Risk Returns

[

] 53

and by the RADIUS case study in Bandung city (1999-2000)

, supported

by the UN International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. The

projects’ components include earthquake risk assessment and risk

mapping of the city, which also entails an earthquake scenario-based

impact assessment, development of an earthquake risk reduction action

plan and implementation of selected urban earthquake risk reduction

activities. These include the development of emergency procedures for

the city, improvement of local building regulations, capacity-building

for related local government agencies, and earthquake risk awareness

programmes through the media and schools. Some limited replications

of the programme have followed in Bengkulu, Palu, Denpasar, Padang

and Pesisir Selatan in West Sumatra, between 2001 and 2003. All the

programmes were implemented by the Bandung Intitute of Technology,

collaborating with the relevant local and national government agencies.

Sustainability is a critical issue for the implementation of

the programmes, as illustrated by the fact that the local govern-

ments involved in the projects did not carry the action plan and

the earthquake risk reduction initiatives further in their develop-

ment programmes. Ownership of the programmes seemed not to be

transferred to the local governments involved for various reasons,

such as lack of capacity, competition with other priorities, and in

particular major changes in the political structure of local govern-

ments as Indonesia was going through a turbulent, major political

transition in the period 1998-2005. However, the establishment

of the Center for Disaster Mitigation at the Bandung Institute of

Technology in 2003 can be attributed as a sustainable by-product

of the initiatives and the accumulated knowledge developed during

the project implementation. The Center for Disaster Mitigation has

since contributed to many DRR initiatives in the country.

Future challenges and necessary action plans

The current Indonesian seismic hazard maps and national-level vulner-

ability data indicate that many Indonesian regions have a very high

potential for catastrophic seismic disasters, as recently seen in many

regions in Indonesia. A strategic long term earthquake and tsunami

national risk mitigation plan should be made available for a more

concerted approach in reducing the earthquake risk. The National

Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2010-2012 and the

National Disaster Management Plan 2010-2014 launched

by the Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency

in 2010 should serve as an integrated DRR management

plan that need to be implemented, monitored and reviewed

for improvement in the future. Disaster risk assessment

processes in different level of government administration

need to be conducted to formulate appropriate DRR poli-

cies and action plans and investment in earthquake disaster

mitigation needs to be prioritized. The investment could

consist of research in hazard mapping, vulnerability model

development, earthquake engineering research to improve

and enhance building codes and develop techniques for

earthquake-resistant buildings, and infrastructure design

and construction. Enhancement of good quality graduate

programmes in earthquake engineering and disaster mitiga-

tion inuniversities is also of great importance. Dissemination

of building codes to government officials and professionals

is crucial. There is an urgent need to strengthen the building

authority committees for building regulation enforcement.

Dissemination of guidelines for good practice in residential

housing must be improved, and training provided in good

earthquake engineering practice for government officials,

consultants, contractors and masons across the country.

Retrofitting can reduce risk from future disasters

School retrofitting demonstration project, during retrofitting

Image: Krishna S Pribadi