Menu Toggle
More
Close

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

DISASTER MANAGEMENT MANUAL

INTRODCUTION

During North East Monsoon period there is absolute possibility of heavy rains resulting in inundation, floods etc. The depressions in the Bay of Bengal may intensify into Cyclonic Storms. The three months period [i.e.October December] categorized as ‘PERIOD OF ALERT’. The last two weeks of November and the first week of December will be the ‘CRUCIAL PERIOD OF ALERT’.

The rains may cause heavy inflow of water in the rivers and jungle streams, odais etc. These water courses then become too narrow to carry large volume of water which flows. Therefore the water overflows thereby breaching embankments, causes enormous damages to houses, huts, agricultural lands, roads, telephone lines, railway tracks, electricity lines and other public properties. It is not feasible to completely prevent nature’s fury at one stroke. However, to minimize the damage caused by nature’s onslaught and to ensure speedy relief thereby mitigating the sufferings of the people, the Dindigul District Administration have to devise a plan and prepared a comprehensive ‘DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN’. The plan can be set in motion when the need arises with the active co ordination of inter departmental officials.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT

Steps to be taken by public when a warning for Cyclone threatening the area is received:-

  1. Keep your T.V., Radio on and listen to latest weather warnings and advisories from the Doordharsan All India Radio station. Pass on the information to others as quickly as possible.
  2. Avoid being misled by rumours. Pass on only the official information you have got from the T.V. Radio to others.
  3. Move away from low-lying beaches or other location, which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. Leave sufficiently early before your way to high ground gets flooded.Do not delay and run the risk of being marooned.
  4. If your house is out of danger from high tides and flooding from the river and it is well built it is then probably the best place to weather the storm. However please act promptly if asked to evacuate.
  5. Be alert for high water in areas where streams of rivers may flood due to heavy rains.
  6. Bolt up glass windows or put storm shutters in place. Use good wooden blanks securely fastened provide strong suitable support for outside doors.
  7. If you do not have wooden boards handy, paste paper strips on glasses to prevent splisters flying in to the house.
  8. Get extra food, especially items which can be eaten without cooking or with very little preparation. Store extra drinking water in suitably covered vessels. Make provision for children and adults requiring special diets.
  9. If you are in one of the evacuation areas, move your valuable articles to upper floors to minimise flood damages.
  10. Have hurricane latern, flash lights and other emergency lights in working condition and keep them ready.
  11. Check on everything that might blow away or be born loose. Kerosene tins, canes, agricultural implements, garden tools, road signs and other objects become weapons of destruction in strong winds. Remove them and store them in a covered room.
  12. Be sure that a window or door can be opened on the left side of the house [i.e] the side opposite the one facing the wind.
  13. Remove cattle to safe place as faraway as possible.
  14. If the centre of eye of the storm passes directly over your place, there will be wind and rain lasting for half an hour or more. During this period stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs during the pre monsoon period, if necessary, but remember that strong winds will return suddenly from the opposite direction, frequently with even greater velocity.
  15. Be calm your cability to meet any emergency which will inspire and help others.
WARNING SYSTEM [FOR CYCLONE AND FLOOD]

Details of Two Stage Warning issued by the Area Cyclone Warning Centre [Indian Meteorological Department], Chennai.

  1. The Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai [Indian Meteriological Department] will be issuing relevant Warning for Cyclone storms under the Two Stage Warning Systems, the First Stage Warning ‘CYCLONE ALERT’ is issued to the District Collectors of those coastal Districts which are expected to receive heavy rain 7.50 cm. or more in 24 hours and experience strong winds [45 km. per hour or more] in association with Cyclone in the Bay of Bengal or depressions which are expected of intensify into a Cyclonic Storm. The First Stage Warning is issued as for as possible 48 hours before the commencement of weather through high priority land line telegraphs with a copy to the Chief Secretary. The Second Stage warning is issued 24 hours prior to the commencement of expected rough weather and subsequent bulletins will be broadcast through A.I.R. Broadcasts through All India Radio Stations at Chennai, Tiruchirappalli,Kodaikanal and Pondicherry. These bulletins will be broadcast at frequent intervals by interrupting the routine programmes and will contain the latest information about the position and intensity of the storm, its motion and movements and details of expected impact of the cyclone. Where extreme weather and the possibility of storm surges are foreseen, the bulletins may also indicate areas where drastic preventive action like evacuation of people may be necessary. When the storm comes within the coverage of the coastal radars it is continuously tracked and weather bulletins on the storm are broadcast every hour from the nearest A.I.R. station where severe adverse weather would be occurring.
  2. The First Stage Warning message itself will usually contain the advice requesting Collectors to arrange listening to further warnings through All India Radio. As soon as the First Stage Warning is received, Officers should be detailed to keep in touch over the A.I.R. on 24 hours basis, preferable at the Collectorate premises. This watch should be maintained till the danger is over. If, however adverse weather condition do not develop due to the Cyclone moving, away from the area of dissipating a dewarning message would be received by Message from the Area Cyclone Warning Centre, Chennai when the listening watch could be terminated.
  3. The Collectors as Chief Coordinator of the District Organization connected with emergency and relief measures will keep a continuous check of the weather warning received. These should be transmitted to all the Revenue subordinates and other State Officials at Sub Divisions, Taluk, Block and Panchayat level through the Police W/T and through telephone wherever available .Close liaison may be maintained with the local Postal Department Officials who also may be receiving similar weather warning [upto a maximum of six warnings a day in case of cyclone storms. The Fire Brigade, Police, P.W.D., and Irrigation and Health Departments] may be put up on a round-the-clock alert to meet the possible danger as well as defence services if any and social voluntary organisations like Red Cross who may have to be drafted into emergency and relief work when the threat materialises. A Local Committee consisting of the above Departments may be constituted before-hand which may meet at short notice on receipt of the CYCLONE ALERT. As the Officials and non-offici’ls agencies thus get alerted to be prepared for meeting danger by beat of ‘tom- tom’ and other means special care is to be taken to reach people living areas close to coast.
  4. Bus depots and transport organisation should be kept informed of the cyclone warning, suitable transport should be earmarked and kept, at hand for emergency and if necessary evacuation purposes. Bus and other transport other than those which are requisitioned for emergency and evacuation purposes which happen to be areas directly threatened by the cyclone should be asked to move out of the danger zone quickly.
  5. Railway Authorities should be kept in constant touch for knowing the service ability of the coastal line for ordering movement of emergency supplies at short notice. A review of equipment and supplies to be kept at strategic points may be made for quick restoration of transport and communication after the storm by the Public Works Department, Post and Telegraph, etc. Suitable holding [storage and located on high ground] may be chosen and earmarked in advance near coastal areas and low lying areas so that in case of flood, the public may move into these shelters for safety. Other similar action for pooling of local resources should be completed on the receipt of the First Stage Warning.
  6. On receipt of the second stage warning, the information about the time of the centre of the storm striking the coast would be disseminated to the concerned section of the public by widespread publicity like beat of tom tom etc. The people should be advised to take shelter in designated safe places. Police Wireless may be used to disseminate the warnings and safety instructions to the different areas in the District. All the Hospitals and Doctors in the areas should be alerted and emergency wards/First Aid Stations manned help of the voluntary organisations should be kept fully mobilised. People may specially advised not to leave the shelters immediately when there is a full in the wind/rain, for if the full is due to the eve of the storm passing over the area, strong winds, will return suddenly from the opposite direction.
TRIGGER MECHANISM AND OPERATIONAL DIRECTION

Every operation must be aimed at a direction so as to get desirable results. Disaster Management Plan aimed at to face any eventuality with confidence. It is not only guidance but also provide various insights towards disaster management and mitigation. Every new experience and instances that encountered every year are added so as to take a cue and derive a lesson. So that Disaster Management Plan is prepared and updated.

RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

During North East Monsoon period there is absolute possibility of heavy rains resulting in Floods. The depressions in Bay of Bengal may cause heavy rain falls. The last two weeks of November and the first week of December will be the crucial period of ‘ALERT’ the rain may cause heavy floods in the river To minimize the damages and ensure speedy relief, Fire Service Department has to be vigil round the clock and should act according to DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN. The Fire Service Vehicle and staff can be get in motion when the need arise

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

Suitable instructions have already been issued to all Assistant Divisional Fire Officers and station Fire Officers for speedy communication and action of message pertaining to heavy rain floods and cyclone. In this connection it is instructed that grant of leave including casual leave to the staff should be regulated very carefully and strictly during the period by all station fire station officers and suitable arrangements made to keep adequate number of persons in charge of rescue calls. All Station Fire Officers and Station Officer [Transport] have already been instructed to get the water tenders and Ambulance checked, repaired and to keep them in good and road worthy condition.

  1. WARNING PEOPLE

    Warning about heavy downpour will be done by the Assistant Divisional Fire Officers Fire prevention wing, to the concerned people at appropriate time.

  2. RESCUE OPERATIONS

    The Fire Service Department should always be alert and ready to rush up for rescue operation wherever necessary. The Revenue and Block staff will be in constant touch with the officials of this Department. The Fire Service Department will coordinate with the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board in cleaning the drinking water wells wherever such a need arises, well trained swimmers, Life buoy, Life Jacket, Ropes and the required life saving equipments will be kept ready for rescue operation.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND IMMEDIATE RESTORATION /REHABILITATION

In the aftermath of rescue operations are over, the rehabilitation process has to be taken up. A quick assessment of damages to houses eligible for grant of relief for house damages, financial assistance to the families, who have lost their kith and kin, should be done pragmatically. The Revenue Divisional Officers should allocate the work of intensive enumeration to designated staff that should be fixed with the responsibility of collecting data of

  1. People death if any and
  2. Cattle death if any
  3. Damages to the houses/damages to crops etc in Form No.20-A.

The correctness and promptness of report preparation and transmissions to higher ups are important. A duty chart should be devised involving all revenue personnel and earmarking area if possible in batches of Revenue Staff should be listed out and kept ready to depute them to the affected areas as soon as the calamities are over. As far as possible, the personnel assigned with rescue operations may be left out from enumeration work as the enumeration will have to be undertaken quickly and simultaneously. As and when the assessment of damages is over, the payment of cash doles, issue of free rice and distribution of clothing shall follow according to standing orders on the subject amended from time to time.

  1. RELIEF AMOUNT

    As per the existing rule [G.O.Ms.No.630 Revenue [NCIII] Department dt.29.10.2007, a relief amount of Rs.1, 00,000/- given for loss of life. The Revenue Divisional Officer is responsible for granting this amount to the affected family within 24 hours after ensuring that the death is due to the Disaster and collecting the necessary documents, like FIR and Post-Mortem certificate. The relief amount given for loss of dwelling houses as per the existing rule is given in the following Table.

  2. ASSESSMENT OF CATTLE LOSSES

    Similarly for the loss of cattle also enumeration is done and relief granted after obtaining the Postmortem report from the Joint Director of Animal Husbandry. The Veterinary Doctors should visit the villages where the loss of cattle stock is reported, conduct the Postmortem without any delay so that the real cause of the death of cattle is assessed, and cattle owners can get the relief amount. The rates of relief grant for cattle loss as per G.O.Ms.No.630, Revenue [NC.2] Department dt.29.10.2007. The Relief assistance is enhanced as per the G.O.Ms.No.342 Revenue [DM-ii] Department dated.9.11.2011 is detailed below.

  3. ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES TO CROPS

    A preliminary and immediate assessment of the damages and the relief measures required should be reported to the Collector by the Joint Director of Agriculture, Dindigul in close co ordination with the Tahsildars concerned so that the Government can be approached to obtain required funds to compesate the farmers for the crop damages. As it has been usually the practice to move seeds from far offices to the places affected, the Joint Director of Agriculture, as soon as the calamity is reported, chalk out a program about the movement of Seeds and Pesticides etc., and arrange to move them to the needy areas with sufficient quantity. Similarly the Joint Registrar of Co-operative societies in consultation with the Joint Director of Agriculture should move the stock of Fertilizers to the affected areas immediately. As regards crop damages, the assessment is done by the Joint Director of Agriculture and Assistant Director of Horticulture and relief assistance given as per G.O.Ms.No.630 Revenue [NC-III] Department dt. 29.10.2007 as detailed below:

    The Executive Engineer, Public Works Department concerned is responsible for sending daily reports on the damages to Major Irrigation sources expecially those maintained by the Public Works Department such as Rivers, Canals and Dams. The Panchayat Union Commissioners should send daily reports regarding the damages caused to Minor Irrigation Tanks and the Roads under their control.

    Similar reports should by sent by the Divisional Engineer, National Highways, Divisional Engineer[Highways and Rural Works], Divisional Engineer[RR], Assistant Director[Town Panchayats] and Municipal Commissioners for the roads under their control.

  4. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS

    After the occurence of the Disaster the quantum of damages pertaining to other departments are also assessed immediately to give the required assistance and to take up the restoration works.Based on the assessment received from the concerned department about the damages, requisite funds are requested from the government and on receipt of funds reconstruction and restoration works are persued by the respective departments

MITIGATION MEASURES UNDERTAKEN

RELIEF MEASURES

Relief measures are taken with co-ordination of all Departments

ROLE AND ACTION PLAN OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS
REVENUE DEPARTMENT
        1. To open control rooms in taluks and Revenue Divisional Officer’s offices and District Headquarters.
        2. As already instructed, the officers of this Department will be visiting the irrigation sources, Dam sites and ascertain their position regarding inflow and outflow of water, storage levels etc., and see to the arrangements of strengthening the bunds etc., whenever necessary, in consultation with the technical departments.
        3. The villagers should be informed of the real situation with the least possible delay.
        4. Rumors can be avoided by giving correct and timely information.
        5. The local M.Ps and M.L.As may also be informed of the position.
        6. The Village Administrative Officers and Firka Revenue Inspectors will be held responsible for communication of messages from the village level to the Taluk Office.
        7. Such information may also be passed on through wireless sets kept in the nearby Police Station, Panchayat Union Offices.
        8. Similary in case of communication of Floods, Cyclones received, the Tahsildars should immediately depute the Deputy Tahsildars and other staff to check up the vulnerable points and to Commence flood relief operations.
        9. The arrangements so made should be informed to the higher officials and to the other Departmental Officers concerned without any delay.
        10. In the case of possible disaster, the people living in the area and who may be affected should be evacuated to a safer place immediately even by forcible persuation.
        11. The services of the local Police and other organiza tion may be utilised for this purpose. For accommodating such people, the buildings of the Panchayat Union School, Government School, Private School etc., where there are facilities like lighting, drinking water, etc., should be utilised.
        12. Such a list of available places should be prepared now and will be kept in the Taluk Office and Panchayat Union Offices.
        13. The concerned School Management or Headmasters also should be advised of this and their concurrence taken even now to move into their premises when the need arises.
        14. A list of generators available in the area should be kept in the Taluk Office and Panchayat Union Offices and they should be utilised for lighting in the places accommodated.
        15. The owners of the generators should be approached and their consent to use the same obtained even now.
        16. The Tahsildar should keep enough petromax and hurricane lights in the camps as stand by arrangements While rescuing, priority should be as follows:
          1. Human beings
          2. Cattle
          3. Properties
        17. All the people affected by the Floods/cyclone should be saved at all costs.
        18. For this, the Tahsildar should take all affective steps.
        19. He must keep a list of Boats and Catamarams available in his area and press all these into service immediately.
        20. The need for Helicopters should be assessed in time ie., atleast 48 hours in advance and the same should be intimated to the Collector with a view to get them from the Naval authorities for rescuing marooned people.
        21. The Divisional Officers may requisition motor vehicles, if necessary.
        22. During movement of relief teams, medical teams etc. , the vehicle taking them should also carry the minimum requirements of food stuff and other articles that may be required urgently. The entire quantity of fuel should be utilised only for rescuing operations.
        23. Immediately after rescue, feeding arrangements shou ld be started
        24. To start with, Maida Bread may be supplied.
        25. For arranging Bread, the Tahsildar must prepare and keep ready a list of Bakeries available in his Taluk and also their optimum production capacity during the times of emergency, they should be told to use all the available Wheat Flour and other items only for preparation of Bread, cutting drastically other items like Biscuits etc.,
        26. For cooking, the list of places where there are facilities should be kept in the Taluk Offices and Panchayat Union Offices and the work should start immediately.
        27. The places where rice and other edible commodities are stored should be known and details should be kept in the Taluk Office and Panchayat Union Offices. Semi-dry food like Lemon rice or Chappath i or Sambar rice may be supplied.
        28. The Feeding arrangements should be properly and closely supervised by a responsible officer of the Revenue Department and will take the assistance of the prominent men of the local area.
        29. He should see that no complaint is received from any quarters.
        30. The second stage is assessment of the damages. A responsible person in the cadre of Deputy Tahsildar will take up this wor k.
        31. If the area is large, the Tahsildar will utilise the services of all Deputy Tahsildars in the Taluk.
        32. If more personnel are needed, the Divisional Office rs will arrange for it.
        33. The damages and loss to Human life, cattle, crops etc., should be assessed with the assistance of the officers of the respective departments.
        34. As the Co-ordinator in Taluk level, the Tahsildar should gather the details of the damages etc., and send very quick communication to the Collector’s office with copy to the Divisional Officers in the proforma together with any other valuable and useful information to be passed on to the Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Revenue Administration and to the Government.
        35. In assessing the damages to houses and crops and other properties special care should be taken to ensure that the wor k is carried out properly and promptly without giving room for any future complaints.
        36. At the same time, too much of interpretation of rules should be avoided.
        37. Benefit of doubt may be given to the flood victims.
        38. The local, leading people should also be associated in assessing the damages.
        39. For this purpose an all Party Committee should be formed on the spot. Cash and other relief should be distributed only in their presence .
        40. Many service oriented organisations may come forward in a big way to help the flood affected people.
        41. A list of such organisations should be kept ready in the Taluk Office and Panchayat Union Offices.
        42. These organisations should be guided in a proper manner so that all the affected people can be given relief in a systematic way.
        43. They may be provided transport, if needed.
        44. Care should also be taken for proper distribution of cloths to the victims.
        45. Full information should be passed on immediately to the superior officers by the available means of communication.
        46. In such flood situations consumption of petrol and diesel by the vehicles drafted for flood relief operations will be heavy.
        47. The Divisional Officers and Tahsildars should inst ruct the local Bunk owners suitably in the matter and ensure that no fuel is used for non-relief work.
        48. They must have adequate stock at all times for the use of the Government vehicles.
        49. In the relief camps special attention should be given to children, old people and pregnant mothers, supply of good milk to small children should be arranged speedly.
        50. Daily figures on the number of houses affected, numer of persons removed to safer places, number missing or dead number of cattle lost, the amount of cash relief paid.number of clothing distributed and the quantum of feeding arrangements made and by breaches in river banks noticed and the nature of flood, whether subsiding, rising and whether there is any inflow of water into irrigation source s should be reported through wireless without any delay.
        51. Incorrect figures should not be reported.
        52. The Tahsildar should arrange for reporting the rain fall particulars to the Flood Control Room exactly by 8.00 A.M. every day. This job should be given more care and the Tahsildar should see that rainfall particulars are properly gathered and furnished to the Collector without fail.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
        1. To be alert to meet with any emergencies.
        2. To undertake rescue operation along with Fire Department.
        3. To keep ready the Wireless sets in all the Police Stations for passing the messages about the damages and relief operations to the officers concerned.
        4. To maintain Law and Order.
        5. The Superintendent of Police has already been instructed to provide Wireless sets in the Headquarters of Revenue Divisions, Taluk and Panchayat Union Offices, so as to keep in touch with the officers concerned and to maintain the situation under contr ol.
        6. A responsible staff of Revenue Department will be posted in each of these offices to receive the communication and transmit them by turn system.
        7. Necessary arrangement will be made in the Control Room for quick transmission of messages and issue of orders for bandobust arrangements in the Vulnerable areas.
        8. To strengthen the bandobust arrangements, the Superintendent of Police may utilise the services of the N.C.C. and Homeguards in Co-ordination with the Commanding Officer, NCC and the respective Area Commanders of Home Guards.
        9. The Superintendent of Police, will arrange to provide necessary bandobust in the River sides and during removal operation of hut dwellers on River Banks etc., whenever a requisition is received from the Revenue or Public Works Department Officials, Police vans fitted with mike sets will be utilised to announce warnings to the people concern ed.
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
        1. The Fire Service Department is always alert and ready to rush rescue operations wherever necessary.
        2. The Revenue and Panchayat Union staff will be in constant touch with the officials of this Department.
        3. The Fire Service Department will co-ordinate with the Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board in cleaning the Drinking water wells wherever such a need arses.
        4. To keep many number of life jackets ropes etc and with modern equipments like combination tools.
CIVIL SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT
        1. The District Supply Officer in the District Level and the Taluk Supply Officers in the Taluk level will be in
        2. The District Supply Officer will also ascertain the stock position of Dhothies and Sarees etc. with the Co-optex. Quite a large number of vehicles will be pressed into service in the event of cyclone, the Revenue Divisional Officers and District Supply Officer will ensure that at least 25% of the capacity of tankers is kept as reserve throughout the period of emergency.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

The North-East monsoon may settle early and the tanks in delta areas and non-delta areas may get filled up. Vigilant patrolling of the banks should be done to so as to detect any breach in canal when water flow is abnormal . Even a minor breech would cause incalculable damage by draining entire volume of water to nearby agricultural lands, houses. The need for the Flood patrolling duty has been emphasised more than once and the rules have been formed and communicated already to the officers of Public Works Department. It is therefore considered necessary to arrange for allocation of [Flood] duty in respect of the circle, so that there can be effective supervision and quick action whenever flood damages occur. The following instructions are issued in respect of Flood duty among officers of this Circle.

        1. The PWD Engineers have to keep close watch over the dams, rivers, Anicut by deploying patrolling team and disseminate immediate information if excess inflow of water in river and channel is noticed.
        2. They have to strengthen the weak portions and vulnerable points as ascertained from past experiences in the water courses. They should keep sufficient number of sand bags, along with transport facility for instant mobilisation to the vulnerable places.

          COMMON INSTRUCTIONS
          1. The regular Assistant Engineers will be attending to flood duty in their respective jurisdiction.
          2. The executive Engineers P.W.D., T.R.S Division are requested to be ready to carryout the instructions of Superintending Engineer at any time during flood.
          3. The Executive Engineers are requested to instruct their subordinate officers suitably to ensure proper patrolling of the tanks within their jurisdiction to take effective steps to repair damages. The flood stock materials may be kept ready and any bottle neck may be brought to the notice of the Superintending Engineer, P.W.D., and Madurai Circle and to the Collector .
          4. The reservoir receives flood flows during the North East monsoon period
          5. Since the capacity of the reservoir is small the flood situation is to be anticipated at any time during the period from 1st October 31st December and the controlling Officer should keep alert during this period.
          6. The controlling officer should arrange to note the reading of the reservoir
          7. Level as often as is necessary during the North East Monsoon period to estimate the approaching flood.
          8. The Revenue officials mentioned in rule 4 will give wide publicity among the villages regarding the flood and take all precautionary measures.
          9. Before the flood period i.e. in the month of September itself the names of the persons in charge of the patrol and flood duty should be finalised and exhibited in the Notice Board.
          10. The spillway gates shall be opened uniformly. The height of opening should be regulated according to the intensity of the approaching floods. The regulation of the reservoir during floods will be at closer intervals and such special regulation should be recorded in the daily water reports sent to all concerned. The readings are to be taken by a responsible person at every one hour or less if warranted.
          11. During the period when the reservoir level is at above 325.83m [+ 1069 Ft.] and there is a tendency for the level to rise, patrolling should be organised in three shifts of eight hours each [i.e] from 6.00AM to 2.00 P.M from 2.00 P.M to 10.00PM and from 10.00 PM. to 6.00AM.
          12. Each shift has to be manned by a responsible person who is capable of operating the sluice shutters and spilway gates, with four casual labourers for hand operation in case of failure of electicity.
          13. For patrolling the earthdam, there will be three shifts and the patrol gang in each shift will be incharge of a Technical Assistant and consist of one Lascar and one trained casual labour.
          14. The patrol Gang will walk along the toe of the Embankment carefully inspecting the rear scope of the bund. They should note the readings in the ‘V’ notches to see whether there is any abnormal increase in seepage. They should bring it to the notice of the Section Officer immediately if any increase in seepage or slip, erosion or piping is noticed, in the bund, near the toe or in the vicinity.
          15. The patrol gang should also walk on the bund inspecting the Front slope of the bund and checking the safety of the revetment on the water face.
          16. The Section Officer should walk along the embankment daily. The Sub Divisional Officer and the Executive Engineer should also inspect the embankment [both front and rear] as often as is possible depending on the flood situation. They should watch both the front and rear slopes of the embankments carefully If any extra ordinary seepage or slip is noticed they are to swing into action immediately depending on the situation.
          17. The patrol party should be frequently checked by the section officer, Sub Divisional Officer and the Executive Engineer and the orders and instructions issued should always be in writing.
          18. The Diesel Generator should be checked before the Monsoon and kept in good running condition.
          19. The above rules are for general guidance. The Executive Engineer and the Sub Divisional Officer shall have powers to vary the procedure as and when necessary in the interest of the safely of the dam without relaxing the spirit of the rules. Such deviations shall be placed on record, together with the details of the circumstances necessitating such deviations they have full discretion to take all measures for the safety of the dam as and when considered necessary and shall in all circumstances be responsible for its safety.
          20. The Controlling Officer in charge of the reservoir shall then organise extra labour required in addition to the duty personal who would be needed for attending to the safety of the structure so that no over topping of the shutters or dam takes places. If a siren is provided in the dam site 3 long blasts shall be sounded on this and all the Departmental staff available in the Camp area shall than immediately proceed to the dam site and report services for attending to the safety of the dam and regulators.

            PATROLLING RULES
            1. Whenever there are high floods between 6.00PM and 6.00AM of the succeeding morning the Controlling Officer or a responsible person nominated by him shall be at the dam site incharge of the flood regulation and he shall not be less than an hour as long as the flood is rising.
            2. The Controlling Officer shall also watch if the standing wave in the stilling basin is formed before the baffle block if this is not done, the discharge over the spillway may be reduced to maintain the standing wave within the stilling basin.
            3. A look out shall be made by the flood control party to see that the debrisfloating down the river does not damage the river or spillway shutters Necessary flood stores may be provided so that these floating logs and other debris may pulled to one side and anchored so that they can be removed after the flood recedes
            4. Throughout the period of floods, the dam maistry and gate operator or fitter operating the spillway shutters will be at the utility tower to control and regulate the flows. Whenever they are relieved they shall make necessary entries in the register.
              1. Date
              2. Time
              3. Reservoir level
              4. Hourly reservoir level for the previous four hours
              5. Purpose of his leaving the utility tower
              6. Time he is expected back
              7. Name of the reliever and designation
              8. Remarks
              9. Signature of the dam mainstry
              10. Signature of Operator or fitter operating spillway gates.
HIGHWAYS AND RURAL WORKS
        1. The Highway Department people have maintained the roads roadworthy and locate the sensitive points and should take effective measures to strengthen them.
        2. There are possibility of trees felling on road ther eby causing danger to the lives and disruption of road traffic. They will keep ready the rescue teams with the tree cutting materials, sufficient man pow er preferably power saws for removing the wind fallen trees.
TANGENDCO
        1. The Officials of Tamilnadu Electricity Board will keep ready sufficient number of generators with trained personnel to operate them with mobilisation facilities. and form special team for snapping electricity supply at the times of any disaster, to avoid loss due to electrocution. 28
        2. This Department have to attend falling of electric lines, poles, transmission towers etc. with no loss of time so as to prevent any untoward incidents thus to prevent loss of life.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
        1. The Joint Director of Health Services, Nagapattinam will make suitable arrangements for conveyance facilities for the tour of Medical Relief Teams in affected villages.
        2. During monsoon seasons, there is imminent possibility of spreading of water borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and diahorrea due to mixing up of drainage water with the drinking water sources.
        3. The Health Department stock the sufficient quantity of medicines such as drugs, and surgical textiles in the Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centre.
TAMIL NADU WATER AND DRAINAGE BOARD
        1. The Executive Engineer, Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board, Urban/Rural will make suitable arrangements for attending pipeline breach, clearing waterlog, whenever and wherever necessary at short notice in co-ordination with the Divisional Fire Of ficer concerned.
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
        1. The Executive Engineer[Agri. Engineering]PWD, will make suitable arrangements to keep heavy Cranes, Bull Dozers etc., during floods and arrange for clearance of debris tanks si lt, etc., and during the relief operations in landslide, sand cave, sinkhole etc.,
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
        1. Heavy rain causes extensive damages to crops thus cripple the ryots financially. The Joint Director of Agriculture, will make arrangement to mobilize the field staff and physically assess the damages caused to crops with co-ordination of the Revenue D epartment and submit report. Besides, he should advise the ryots to reclaim the land from waterlog and minimize the crop damages.
FIRE SERVICE DEPARTMENT
        1. The Fire Service Department should always be alert and ready to reach the places in order to start rescue operations wherever necessary.
        2. Keep sufficient number of life jackets, ropes etc and with modern equipments like combination tools to save precious lives.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
        1. The Police department should be alert to meet any emergencies and undertake rescue and relief operation in close co ordination with Fire Department.
        2. This Department having sophisticated communication equipments such as VHF/ HF.
        3. Should keep in touch with Control Room for quick transmission of messages and issue of orders for bandobust arrangements in the vulnerable areas.
VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION

The participation of voluntary organisations is the vital in case of natural disasters. They are generally expected to render all possible assistance to the flood affected victims and to extent all cooperation to the District Administration to tide over the crisis.