Flood Hazards Management: A COMMUNITY APPROACH: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management

Since the beginning of civilization man has suffered from the effects of natural hazards. These create chaos in society, for they disrupt the order and routine of civilized life. Among these disasters we find floods, which have been more frequent and devastating as time has passed. It is because of this that their study is necessary.

India is very much vulnerable to a large number of natural hazards like floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes and landslides. Many of these hazards very often turn into disasters bringing an enormous loss of life and property. 23 of the 36 states and union territories in the country are subject to floods and 40 million hectares of land, roughly one-eighth of the country's geographical area, is prone to floods.

The book deals with flood hazards management with a community-based approach. The book explains how to go for a vulnerability analysis and risk assessment at a micro-level on a regional basis for community-based response. The book makes use of a geographical framework using remote sensing and GIS as application tools in decision making for disaster management. It also deals with the SWOT analysis for community-based intervention based on the existing policy guidelines.

This will be a multidisciplinary reference book for flood hazards management across various disciplines of physical, social and managerial sciences involved in disaster management. This book will be most useful for students, faculty members, and researchers and programmed managers from the disciplines of Geography and allied sciences, public administration and governance, sociology, natural hazards studies and disaster management.