This presentation is an introduction to the Disaster Risk Reduction Ambassador Curriculum. This presentation was given at the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association's annual Symposium held every July in Broomfield, Colorado. This presentation is given by Katie Skakel, Senior Hazard Mitigation Planner. Watch the presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCPHwnwVupA

1. Katie Skakel, CFM
Natural Hazards Planning Consultant
Natural Hazard Mitigation Association
(NHMA)
Natural Hazard Mitigation Association
Introduction to the Disaster Risk
Reduction Ambassador Curriculum

2. Partnerships for Hazard Mitigation and Climate
Adaptation Best Practices

4. Four NHMA Local Initiatives
• The Living Mosaic
• Resilient Neighbors Network (RNN)
• Disaster Risk Reduction Ambassador Curriculum
• Outreach to Non-Traditional Partners

6. 2. Resilient Neighbors Network (RNN)
Four NHMA Local Initiatives

8. How NHMA DRR Program facilitates innovation and learning
• Focus on unmet needs at community-level DRR. RNN experiences
serve as test-beds and models to fulfill FEMA Natural Hazard
Mitigation Planning (NHMPs) including the NFIP Community
Rating System (CRS).
• These successful DRR projects build upon the “win-win” nexus of
health, safety, and economic prosperity. There is need and
opportunity to assist community groups in methods, models, and
exemplars to engage “the whole community,” to bridge gaps and
connect dots between “planning” (before), response (during) and
“recovery” (after) DRR operations.

9. Disaster Risk Reduction Ambassador
Curriculum
 Emphasis is placed on the concept of disaster resilience, or
“the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from,
and more successfully adapt to adverse events” (National
Research Council 2012).
 The curriculum provides citizen leaders with best
practices, the science underlying our understanding of
natural hazards phenomena and a critical analysis of the
policies, programs, and plans in place that are intended to
help societies manage the effects of natural hazards and
disasters, to include actions that increase disaster
resilience. 9

10. The Framework for the DRR Ambassador Curriculum
Categories include:
 Introduction to current situation concerning
natural disasters.
 Impediments to Disaster Risk Reduction aspects of
resiliency.
 Overcoming Impediments: What a community can
do and what others are doing.
 Current national and local efforts in resilience and
the need for changes in policy and law.

11. Multihazards are addressed. The curriculum addresses the broad set of
DRR natural hazards and risks, and best mitigation practices to
improve economic, social, and environmental quality of life, and to
protect public health and safety.
Multidisciplinary. The curriculum provides an overview of many
expert disciplines, to show connections gained through collaborative
teamwork.
Part of the larger national and international efforts to support
Community Resilience. The curriculum recognizes the need to connect
across the separate sectors of those engaged in the larger scope of
climate science, emergency management, and comprehensive planning,
to coordinate with others committed to build a more resilient future.
DRR Ambassador Curriculum
Will be CROSS-CUTTING

12. Disaster Risk Reduction Ambassador Program

13. DRAFT OUTLINE NHMA CTP Community Ambassadors
Curriculum DRAFT: June 29, 2015
Getting Started
1 A FRAMEWORK FOR RESILIENCY: NEGOTIATING FOR BUY-IN
2 WHOLE COMMUNITY MITIGATION & ADAPTATION
3 RISK ASSESSMENT TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY DRR
4 LEGAL AND POLICY OPPORTUNITIES
Cities, Communities, and Buildings
5 RESILIENT CITIES: NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING
6 HAZARD MITIGATION AND LOCAL PLANNING ORDINANCES
7 BEYOND CODE: BUILDINGS & DEVELOPMENT

14. DRAFT OUTLINE NHMA CTP Community Ambassadors Curriculum
DRAFT: June 29, 2015
Natural Hazards in detail
8 STRUCTURAL VULNERABILITY
9 EARTHQUAKE MITIGATION
10 TORNADO SAFEROOMS
11 FIRE & FLOOD
Putting It All together
12 FOLLOW THE MONEY: RNN BEST PRACTICES
13 CRAFTING PROGRAMS FOR A SAFE FUTURE

15. The key here is improved community engagement with buy-
in and a clear guide to risk reduction options/opportunities.
Which is what asset-based appreciative inquiry risk
assessment provides.
“...don’t drop a problem on people and not give them an
avenue where they can minimize the threat through their own
actions.”
“There aren’t any barriers if the community wants to do a
serious job addressing the hazards it faces. I take that back –
the community may have the will, but not the expertise.”

16. Take Home Messages
• Communities need to know where to start and how to proceed.
• Assessing needs, accessing help, and identifying funding sources requires creativity,
vision, leadership, and time.
• CITIZENS CAN BE THE LEADERS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP IN
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION.
• Any time is the best time to change development practices from developing in a
manner which will cause harm to individuals, businesses, the economy, and the
environment to a “No Adverse Impact” approach, which emphasizes the need for
development and a sustainable future.
• Certainly, as a community picks up the pieces after a disaster and begins to rebuild,
there is a window of opportunity. However, the best possible time to develop safely and
properly is before natural processes, such as floods, cause devastation, which could
have been avoided with proper planning.
*Don Watson, FAIC, Author Design by Flooding

17. Built on Systems Thinking
Key Elements of a
Resilient Community
Like the string that holds a necklace together
Food
Water
Energy
Transportation
Arts
Education
Heart & Soul
Health
Recreation Currency
Waste Water
Land Use

18. Key Themes
 We need to think in a systems analysis manner to
solve the serious problems we face
 We need collaboration among diverse groups to
solve serious issues surrounding the mounting toll
of losses following foreseeable natural events
 We must develop a system that rewards resilient
and safe behavior; and discourages unsafe
development