DISASTER PREPAREDNESS STRATEGY 2

Disaster Preparedness Strategy
Review the video by the United Nations development program.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). (2015, March 10). Disaster risk
reduction is a development issue [Video file]. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZhl9zzk9w8
Next, think about the community in which you live. Which strategy do you think would be
most important for your community to implement to minimize risk from disasters? Briefly
describe how you would communicate this strategy to your community, including how and
why you think it should be implemented.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes constitute the greatest risk to my community. The
best strategy to minimize risk from this type of disasters is to adhere to building codes. Building
codes specify the minimum safety level for constructed structures. When strictly adhered to,
building codes have the potential of significantly reducing loss of life and property when natural
disasters, such as earthquakes hit communities.
Adhering to building codes is only helpful when the codes effectively address all the
possible risks that our community faces from various natural disasters. So, it is important that the
building codes be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are effective in mitigating a wide range
of risks emanating from various natural disasters. Once they have been reviewed, all buildings
that would have been built before the updating of the codes should be required to retrofit in order
to meet requirements of existing codes.
After relevant building codes have been prepared, the next goal is to ensure that there is
high level of buy-in from the community. Granted, everyone is required by law to adhere to
existing building codes. However, to make sure that community members know the importance

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS STRATEGY 3
of adhering to building codes and avoid taking short cuts or colluding with corrupt government
officials to avoid some of the codes, it is important that they are communicated effectively to the
community. The best strategy to communicate the importance of reviewing building codes and
adhering to them is using opinion leaders, such as politicians, government officials, business
organizations’ leaders, and leaders of non-governmental organizations operating in the
community. Rather than leaving everything to risk experts or using mass media, using these
opinion leaders creates greater buy-in for stricter adherence to building codes because their
opinions often carry more weight. They can also interpret and explain the message in manner
that is easily understandable in the local context.