Nagaland donates Rs. 2.34 cr to Uttrakhand relief fund

Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Home Department, sent a disaster management team to visit Uttarakhand from November 14-23 to study and learn from the Uttrakhand tragedy.
The team, guided by the Uttrakhand State Disaster Management Authority officials, visited various sites where the disaster was most intense. The disaster management team comprised of Dr. Ahu Sekhose, Senior Medical Officer to Chief Minister of Nagaland; Er. P.I. Imna, Executive Engineer (Housing) PWD, Dimapur; Dr. Chibenthung Kithan. Medical Officer, DH&FW; Mulai Lamniah. Dist Commandant, HG&CD, Kohima; Thepfukranyu. SI, Fire & Emergency Service, Kohima and Rendemo Shitio. DPO, NSDMA.
The team also called upon the Uttrakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna at his official residence and handed over an amount of Rs. 2,34,81,854 towards the chief minister’s  relief fund. Mention may be made that this amount was previously deducted from the one day salary of all Nagaland government employees.
Meanwhile, the state disaster management team has observed the following key points for urgent consideration of the govt. of Nagaland:
1) Disaster management has to be institutionalized and a full-fledged executive wing of needs to be ensured for effective implementation of disaster mitigation and management.
2) Geographical coordinates of all the helipads and also possible temporary helipads along with contact details need to be mapped and documented. This factor also has to be included in the Disaster Management plans.
3) In Nagaland it is felt that ‘awareness and sensitization’ (on disaster management) trainings are not being taken seriously considering our rather complacent/comfortable situation.  Hence there is a need to improvise upon training methods to make disaster preparedness everyone’s interest.
4) During disaster, most communication system may get damaged or go out of service. In such a scenario, community radio service (HAM Radio) will be one of the most effective communication devices to alert/inform the community.  This can be introduced as an alternative communication tool and training may be organized on the usage of HAM Radio.
5) During the Uttrakhand disaster, most of the electricity installations were either damaged or shut down. As such most mobile phones and police radios went dead. For such a situation like this, community ‘Solar Rechargable Stations’ may be placed in safe places which will meet the need for recharging emergency mobile/wireless sets.
6) Relief and Supply operation was mostly done with helicopters during this disaster. However, it was learnt that Air-dropping of relief materials was not very practical  considering that most packages burst mid air and and huge quantities of food grains were damaged. ‘Safe helicopter food dropping practice’ is an issue which needs to be addressed before any disaster.
7) Trolleys on Steel Wire Ropes (SWR) was one very effective way to transfer supplies as well as transport people. This system is easy to install in a short time and is also cost-effective.
8) Exercise of good practices like issuing of Govt. notification/order for: a) incorporation of earthquake resistant features in urban buildings and b) prohibition and regulation of construction in disaster-risk/prone zone
9) Training of masons on earthquake- safe construction and preparation of guidelines in vernacular.
10) While purchasing disaster management equipments, proper and easy-to-handle inventory of disaster-specific equipments is very important.
11) Service of the ‘Missing People Specialist’ of Red Cross Society can also be availed.
12) Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) has to tie up with several external agencies like Meteorological Department for dissemination of weather updates, Space application agencies for early warning of natural calamities etc
13) For effective communication during disaster, all the DDMAs needs to be equipped with two to three Satellite Phones. Besides, the  EOCs should also have disaster-safe Solar Panel as alternative battery recharging point for electronic communication devices.
14) Hazard Safety Cells manned by PWD personnel needs to be set up in both state & district levels to review seismic safety of critical infrastructures and buildings.
15) Development of health related response plans and policies, like:
a. Disaster Management Plan of Health & Family Welfare Department
b. Hospital Emergency preparedness and response plan
c. Dead bodies management plan/guidelines
d. Psycho-social care and stress management plan/guidelines
16) Introduction of ‘108 Ambulance Service’ in the State – The 108 Emergency Response Services is a free 24/7 emergency service  providing integrated medical, police and fire emergency services. The service is provided in Public Private Partnership between State Government and Private EMS providers, and funded by NRHM. This service may be adopted by the State Government for providing quick and effective emergency response in any disaster.