Planning and Implementing a Disaster Management Program at Community-level

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Planning and Implementing a Disaster Management
Program at Community-level

• Session 3World Bank InstituteKrishna S. Vatsa

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• Initiating the Process

• Develop an understanding of the disaster risk in
  the local context
• Build linkages and rapport with the community
• Develop a nucleus of the program through the
  community or outsiders
• Define the projects objectives and outcomes
• Seek community leaders to support the project
• Build an inter-disciplinary group of experts to
  help with the implementation

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Participatory Risk Assessment

• Commence a systematic exercise in community risk
  assessment
• Seek general and particular information from the
  perspective of the community
• Undertake a sequence of assessments hazards,
  vulnerabilities, resources / capabilities, and
  peoples perception of risks
• Use participatory and interactive tools for
  community risk assessment

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Tools for Participatory Community Risk Assessment

• Review of Secondary data maps, reports,
  newspapers clippings, etc.
• Direct Observation Systematic observation of
  people and relationships, objects, events,
  processes
• Semi-structured interviews
• Role Play and Simulation
• Diagramming and Visualization Tools

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Analyzing Hazard

• List all probable hazards
• Describe hazards (its nature, frequency, probable
  impact) which are most likely to impact the
  community
• Use community resources for collecting data about
  hazards from various sources historical
  evidence, empirical research or community
  perception
• Develop a scoring system for hazards at local
  level
• Based on above information, a number of tools
  available for hazard assessment at community
  level hazard matrix, hazard map, seasonal
  calendar, historical profile or time line

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Assessing Vulnerability

• Discuss physical (civic infrastructure and
  critical facilities) and social and economic
  vulnerability (population, livelihood, income and
  consumption) of a community
• Identify vulnerable groups in a community and
  discuss the nature and implications of their
  vulnerability in the local context
• Analyze endemic conditions which produce
  vulnerability landlessness, gender inequality,
  racial discrimination, etc.

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Assessing Communitys Capability / Resources

• Individuals Contribution of skills, time,
  material, labor, cash for risk management
• Organizations Community groups, their resources,
  existing or planned activities
• Informal social networks and communication The
  process of learning, sharing, and dissemination
  of knowledge and resources
• Communitys attitudes and needs how the
  community perceives hazards and plans response
• Physical characteristics / resources of
  community its density of population, its land
  and natural resources, transportation system, etc.

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Community Networking

• Networking with Local Institutions Support from
  NGOs, businesses, schools, health centers, etc.
• Networking with Local and National Governments
  Resources through legislation, policy and
  programs
• International Organizations Support for
  community projects and innovations, Sharing of
  information, and Technical guidance

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Early Warning System for Communities

• Need to consider how communities perceive their
  risks and respond to them
• Need to consider different forms or channels
  through which early warning could be delivered
  radio, television, community meetings, notices,
  leaflets, and other indigenous channels
• Need to be specific about the danger, about who
  is being warned, and the course of action.
• Need to develop different levels of alert and
  warning, and the likely hazard impact
• Need to be understood by a community
  simplicityof language and directness of message
  critical
• Educate community people in early warning system
  onset of hazard, different levels of alert, and
  response

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Community Response Plan

• Write a Community Response Plan, and outline its
  scope and coverage. Community response plan
  will be guided by bigger response plans
• Prepare a flow chart that outlines immediate
  actions to be taken following a disaster S R,
  evacuation, transit and temporary shelter,
  relief
• Hazard-specific Response Checklist Protective
  actions, hazard-specific response needs
• Define role and responsibilities of community
  leaders, volunteers, and professional groups
• Develop an inventory of resources at community
  level schools, hospitals, fire brigade, etc.

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Community-level Mitigation Programs

• Flood protection measures / structures
• Community-based water management programs for
  drought
• Community shelters for floods and hurricanes
• Group-based insurance programs for earthquake or
  floods
• Access to financial and professional resources
  for mitigation investment
• Institutional and program support critical to
  implementation of these measures

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Disaster Mitigation Its Socio-economic Aspects

• Connect with socio-economic development of
  community
• Maintain a focus on peoples livelihood
  resilience and capacity flow from livelihood
• Integrate gender concerns in all the disaster
  preparedness and mitigation program womens
  rights, health empowerment
• Show the concern for vulnerable groups elderly
  people, children, people with physical and mental
  disabilities

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Institutional Support

• Form a community disaster response organization
• Build capability in preparedness and response
  through education and training
• Establish its linkage with disaster teams and
  organizations at higher levels
• Provide resources for making it functional
  community organizations must be sustainable

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Community Education in Disaster Management

• Bring different agencies together for disaster
  education NGOs, educational institutions,
  hospitals
• Raise community awareness about disasters and
  impacts
• Review local hazards and discuss preparedness
  measures
• Ascertain the most feasible mitigation measure
  it should be uncomplicated and affordable
• Introduce formal education in disaster
  managementat the school and college level

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Approach to Disaster Education

• Do not overload community with information. Give
  fewer messages to the people in clear and concise
  terms
• Use language that most people understand, not
  disaster management jargons
• Avoid offering different options. People get
  confused. Provide no-cost or cheapest options
• Repeat messages, using simple, easy-to-do
  messages, often
• Appeal to family well-being is successful
• Avoid using disaster damage images

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Raising Public Awareness

• Community Meetings, Public Speeches, Debates in
  Local councils, Discussion Groups
• Wall sheets, posters, newsletters
• Plans, manuals, handbooks, brochures, leaflets,
  books
• Transparencies, slide presentations, film, photos
  for exhibit
• Press releases, national or local newspapers,
  radio and television broadcasts
• Internet and e-mail messages

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