utilize a combination of modern and traditional communication methods, including mobile alerts, sirens, and radio broadcasts, to ensure timely warnings reach diverse audiences.
• Statement II is incorrect as early warning systems do not rely solely on traditional communication methods; they integrate advanced technologies like IoT, satellite communication, and mobile networks.

Additional Information

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): GIS is a technology that integrates spatial data for mapping and analysis. It is widely used in disaster management for risk assessment and planning.
• Remote Sensing: This involves the use of satellite or aerial imagery to monitor and analyze environmental changes and disaster impacts in real time.
• Early Warning Systems (EWS): EWS are designed to predict and alert authorities and the public about impending disasters. They use tools like seismic monitors, weather radars, and IoT sensors.
• Role of Social Media: Platforms like Twitter and Facebook are leveraged for real-time updates, crowd-sourced information, and communication during disasters.
• Mobile Applications: Apps like FEMA (USA), Disaster Alert, and India's NDMA app provide disaster-related updates, emergency contacts, and preparedness tips to users.

Key Points

• Early warning systems are essential for disaster mitigation as they help in minimizing loss of life and property by providing actionable information in advance.
• These systems enable communities and governments to take proactive measures such as evacuations, securing infrastructure, and mobilizing emergency response teams.
• The assertion and reason are interconnected: early warning systems provide timely and accurate information, which is critical for preparedness and effective disaster response.
• Examples include tsunami warning systems, weather forecasting for cyclones, and earthquake early warning systems in disaster-prone regions.
• Scientific advancements such as satellite monitoring, seismic sensors, and AI-powered prediction models have enhanced the reliability of early warning systems.

Additional Information

• Definition of Early Warning Systems:
  • These are integrated systems designed to monitor risks, detect hazards, and disseminate timely alerts to potentially affected populations.
• Four Components of Early Warning Systems:
  • Risk Knowledge: Understanding and mapping disaster risks.
  • Monitoring and Warning: Continuous observation and prediction of hazards.
  • Dissemination: Rapid communication of warnings to stakeholders.
  • Response Capability: Enabling individuals and organizations to act efficiently on warnings.
• Role of Technology:
  • Technologies such as remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and IoT sensors play a pivotal role in disaster prediction and management.
  • Mobile apps, SMS alerts, and social media platforms are increasingly used for disseminating warnings to the public.
• Global Examples:
  • The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) monitors seismic activity to alert countries in the Pacific region.
  • The European Flood Awareness System (EFAS) provides early warnings for potential floods in Europe.
• United Nations Initiatives:
  • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) emphasizes the development and implementation of multi-hazard early warning systems globally.
  • UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) actively supports countries in strengthening their disaster resilience, including early warning mechanisms.

The correct answer is I, II and IV.

Key Points

• The main objective of a search and rescue team is to rescue the survivors trapped under debris.
• This includes providing first aid to the survivors and handing over the deceased bodies to the appropriate authorities.
• Listening to all sources of information is also important, as it can help the team to find the survivors more quickly.

Therefore, the answer is I, II and IV.

Additional Information

Here is a more detailed explanation of the main objectives of a search and rescue team:

• Rescue the survivors trapped under debris: This is the primary objective of a search and rescue team. The team will use a variety of methods to find the survivors, including listening to all sources of information, using search dogs, and using specialized equipment. Once the survivors are found, the team will provide them with first aid and transport them to a safe location.
• Provide first aid to the trapped survivors: Once the survivors are found, the team will provide them with first aid. This may include providing oxygen, bandaging wounds, and treating shock. The team will also transport the survivors to a safe location where they can receive further medical treatment.
• Hand over, recover and dispose of the deceased bodies: If the survivors are not found, the team will hand over the deceased bodies to the appropriate authorities. The team will also recover the bodies and dispose of them in a safe and respectful manner.
• Listen to all sources of information: The team will listen to all sources of information, including eyewitness accounts, social media posts, and news reports. This information can help the team to find the survivors more quickly and efficiently.

The Correct Answer is Local administration

Key Points

• Role of local administration in a disaster
• Your local administration has first-hand knowledge of your community's social, economic, infrastructure, and environmental needs, helping them to provide support in a disaster.
• The role of local administration under the Disaster Management Act 2003 is to:
  • have a disaster response capability
  • approve a local disaster management plan
  • ensure local disaster information is promptly given to the District Disaster Coordinator.

Additional Information

• Local disaster management groups
• Local governments appoint local disaster management groups.
• Their role is to:
  • develop, review and assess effective disaster management practices
  • help local government to prepare a local disaster management plan
  • ensure the community knows how to respond in a disaster
  • identify and coordinate disaster resources
  • manage local disaster operations
  • ensure local disaster management and disaster operations integrate with state disaster management.

The correct answer is 2016.

Key Points

 Disaster management plan in India:

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) was released in 2016, it is the first ever national plan prepared in the country for disaster management. With National Disaster Management Plan (2016), India has aligned its National plan with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

Vison:

Make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk reduction, and significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets – economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental  by maximizing the ability to cope with disasters at all levels of administration as well as among communities.

Objectives:

• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for the integration of measures for the prevention of disasters and mitigation into the development plans and projects In accordance with the guidelines of the National Disaster Management  Authority (NDMA).
• The NDMA had prepared the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in 2016 and then further revised it in 2019.
• NDMA has also issued 33 guidelines for management of various disasters on various cross-cutting issues
• Invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience through structural, non-structural and financial measures, as well as comprehensive capacity development.
• Increase resilience and prevent the emergence of new disaster risks and reduce the existing risks

The Correct Answer is Fire

Key Points

• Fire Accident - Man-made Disasters.
  • Human-caused fires result from campfires left unattended, the burning of debris, equipment use and malfunctions, negligently discarded cigarettes, and intentional acts of arson.  Lightning is one of the two natural causes of fires.
  • Man-made hazards are disruptions of a massive scale over a short or long period of time, caused by human action or inaction.
  • These disasters cause economic damage, loss of life, health emergencies, etc.
  • Man-made disasters can be classified into Sudden disasters, Continuing disasters, and Armed conflicts.
    

Additional Information

• Disasters have been a part of human life since the beginning of time.
• Man-made Disasters in India
  • Bhopal Gas tragedy
  • Recalling the night of December 2-3 1984 in Bhopal still sends a shiver down the spine of those who were there that fateful night when toxic Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) 
    gas leaked from the factory owned by Union Carbide. The gas silently spread out engulfing the densely populated areas around the factory.

The correct answer is 'Resource'.

Key Points

• Emergency management is the management of disasters which involves creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters.
• The outcome of emergency management is to prevent disasters and where this is not possible, to reduce their harmful impacts.
• The four phases of Emergency Management make up a continuous cycle of planning and action undertaken by the Department of Emergency Management to ensure maximum safety.
• The phases are -
  1. ​Mitigation
     • Disaster mitigation measures are those that eliminate or reduce the impacts and risks of hazards through proactive measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs.
  2. ​Preparedness
     • ​Preparedness focuses on preparing equipment and procedures for use when a disaster occurs. 
  3. ​Response
     • ​The response phase of an emergency commences with Search and Rescue.
     • It focuses on providing quick assistance to fulfill the basic humanitarian needs of the affected community. 
  4. Recovery
     • ​​​The recovery phase starts after the threat to human life has subsided.
     • The immediate goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to normal condition as quickly as possible.

Thus, Resource is NOT a phase of Emergency Management.

The correct answer is workers.

Key Points

• Famine is a widespread condition in which many people in a country or region are unable to access adequate food supplies.
• Famines cause a lack of food.
• The most affected people during the famines are workers.
• Workers are hard hit by these calamities as they work in the unorganized sector.
• They do not have job security and are dependent on daily wages for their livelihood.
• Agricultural workers are the most hard-hit people during times of calamity.

 Thus, we can say that workers are the most affected during famines.

The Correct Answer is the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Key Points

• The institutional and policy mechanisms for carrying out response, relief and rehabilitation have been well-established since Independence.
• These mechanisms have proved to be robust and effective insofar as response, relief and rehabilitation are concerned. 
• At the national level, the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry for all matters concerning disaster management.
• The Central Relief Commissioner (CRC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal officer to coordinate relief operations for natural disasters.
  • The CRC receives information relating to forecasting/warning of a natural calamity from India Meteorological Department (IMD) or from Central Water Commission of Ministry of Water Resources on a continuing basis. 

Additional Information

The correct answer is (a), (c), and (d).

Key Points

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the apex statutory body for disaster management in India.
• The Disaster Management Act was passed by Parliament in 2005.
• The NDMA may have not more than Nine members including Vice-Chairman.
• Hence, Options (a), (c) and (d) are correct.
• The Prime Minister acts as a Chairperson of the NDMA instead of the Union Home Minister. Hence statement b is not correct.

Additional Information

• The NDMA came into Existence.
  • The origin of NDMA dates back to August 1999 when the government of India set up a High Powered Committee (HPC) to make recommendations for preparing disaster management plans while also suggesting effective mitigations mechanisms.
  • Similarly, the National Committee was set up in 2001 post the Gujarat earthquake for the same purpose.
  • The Government enacted the Disaster Management Act 2005, institutionalizing NDMA.
• ​Main Objective of NDMA.
  • The objective of the NDMA is "To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, pro-active, technology-driven and sustainable development strategy that involves all stakeholders and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness, and mitigation."

The correct answer is C, B, A.

Key Points

Disaster Management Plan (DMP)  is a continuous and integrated process of planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing measures that are necessary or expedient for disaster management. It consists of four cyclic steps:

Disaster preparedness:

• It is an ongoing multi-sectoral activity that is carried out prior to the disaster.
• It involves the coordination of a variety of sectors to carry out:
  • Evaluation of the risk.
  • Adopting standards and regulations.
  • Organizing communication and response mechanism.
  • Ensuring all resources- ready and easily mobilized.
  • Developing public awareness and education programs.
  • Coordinating information with news media.
  • Performing disaster simulation exercises.

Disaster response:

• It involves activities during a disaster.
• It is the immediate reaction to disaster as the disaster is anticipated, or soon after it begins in order to assess the needs, reduce the suffering, and spread of the disaster.
• It involves:
  • Mass evacuation.
  • Search and rescue.
  • Emergency medical services.
  • Securing food and water.
  • Maintenance of Law & Order

Disaster recovery:

• It involves activities after a disaster.
• It occurs after the emergency is over and displaced people return to their place of origin.
• It encompasses community recovery (including psychological), infrastructure recovery (services and lifelines), economy recovery (financial, political), and environmental recovery.
• It involves:
  • Rehabilitation-restoration of basic social functions.
  • Providing temporary shelters.
  • Stress debriefing for responders and victims.
  • Economic rehabilitation.
  • Psycho-social rehabilitation.
  • Scientific damage assessment.
  • Rebuilding homes.
  • Permanently repairing and rebuilding infrastructures. 

Disaster mitigation:

• It involves activities that will reduce the effects of future disasters of a similar kind.
• It involves:
  • Planning control.
  • Training and education.
  • Economic assistance.
  • Subsidies.
  • Facilities-refugee points, storage.
  • The requirement to conform with design codes.
  • Checking compliance of controls on site.
  • Court proceedings, fines, closure orders.

The correct answer is A, B and C.

Key Points

• Being prepared means taking measures to lessen the effects of disasters is referred to as Preparedness.
• It is the measures taken before a disaster event that is aimed to minimize:
  • ​Loss of life​
  • Damage when the disaster occurs
  • Disruption of critical services
• More people and assets are at risk from disasters as a result of rising populations, rapid and unplanned urbanisation, climate change, environmental degradation, and pervasive poverty.

Additional Information

• The idea and practice of disaster risk reduction are to lessen the likelihood of catastrophes occurring by methodically identifying and minimising the causes of disasters.
• Mitigation is the process of reducing or eliminating the effects and risks of hazards through proactive actions conducted in advance of an emergency or disaster.
• Rescue is one aspect of post-disaster risk reduction. Other aspects include warning, evacuation, search, and rescue, as well as urgent aid.
• Relief: To respond to communities that are disaster victims by offering assistance in the form of food packages, water, medication, temporary housing, relief camps, etc.
• Recovery: This stage focuses on helping disaster victims, restoring damaged infrastructure, and repairing any harm done.