Future Perfect

[

] 202

esilience

and

disaster

preparedness

lack of risk prevention and intervention caused several

major Japanese companies, Thailand’s largest foreign

investors, to consider diversifying investments inside

Thailand and to other countries. Foreign investors’

confidence waned, which will affect local economy and

livelihood opportunities.

Risk reduction and adaptation

Natural disasters are no longer seen as extreme events

created solely by forces of nature, but as manifestations

of unresolved development problems. In any vulner-

ability analysis there are no straightforward solutions.

Multidimensional approaches and innovative institu-

tional arrangements are required to reduce the risks

of future harm or loss and threats to planned devel-

opment. Hazard assessment must include economic,

physical, social and political risks.

Despite rapid economic growth and structural trans-

formation in Asia, poverty remains high and the poor

are the most vulnerable to natural disasters. In order to

ensure cost-effective, well-paced continuous develop-

ment, developing nations must create a peaceful, safe

and secure environment conducive to uninterrupted

growth. This is especially so for disaster-prone nations,

as the threat and extent of disasters are difficult to antic-

ipate. The process of managing disaster risk effectively

begins with risk identification and hazard mapping,

which comprise an understanding of the vulnerabili-

ties to determine potential impacts and devastation.

Vulnerabilities that threaten growth and development

must be adapted and mitigated, if not eliminated.

There is widespread emphasis on post-disaster relief

and support for economic recovery such as livelihood

regeneration, as governments curb risk mitigation

initiatives and divert funds towards reconstruction

and recovery efforts, which require extensive resources

and time. Given the increasing occurrences of natural

disasters, it is imperative that national strategists and

humanitarian implementers put in place critical proc-

esses and capacity-building strategies, driven by disaster

preparedness and risk reduction (DPRR) and adapta-

tion initiatives to prepare vulnerable communities for

future calamities.

DPRR can be defined as the concept and practice

of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts

to analyse and manage the causal factors of disas-

ters, including reduced exposure to hazards, lessened

vulnerability of people and property, wise management

of land and the environment, and improved prepared-

ness for adverse events.

DPRR propagates a set of activities to minimize

vulnerabilities and disaster risks in society, and to avoid

and limit the adverse impact of hazards within the broad

context of sustainable development. It is imperative

that community-based DPRR (CBDPRR) interventions

build resilience among vulnerable and disadvantaged

communities in a sustainable manner that integrates

participation across different demographics within

targeted societies.

Case study 2: Japan earthquake and tsunami – Tohoku, Japan

Japan, the world’s most prepared nation against natural disasters, faced a

complex humanitarian crisis in March 2011. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake,

the most powerful to hit the country, caused widespread destruction and

triggered a tsunami of 9.3 metres, which damaged about 400 kilometres

of coastline including the Fukushima nuclear power plants, exposing the

world to a radiation threat.

A total of 15,845 people died, with 3,375 others missing and hundreds

of thousands displaced. Tsunami waves with a run-up height of up to

40.5 metres swept through the regions of north-eastern Japan, inundating

561 square kilometres of land and requiring an estimated US$300 billion

for reconstruction.

MR deployed its first response team within 24 hours of the international

appeal by the Japanese Government. Six other relief teams served in

the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures in the Tohoku region over four months,

addressing survival and wellness needs including food, water, fresh

vegetables, establishment of cold storage facilities and a children’s

nutrition programme. Hundreds of radiation protective suits were provided

to help local workers in their search-and-rescue efforts in and around

Fukushima.

Risk mitigation initiatives were well planned and implemented by the

Japanese authorities, including tsunami warning systems and solid

breakwaters along most of the Japanese coastline. Unfortunately, these

mechanisms were breached due to the speed and strength of the waves,

but the impact could have been much more extensive had there been

no structural protective measures in place. Over in Kamaishi, the locals

ignored the tsunami warning and chose not to flee, believing they were

protected by a world-record breakwater. The US$1.6 billion breakwater –

which took three decades of research and construction and was

2 kilometres long, 63 metres deep and 7 metres above water – gave way.

The major and costly failure of the Kamaishi breakwater and the indifference

of the Kamaishi community to the tsunami warning, highlight the need for an

immediate, unbiased and exhaustive assessment of Japan’s comprehensive

structural and non-structural DPRR initiatives, including the inadequacies

of earlier research and the design, planning and implementation of the risk

mitigation measures. Lessons learned from this and associated counter-

measures will greatly benefit Japan and other countries with similar

geographical conditions and challenges but fewer resources.