Towards a culture of disaster Towards a culture of disaster preparedness worldwidepreparedness worldwide

Veronica De MajoFalun, 14-03-19

Tsunami, Phuket Island Thailand 2004

 

Picture: Deddeda Stemler 

Tsunami, Natori Japan 2011

Picture: Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger/Corbis Picture: Newscom/Kyodo/WENN.com

Hurricane Sandy, Long Beach Island USA 2012

Earthquake, Port-au-Prince Haiti 2010

Picture: EPA / RED CROSS INTERNATIONAL

Background

No community is “immune” to natural disasters; (many) risks are difficult to avoid or even prevent.

 Communities have different hazard profiles, social, cultural and economic characteristics… The impact of hazards is different.

Key concepts in DRR

Disasters, sudden events which overwhelm local capacity and lead to a serious disruption of its functioning, causing human and material losses, necessitating a request to a national or international level for external assistance.

Disaster risk represents potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a society over some specified future time period.

Equation: hazard (frequency and severity) + vulnerability (exposure/capacity)

Disaster risk reduction, is defined as the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of disasters (reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved preparedness) (UNISDR 2009).

Disaster management phases and incident time-line

My contribution

Overarching aim of the research project,

To explore and have a better understanding of the development of a culture of preparedness in disaster reduction and how it has been (and can be) strengthened through international cooperation, ICT and learning.

1990:s, shift from a ”culture of reaction” to a ”culture of preparedness”.

Still much to do! Need for integral and systematic approaches that focus on disaster risk reduction with emphasis in all the phases.

International cooperation, ICT and learning in focus.

Culture of disaster preparednessIn nuclear energy safety: the personal dedication and

accountability of all individuals engaged in any activity which has to do with safety.

In patient safety: effective systems and teamwork to accomplish the mutual goal of safe.

In corporate safety: members’ attitudes, values and beliefs in relation to safety.

Strategies aiming to improve communities’ capacity to cope with natural disasters.

*Values, attitudes, beliefs & roles.

1) International cooperation

Increase communities’ capacity to cope with natural disasters, especially in developing countries.

Multiplicity of actors interacting in different arenas and through different channels at local, national, regional and global level.

Emergent network system in DRR

2) Public awareness

Common knowledge about disaster risks (causes and actions that can be taken).

Public information, education, dissemination of routines, community and participation actions, radio or television broadcasts, use of printed media and internet (nowadays strongly associated to social media).

Enhance individuals’ awareness

3) ICT

Internet, wireless technology (including GPS), remote sensing, emergency management decision support systems, hazard analysis and modelling (simulation), and early warning systems, among others.

“Two-way communication” .

Training and education & spreading knowledge

New challenges for disaster risk reduction (especially implementation):

Lack of resources, technology seen as an ‘end’ rather than a ‘mean’; internet systems not that robust; information overload and diffusion of inappropriate information (which does it less efficient); information security; and the dilemma regarding high costs of technology vs. uncertainty of disasters.

Swedish Civil ContingenciesAgency,

http://www.dinsakerhet.se/

In sum,

A ”growing” culture of preparedness.

Benefits of international cooperation, ICT and learning.

Challenges, still much to do.

Thank you!

Veronica De Majovdm@du.se