Natural Hazard Mitigation

Objectives

• exchanging experiences and best practice across borders,
• analysing the gaps in the tools practitioners need to operate given natural hazards
• prioritising future R&D efforts

Main areas

In this area changing environmental conditions (climate, demographic and technological changes) require strategic analysis and constant revision of the status quo of crisis mitigation and its effectiveness as well as a good analysis of technical and operational solutions at hand.

Specific challenges include

1 “A specific focus on prevention”

• Having appropriate risk assessment tools for individual as well as affected population at hand
• Monitoring of national regional and municipal settlement projects and regulations according to risks
• Monitoring of conformity with international guidelines

2 “Education of the new generation”

• Education of the practitioners towards a more flexible operational approach and rapidly changing roles in theater
• Sharing of best practices with the young generation
• Monitoring of school programs and organize an international prize on school best programs and practices in civil protection education
• Monitoring of recovery program where the local risk has been reduced by specific actions.
• Demographic change (e.g. aging population) and special requests such as handicapped ;
• Change of attitude towards voluntary work and related difficulties with regard to training concepts;
• Increased need in qualifying on a more standardized level “expert consultants” to identify potential risks regarding natural hazards beforehand and having an expert in the command and control team in place if a disaster strikes
• Communication with and integration of civilians; compatibility of communication devices and finding a common language/ signs for respective natural disasters;

3 “Working with the most adequate tools”

• testing and evaluating technology that is capable of mitigating the effects of e.g. floods and flash floods effectively to prevent harm to humans as well as to economical assets e.g. testing methods for the strenghth endurance of dykes etc.

Download the "Policy Brief Natural Hazard Mitigation" produced by the TWG leaders, in coordination with other partners and associated experts