Resilience to natural hazards in developing nations

POSTnote 402, February 2012:

This briefing discusses the potential for science and technology to enhance resilience to rapid-onset natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunami, floods and tropical storms in developing nations. It presents the national and international policies, including the Hyogo Framework for Action, and presents the role of science and technology in preparing for disaster through: (i) forecasting hazards; (ii) identifying vulnerabilities and planning; and (iii) early warning responses. It also addresses the need for response efforts to help build to resilience as well as outstanding issues, such as coordination, lessons learned, the role of innovation and the private sector, and future vulnerabilities - poverty, unplanned and rapid urbanisation, and climate change.