Success story #4: Disaster risk management

A disaster arises when an extreme natural event strikes a vulnerable society. Whether a natural event becomes a disaster depends mainly on the social, economic, ecological and political characteristics of the society in question. Present day Disaster Risk Management (DRM) seeks to reduce a society’s vulnerability to extreme natural events so that even if such events occur they do not result in a disaster. Natural events can generally not be prevented – but their impact can be mitigated. It should be borne in mind that vulnerability arises from the susceptibility, coping capacity and adaptive capacity of individuals, households, communities and states. Reducing vulnerability therefore involves reducing the factors that contribute to it at all levels.