India is prone to vast number of natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes and cyclones. Out of all the natural disasters floods are the most occurring natural disasters. Due to the erratic rainfall patterns there is frequent flooding in the Ganga – Brahmaputra – Meghna river basin which carries majority of India’s flowing river water.

Human activities have accelerated the frequency and extent of these natural disasters. To minimize the loss due to these natural disasters and avert them to as greater and extent possible, disaster management is practised.

Disaster Management refers to the mechanisms of forecasting, evacuation, warning, search, rescue, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation during natural disasters. Disaster management involves operations pre disaster, during the disaster and also post disaster. 

Relevance of disaster management during floods:

1. Floods can be caused by natural, ecological or manmade factors like deforestation, construction activity etc.

2. Disaster management during floods include both Structural and Non structural methods

3. The structural methods are:

• Systematic and regulated release of water from the reservoirs during flood prone seasons.
• Construction of embankments and floodwalls to prevent over bank spilling.
• Ensuring improved drainage system.
• Implementation of anti erosion methods and ensuring better flow conditions.

4.  The Non Structural methods are:

• Flood plain management techniques like Flood plain zoning and flood plain proofing .
• Maintaining wetlands
• Flood forecasting and warning services.
• Flood insurance
• Evacuation arrangements.