Community Based
Disaster Risk
Management
Introduction to CBDRM
• Communities are the first responders in case of any disaster.
Therefore, community based disaster risk management
approach should be the core of any risk reduction approach.
• Community based disaster risk management approach
(CBDRM) is a process, which leads to a locally appropriate and
locally owned strategy for disaster preparedness & risk
reduction
• Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) is the
result of this realization and aims to create opportunities and
build partnerships with the communities to establish disaster
resilient societies.
• It is usually defined as an approach that reduces vulnerabilities
& strengthens people's capacity to cope with hazards.
Processes of CBDRM
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) is generally
divided into five stages. The process starts with sensitizing the
community about their capacity and duty towards DRM process and
ends with raising a community which is trained, has system in place and
is capable to take on minor localized disasters at their own and can also
trigger and support the government system for prompt action in case of
a major disasters.
• Risk Assessment
• Community based disaster risk planning
• Plan simulation and execution drills
• Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into development process
• Ensuring sustainability of community based disaster risk
management plans
Risk Assessment
• The community based disaster management organization
should start the planning process by planning the risk
assessment of the area. It includes hazard, vulnerability,
exposure and capacity assessment of the area.
• Through this process, the organization will not only come to
know about the type, gravity and extent of the risk involved
but it will also have the knowledge of the elements at risk, the
historical data of the risk and they will also identify their
resources which can help them reduce the losses in a disaster
situation.
• Moreover, they will also analyze the gaps between their
present capacity and the capacity that they should have to
successfully avert the possible damages.
Community Based Disaster Risk Planning
• Initially with external help, the community should plan to
structure the community based disaster management
organization, should build the capacity of the human resource
available as per requirements and should formulate a local
disaster management plan as per the risk assessment carried
out.
Plan Stimulation and Execution Drills
• During this phase the chalked out plan is deliberated upon in
detail looking into all its pros and cons, requirements and
obligations and socio-economic challenges and opportunities.
• Then the organization identifies and takes all stakeholders on
board identifying their respective roles and responsibilities
before the plan is put to test in a mock exercise to measure its
accuracy and adequacy in the real time situation and it is
amended and refined if required and then finalized for proper
drills and practices.
Mainstreaming DRR into Development
Process
• Fighting disaster and getting ready for it is not a one-time
activity. It is not only a process to be implemented but is also a
culture to be adopted.
• Disaster Risk Reduction should be made a part of the
community life, should be infused in their culture, should be
blended with their values, customs and mores and should be
mainstreaming in the local level development planning process
by developing requisite linkages with the government system
and processes.
Ensuring Sustainability of CBDRM Plan
• Capacity Building and resource provision to the CBDMOs
should be done with the purpose to develop them into self-
sustained units.
• These units should be formed keeping in mind the geography,
demography, religious sentiments and socio-political currents
in the area.
• It should make best use of human as well as, other physical
resources in a way that it is socially acceptable, politically
representative, officially endorsed and economically viable
enough to sustain itself.
Importance Of CBDRM
• By building the capacity of the community, CBDRM automatically
reduces their vulnerability to any disaster and hence the overall
disaster risk is significantly decreased.
• It increases resilience to disasters at community level, hence reducing
the losses in case a disaster strikes. Instead of hopelessness and
defeated mentality, it infuses hope and fighting spirit in the
community which proves to be vital in case of a disaster.
• If masses are capable to take on and absorb the shocks of disaster
and manage to avoid major damages, it makes the individual
economies disaster resilient which becomes a valuable asset for the
national economy.
• Prevention, mitigation, risk reduction and risk management strategies
and plans can be put to test at community level as a pilot project and
their success or failure can lead to treasured conclusions for
provincial and federal level planning and strategy making.
Thank You