Disaster Risk Management

Contents:

Preface
Acknowledgements
Acronyms

Chapter 1. Introduction to Hazards, Risk, and Disasters • Evolution of Hazard and Disaster Management • Hazard • Hazard Classification by UNDRR • Hazard Characteristics • Disaster • Characteristics of Disasters • Historical Context: Major Indian and Global Disasters • Why Disasters Matter • Disasters as Social Constructs • Disaster Typology • Disaster Impacts • Distinguishing Between Hazards and Disasters • From Hazard to Disaster: Understanding the Process • The Concept of Risk • Risk Components by Disaster • Risk: Probability and Consequence • Risk Assessment • Risk Perception and Risk Communication • The Disaster Continuum • Disaster vs Emergency vs Crisis • Emergency: Localized and Manageable Disruptions • Disaster: Large-Scale, Multi-Sectoral Event • Crisis: Systemic, Deeply Disruptive and Uncertain • The Paradigm Shift: From Relief to Risk Reduction • Global Frameworks That Inspired the Shift • India’s Strategic Transition: Aligning Policy with Practice • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 2. Hazards: Origins, Dynamics, and Consequences • Understanding Hazards • Hazard–Vulnerability–Capacity Framework (HVCF) • India’s Hazard Profile: A Multi-Hazard Landscape • Natural Hazards • Geological Hazards • Hydrological Hazards • Meteorological Hazards • Biological Hazards • Technological Hazards • Infrastructure Failures • Human-Induced Hazards • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 3. Vulnerability and Exposure • Introduction • Vulnerability • Physical Vulnerability • Social Vulnerability • Environmental Vulnerability • Economic Vulnerability • Vulnerability Indicators • Exposure and
Its Impact • Population Density and Location • Infrastructure and Critical Assets • Environmental Sensitivity and Degradation • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 4. Disaster Risk Management: Techniques and Practices • Introduction • The Disaster Risk Management Cycle • Prevention And Mitigation • Preparedness • Response • Recovery and Rehabilitation • Key Principles of Disaster Risk Management • Risk-Informed Decision Making • Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration • Building Resilience • Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Reduction • Summary •
References • Practice Questions 

Chapter 5. Risk Assessment and Analysis • Introduction • Hazard Identification and Mapping • Steps in Hazard Identification and Mapping • Data Collection and Analysis: The Backbone of Hazard Mapping • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications • Vulnerability and Exposure Assessment • Vulnerability and Exposure Assessment Methods • Vulnerability Evaluation • Social Vulnerability • Social Vulnerability Indices • Risk Assessment – Evaluation and Prioritization • Quantitative and Qualitative Risk Assessment Methods • Risk Matrices and Risk Ranking – Making Hard Choices Visible • The Two Dimensions – Likelihood and Impact • Constructing a Risk Matrix – Four Steps to Clarity • Risk Scoring and Ranking – Turning Assessment into Priority • Risk Matrices Across Sectors – A Tool That Travels Well • Limitations of Risk Matrices – Using Them Honestly • The UNISDR ‘Words into Action’ Guidelines for National Disaster Risk Assessment (NDRA) • Conclusion: Building Resilience Through Risk Intelligence • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 6. Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies • Introduction • Structural Mitigation Measures • Earthquake-Resistant Buildings • Flood Control Infrastructure • Landslide Prevention and Stabilization • Non-Structural Mitigation Measures • Land Use Planning and Zoning • Building Codes and Standards • Early Warning Systems • Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction • Integration with Other Risk Management Strategies • Examples of
Integrated Land Use Planning Approaches • Capacity Building and Training • Community Preparedness Plans • Disaster Risk Reduction Education • Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Development • Preparedness for Effective Response and ‘Build Back Better’ in Recovery • Coherence and Coordination in Disaster Risk Reduction • Conclusion • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 7. Climate Risk Resilience • Introduction • Key Elements of Climate Risk Resilience • Approaches to Building Climate Risk Resilience • Climate Change and Disaster Risk • Climate Change and Disasters Risk • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation • Climate Change Mitigation: Strategies for a Sustainable Future • Climate Change Adaptation • Synergies Between Adaptation and Mitigation • Building Climate-Resilient Communities • Climate-
Smart Infrastructure • Early Warning Systems: A Lifeline in a Changing Climate • Sustainable Water and Food Security: Foundations of Climate Resilience • Conclusion: Towards a Climate-Resilient Future • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 8. India’s Disaster Risk Management Policy • Introduction • Evolution of Disaster Management in India • Key Legislation: The Disaster Management Act, 2005 • Amendments to the Disaster Management Act, 2005 • The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2024 • Institutional Framework for Disaster Management • National Level Institution • State and Local Level Institutions • Disaster Management Policy, 2009 of India • Context and Rationale • Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management • Vision, Approach and Objectives • Disaster Management Continuum • Financial Mechanisms • Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness • Techno-Legal Framework • Response and Relief • Capacity Development and Knowledge Management • Partnerships and Community Participation • Challenges and Way Forward • National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) • Objectives of the NDMP • Sectoral Plans under the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) • State and District Disaster Management Plans (SDMP & DDMP) • Integration with the National Plan • Coordination with State and Local Agencies • Capacity Building and Community Preparedness • Funding and Resource Mobilization • District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) • Early Warning Systems and Communication • Common Alert Protocol (CAP) • Bihar’s Pioneering Approach to Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Framework • Path Forward for Disaster Management for India • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 9. International Frameworks and Cooperation • Introduction • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction • Key Principles and Objectives • Implementation and Monitoring of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) • Climate Risk Reduction through the Paris Agreement • Other International Agreements and Organizations • The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA): A Foundation for Global Disaster Risk
Reduction • The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 10. Case Studies and Proven Practices in DRR • Introduction • Case Studies from Different Regions and Countries • Best Practices in Disaster Risk Management • Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction • Early Warning Systems and Response • Post-Disaster Recovery and Rehabilitation • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Chapter 11. The Future of Disaster Risk Reduction • Introduction • Emerging Technologies and Innovations • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Disaster Risk Reduction • Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GISs) in Disaster Risk Reduction • Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Reduction • Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Development Planning • Building Resilience for a Sustainable Future • The Role of
Education and Awareness • Disaster Risk Reduction Education in Schools and Communities • Public Awareness Campaigns and Community Engagement in DRR • Summary • References • Practice Questions

Glossary

About the Authors:

A gold medallist in Civil Engineering with a Doctorate in Environmental Science and M.E. in Hydrology from IIT Roorkee, Prof. Anil Kumar, a climate and disaster risk management expert, brings over four decades of experience spanning environmental sustainability, water security, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience. He has served in leadership roles at BSDMA, AICTE, Institution of Engineers (India), Adamas University, and the World Bank’s TEQIP-III programme. Currently, he is serving as a Professor of Practice at NITTTR, Kolkata. A fellow of leading professional bodies and recipient of the Jharkhand Ratna Samman and the National Sustainability Award 2025 and an author of seven books, Prof. Kumar believes resilience must unite science, ethics, and community action.

A distinguished scientist and academic leader, Prof. Debi Prasad Mishra is a renowned combustion and aerospace engineering expert, and former Indian Oil Chair Professor at IIT Kanpur. As Director of NITTTR Kolkata, he championed innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and industry-academia collaboration. Author of over twenty books spanning engineering, the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga, and Indian wisdom traditions, he uniquely bridges modern science with India’s rich knowledge heritage, inspiring excellence and cultural rootedness.