Short Notes - Man - made Disasters - An Overview, Disaster Management, Class 8 PDF Download

Facts that Matter

• Man-made disasters are those which are caused by major accidents or inadvertent or deliberate actions of individuals, groups or governments.
• Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) can be broadly classified into three categories – as those that are used in nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.
• Scientific research and development has enabled nations to produce nuclear arms instead of atomic bomb. Nuclear arms are more destructive. Theft of nuclear weapons enables terrorists to misuse them.
• Nausea, dizziness, vomiting and disorientation are symptoms in case of nuclear attacks. An explosion is followed by a blast. Doors and windows should be closed. Radioactive rays do not penetrate solid structures, although buildings may be damaged by fires.
• Chemical disasters are caused by industrial accidents, irresponsible handling of chemical substances. They may occur by deliberate action also, meant to cause destruction.
• Biological weapons are easy to manufacture and they also target a large number of people. Effects of such weapons usually take time to show up. They are called a "poor man's nuclear bomb". They deliberately infect people with harmful biological species.
• Accidental disasters like train accidents, road accidents also kill a number of people every year. They also come under the category of man-made disasters.
• Man-made disasters are generally more hazardous than natural hazards.

Words that Matter

• Man-made Disasters. Man-made disasters are those which are caused by major accidents or inadvertent or deliberate actions of individuals, groups or governments.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs). Weapons of mass destruction are man-made objects which can be used to deliberately cause a lot of destruction and loss of life and property.
• Nuclear Weapons. Nuclear weapons are those WMDs in which the cause of explosion is radioactivity.
• Chemical Disasters. Chemical disasters are caused by industrial accidents, irresponsible handling of chemical substances.
• Biological Weapons. Biological weapons are those WMDs which infect a large number of people with harmful biological species such as viruses.