THEMATIC AREA 5

 DISASTER PREPAREDNESS / PREVENTION /MITIGATION

 6.0       Introduction

This thematic area shall describe the principles and measures that will help in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating activities and programmes for disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation at all levels.  It shall rely on disaster risk management plans (DMP), and emphasize the use of international best practices to ensure that effective and appropriate measures are in place to save lives, sustain livelihood and strengthen safety-net.

 6.1       Objectives

This thematic area shall have the following objectives: 

1.  Reducing or eliminating the potential impact or damage that could be caused by hazards on health, lives, property, infrastructure, environment and services.
2. Mobilizing relevant stakeholders for effective disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation activities.
3.   Implementing integrated and appropriate measures in harnessing resources towards disaster          prevention, preparedness and mitigation.
4.  Developing and sustaining national, state, local and community based early warning systems. 

 6.2     Disaster Preparedness      

Disaster preparedness shall involve measures taken in advance to ensure effective response to the impact of disasters; timely and effective early warning; and the evacuation of people and property from threatened locations.

 6.2.1 Disaster Preparedness shall enable NEMA, SEMA, LEMA and other relevant stakeholders to:

1. develop emergency plans,
2. build capacity at all levels and sectors,
3. educate communities at risk
4. provide regular monitoring and evaluation
5. ensure availability of resources.

 6.2.2     Disaster Preparedness strategies shall include the following:

1. Planning for threats and emergencies, such as, heavy rainfall; flooding; strong winds; bush, market, formal or informal settlements fires; communicable disease outbreaks; conflicts, among others.
2. Forecasting and planning for potential threats.
3. Establishing clear information dissemination processes to alert vulnerable communities of impending threats, such as, potential outbreak of epidemics and pests.
4. Specifying evacuation procedures, routes and sites in advance of expected emergencies: including the evacuation camps, such as schools in areas exposed to flash-floods.
5. Disseminating clear communication procedure and protocols in advance for different emergency situations.
6. Updating Contingency plans for specific threats.
7. Conducting inventory of available disaster management equipment/supplies at all levels, such as, fire fighting vehicles, ambulance, recovery vehicles, etc.
8. viii.        Creating Geo-referenced terrain database with the satellite imageries and     topographical maps for disaster management and risk reduction.

 6.3       Disaster Prevention

Disaster Prevention shall involve all actions that provide ‘outright avoidance’ of the adverse impact of natural and human induced disasters. 

 6.3.1 The Strategies for Disaster Prevention shall include:

1.       i.        Afforestration and reforestation.
2.     ii.        Creating enabling environment for the use of alternative fuel or energy to reduce the use of fire wood.
3.    iii.        Advocacy and sensitization
4.    iv.         Capacity Building
5.     v.        Forecasting and planning
6.    vi.        Enforcement of policies and procedures
7.   vii.        Coordination and collaboration with relevant stakeholders
8. Monitoring and Evaluation
9.    ix.        Community participation

 6.3.2   Disaster Prevention Activities shall include:

1.       i.        Ensuring sensitization and awareness creation, through formal and informal  media. Formal media shall be print and electronic, while informal media shall include Traditional Rulers, Town Criers, Religious Institutions, e.t.c.
2.     ii.        Encouraging tree planting, grass seeding and construction of levees, embankment and channelization to prevent flooding
3.    iii.        Encouraging the use of alternative fuel or energy
4.    iv.        Encouraging the use of fire resistant materials for construction;
5.     v.        Discouraging and  penalising indiscriminate burning of bushes;
6.    vi.        Removing inflammable materials around buildings
7.   vii.        Providing fire extinguishers in public and private buildings.
8. Ensuring regular weather forecast, and disseminating weather information.
9.    ix.        Encouraging the practice of re-forestation by relevant government agencies.
10.     x.        Ensuring proper land management, and channelization of rivers and streams.
11.    xi.        Enforcing safety regulations, codes, legislations and laws.
12.   xii.        Ensuring construction and maintenance of roads with shoulders.
13. Ensuring periodic clearing of drainages.
14. xiv.        Establishing peace and conflict resolution mechanisms in various communities by the government, private sector and CSOs.  
15.   xv.        Ensuring immunization against targeted diseases.
16. Ensuring constant disease surveillance by relevant government officials.
17. Improving sanitation practices in the communities
18. Enforcing relevant laws and legislations, and ensuring compliance with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), building codes, etc.

 .4       Disaster Mitigation

Disaster mitigation shall refer to measures for minimizing the destructive and distruptive effects of hazards and reducing its magnitude. They shall be structural and non-structural measures that limit the adverse impact of natural and human-induced disasters on vulnerable areas, communities and households. These efforts shall target people who are at risk, by reducing their vulnerability to specific hazards and threats.

 6.4.1 The Strategies for Disaster Mitigation shall include:

1. integration of mitigation activities into development programs at all levels, such as, observing speed limit, tree planting, installing effective and functional fire alarms in buildings, etc
2. comprehensive costs and benefits analysis of possible measures
3. short, medium and long term plan to sustain activities
4. national action plan to support and empower vulnerable communities
5. promotion of participatory planning and management of activities with vulnerable communities
6. strengthening transportation system
7. strengthening public safety communications system among stakeholders
8. strengthening Emergency Alert Systems at all levels of governance
9. targeting assistance to vulnerable communities
10. restoring valuable coastal resources,
11. protecting vital energy infrastructure
12. enhancing public health response
13. Enforcing Public Health Laws
14. development of appropriate evacuation plans.
15. strengthening of vertical and horizontal coordination among all stakeholders.

 6.4.2   The activities for disaster mitigation shall include:

       i.        conduct orientation and sensitization, such as, dangers of pipeline vandalism, over-grazing, deforestation, desertification, armed brigandage.

1.     ii.        facilitate and promote implementation of various insurance policies for risk transfer.
2.    iv.        develop public safety communications system
3.     v.        develop Emergency Alert Systems
4.    vi.        contingency stockpiling of food, non-food, reproductive health supplies and medical equipment.
5.   vii.        conduct training and simulation exercises
6. conduct stakeholders meeting

1. Build capacity and increase awareness

 6.5       Tools for Disaster Preparedness, Prevention and Mitigation

Some of the major tools for disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation shall include Early Warning System (EWS), and contingency planning.

 6.5.1   Early warning systems shall be designed to alert areas, communities, households and individuals of impending or imminent significant disaster events. It shall enable vulnerable groups to take necessary steps to avoid or reduce the risk and prepare for an effective response.

 6.5.1.1  The strategies for early warning system shall include:

1.               i.        increasing Risk Knowledge on EWS
2.             ii.        enhancing EWS Technology
3.            iii.        improving the transmission mechansm
4.            iv.        enhancing the capabilities of relevant stakeholders that have responsibility for promoting early action
5.             v.        promoting community participation

6.5.1.2  The activities for early warning shall include:

1.               i.        Developing sustainable Early Warning System at federal, state, local and community levels.
2.             ii.        Establishing community emergency alerts.
3.            iii.        Build capacity of stakeholders and vulnerable communities on early action.
4.            iv.        Establishing monitoring mechanism.
5.             v.        Conducting air, water and land patrol.
6.            vi.        Ensuring comprehensive and timely hazard survellaince information flow at all levels
7.           vii.        Creating community awareness on hazard, vulnerability and risks.

 6.6       Guidelines to be disseminated

1.               i.        Multi-Disciplinary work plan on Early Warning Systems on Epidemics.
2.             ii.        Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan
3.            iii.        National Drought and Desertification Policy
4.            iv.        National Flood and Soil Erosion Policy
5.             v.        National Policy on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
6.            vi.        Other relevant Agencies’ plans on Early Warning