Surviving a Strong Typhoon in the Midst of Covid-19 Pandemic: The Case of the Philippines

Tudy Randy A., Niez Alex D., Tudy Ida G. and Diaz Kirt Anthony R.

Page No. 1-4

Natural disasters like typhoons are destructive putting people's lives and properties in jeopardy. How much more if these disasters come amid a pandemic? This study aims to describe the Filipino experience in responding to the effect of Typhoon Vongfong while the country was still implementing quarantine measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Content analysis was used to analyze several reports and documents to determine the experience, responses, and lessons brought by Typhoon Vongfong and COVID-19 pandemic.

Results showed that the Philippines was able to weather out the two crises through the government's quick response, application of the lessons in the past, and resiliency among Filipinos. The findings provide a glimpse of the nature and tenacity of the Filipinos, the price of having appropriate laws and guidelines, and the coordinated and well-planned execution of mitigating measures.

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Disaster Prepraredness in coping Peatland Fires for Successful Asian Games 2018

Widana IDK Kerta, Bohari Jazmi Adlan and Herawan Tutut

Page No. 5-12

South Sumatera is a disaster-prone area which is always hit by peat fires every year, especially during the dry season in July to December. This fact intrigues people because during the same dry season in August, the Asian Games 2018 in Palembang was held. Smoke and haze from the fires in South Sumatera, including in Ogan Ilir, is potentially threatening to the health of athletes and delegates from the participating countries and eventually disrupt the Games. The purpose of the study is to assess the stakeholders’ synergy and their implementation of preparedness in facing peatland fires as well as to determine the level of preparedness of local government in dealing with peatland fires to succeed the 2018 Asian Games. This research uses qualitative methods with data analysis technique. Research locations are Palembang City and Ogan Ilir Regency in South Sumatra Province. Data were obtained from the informants using purposive sampling method and then analyzed by using qualitative analysis techniques such as Social Network Analysis, Agregrate Scoring Analyis, and Miles, Huberman, and Saldana technique.

The results of the study show that the preparedness of Ogan Ilir in overcoming peatland fire to support Asian Games 2018 is good, which means they are able to respond and extinguish the fires properly. But there are a number of things that need to be improved such as emergency response equipment and logistics, district level action plans, making SOPs related to disbursement of ready-made funds, communication and coordination between institutions, and monitoring and evaluation.

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Bridging the gap between social and health vulnerability in rural India: A case of Covid-19

Singh Surendra

Page No. 13-22

The present study made an attempt to bridge the gap between health and social vulnerability using field survey data of five village of Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh. In-depth field survey was conducted to elicit the information of household’s perceptions’ of Covid-19. By using multistage sampling technique, a total of 150 samples were collected during February and March 2020. The study results highlights that households are highly exposed to novel Covid-19 and sensitive to inadequate access of clean water and sanitation. Households undertook a range of preventive measures including health insurance, balance diet, stored food items, consultation to doctors, self-quarantine to overcome the stress of Covid-19.

The calculated livelihood vulnerability scores show that households belonging to Virjapur village are relatively highly vulnerable than others. Based on the grass root evidences, the present study suggested following measures to deal with current Covid-19 pandemic. First, a grass root awareness programme (ex-ante preventive measures) in the regional languages is pre-requisite to deal with Covid-19. Second, it is suggested that Government should immediately increase their health budget to meet the demand and supply. Third, Government should establish more medical colleges and recruit doctors in the public hospitals to ensure last person health coverage. Finally, Government come out with a grass root comprehensive plan to ensure continuous water supply.

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Evaluation of vulnerability to a technological hazard using the AHP method and GIS, case of fuel storage and distribution center, Hussein day Algiers, Algeria

Seddiki Asma and Drias Ammar

Page No. 23-32

In this study, we adopt a method to quantify the vulnerability to a technological hazard in case of fuel storage and distribution center Hussein day, Algiers. The applied methodology is based on multi-criteria analysis method to classify the targets in the study area and using GIS tools to the cartographic part, the results are presented in form of cartographic representation of the vulnerability of class of targets and different effects.

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Integrating Risk Management into the Urban Spatial Planning Process

Adjie Pamungkas, Naomi Zakina, Data Iranata and Lalu Muhammad Jaelani

Page No. 33-42

This study discusses the performance of the spatial planning process in Surabaya. It proposes the integration of risk management into the spatial planning process, which is not covered by current regulations. The study assesses current planning practices in the drafting of the Surabaya Regional Plan and Surabaya Detailed Plan using content analysis and scoring assessment based on a set of key performance indicators. The content analysis is implemented based on input from nine key stakeholders.

Surabaya’s spatial planning process is ineffective in decreasing future risks due to an absence of specific regulations that integrate risk management into the process. Moreover, the city has no special concern for disaster risk reduction since the Government is unaware of the potential impacts of the risks that Surabaya faces. There is inadequate information on potential hazards and the city has a limited understanding of risk management. Meanwhile, modifying spatial planning regulations may increase the integration of risk management within the spatial planning process. In order to accomplish this, the requisites are mainstreaming risk management in the early stage of the spatial planning process and applying a scientific approach to data collection and analysis in conjunction with building stakeholder commitment at the end of the process. The study proposes a new spatial planning process in drafting effective plans that encompass disaster risk reduction in Indonesia.

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Future drought scenarios measured by ped index for the Tien River estuary in the Mekong River Delta

Hung Dao Ngoc, Phuong Cu Thi, Khac Dang Vu, Hang Vu Thi and Luan Nguyen Thanh

Page No. 43-52

Drought monitoring and prediction in Vietnam are challenging issues due to the complications of climate and the requirement to have multiple drought indices that represent both meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural droughts. This study introduces a drought index called the Ped index and multivariate regression methods for assessing drought. The method developed a Ped regression relationship on temperature and rainfall at the local scale and was tested in a tropical estuary climate region in Vietnam (Tien River delta) for agricultural drought impacts. This is one of the largest rice production regions in Vietnam. Using the Ped index and multivariate regression method, a drought map was developed for the study area. The method is used to determine the extent of droughts for future years, 2016-2035 and 2046-2065, under the low-medium emission scenario (RCP 4.5) and high emission scenario (RCP 8.5).

Results show that the drought level ranges from "none" to "drought" and "extremely serious drought" in the future climate change scenarios. The lowest level of drought takes place along the coastal area of the study region. Further inland, worse drought levels can reach extremely harsh conditions. Finally, the method offers an opportunity to estimate the drought for ungauged regions where climate data is limited to create a drought map based on climate change scenarios for local contexts.

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Checking adequacy of existing stormwater drains for Vadodara airport under climate change scenario

Mathasoliya Nayana D. and Mujumdar Sanskriti S.

Page No. 53-61

Airports are considered to be the symbol of developments of any city. It is therefore important that it does not lose its connectivity due to any reason. Change in the pattern of the precipitation due to the impact of climate change can affect the discharge carrying capacity of stormwater drains for airports too. The city of Vadodara, the third largest in Gujarat recently got a new international airport. Flooding of an airport especially the runway can cause serious damage to the connectivity of the city.

This study uses Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) for the catchment of Vadodara Airport. The sub catchments are provided using ArcGIS and are modeled for peak rainfall event during period of 1986-2014. The study deals with a flexible set of hydraulic modeling capabilities, assesses infiltration using Horton method and flow routing analysis using dynamic wave method. Critical locations of overflow are identified and flood maps are prepared.

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Lehar Cyclone Hazard Impact Assessment for South Andaman using Remote Sensing and GIS

Jaman Toushif, Dharanirajan K. and Rana Sohel

Page No. 62-71

Every year various types of natural disasters are occurring around the world and its intensity seemed to be increasing. Among them cyclones are one of the most important disasters which devastate human life, public property and natural environment. The present study revealed Cyclone impact assessment for South Andaman Island using geospatial techniques based on a case study of cyclone ‘Lehar’. Cyclone Lehar (25th Nov 2013) had adverse impacts on natural ecosystems such as forests, mangroves and sandy beaches. It has also damaged manmade features such as settlements, infrastructure, agricultural fields and plantations.

In this study, Southern part of South Andaman is taken as a study area and landuse and land cover change maps were prepared. Landuse and landcover features like settlement, forest and plantation identified from IRS LISS III (2013) and Resourcesat 2 (2013) Satellite image (Before and after Cyclone) were prepared before and after ‘Lehar’ cyclone and its impacts were observed. It is understood from the study that low lying area and steep slopes were severely affected. By using SRTM global DEM (2015), various thematic maps like DEM, Aspect, slope, flow accumulation maps were prepared. From this, vulnerability maps were prepared and impact assessment was carried out. Approximately 53.5 ha of plantations were affected and approximately 1–1.3 m of sediments was washed out into the beaches such as Carbyn’s cove, Wandoor and Chidyatapu. This covers 5.3 ha of beaches in the study area. Totally 117 houses were damaged by the cyclone in the study area. The present study will be helpful for decision makers to make disaster management plan and mitigation measure to lessen the effect of cyclone in other areas also.

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Covid 19: A Biological Disaster for India

Patwardhan Rajashree B., Abhyankar Pragati S., Gore Suneeti S. and Kalekar Saylee V.

Page No. 72-84

The pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) biological disaster caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly expanding across the sphere. It originated in Wuhan, China, and has spread worldwide. It has been gripping India with first case identified in January 2020. World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reported that it has affected more than 200 countries worldwide with 1,925,571 positive cases, 119,718 deaths and 452, 178 recovered. The total number of Coronavirus cases in India from its 27 states/union territories has now climbed to 10,541 with 358 deaths as on 14th April 2020. With its rapidly increasing cases and transmission in multiple countries, this outbreak requires immediate focus on measures for containment of this pandemic in India. Government of India is taking all necessary steps to ensure that all are prepared well to face the challenges and threats posed by the growing pandemic of COVID 19.

The most important factor in preventing the spread of the virus locally is to empower the citizens with the right information and taking precautions as per the advisories being issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. In this critical scenario, there is a need to prevent and to treat COVID-19 all over the world. The present review provides insights into the origin, structure, clinical manifestations, epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, international responses and impacts of the natural disaster pandemic COVID-19.

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Artificial Intelligence: Changing the scenario of COVID-19

Pathak Laxmi Kumari and Mahato Shalini

Page No. 85-92

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied generally in our day by day lives in an assortment of ways with various fruitful stories. At the present worldwide health crisis emergency, the healthcare industry is looking for new advances to screen and control the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. AI has contributed in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, which is right now occurring far and wide. This study discusses about the structure, symptom and present scenario of the pandemic. It presents an overview of AI techniques being utilized in different applications in the battle against the lethal COVID-19 flare-up and plots the pivotal jobs of AI research in this exceptional fight. We address various zones where AI plays as a basic segment in drug development, diagnosis, treatment using robots, prediction of COVID-19 spread, risk identification etc.

Examination bearings on investigating the possibilities of AI and upgrading its abilities and force in the fight are completely talked about in this study. As the healthcare industry is in need of the support of new advances like AI, our aim is to study and review the job of AI as an unequivocal innovation to analyze and set us up for counteraction. It is conceived that this investigation will give AI specialists and the community network, an outline of the flow status of AI applications and inspire specialists in saddling AI possibilities in the battle against COVID-19.

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COVID 19 and TC Harold: Pacific Island nations need for building resilience against natural disasters

Krishna Deeksha and Sachan H.K.

Page No. 93-97

The pacific island countries face challenges overseeing catastrophes while putting forth attempts to ease back the spread of COVID-19. Vicious tropical cyclone Harold hit Pacific island nations during the COVID-19 crisis in April 2020. This study targets proposing ways to deal with double distinguishing and biological catastrophes. We find that current frameworks and techniques for fiasco adaptability as outlined in the SFDRR, can overhaul responses to overall pandemics. In such way, we make a couple of general and DRR-express proposition.

These recommendations concern data and science course of action in getting disaster and prosperity related emergency risks, the enlargement of fiasco chance organization to manage both catastrophe threats and potential prosperity emergencies, particularly for accommodating coordination perspectives and the strengthening of system level status and response.

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The trajectory of corona virus: Covid 19 around the world

Chandu Kavitha and Dasari Madhavaprasad

Page No. 98-101

The endemic out of Covid 19 appears to have embraced 210 countries by now threatening human life and eroding the economic health of nations irrespective of whether they are categorised into developed or developing. The outbreak of covid-19 started at different times in different countries and now they are at different stages. The present study seeks to examine whether the trend of incidence (confirmed cases) exhibits any flattening phase across countries so as to foresee any end to the endemic and aid plan necessary initiatives towards eradication.

The study discerned that the trajectory of covid 19 has not followed specific trend by country even though downward/ flattening trend appears to be a possibility in case of most of the countries. However, it is to be cautioned that the trend might reverse like the case of China unless preventive health care measures and social distancing are extensively taken covering the entire population of a country.

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