community-based disaster risk management and the media media kit

chapter 1. introduction to disaster risk management
ability of the affected communities to cope using their own resources.
Disasters occur when the negative effects of the hazards are not well
managed.
Disaster Risk Management. A systematic application of management
policies, procedures and practices to identify, analyze, assess, treat,
monitor and evaluate risks. This involves decision-making based on the
examination of those risks, which includes hazard, vulnerability, and
capacity of people and institutions.
Early warning. The provision of timely and effective information,
through identifi ed institutions, that allows those exposed to a hazard
to act to avoid or reduce their risk and prepare for effective response.
Early warning systems include: understanding and mapping the
hazard; monitoring and forecasting impending events; processing and
disseminating understandable warnings to political authorities and the
population; and undertaking appropriate and timely actions in response
to the warnings.
Emergency management. The organization and management of
resources and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects of emergencies,
particularly in preparedness, response and rehabilitation. Emergency
management involves plans, structures and arrangements established
to engage the normal endeavors of government, voluntary and private
agencies in a comprehensive and coordinated way to respond to the
whole spectrum of emergency needs.
Hazard. Any phenomenon, substance or situation, which has the
potential to cause disruption or damage to infrastructure and services,
people, their property and their environment. There are many kinds of
hazards. Some are mentioned below:
Biological hazard. Processes of organic origin or those conveyed
by biological vectors, including exposure to micro-organisms, toxins
and bioactive substances.
Geological hazard. Natural earth processes or phenomena caused
by earth movements. Geological hazards include earthquakes,
tsunami, landslides, and volcanic erosion.
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