Opportunities for mitigation: post-disaster implementation

Occasionally mitigation projects are prompted by predictions and studies of the likely consequences of hazards but in many cases implementation of mitigation comes about mainly in the aftermath of a disaster. Rebuilding what has been destroyed and a recognition that the damage was avoidable can generate protection against a future disaster. Public support for mitigation action is strong with the visible evidence and recent memory of the disaster, or the knowledge of a disaster elsewhere.

Q. It is argued that the best time to implement a disaster mitigation program is in the aftermath of a disaster. Why is this so? Even though the aftermath of a disaster is fertile ground for mitigation activities, there are some possible drawbacks as well. What are they?

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ANSWER The time immediately following a disaster is a good time to initiate disaster mitigation programs due to the fact that: public support is strongest immediately after a disaster the community is involved in active reconstruction international or local aid may be focused on the community Even with these advantages there may be some problems associated with mitigation measures that are based on reaction to a recent disaster. Mitigation measures may be based exclusively on the recent hazard type even though other hazards may be more likely to strike next. Mitigation may be focused on the area worst affected by the disaster even though other areas may actually be more at risk.

Hazard-specific programs tend to follow the occurrence of a particular hazard irrespective of the multi-hazard needs: A cyclone disaster tends to lead to cyclone mitigation, even if flood risk is higher.

The best opportunity to implement a disaster mitigation program is in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

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For most hazards, mitigation projects tend to focus on the reconstruction area, even if other areas are more at risk: An area damaged by an earthquake is likely to be targeted for immediate mitigation measures despite the fact that the next earthquake may be unlikely to strike the same place, but is more likely to occur elsewhere in the region. This may not be true for some hazard types especially floods which tend to reccur in the same locations.

The experiences of the disaster, the reconstruction and the mitigation measures it engenders should be exported with relevant adaptations to the places that need it most.

The fact remains that reconstruction activities with large amounts of investment being put into the area and the opportunities for change represent significant opportunities to carry out mitigation. The techniques learned and the expertise developed will be applicable elsewhere in the country. It is important that the mitigation actions are promoted as far as possible beyond the reconstruction area to other areas at risk from similar hazards, and that mitigation encompasses all the hazards likely to be encountered. The experiences of the disaster, the reconstruction and the mitigation measures it engenders should be exported with relevant adaptations to the places that need it most.