Disaster Management : Practice Questions and Answers

The correct answer is A: Stay in the open, away from buildings.

• During an earthquake, buildings can collapse or catch fire, causing harm to people inside. It is always recommended to stay in the open, away from buildings.
• Parks typically have open spaces such as lawns, gardens, or playgrounds that are relatively safer as there are no structures that can fall or collapse.
• Staying away from trees is also recommended, as they can fall or shed branches during an earthquake. Getting under a tree (Option 3) is not safe.
• Running into the nearest building (Option 2) is not safe as buildings can collapse or catch fire.
• Running to the nearest road (Option 4) may not be safe as roads can be affected by falling debris, cracks, or sinkholes.

Additional Information:

• In case of an earthquake, follow Drop, Cover, and Hold On: drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until shaking stops.
• If driving during an earthquake, pull over and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses, and tunnels.
• Keep an emergency kit ready with food, water, first aid, and communication devices.

The correct answer is C: Take cover under a desk or table.

• Rushing out of the building during an earthquake is dangerous as tremors can cause debris to fall and injure people. It is not a recommended safety measure.
• Holding an earthquake drill is good practice, but it is not a safety measure that can be followed during an actual earthquake.
• Taking cover under a desk or table is the correct safety measure. It provides protection from falling objects and reduces the risk of injury. Students should hold onto the desk or table legs to prevent it from moving during tremors, and stay underneath until the shaking stops.
• Going near windows during an earthquake is dangerous as glass panes can shatter and injure people.

The correct answer is C: 2016.

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) was released in 2016. It is the first-ever national plan prepared in India for disaster management. With the NDMP (2016), India aligned its national plan with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.

Vision: Make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk reduction, and significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets — economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental — by maximizing the ability to cope with disasters at all levels of administration and among communities.

Key Objectives:

• The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for integration of prevention and mitigation measures into development plans in accordance with NDMA guidelines.
• NDMA prepared the NDMP in 2016 and revised it in 2019.
• NDMA has issued 33 guidelines for management of various disasters on cross-cutting issues.
• Invest in disaster risk reduction through structural, non-structural, and financial measures, as well as comprehensive capacity development.
• Increase resilience and prevent emergence of new disaster risks while reducing existing ones.