Page 95 - SST Class 05

Disaster Response Force) has been created. This force has several units, which are sent
to places where a disaster is likely to occur. In addition to this, armed forces (Army,
Navy, Air Force), paramilitary forces (CRPF, BSF etc.) and police force of the state are

also commissioned to deal with a disaster as per the need.

Your Role in a Disaster

When a disaster strikes, it is everybody’s moral duty to help the victims, but it should
be as per one’s ability and capability. You are still a child, so your first duty is to keep
yourself safe. When you happen to see somebody trapped in rubble or drowning in
water, you should tell other people. If you try to rescue a victim, you might hurt
yourself. It can also harm the victim.

disaster : a situation of extreme ruin and misfortune.
tectonic plate : a layer of rocks inside the earth.
Richter scale : a scale to measure the intensity of an earthquake.
seismograph : an instrument to record an earthquake.
lava : the molten material inside the earth that comes out through a volcano.
water table : the level of groundwater.

rehabilitate : to help a person lead a normal, useful life again.

Facts

• A disaster can cause massive destruction of life and property.
• A disaster can be natural or manmade.

• An earthquake occurs when the tectonic plates rub against each other.
• A tsunami is caused due to an underwater earthquake.

• A volcano is crack in the earth’s surface from which lava flows out.
• A flood means an area being filled with water.
• Landslides occur on hilly slopes.
• In a cyclone, winds move in a circular form.

• Under disaster management, the victims are rescued and rehabilitated.

XERCISE

A. Tick (3) the right option :
1. Earthquake, flood, volcano etc., are ____________ disasters.
(a) natural (b) manmade (c) none of these

Natural Disasters 95