10 – Disaster Management
Q 1. True or false? Give reasons.
Ans. (1) False. The information about
forthcoming storm should be given to the people who may get affected. This can
save their lives.
(2) True. The electric current from the
lightening can enter the water easily and be very hazardous for a person who is
swimming. This can even cost his life.
(3) False. Volcanic eruption is a natural
disaster which may happen anytime. There is no technology that can stop such
calamity.
(4) True. Heavy rains may wash away the crops
and cause damage to the farm lands. This is called a wet famine.
Q 2. Find the odd man out.
Ans.
(1) Railway
accident (All others are natural calamities)
(2) Drought (It is
a dry spell, the rest are associated with water)
(3) Locusts (All
others are associated with volcanic eruptions)
(4) Volcano (All
others are associated with farm)
Q 3. What are the
remedial measures for the following calamities?
(1) Famine:
Ans. (1) Water should be used judiciously and
with care. Proper water management should be done. (2) Reusing the water. (3)
Construction of check dams and water harvesting techniques to be adopted at
local level. (4) Prevention of tree felling and planting trees in a very large
scale. If deforestation is stopped, it will help in holding more water in the
ground and also prevent soil erosion. (5) Since the impacts of climate change
are seen everywhere, we must plan the food and water supplies.
(2) Lightning strike :
Ans. (1) One should stay at home when there
is thundering and lightening. (2) One should not take shelter under a tree, on the
heights, or in open ground as there is hi chance of lightening sticking here.
(3) One should not stand near an electric pole, a telephone. pole, a tower etc.
(4) Not to get into water for swimming. (5) Install a lightening conductor on
the top of one's building.
(3) Storm:
Ans. (1) During stormy rain, the trees may
fall down due to strong winds. Hence trees are to be trimmed to avoid any
injury. (2) One should take shelter in a safe place. Our whereabouts have to be informed to our family
and friends. (3) The electric supply should be in order to avoid any accidents.
(4) Other people should be helped if they need any shelter. (5) Listening to
the radio or any media for the instructions about storms and following the same
is very important for safety. People can be relocated and saved from storm
which is due to come.
(4) Cloudburst:
Ans. (1) In the
event of cloud bursting there is severe rainfall. Therefore, we must move to
the safe place. (2) One should not take shelter at the foothill, near river
banks or near sea coast. It may be dangerous to wait at such places. (3) We
should move to safe places and also help others to go to safer places.
Q. 4. Write answers to the following
questions in your own words:
(1) What is a cloudburst?
Ans. (1) The cloud bursting means the
excessive rainfall suddenly pouring in a short span of time in a specific area.
(2) Due to very high temperature near the land, the water coming down from rain
clouds does not reach the land in the form of rain. But vapourizes and goes
back into the same clouds. (3) This causes large amount of vapour in these
clouds.
When rapid
condensation occurs in such water-laden clouds, it rains suddenly at a rate of
100 per hour or more in a specific area,
(2) What are the measures to prevent loss of
life due to lightning?
Ans. (1) One should stay at home when there
is thundering and lightening. (2) One should not take shelter under a tree, on the
heights, or in open ground as there is hi chance of lightening sticking here.
(3) One should not stand near an electric pole, a telephone. pole, a tower etc.
(4) Not to get into water for swimming. (5) Install a lightening conductor on
the top of one's building.
(3) Explain the effects of a volcano.
Ans. (1) Whenever there is volcanic eruption.
the chemical substances such as lava, vapour,
hot mud, sulphur, etc. is thrown out. (2)
These substances are usually present in the interior of the earth's crust. When
they are thrown out they form mountains and hills and chance the land form. (3)
There is atmospheric pollution due to the ash and gases ejected. Temperature of the surrounding area rises due
to hot gases by the volcano. (4) It starts raining after a volcanic eruption.
(5) Nearby forests and settlements get buried under the hot mud.
(4) What is a
tsunami ? What gives rise to a tsunami ?
Ans. (1) 'Tsunami' means huge harbour wave
which breaks at the coastal regions causing tremendous damage. (2) These waves
are formed due to volcanic eruption on the ocean floor or due to earthquake at
the bottom of the ocean. (3) The energy released because of the earthquake
pushes the water upwards. This results in the formation of waves. (4) These waves
are not very high near the source, but they spread rapidly to long distances.
(5) The velocity of these waves is 800 to 900 kilometre per hour. (6) Upon
reaching the coastal area, their velocity is reduced, but their height
increases tremendously to about 30 metres. This causes a great damage.
Q 5 What measures have been taken to deal with
calamities such as floods and slides under the disaster
management programme in Maharashtra.
Ans. (1) Disaster
management Cell has been established by Government of Maharashtra nrotect the
life and property of people of Maharashtra. (2) According to this cell, people
are given warning about the storms, earthquakes or floods, in advance. (3) In 1976,
Government has established the National Flood Commission. The Commission has
made special efforts towards the control of floods. There is a plan made for
flood control from national level to village level. (4) Government makes
efforts to stop the large scale damage of property and loss of life by
executing this plan. (5) If there are landslides or cloudburst causing loss of
houses for the people, then Government provides shelter homes. The people are
relocated in case of any threat of natural calamity. (6) Government also have
plans for giving all the kind of help to citizens during calamities.
