Tamilnadu State has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique Geo - Climatic Conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones are recurrent phenomena. While not all Natural Calamities can be predicted and prevented in advance, with a state of preparedness and ability to respond quickly to mitigate loss of life and property and the human suffering, normalcy can be restored at the earliest. It is, therefore, of paramount importance that a plan of action for dealing with contingencies that arise in the wake of natural calamities is formulated and periodically updated.
| Prevention & Mitigation– Preventing Future emergencies and minimizing their effects | . Includes any of the activities that prevent and reduce the chance of emergency happening, or reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. . Mitigation activities such as desilting and strengthening of bunds in the lakes, tanks and channels, repair works of sluice and shutters, construction of culverts and drainage for free flow of water are undertaken before and after emergencies. | | --- | --- | | Preparedness -preparing to handle emergency | . Includes plans or Preparations made to save lives, in response and rescue Operations. . Conducting of mock drills, renovation of shelters, lighting facilities and sanitary arrangements. . Evacuation plans and Stocking of medicine, food materials and protected drinking Water are examples for preparedness | | Response - Responding Safely to an emergency | . Includes actions taken to save lives and prevent further property damage in an emergency situation. Response is putting preparedness plans into action. . Seeking shelter from a cyclone or turning off gas Valves in an earthquake are both response activities. . On the prediction of cyclone/flood, the general public shall be alerted to evacuate to safe shelter . Response activities take place during an emergency. Drinking water shall be chlorinated. All basic amenities, medicines, food materials shall be provided. | | Relief & Recovery - Recovering from an emergency | . Includes actions taken to return to a normal or an even safer situation following disaster. . Damage of huts and crops shall be assessed by the official team and recommend for the financial assistane. . Recovery activities take place after an emergency. Basic amenities in the habitations shall be restored at first. |