Disaster Mitigation Essay

Disaster Mitigation

Mitigation measures taken to prevent or reduce the risk to life, property, economic and social activities, and natural resources from natural disasters is essential to the initiative of the Decade. Awareness, education, supplies, and forecasting and warning systems can reduce the impact of natural disasters on public nuisance. Control measures such as the use of zoning, land-use practices, and building codes are needed, however, to prevent or reduce damage to real hazard. Avoiding development on flood-prone landslide- and through planning and zoning ordinances, for example, can save money in the construction and reduce the loss of life and damage to property and natural resources. Post disaster study further validate the

One source of these children spend most of the large countries within the school building. The schools also serve as a shelter for victims of disaster. All too often, however, school buildings are not built to withstand the unused physical effects of natural disasters, and in many states they are exempt from building codes. Therefore, they are potential death traps for students or victims within them. Hospitals and other health care facilities that minister to the sick and injured and the locus of medical technology and expertise that is essential in disaster. Where hospital facilities failed during disasters, as is done in many recent earthquakes and hurricanes, not only patients and medical staff killed or trapped in themselves, but are also deprived of significant community resources necessary medicine, equipment, and supplies

Businesses and households need to incorporate mitigation measures to reduce non-structural injury and property damage from natural disasters. Furniture and equipment, for example, can easily be obtained to reduce casualties and damage caused by earthquakes. Non-structural measures other than vegetation management to reduce forest fire damage and the location of the structure away from high risk areas.

Non-structural mitigation represents a great opportunity for low-cost immediate action to reduce the impact of natural disasters at home and in the workplace. The private sector can contribute significantly to the promotion of non-structural mitigation. Lending institutions are well placed to include a provision mitigation as a condition for the loan, and insurance and reinsurance industry can adjust the rate structure as an incentive for the reduction of underwriting.

Incorporation of mitigation to the new development. Local jurisdictions should ensure that new development is located, designed and built to withstand natural disasters. They should use the information from the hazard and risk assessment, land use plans and zoning regulations to limit the development of hazard-prone areas. Use compatible floodplains and other hazardous areas should be included in local planning and zoning so that losses are reduced. The area may have a high value for recreation, fish and wildlife reserves, open spaces, or other community