Disaster Management

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Question Bank in Social Science (Distaster Management) Class-IX (Term-II)

PREVENTING COMMON HUMAN-INDUCED
DISASTERS


CONCEPTS

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Weapons of Mass Destruction : These are the weapons which bring a huge loss of life,
property and environment. These weapons include nuclear, biological, chemical and,
increasingly, radiological weapons.

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Nuclear accidents : A nuclear weapon is a type of explosive that derives its destructive force
from nuclear reactions of fission or a combination of fission and fusion.

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Nuclear weapons : There are two basic types of nuclear weapons which produce their
explosive energy through nuclear fisssion reactions alone. These are known colloquially as
atomic bombs or fission bombs. The second basic type of nuclear weapon produces a far
larger amount of its energy through nuclear fusion reactions. These are known as hydrogen
bombs, H-bombs, thermonuclear bombs or fusion bombs.

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Chemical and industrial accidents are caused by chemical, toxic gas leaks or explosions.
It may be rapid, sudden or slow depending on the nature of occurrence.
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Human error, technical failure or natural activities like hazards may cause these
accidents.
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The risk elements of chemical and industrial accidents are the lives of people employed
in such factories, people in nearby residential areas, livestock and crops in nearby places
that will get damaged. Land, water and air are prone to pollution along with other
ecological systems.
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Effects of Chemical and Industrial Accidents —

(i) Structures and infrastructures are damaged.
(ii) Fire due to explosion and release of poisonous elements into air is possible.
(iii) Huge loss of lives, exposure of vital body parts to toxins, infectious or long-term effects
like cancer, heart ailments, brain damage, deformation, genetic disorders can be caused.
(iv) Fires may spread to cause burns and asphyxiation.
(v) Some places may become inhabitable due to damage to environment.
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Possible Mitigation Measures

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Hazard mapping is useful to mark storage locations of toxins or hazardous substances.
People living near factories or industrial areas must be aware of possible accidents,
causes and preventions. Safe route of evacuation must be made known.
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Land-use planning can give space for green belt between industrial and residential zones.
Residential areas must be away from factories.
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Community must undergo mock drills to face any possible industrial accidents and
needed emergency evacuation.
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A wind flow diagram would make clear to which areas the toxic gases may flow. Fire
resistance and warning systems, fire fighting, pollution dispersion techniques must be
available. Emergency relief, evacuation planning and insurance of industries is a must.
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Bilogical Disasters : Biological weapons are referred to as a 'poor main's nuclear bomb'
because they are easy to manufacture, can be deployed without sophisticated delivery
systems, and have the ability to kill or injure hundreds of thousands of people. Simple devices
such as crop dusting airplanes or small perfume atomizers are effective delivery systems for
biological agents which are generally associated with a delay in the onset of illness.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Ans.

GOYAL BROTHERS PRAKASHANA. ACTIVITY
1. The following pictures show instruments and objects used to fight various man-made disasters.
Label the pictures with the names of disasters in which they are used.
B. ASSIGNMENTS
1. Write an essay on the preventive measures that should be taken to avoid fire hazards at our home.
2. Write an essay on road safety measures that we all have to follow to avoid road accidents.
3. Write an essay on preventive measures that we have to take against the spread of malaria or
other epidemic diseases.
C. PROJECTS
1. Make a road network map from your home to your school and mark the possible spots on the
road where accidents are most likely to occur.
2. Check all the electrical equipments that are used in your home and note down the fire
preventive measures that your family takes while using the appliances.
3. You are travelling to school on a public bus; you notice an unclaimed bag under your seat that
you doubt to be a bomb. Write down the steps you will take for safety measures.
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4. Collect the information and pictures about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Write the information
collected under the following heads :
(i) Causes leading to the tragedy
(ii) The extent of the damage caused
(iii) Responsibility of the company
(iv) Responsibility of the government
Paste the pictures at suitable places in the project.
D. GROUP DISCUSSION
1. Discuss with the students of your class about the safety measures that India has been taking
against the spread of epidemic diseases. Take help from your teacher.
2. With the students of your class, discuss the reasons and the methods that are needed to spread
community awareness on health and safety measures.
E. DEBATE
Divide the students of your class into two halves and hold a debate on the following
topic : ‘Nuclear power is necessary only for security reasons and nothing else.’

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