A multi-hazards earth science perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic: The potential for concurrent and cascading crises

This article highlights the need for enacting COVID-19 countermeasures in advance of seasonal increases in natural hazards. The authors argue that the inclusion of natural hazard inputs into COVID-19 epidemiological models could enhance the evidence base for:

• informing contemporary policy across diverse multi-hazard scenarios, defining and addressing gaps in disaster preparedness strategies and resourcing; and
• implementing a future-planning-systems approach into contemporary COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

The recommendations provided are intended to assist governments and their advisors to develop risk reduction strategies for natural and cascading hazards during the COVID-19 pandemic:

1. Make extensive use of pandemic and natural disaster hybrid models;
2. Make extensive use of weather forecasting and seasonal prediction models;
3. Re-design policy responses to different natural hazards;
4. Support agencies working in developing regions to manage relief efforts.