Reducing Vulnerability to Disasters in India

GOI-USAID

Disaster Management Support Project

Fritz Institute Conference on Performance & Preparedness:

Lessons from the Tsunami

December 15, 2005

Vulnerability to Natural Disasters Is Increasing Around the World

Population density & urbanization

Settlements in hazard prone areas

Poor natural resource management

Thus - GOI’s new holistic approach to disaster management

Genesis of the Disaster Management Support Project (DMS)

Visit of High Powered Committee to U. S

Areas for collaboration identified – GOI Disaster Management Framework

Consultation meetings

Bi-lateral agreement signed

Components of the DMS Capacity building

Incident Command System (ICS) Institution BuildingEmergency Operations Centers (EOC)Search & Rescue (SAR)

Climate Forecasting Systems (CFS)

Disaster Initiatives

Incident Command System (ICS) Objective: Establish an Indian ICS

Purpose: To improve on-site disaster response

Activities: Development of a plan for establishment of Indian ICS Adapting ICS courses to Indian context Training and establishing a cadre of Indian Instructors Consultation visits and training in the U.S.

Key players: MHA, USFS, LBSNAA, ATIs

Climate Forecasting Systems Objective: Strengthen warning systems

Purpose: To provide effective / actionable warnings in the event of weather related disasters

Sub-projects: 5 sub-projects

Activities: Consultation visits to the U.S.Long-term training in the U.S.Workshops / seminars / studiesDevelopment of planning and decision making tools

Key players: MHA, IMD, NCMRWF, CWC, USGS, NOAA

Development of disaster management plans

Vulnerability assessments

Increased public awareness

GOI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Program

Information sharing on disaster resistant

construction

Application of building codes

Retrofitting of critical facilities

Non-structural mitigation

Earthquake Safety Initiative

Tsunami Recovery Program

$14 M mainly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry

Livelihoods, skills training, protection of women and children, maintaining temporary settlements in a habitable condition

$5 M to help communities be better prepared for the next disaster

$2 M to link Nagapattinam and Cuddalore with cities in Florida – focus on city planning and mitigation for potential disasters

Value of International Cooperation

U. S. has valuable experience & expertise as do many other countries

Collaborating with GOI is mutually beneficial

We can all work together to reduce the risk posed by disasters everywhere in the world