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Resilience is an illusion

Emergency Planning

This is not to denigrate the work of resilience managers, as there is obviously much to be done to reduce the risk and impact of adverse events. Put bluntly, in disaster risk reduction, these days the goalposts are moving faster than the players. Resilience and disaster risk reduction: an etymological journey.

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Disaster Risk Reduction is not a Paradigm

Emergency Planning

Like any field of study, disaster risk reduction needs lateral thinking. Natural Hazards 86: 969-988. Sadly, a follow-the-herd mentality all too easily develops among researchers. The residual question is how to liberate and encourage creativity. Ismail-Zadeh, A.T., Takeuchi and D. Paton 2017. first edition 1962).

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The 2019 Global Assessment Report (GAR)

Emergency Planning

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction was born out of the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-2000. On 1 May 2019 it was renamed the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Unofficial voices have suggested that the 'cure to damage ratio' for natural hazards is 1:43.

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Book Review: Constructing Risk

Recovery Diva

Given the depth and breadth of knowledge represented in this book, the conclusions should be and are important, worth shouting from the rooftops, for the author knows of what he writes, as he sums up in his closing chapter: “Risk reduction should be proclaimed as a principal development goal.

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Book Review: The Invention of Disaster

Recovery Diva

The book is part of Routledge Studies in Hazards, Disaster Risk and Climate Change. is a disaster risk management specialist, currently working for the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global). Series Editor: Ilan Kelman. For more information: [link]. Reviewer: Irmak Renda-Tanali, D.Sc.

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Towards a Taxonomy of Disasters

Emergency Planning

The next question is where to draw the boundaries in the study of disasters and practice of disaster risk reduction. Pandemics are included because many of the effects of a pandemic are likely to be socio-economic in nature. Disaster risk reduction policy is heavily influenced by the class of disaster involved.

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Leonardo and the Deluge

Emergency Planning

Resilience and disaster risk reduction: an etymological journey. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences 13(11): 2707-2716. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 76(1): 38-49. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8306.1986.tb00102.x 1467-8306.1986.tb00102.x x Alexander, D.E. DOI: 10.5194/nhess-13-2707-2013 Clayton, M.