A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...

3Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives108There were a number of problems that had tobe tackled if a comprehensive and sustainablenational framework to reduce seismic risk wasto be created. Following the 1990 Manjilearthquake, the International Institute of EarthquakeEngineering and Seismology (IIEES),located in Teheran, started working with othertechnical institutions to develop a multidisciplinarystrategic national research and mitigationplan for seismic risk reduction. The resultingIran Earthquake Risk Mitigation Program(IERMP) has been implemented by IIEES,the Building and Housing Research Centre, theGeophysics Institute of Teheran University and theGeological Survey of Iran. With the added supportof the Earthquake Committee of IranResearch Council and Iran’s National IDNDRCommittee, the programme members adoptedthe following objectives:• Increase the scientific knowledge requiredfor earthquake risk mitigation.• Reduce the risk of all structures and promotethe need to build safer structures.• Increase public awareness and promote acollective prevention culture.• Develop plans for post-earthquake activities.In the political context, the first needs were toDevelopment of PGA and spectral valueattenuation relationship for Iran.Source: IIES, 2001motivate a better understanding of the natureof seismic risks among the most senior policymakers,and then to translate that awarenessinto political commitment throughout all thelevels of government authority. This was pursuedby emphasizing that elements of a riskreduction strategy were integral to nationaldevelopment objectives. Resources had to bereoriented from responding to immediateneeds towards investing them in longer-termedand sustainable objectives. Importantly, policymakershad to be encouraged to adopt a patientacceptance of deferred benefits.In an operational and technical context,emphasis was given to strengthening, andwhere necessary, retrofitting structures withparticular attention given to lifeline facilitiesand the physical infrastructure. It was in thiscontext that a challenging incompatibility existedbetween a developmental perspective thatencouraged investment in seismic design, andthinking prevalent in the public and privatesector of incurring less expenditure on construction.With the calculated involvement of the engineeringprofession, backed up by its code ofprofessional training, opportunities were identifiedthat could translate a fuller use of technicalknowledge into everyday life. This includeda wider use of seismic design and constructiontechniques, and a more serious approachto the implementation and enforcement ofbuilding codes. Perhaps most importantly, thestrategy provided an institutional “champion”for the concept of risk reduction, exercizedthrough the practical conduct of the engineeringprofession.IERMP developed a plan based on the commonefforts among government officials, scientists,engineers, builders and the public, initiallyto define acceptable and achievable levels ofrisk. This led to two parallel requirements:making seismic safety a priority policy throughrevised legislation, and creating internal mechanismsto change existing engineering practices.A High Council on Risk Reduction wascreated in the Planning and ManagementMinistry of Iran to supervise the implementationof the new program. It concentrated onpreparing the proper frameworks, budgeting,coordinating, and taking necessary decisions toensure that the objectives were achieved.The following are some of the actions pursuedthrough the IERMP in policy areas:• Shifting attention from previous considerationsof only responding to earthquake