The existence of a disaster-preparedness plan is blessing. Distraught officials have at hand, a set of instruction they can follow to issue direction tot heir subordinates and affected people. This speeds up the rescue and relief operations and boosts the morale of victims. Disaster plans are also useful pre-disaster operations, when warnings have been issued. Time, which might otherwise be lost in consultations with senior officers and getting formal approval, is saved.

Response plans are formulated by different agencies that need to co-ordinate during emergencies. For example, the electricity supplying authority would be responsible for preparing an action plan, which would be used following a disaster event to restore full services quickly. The contingency Action Plan (CAP) already exists at the national level that lists out in detail the actions to be taken at various levels of government at the time of calamity. There is, however, a need to carry out a comprehensive revision of CAP followed by clear cut operational guidelines. Recently, a high power committee has been established to prepare a disaster management plant ad Central/State and district levels.

National policy
The Natural Disaster Management Division in the department of agriculture and co-operation. Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India deals with the post disaster relief operations. a contingency plan has been prepared for dealing with the natural calamities as a part of the national policy for the subject. The important issued of the contingency plans are:

Types of Calamity
Natural Calamities, as contained in the plan, have been broadly grouped into major and minor types depending upon their potential to cause damage to human life and property. Earthquakes, droughts, floods, and cyclones have been identified as major type of while hailstorms, avalanches, landslides, fire accidents, etc. whose impact is localized and intensity of the damage being much less are categorized as minor calamities.

Role of the Central Government
In the federal set up of India, the responsibility to formulate the Government's response to a natural calamity major or minor is essentially that of the State Government concerned. The Center, however, supplements, to the extent possible, these efforts by way of providing financial and material assistance for effective management of the situation in accordance with the existing scheme of finance and relief expenditure depending upon the gravity of the calamity.

National Crisis Management
National Crisis Management Committee (NCM), with cabinet secretary as its chairmen is the supreme body at the center that operates to provide policy response and/or administrative response.

The Crisis Management Group (CMG) headed by the Relief Commissioner deals with the matters relating to relief in the wake of major natural calamities. The CMG is responsible to:

Review every year the contingency plans formulated by the Central Ministries/Departments.

Review the measures required for dealing with a natural calamity.

Co-ordinate the activities of the Central Ministers and the State Governments in relation to