# Q6A · Differentiate between preparedness and mitigation measures for Floods and Droughts.

Subject: Disaster Management

Exam: TEE

Reader: https://deep-learning-study-room.vercel.app/dm/#tee/papers/paper-2024-12-10/q6a

Canonical: https://deep-learning-study-room.vercel.app/read/dm/tee/papers/paper-2024-12-10--q6a/

Actual older TEE paper · 100 marks · Q1 compulsory; any four of Q2–Q7

### Q6A. Differentiate between preparedness and mitigation measures for Floods and Droughts. [10 marks]

#### Answer

| Hazard | Mitigation reduces likely losses | Preparedness builds readiness |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flood | Protect floodplains/storage, maintain drainage and apply suitable resilient construction. | Map routes/shelters, link forecasts to alerts, ready teams and practise evacuation. |
| Drought | Improve water efficiency, appropriate cropping, recharge and sustainable allocation. | Monitor deficits, set water priorities, prepare supply contingencies and livelihood support. |

Some measures contribute to both. A warning system is primarily preparedness, while land-use control primarily reduces exposure. Explain the function rather than relying only on a memorised category.

## Explain the difference through two situations

**Flood:** keeping a hospital outside a mapped floodway reduces its exposure even if no warning is received; this is mitigation. Preparing an accessible route, shelter and transport plan enables people to act on a warning; this is preparedness. Both are needed because a flood barrier may be overtopped and an unpractised evacuation plan may fail.

**Drought:** efficient irrigation and suitable crops reduce long-term water demand and vulnerability, making them mitigation measures. Monitoring reservoir storage and agreeing when to activate priority drinking-water supply prepare authorities to act, making them preparedness. Emergency delivery of water after severe shortage is response. Mitigation asks “How can likely damage be reduced?”; preparedness asks “How will we act effectively when the threat develops?”

#### Real case and learning connection · Mumbai floods, 2005

The Mumbai flood case links intense rainfall with urban drainage and development conditions. For an answer on mitigation, explain how maintaining drainage and protecting water-storage spaces address specific pathways of flooding; do not claim that any single measure prevents every extreme event.

[Case reference ↗](https://nidm.gov.in/PDF/Newsletter/6_nov_2005.pdf)