Disaster

An unforeseen and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction and human suffering. Though often caused by nature, disasters can have human origins. Wars and civil disturbances that destroy homelands and displace people are included among the causes of disasters. Other causes can be: building collapse, blizzard, drought, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, fire, flood, hazardous material or transportation incident (such as a chemical spill), hurricane, nuclear incident, tornado, or volcano. 

Mitigation

The process of preventing disasters or reducing related hazards. Methods of  limiting damage can be as simple as placing a fuse box higher on a wall in a flood-prone area, or as costly as strengthening a building's structure to withstand an earthquake. The American Red Cross' mitigation efforts include brochures and training videos, local presentations to raise awareness of mitigation, and serving on committees and task forces that coordinate mitigation programs. 

Floods 

Floods, especially flash floods, kill more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes wind storms or lightning. Flood water can be deceptively strong. Fresh water moving at 4 mph (a brisk walking pace) exerts a force of about 66 pounds on each square foot of anything it encounters. Double the water speed to 8 mph and the force suddenly rises to about 264 pounds per square foot. That's enough force to punch a car or light truck off a flooded road if water reaches up to door level.

We welcome your comments, suggestions and contribution.
Amjad Bhatti  afbhatti@hotmail.com
Phone: 92 51 8 088, 8 009
Duryog Nivaran dnnet@itdg.lanka.net
Journalists Resource Centre jrc@syberwurx.com

Phone: + 92 42 6666404 - 6687827
 

 

 
E-mail: jrc@syberwurx.com