Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

Introduction

Cities and territories face multiple threats and risks with varying levels and impacts on the community, normally classified as geological/technological, climatic and anthropogenic risks.

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, heatwaves, floods, episodes of marine or atmospheric pollution, transport of dangerous goods, interruptions of energy or water supply, etc., are some of the risks that call for local management.

At the global level we have the Sendai Framework as a reference framework for disaster risk reduction and management. This structure comprises 4 priorities, 7 objectives and 13 basic principles for working at the local and regional level to build more sustainable and resilient communities.

Various municipalities in the Canary Islands joined the United Nations Global Campaign for Resilient Cities in 2015. This campaign offers very concrete tools to measure and improve the levels of resilience in each municipality, although lack of use impedes maximum benefit.

Climate-related threats and risks have since increased - both in frequency and intensity - and especially with regards to a greater recurrence of severe weather events, which have increased the vulnerability and exposure of these territories.

Services Offered

  1. Preparation of a SITUATION ANALYSIS that measures the current level of Resilience of the Municipality, based on the measurement of a series of transversal indicators (this being one of the tools of the Campaign).
  2. Analysis of risks and vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change and adverse meteorological phenomena,
  3. Development and implementation of Municipal Emergency Plans in compliance with current legislation and as a management tool for the reduction and efficient management of risks.
  4. Development and implementation of an INDICATOR PLATFORM to measure the evolution of the work being carried out, together with the design and implementation of an annual Risk Management and Reduction REPORT.

Objectives

  1. To provide the Municipality with a precise knowledge of the threats and risks to which it is exposed.
  2. Increase the security and resilience of the municipality's critical infrastructure.
  3. Initiate an integral and transversal process with departmental work teams, in order to introduce risk management in all work units within the City Council.
  4. Position the Municipality for work carried out and efforts made to become a more sustainable and resilient City Council.
  5. Support municipalities in complying with current legislation that obliges them to have an emergency plan.
  6. Implement the Sendai Framework for Action, at local level as the global framework of the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

Principal Benefits

  1. Enabling participatory processes with the different sectors of the community and/or the organisation; increasing their active participation in the interests of all stakeholders.
  2. Obtaining a precise understanding of the threats and risks to which the community and region is exposed.
  3. Obtaining a specific plan for efficient management of the various risks, with specific PREVENTION measures.
  4. Accessing well-defined mitigation and adaptation actions, as a roadmap for improving sustainability and resilience
  5. Developing a safer and more resilient community; reducing loss of human life, damage to infrastructure and the territory or sectors potentially affected by any of the risks.
  6. Community recognition for supporting national authorities in the implementation of the Sendai Framework and the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals.