The document discusses the urgent need for revitalized disaster risk reduction actions following the 2015 World Conference in Sendai, Japan, emphasizing the vital role of nations in implementing effective policies and practices. It highlights the increasing vulnerabilities of over 7 billion people and the inevitability of disasters occurring at the intersection of community and recurring natural hazards. The goal is to encourage proactive measures, strategic planning, and innovative technological applications to enhance disaster preparedness and resilience within communities.

1. A TIME FOR RE-ENERGIZED DISASTER
RISK REDUCTION ACTIONS
2015-2020 AND BEYOND

2. March 15, 2015: the second world
conference on disaster risk
reduction convened in Sendai,
Japan will re-invigorate the historic
global endeavor started in 1990 by
the United Nations

3. FACT:THE WORLD CONFERENCE
WILL CALL FOR RENEWED ACTION
• Each country will
be asked to play
a major role in
the post-con-
ference call for a
“Global Tsunami
of Action”

4. FACT: THE GOAL IS CLEAR AND
STILL THE SAME:
REDUCTION OF GLOBAL
VULNERABILITIES AND
ACCELERATION OF DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION
THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF
“THE BEST POLICIES AND BEST
PRACTICES”

5. A DISASTER is still---
--- the set of failures that occur when
the continuums of: 1) people, 2)
community (i.e., a set of habitats,
livelihoods, and social constructs),
and 3) recurring events (e.g., floods,
earthquakes, ...,) intersect at a point in
space and time, when and where the
people and community are not ready.

6. FACT:NATURAL HAZARDS STILL
CAUSE MEGA-DISASTERS
• FLOODS
• SEVERE
WINDSTORMS
• EARTHQUAKES
• DROUGHTS
• VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS
• ETC.

7. FACT:THE PEOPLE CONTINUUM IS
GROWING WITH TIME
• 7 + BILLION
distributed
throughout the
world; many in
vulnerable,
high-risk com-
munities

8. FACT:MANY COMMUNITIES ARE PARA-
LYZED BY FOUR WEAKNESSES
• IGNORANCE
• APATHY
• DISCIPLINARY
BOUNDARIES
• LACK OF POLITICAL WILL

9. INTERSECTION OF THESE
CONTINUUMS IS INEVITABLE
MOST FUTURE
INTERSECTIONS WILL CAUSE
A DISASTER, OR A MEGA-
DISASTER, UNLESS - - -

10. DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IS THE WAY FORWARD
200 NATIONS AND 7+
BILLION PEOPLE
NORTH
AMERICA
CARIBBEAN
BASIN
SUB-SAHARA
AFRICA
MEDITER-
RANEAN
ISLAND
NATIONS
ASIA
SOUTH
AMERICA
EUROPE

11. FACT: EVERY COMMUNITY CAN REDUCE
THE VULNERABILITIES TO - - -
• GOVERNMENT
CENTERS
• DWELLINGS
• SCHOOLS
• HEALTH CARE
FACILITIES
• BUSINESSES
• INFRA-STRUCTURE
• ETC

12. THE GOAL: ADOPT
BEST POLICIES AND BEST PRACTICES
INNOVATIVE ACTIONS: CREATE, ADJUST,
AND REALIGN PROGRAMS, PARTNERS AND
PEOPLE UNTIL YOU HAVE CREATED THE
PARADIGM SHIFTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO
MOVE TOWARDS DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION

13. YOUR
COMMUNITYDATA BASES
AND INFORMATION
HAZARDS:
GROUND SHAKING
GROUND FAILURE
SURFACE FAULTING
TECTONIC DEFORMATION
TSUNAMI RUN UP
AFTERSHOCKS
•FLOODS
•SEVERE WIND
STORMS
•EARTHQUAKES
…ETC
A DISASTER
CAUSES
FAILURES IN POLICIES
FAILURES IN PRACTICES
BEST POLICIES AND
PRACTICES
• ADOPTION
•IMPLEMENTATION
DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION

14. BEST POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Anticipatory Preparedness
Adoption and Implementation of Modern
Engineering Building Codes & Standards
Timely Early Warning and Evacuation
Timely Emergency Response (including
Emergency Medical Services)
Cost-Effective Recovery/Reconstruction

15. LIKE A CHAIN: A COMMUNITY HAS
WEAK LINKS TO STRENGTHEN

18. BEST POLICIES AND BEST
PRACTICES
WILL IDENTIFY/CLOSE
KNOWLEDGE DIVIDES AND GAPS,
AND
IDENTIFY/FIX WEAK LINKS IN THE
PEOPLE/COMMUNITY
CONTINUUMS

19. BEST POLICIES AND BEST
PRACTICES WILL
CALL FOR STRATEGIC
PLANNING AND
INNOVATIVE USE OF
TECHNOLOGY

20. LIKE AN INFINITE SERIES: A CONTINUUM
OF INNOVATION NEVER ENDS