Do's in the event of biological disasters:
(i) Follow regular hygienic methods as before eve!}' principal meal wash your hands with antibiotic soap.
(ii) Before cooking always wash vegetables properly. Follow active immunization.
(iii) If sickness occurs, immediately contact health authorities without any delay. In case of mosquitoes use nets or repellants at night.
Don'ts in the event of biological disasters:
(i) Do not panic and be calm.
(ii) Do not allow waste material to gather in or around your locality.
(iii) Do not allow stagnant water accumulated around you.
(iv) Do not eat stale food items.

Rainwater harvesting is a technique used for collecting, storing and using rainwater for drinking water supply, landscape irrigation, and other uses. The rainwater is collected from various hard surfaces such as rooftops and/or other types of man-made structures above ground with hard surfaces.
This ancient practice is currently growing in popularity throughout our communities due to interest in reducing the consumption of potable water and the inherent qualities of rainwater.
Rainwater Harvesting Advantages
Some advantages of rainwater harvesting are as follows:
• It makes use of a natural resource and reduces flooding, stormwater run-off, soil erosion and contamination of surface water with pesticides, sediments, metals, and fertilizers.
• It reduces the need for imported water.
• It is an excellent source of water for landscape irrigation, with no chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine, and no dissolved salts and minerals from the soil.
• Home systems can be relatively simple to install and operate and may reduce your water bill.
• It promotes both water and energy conservation.
• No filtration system is required for landscape irrigation.
• It inculcates a culture of water conservation.

Drought is a slow onset disaster, thus giving us time to cope with it in the following ways:
• Through preparedness and response, the drought-affected societies certainly can reduce its intensity.
• People have to take effective steps which must be sustained for a long period of time.
• Such involvement should be from a cross-section of people such as community, Panchayat representatives, volunteers, government functionaries, teachers, and students.
PeopLe must have Long-term drought mitigation strategies such as:
• Construction of community-based rainwater harvesting structures.
• Promoting watershed programmes.
• Increasing forest cover through plantations.
• Adopting the drought-resistant variety of paddy and other crops.
• Using alternative crops in drought conditions.
• Capacity building of communities in Drought Management and introducing livelihood options besides agriculture and animal husbandry which are water intensive.
• Encouraging crop and seed insurance schemes.
• Students can also play a key role in many ways like conserve water through preventing wastage and misuse of water, recycling of water etc.

We can conserve water by preventing wastage and misuse of water through the following ways:
• Recycling of water by using wastewater of washing machines for cleaning home or washing cars and directing water from the wash area to the fields or garden.
• Harvest rainwater at home and in schools.
• Plant trees (afforestation)
Use traditional methods such as
Guhls In the Western and Central Himalayas, 1 to 15 km long traditional diversion channels also known as guhls were built to draw water from hill streams or springs. They carried 15 to 100 liters discharge of water per second. Bamboo Pipes In Meghalaya, bamboo pipes function like a drip irrigation system. These pipes are used to tap spring water for irrigation purposes, which reduces to 20-80 drops per minute at the site of the plant.
Ahar-Pyne Ahars are rectangular catchment basins and pines are channels which fetch the water flowing from the seasonal streams. This system of irrigation is found mainly in South Bihar.
Kunds The structure of kunds is shaped like a bowl with a lid. This method belongs to Thar desert where kunds are covered underground tanks with an artificially prepared catchment area to improve run-off.
Surangam A tunnel dug through a laterite hillock is known as surangam. People collect water which seeps out from the tunnel. It is found in Malabar area.

The states that are vulnerable to floods by these rivers are as follows:
(i) Brahmaputra - Assam, Bihar
(ii) Ganga - Bihar
(iii) Sutlej - Himachal Pradesh

Two measures have been suggested, add more.
(i) Raising the height of the public and private building in low lying areas.
(ii) De-silting river beds regularly.
Some other measures to prevent damage from frequent flooding are as follows:
(i) Find higher safe areas than the surrounding, or get built an earthen mound for evacuating in the event of a flood.
(ii) Building structures should be based on sound engineering design.
(iii) People must have an emergency kit ready.

Odisha Government could have taken the following cyclone damage reducing measures:
(i) At first, the meteorological department should broadcast the early cyclone warning news through radio or TV, so that people could be alerted and made ready for the upcoming hazard.
(ii) After broadcasting the warning, the government should have disaster management rescue team, like air force helicopters and transport aircrafts ready to evacuate people from the cyclone-prone regions.
(iii) Hence, if the whole system had taken these essential actions, the cyclone hazard would not become a disaster.
(iv) Indeed, we cannot prevent cyclones, but these measures can help in reducing the damage.

The steps in preparing for a cyclone are as follows:
• In the cyclone seasons, people in coastal areas should always be alert by updating themselves through listening to radio or TV weather reports about a cyclone warning.
• Identify safe shelters in your area and the closest and safe route to reach them.
• After updating themselves about a cyclone warning, fishermen should avoid going to the sea.
• Make sure there is an emergency kit ready at home and also keep all your important documents in that.
• Store adequate food grains and water in safe places.
• Also try to keep a list of emergency addresses and phone numbers of the local police station, Block or taluka office (in rural areas).

Do's
• In the event of an earthquake, use the drop, cover and hold method to protect yourself.
• If living in a high-rise building, you must protect your head with arms and wear a helmet for safety.
• Move to open fields.
• If you are driving a vehicle, pull over to the side of the road and stop and get out of the car.
• Move away from flyovers, power lines and advertisement boards.
Dont's
• Do not stay near unstable objects like fans, windows, mirrors as they may shatter and cause injury.
• Do not stand near buildings, trees, poles, towers etc.

People should know the nearest safe shelter's route. People must have ready an emergency kit containing first aid kit, strong ropes, a radio, torch, spare batteries, stocks of fresh water, dry food, salt, sugar, kerosene, matchboxes, water-proof bags to store clothing and valuables.
People must be connected with the local radio or TV for warnings and advice and keep themselves alert. Take bullock-carts, agricultural equipment, and domestic animals to a safer place.