Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
road-rail systems, or ports, able to accommodate the possible inflow of national and
international aid, and can they be quickly repaired if damaged?
All of these issues need to be complemented by finding out the level of prepared-
ness in two other main areas. One relates to the
assessments needed by businesses
and organizations
, for a natural disaster can affect their future viability. A summary
report by UNISDR (Blackburn and Johnson
2012
) reported that the global econom-
ic losses from natural disasters in the decade since 2000 amounted to $ 1.5 trillion
in losses and, significantly, that a quarter of all businesses affected close down after
the disaster. The report produced a summary list of the 12 key factors in reducing
the impact of natural disasters. This included such features as: businesses identi-
fying risks from various hazards, especially for critical facilities; the presence of
updated and tested emergency plans and supplies; back-up facilities for computer
records, updated personnel contact numbers; identifying alternative supply sourc-
es; ensuring adequate insurance schemes and using above-standard building code
improvements for buildings. Many private companies only evaluate risk in their
own location. This is often not enough. Companies also need to understand their
exposure to natural hazards throughout their supply chain. These often encompass
factories in many parts of the world—often in Asian locations that have high risks
of damage by natural hazards. For example, the devastation of the eastern Honshu
island settlements north of Tokyo by the March 2011 Tōhoku tsunami did not just
affect this area. Many 'just in time' or specialist parts that are assembled into final
products elsewhere were manufactured in the areas affected, so the destruction of
plants in these areas caused factories further up the supply chain in other parts of the
world to close down, or to be placed on short work weeks for months, drastically
reducing the outputs of many firms outside the area. These examples show the need
for private firms to improve their own level of preparededness, as well as to lobby
government and utilities to increase their investment in risk reduction.
Similarly, the ability of
households
to cope with some natural hazard emergency
needs to be understood, not simply by the people themselves, but also by govern-
ment agencies that may help their level of preparation. Agencies, such as U.S. Fed-
eral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), have created check lists of advisory
suggestions on their website of what to do before emergencies occur. It is argued
that prior preparation is the best defence from any disaster, so family meetings
should discuss the dangers of the particular local natural events that can affect the
household. Plans should also be developed to: share responsibilities within the fam-
ily; how to respond to particular problems; and to find safe spots in the home and
areas outside for each type of hazard. What are called 'disaster kits' should also
be created and regularly checked. These should contain supplies of food, light and
power to cover the time of the emergency when power is out and shops are closed,
in both the house and in vehicles that could be used in emergencies. Key records
should also be stored in a safe location. Obviously the list is aimed at people in a
developed country with high resource levels. In developing countries few house-
holds have the ability to keep stores of food or other supplies that can sustain them
during some natural disaster. This makes it more imperative for their municipalities
and higher levels of government to have sufficient stores for poor people to rely on
in emergency situations.
