Last reviewed 4 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
1. The disaster management cycle
| Phase | Before / after | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Prevention | Before | Avoid the hazard's impact altogether — e.g. not building in a floodway |
| Mitigation | Before | Reduce the impact — strong buildings, embankments, land-use rules |
| Preparedness | Before | Plans, early warning, drills, stockpiles, trained responders |
| Response | During / immediately after | Search and rescue, evacuation, relief, medical care |
| Recovery | After | Rehabilitation (short term) and reconstruction (long term) — "build back better" |
Prevention, mitigation and preparedness together form disaster risk reduction (DRR); response and recovery are post-disaster activities.
2. Structural and non-structural measures
| Structural | Non-structural |
|---|---|
| Earthquake-resistant buildings (IS 1893, IS 13920, IS 4326), retrofitting | Building codes and their enforcement, licensing of engineers |
| Embankments, dams, flood walls, drainage | Land-use zoning — flood plain zoning, coastal regulation zones |
| Cyclone shelters, raised houses, saline embankments | Early warning and communication |
| Check dams, contour bunds, watershed works | Insurance and risk transfer |
| Slope stabilisation, retaining walls, drainage for landslides | Public awareness, school safety programmes, mock drills |
| Fire-safe design, sprinklers | Institutional plans, laws and funds |