Preparedness & Response — Set 1

Correct Answer: C. 4

Standard disaster management frameworks recognise 4 phases: Mitigation (reducing risk before a disaster), Preparedness (planning, training, early warning), Response (search, rescue, relief, evacuation), and Recovery (reconstruction, rehabilitation, build back better). These four phases form a continuous cycle where lessons from each phase inform improvements in the next. India's National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2016 is structured around these four phases.

Correct Answer: C. Mitigation

Mitigation is the phase focused on reducing or eliminating the long-term risks and impacts of disasters before they occur. Mitigation measures include earthquake-resistant construction, flood embankments, coastal mangrove restoration, and land use planning that avoids hazard-prone zones. Investment in mitigation is widely recognised as the most cost-effective phase of disaster management — every rupee spent on mitigation saves multiple rupees in response and recovery costs.

Correct Answer: B. Preparedness

Preparedness encompasses all activities undertaken before a disaster strikes to enhance the ability of governments, organisations, and communities to respond effectively. Key preparedness activities include developing contingency plans, conducting mock drills, training responders, pre-positioning relief supplies, and establishing early warning systems. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issues guidelines for preparedness across all hazard types in India.

Correct Answer: C. Response

Response is the phase of disaster management that occurs immediately after a disaster strikes and includes life-saving activities such as search and rescue, medical aid, evacuation, and distribution of emergency relief. Effective response depends critically on preparedness activities carried out before the disaster. In India, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the primary agency responsible for specialised disaster response operations.

Correct Answer: D. Recovery

Build Back Better (BBB) is a key principle of the Recovery phase — it means that reconstruction and rehabilitation after a disaster should not simply restore pre-disaster conditions but should improve them, integrating disaster risk reduction measures into rebuilt infrastructure and communities. BBB is a central principle of both the Sendai Framework 2015–2030 and the NDMP 2016. It ensures that post-disaster reconstruction reduces future vulnerability rather than recreating it.

Correct Answer: B. Incident Command System

ICS stands for Incident Command System — a standardised, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept that provides a common management framework for all agencies involved in disaster response. ICS defines a clear chain of command, assigns specific roles (Incident Commander, Operations, Logistics, Planning, Finance/Administration), and uses common terminology to prevent confusion across agencies. India has adopted ICS principles in its disaster response training programmes through NDMA and NDRF.

Correct Answer: B. NIMS

The Incident Command System (ICS) is a core component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) — a comprehensive national framework used in the United States and adapted by many countries including India. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organisations to work together during domestic incidents. India's NDMA has incorporated NIMS-based ICS principles in national disaster response training protocols.

Correct Answer: B. Coordinating multi-agency response operations during disasters

An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is the physical location from which coordination, direction, and control of response activities is carried out during a disaster or emergency. EOCs are established at national, state, and district levels in India to facilitate multi-agency coordination, information sharing, and resource allocation. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) at NDMA headquarters in New Delhi operates 24×7 for disaster monitoring and response coordination.

Correct Answer: C. National, state, and district levels

In India, Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) are established at three levels: national (National EOC at NDMA), state (State EOC at SDMA), and district (District EOC under DDMA). Each level coordinates response within its jurisdiction and interfaces with the levels above and below in the command hierarchy. The 24×7 National Emergency Response Centre at NDMA provides round-the-clock monitoring and alerts to the entire national disaster management network.

Correct Answer: B. Search and Rescue

SAR stands for Search and Rescue — the operational process of locating survivors trapped under debris, in floodwaters, or in other disaster-affected environments, and extracting them to safety. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) is a highly specialised sub-discipline involving specially trained teams and equipment for rescuing people from collapsed structures. NDRF teams are trained and equipped in USAR operations following INSARAG standards.