Disaster risk reduction

Regionally, nationally and globally, threats to life, property and resources from wildfire are growing. Changing climate conditions, growth of vulnerable communities into high-hazard areas, and limited governmental and financial resources available to cope with this threat all mean that wildfire losses are expected to continue and expand. It is not possible to find a single and simple solution to all of the problems that the scenario of larger, damaging wildfire presents. However, when focusing on how to prevent wildland/urban interface (WUI) fire disasters—the destruction of dozens or hundreds of structures during significant wildfire events—researchers and safety advocates have discovered solutions in the form of voluntary community action to reduce wildfire risks around homes and neighborhoods, and in sound design and construction standards that can be adopted and applied by state and local governments.

National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Firewise program provides a sustainable solution to the growing trend of home losses during wildland fires. The Firewise Communities/USA® Recognition Program provides the process for WUI residents and a model for behavior change that effectively reduces the risk of home—and thus community—ignitions. The program has been growing steadily since its inception fifteen years ago. In this paper, we will examine the development of Firewise communities and how they have expanded nationally and in the state of Arizona. We will also examine Arizona-based success stories resulting from the embrace of Firewise principles at the community level.

To understand how to prevent WUI disasters, one must understand how homes ignite and burn during a wildfire. This paper will cover the most current research and evidence on this topic, and the surprisingly simple techniques that can be used by property owners to prevent home ignitions.

Finally, we will examine why regulation and zoning ordinances are also an important component in the equation to find a solution to this growing wildfire “menace.” A helpful study produced by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, Community Wildfire Safety through Regulation, will be explored. We will introduce information on NFPA design and construction standards that can be adopted in whole or in part by communities as components of local building and fire codes. We will conclude by demonstrating how planning and zoning tools have great potential to be effective in risk reduction in the event of a wildfire.

The economic and social impacts of natural disasters are increasing throughout the world, particularly in developing countries. Essential economic and social developments are repeatedly experiencing setbacks due to the effects of large scale, or series of smaller scale natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes and typhoons, and earthquakes. This is despite the increased knowledge about these events and better technology to mitigate their effects. More effort appears to have been devoted to research into the effects of flooding of domestic properties, despite the fact that businesses provide the basis for economic stability and growth (Tierney, 1995) (Dahlhamer and Tierney, 1998, Webb et al., 2000, Rodriguez et al., 2006).
Direct effects of flooding on business premises can range from mild to catastrophic. Where buildings are penetrated by flood water there is likely to be significant damage and commercial/industrial processes could be compromised. Particular concerns include loss of essential equipment (expedient replacement of which can frequently be impossible), loss of data, loss of operations in the period to remediation, and significantly the effect of failure to meet contracts or the needs of clients. This latter issue often resulting in long term lost business opportunities as clients engage alternative suppliers. Very often therefore the immediate cost of physical damage to business infrastructure (buildings, plant, machines and systems) can be small in relation to the broader damage sustained as a result of lost turn-over. Businesses can be made more resilient to indirect or direct flood damage (including through the use of flood protection measures or back-up utility systems), but economic appraisal of such measures can be difficult as there is little data or established methodology.
The focus of this chapter is on identifying the vulnerabilities that lead to damage to commercial and industrial activities and on using this information to examine what is needed to improve resilience to flooding events in the business sector. In detail, observed direct and indirect damages are analysed according to a forensic approach. Particular care is put on analysing indirect damage, as well as damage to infrastructure, as it is often the case that business activities suffer damages because of the disruption of essential services.
This chapter will aid an understanding of:
• the nature of forensic analysis when applied to flood events
• the data required for forensic analysis
• example of forensic analysis of flood event through and example of the procedure
• business vulnerability to natural disasters
• the use of forensic analysis for business continuity measures

The paper discusses how the current climate change debate influences the way
in which development is conceptualised, negotiated and implemented. The objective of the
article is to explore some of the underlying controversies that characterise development
discourses in the context of climate change. Adaptation to climate change goes along with
a significant shift in discourses used to deal with what is normally called development.
This is reflected in shifting research interests and perspectives, from vulnerability studies to
resilience thinking. However, the paper argues, this shift is problematic for the normative
contents of development and especially for a pro-poor and grass roots perspective.