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Look for HUMNEWS in the News Section of PULSE @
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION:
A ten-point checklist for local governments
The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reductions' `Making Cities Resilient Campaign' proposes a ten-point checklist to serve as a guide for commitment by Mayors and City administrators.
Have your City Council and local government sign up to make your city `Resilient'!
1. Put in place organization and coordination to understand and reduce disaster risk, based on participation of citizen groups and civil society. Build local alliances. Ensure that all departments understand their role to disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
2. Assign a budget for disaster risk reduction and provide incentives for homeowners, low‐income families, communities, businesses and public sector to invest in reducing the risks they face.
3. Maintain up‐to‐date data on hazards and vulnerabilities, prepare risk assessments and use these as the basis for urban development plans and decisions. Ensure that this information and the plans for your city’s resilience are readily available to the public and fully discussed with them.
4. Invest in and maintain critical infrastructure that reduces risk, such as flood drainage, adjusted where needed to cope with climate change.
5. Assess the safety of all schools and health facilities and upgrade these as necessary.
6. Apply and enforce realistic, risk‐compliant building regulations and land use planning principles. Identify safe land for low‐income citizens and develop upgrading of informal settlements, wherever feasible.
7. Ensure education programmes and training on disaster risk reduction are in place in schools and local communities.
8. Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards to which your city may be vulnerable. Adapt to climate change by building
on good risk reduction practices.
9. Install early warning systems and emergency management capacities in your city and hold regular public preparedness drills.
10. After any disaster, ensure that the needs of the survivors are placed at the centre of reconstruction with support for them and their community organizations to design and help implement responses, including rebuilding homes and livelihoods.
The Checklist builds on the priorities identified in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005‐2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters ‐ www.unisdr.org/hfa
