The office of Relief Commissioner is nodal for effective management, response & relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in case of both natural and human induced disasters in the State. Office of Relief Commissioner is also responsible for legislation and policy making with regard to disaster management. It also plays and important role in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development plans of concerned departments. Office of Relief Commissioner along with Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority is responsible to build a safe and disaster-resilient Uttar Pradesh by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management. This will be achieved through strengthening ongoing efforts in building culture of prevention, mitigation and preparedness in state through collective efforts of the government with special focus on most vulnerable communities.

• To further strengthen institutional structure of disaster management in the state.
• To undertake effective measures for reducing the impact of natural and man-made disaster.
• To provide prompt & effective rescue operations and transparent relief distribution to affected people.

Uttar Pradesh is prone to multiple-hazards which include flood, drought, storms, fire, hailstorms, earthquake and lightning of high severity, 40 of the total 75 districts in the state are prone to floods. Areas in western Uttar Pradesh that were historically not flood prone have also started experiencing flooding in recent years. Districts of Terai belt are also prone to earthquake as they fall in seismic zone IV. U.P. is also prone to drought. Bundelkhand& Vindhya region of state is more prone to drought condition. State also faces extreme heat and cold wave conditions in peak summer and winter conditions respectively. Lightening and high speed winds in parts of the state have also added further distress in the state. These recurring calamities result in substantial annual losses and minimize developmental gains.