UPMSP High School Disaster Mgmt key terms

A serious disruption of a community's normal functioning caused by a hazard, producing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses that exceed the community's own capacity to cope using its available resources.

A potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. A hazard becomes a disaster only when it strikes exposed, vulnerable people.

The conditions determined by physical, social, economic and environmental factors that increase a community's susceptibility to the damaging effects of a hazard. Poverty, weak housing, lack of awareness and poor infrastructure all raise vulnerability.

The combined strengths, resources, knowledge, skills and institutions available within a community to reduce risk and to respond to and recover from a disaster. Building capacity is a core aim of disaster risk reduction.

The people, property, livelihoods, infrastructure and environmental assets located in areas that could be affected by a hazard. Exposure measures what is at risk, while vulnerability measures how easily it could be damaged.

The likelihood of harmful consequences from a hazard interacting with exposed and vulnerable conditions. It is commonly expressed as a function of hazard, exposure and vulnerability divided by capacity, and can be reduced by lowering any of the first three.

A model describing the recurring phases of disaster handling: prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and relief, and recovery and rehabilitation. The phases overlap in practice, and lessons from recovery feed back into better mitigation.

Structural and non-structural measures taken in advance to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk from hazards. Examples include earthquake-resistant construction, flood embankments, land-use zoning, building codes and public awareness campaigns.

The knowledge, plans, resources and arrangements developed in advance so that governments, communities and individuals can respond quickly and effectively when a hazard strikes. Drills, stockpiles, early warning systems and evacuation plans are preparedness measures.

A set of linked arrangements that detect an impending hazard, analyse the threat, communicate a timely warning to people at risk, and prompt them to take protective action. It only works if the last step, public response, actually happens.

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the release of accumulated strain along faults in the earth's crust, or by volcanic or human-induced activity. India's Himalayan belt and Kutch region are highly seismic.

The point on the earth's surface directly above the focus, the underground origin of an earthquake. Shaking is usually strongest near the epicentre, though local soil conditions can change the pattern of damage.

A logarithmic scale that expresses the magnitude of an earthquake, meaning the energy released, as a single number. Each whole-number increase represents roughly thirty times more energy, so the scale is not a simple linear measure.

One of the four mapped zones of earthquake hazard in India, from Zone II (low) to Zone V (very high), based on expected ground shaking. Building design requirements become stricter in higher zones.

The temporary overflow of water onto land that is normally dry, caused by heavy rainfall, river overflow, dam failure, poor drainage or storm surge. Floods are India's most frequent and widely spread disaster, affecting millions each year.

A rapid flood that rises within a few hours of intense rainfall, often in hilly terrain, narrow valleys or urban areas, leaving very little time to warn or evacuate people. Flash floods cause high casualties because of their speed.

A large rotating storm system formed over warm seas, with strong winds and heavy rain around a low-pressure centre. India's east coast, especially Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, is repeatedly struck by cyclones from the Bay of Bengal.

An abnormal rise in sea level near the coast, produced by a cyclone's winds and low pressure, which pushes sea water inland and causes severe flooding. Storm surge is the deadliest part of many tropical cyclones.

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall that causes serious water shortage for drinking, agriculture and industry. Drought develops slowly over months or years, unlike sudden disasters, and hits rain-fed farming areas hardest.

The downward movement of rock, soil and debris along a slope under gravity, triggered by heavy rain, earthquakes, mining or slope cutting. The Himalayan and Western Ghats regions of India are frequent landslide zones.

The systematic approach of preventing new risk, reducing existing risk and strengthening resilience through policies, planning, investment and community action. It is a development issue, not merely an emergency-response activity.

The ability of a community or system to absorb the shock of a hazard, keep essential functions working, and recover quickly to a normal or improved state. Resilience is increased by planning, social organisation and safe infrastructure.

A practice exercise that rehearses the response to an emergency, such as an earthquake or fire, so that people learn evacuation routes, roles and timing before a real event occurs. Schools and offices conduct these regularly.

The organised movement of people away from a dangerous area to a safer place before or during a disaster. It requires clear routes, transport, shelters, and instructions that reach everyone, including vulnerable groups.

A temporary shelter set up to house people displaced by a disaster, providing food, water, sanitation and medical care. Good camp management needs registration, hygiene, security and attention to the needs of women, children and the elderly.

Immediate assistance given to disaster-affected people to meet basic needs such as food, drinking water, shelter, clothing and medical care in the days and weeks after an event. Relief aims to save lives and reduce suffering.

The longer process of restoring and improving the livelihoods, housing, services and infrastructure of a disaster-affected community. Recovery includes rehabilitation, reconstruction and efforts to build back better rather than rebuild old risks.

A standardised, flexible structure for managing emergency operations in which roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clearly assigned under one incident commander. It prevents confusion and duplication when several agencies respond together.

A dedicated facility from which authorities coordinate information, resources and decisions during an emergency. It collects reports from the field, communicates warnings and directs response agencies, serving as the hub of command.

The apex body at state level responsible for framing disaster management policy, plans and guidelines for Uttar Pradesh, and for coordinating mitigation, preparedness and response across districts. It works under the state's disaster management framework.

A prepared document that sets out the hazards, vulnerable areas, resources, roles and response procedures for a district. It guides officials before, during and after a disaster and is updated regularly through drills and reviews.

Districts along the Ganga, Ghaghara, Rapti, Sharda and Yamuna rivers, including eastern and central UP areas, that face repeated riverine and drainage floods during the monsoon. These districts require advance evacuation and relief planning.

A written plan prepared by a school describing its hazards, evacuation routes, assembly points, roles of teachers and students, and steps for first aid and communication during an emergency. It is tested through regular drills.

A group formed at village, ward or school level to plan for hazards, spread awareness, identify vulnerable people and coordinate local response. Local committees connect communities with official agencies during an emergency.

Immediate, temporary care given to an injured or suddenly ill person before professional medical help arrives, aimed at preserving life, preventing worsening and promoting recovery. It includes bleeding control, CPR and safe positioning.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: chest compressions, with rescue breaths if trained, given to a person whose heart and breathing have stopped. It keeps oxygenated blood circulating until emergency medical help arrives.

The first period after a serious injury or sudden illness, roughly the first hour, during which prompt first aid and medical treatment most improve the chance of survival. Rapid response at this stage saves lives.

The process of quickly sorting casualties by the urgency of their condition so that limited medical resources go first to those who need them most and can be saved. It is used when the number of injured exceeds available help.

Long-term shifts in temperature, rainfall and other climate patterns, driven mainly by human emission of greenhouse gases. It increases the frequency and intensity of floods, droughts, heat waves and cyclones, raising disaster risk.

The natural warming of the earth's surface as gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trap outgoing heat in the atmosphere. Human activities have strengthened this effect, causing global warming and related climate hazards.

A spell of abnormally high temperatures, often with high humidity, lasting several days and causing heat exhaustion, heat stroke and deaths. Uttar Pradesh and other plains regions experience severe heat waves before the monsoon.