4.1 Response Measures

Disasters affecting roads and bridges are events or series of events that result in the disruption or interruption of function of roads and bridges caused, either by natural factors and/or non-nature, thereby causing disturbances to the movement of traffic of goods and human beings, and cause losses due to disruption of social and economic activities public. When a disaster occurs, a response measure is needed. Response measures is a series of activities carried out immediately at the time of a disaster to deal with the adverse effects caused, which include rescue and evacuation of victims, property, fulfillment of basic needs, protection, management of refugees, rescue, and restoration of infrastructure and facilities.

The level of damage to roads can be classified as follows 1:

  • Minor damage: The road is slightly damaged but traffic is not disturbed
  • Moderate damage: Roads are severely damaged but traffic is not disturbed
  • Severe damage: Roads are badly damaged and traffic is blocked
  • Total damage: The road cannot be passed by traffic.
Table 4.1 Typical Emergency Response Handling of Road Damage Due to Natural Disasters
Typical Damage on the RoadTypical Emergency Management

Buried part or all of the road due to landslide material from the cliff

1. Cleaning road surface and drainage system
2. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
3. For the road above heap done providing slope reinforcement with bamboo culms or gabions

Closure of the road due to the flow of material (lava, flood water, etc.)

1. Clean the surface roads and drainage systems
2. Diversion and traffic restrictions if the water level is over from 50cm
3. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
4. Drainage system repair to accelerate street drying

The erosion of the road body due to erosion or abrasion

1. Clean the surface roads and drainage systems
2. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
3. Remove obstacles manually or with tools

Collapse of the road due to earthquake liquefaction

1. Clean the surface roads and drainage systems
2. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
3. Remove obstacles manually or with tools

Collapse of the road due to earthquake liquefaction

1. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
2. For the road above heap done reinforcement slope with creek bamboo or gabion
3. Remove obstacles manually or with tools

The loss of road bodies due to the Tsunami

1. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
2. Remove obstacles manually or with tools

Cracks in the road body are divided into:
- Fine cracks, namely cracks that have a wide less than 20mm
- Medium cracks, namely cracks that have a wide between 20mm to 100mm
- Cracks more than 100 m wide make potholes

Traffic diversion and warning sign at the limits of disaster (perimeter)

Decrease in traffic lane Settlement on the road body can caused by earthquakes, landslides or disasters other.

1. Traffic diversion and signage warning on disaster boundary (perimeter)
2. For the road above heap done reinforcement slope with creek bamboo or gabion

Footnotes
  • 1Implementation Instructions Handling of Emergency Response Due to Natural Disaster Impact on The Road and Bridge. Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Indonesia.