Disaster Mitigation and Vulnerability Reduction Programs: An Overview of Current Practice, Strategies, and Approaches

Abstract

This paper looks at the problems involved in efforts to reduce the vulnerability of human settlements in the developing countries to disaster threats. More specifically, it examines the approaches taken by governments and agencies to encourage people to modify their homes to make them more disaster resistant both prior to and after disaster events. It identifies traditional strategies used in the construction sector, the obstacles to adoption of disaster resistant techniques in low-income communities, and the methodologies and problems often involved in transferring technical information to s emi - 1 i t e r a t e and unskilled workers. It concludes with recommendations for increased linkages and exchanges among researchers, policy-makers, implementers and occupants.