Required Sectoral Module DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT In a resilient city, the disaster risk management system combines a well-functioning and inclusive disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanism with effective disaster prevention infrastructure (robust, redundant and inclusive). Such a mechanism and infrastructure is based on an integrated citywide risk assessment and is developed to prepare for, limit, and recover from expected shocks (reflective). In a resilient city, risk information is a necessary foundational element for institutional decision making across sectors (coordinated) and in particular for budget and strategic decisions for territorial planning and management of the built environment (reflective). APPLICABLE TOPIC GUIDING QUESTION RESILIENCE EXPLANATION QUALITY Institutional Does the city have a policy Robust A policy and legislative framework Capacity and legislative framework that that mandates the establishment mandates the establishment of a of a DRM structure allows for legally DRM structure and functions for binding assignment of roles and carrying out risk management responsibilities that gives weight activities? to DRM activities and increases accountability of assigned DRM actors. Institutional Is there a single parent agency Coordinated; Coordination of DRM activities allows Capacity in the city with mandate Reflective for better management of knowledge and capacity to coordinate and resources (both human and all DRM activities, including financial) amongst relevant actors. risk identification, reduction, The financial, technical and human preparedness and post-disaster capacity of potential coordination recovery? If yes, does this body should be evaluated regularly agency have sufficient financial, to understand whether it is well technical, and human resources to positioned to lead contingency lead contingency planning? planning. 1 Institutional Have DRM considerations been Coordinated; All departments in the city should Capacity: formally mainstreamed into Reflective be able to manage risks within their all city departments? Is risk areas of responsibility. Appropriate reduction clearly reflected in the DRM mainstreaming means that departments’ mandates, work risk reduction is incorporated plans, and staff job descriptions? into the everyday functions of the Are there systems for evaluation department and responsibilities and accountability? of the staff. Systems of evaluation Does the city’s principal DRM and accountability ensure that the agency carry out training/ departments’ DRM activities are capacity building activities for monitored and objectives adequately departmental leaders/technical met. The city’s DRM agency regularly staff on DRM? shares its expertise and knowledge about hazards with other departments so that they can incorporate new findings into their work programs. Institutional How many of the identified risk Robust; The ability to implement risk reduction Capacity reduction and preparedness Reflective strategies and disaster preparedness programs are already being programs shows that a city is able implemented? Is there a system to manage risks. Risk reduction of program monitoring and monitoring is one way the city can evaluation? evaluate the effectiveness of selected strategies. Finance: What are the funding sources Robust; Predictable funding sources allow for for DRM? To what extent is the Coordinated continuous operation of DRM activities. funding discretionary at the local When a city has discretionary control level? To what degree are funding over funding for DRM, it achieves better sources and DRM activities alignment between risk reduction coordinated across agencies? investments and development strategies. Where human resources and financing for risk reduction is limited, coordination of actors helps improve efficiency, targeting and flexibility of risk reduction programs. 2 Risk Has any natural disaster and Reflective Risk assessments identify the city’s Identifica- climate risk assessment and current and future vulnerabilities by tion modeling been conducted by examining historical data and/or future the city? If so, at what level (i.e., climate scenarios through modeling. hazard, exposure at risk, loss) and The geographical scale of the modeling at what geographical scale is the and analytical level of the risk assessment/modeling performed? assessment indicates the robustness of Is the assessment/modelling information that informs the decision- sector specific or integrated? How making process. Sector-specific often are the risk assessments modeling/assessment tends to have a updated (annually, biannually…)? higher granularity while cross-sectoral assessments are more integrated and holistic. The relevance of risk assessments depends on them being regularly updated to appropriately reflect levels of vulnerability and exposure. Risk Does the city have a local Reflective; An emergency database containing Awareness database on disaster scenarios, Inclusive information on potential scenarios, key responses and preparation key responses and preparation steps steps concerning hazards? Does is essential for preparing the public the city have asset and risk maps for events and ensuring efficient of the city? If so, are the database response when they occur. Publicly and/or asset and risk maps easily available asset and risk maps allow available and communicated to the government and other vested different levels of government, actors to evaluate potential exposure residents, private sector, civil of their assets to each type of hazard. society, etc.? Are the database Participatory mapping of assets and/or asset and risk maps and risks brings the knowledge and generated collaboratively (e.g. perspectives of local communities to through participatory mapping decision-makers. It is a culturally and initiatives)? socially sensitive form of mapping that result in higher granularity of spatial information. Planning: Does the city have a Risk Coordinated; In order to achieve uptake, Risk Reduction Plan (e.g. per sector or Reflective Reduction Plans should be coordinated cross-sectorial plan)? If so, is the with existing development plans, plan coordinated with relevant resource allocations and programmed development plans, resource activities. Risk Reduction Plans that are allocations and programmed based on climate change projections activities? Are climate change can anticipate tomorrow’s threats and projections considered in the Risk adapt to these before they occur. Reduction Plan? 3 Planning: How well are local government Coordinated Impacts of natural and man- risk assessments and risk made hazards are not confined to management plans coordinated administrative boundaries. For the with, and supportive of, sake optimizing mitigation efforts, risk risk assessments and risk assessments and risk management management plans from strategies should be coordinated neighboring local authorities, across city boundaries and different state or provincial governments? levels of government. Prepared- Does the city have a Contingency Robust; Although contingency plans are ness: Plan for natural hazards, and Coordinated; designed for rare and unusual related environmental and Reflective events, they need to assign roles technological hazards and risks? and responsibilities, and include Does the plan identify roles procedures for preventing and and responsibilities, resources, mitigating potentially catastrophic information processes, and consequences of an undesired event. operation arrangements for To make sure that the plan remains anticipating and solving problems relevant, procedures need to be during a crisis? Is the plan regularly exercised and roles and regularly updated and exercised? responsibilities updated to reflect new conditions. Prepared- Does the city have early warning Robust Early warning systems are essential ness: systems? Has the system ever to facilitating public safety during a failed to provide early warning disaster event by giving residents time during a disaster? Has the city to evacuate or protect themselves initiated or implemented public before impact. Public campaigns on campaigns on disaster risk? Does disaster risk allow for widespread the city offer training to citizens spread of knowledge and information (schools etc.) on disaster behavior about potential risks and effective and preparedness? response methods. Emergency preparedness and response training can be an effective way of raising risk awareness and ensuring that citizens are responding appropriately during an event. 4 Prepared- Who in the government declares Robust Having a procedure with clear criteria ness: an emergency (city, regional, and for declaring an emergency makes the national levels)? What criteria city´s emergency response reliable are used to evaluate whether a and transparent. Since being in an declaration should be made? emergency state can change how a city government rules and administers its functions, it is important that a state of emergency can only be declared to increase effectiveness of emergency response. Prepared- In the event of a disaster, can Robust; Effectiveness of response is ness: disaster response agencies Redundant determined by responders’ availability procure and contract goods of key resources and ability to acquire and services effectively? Are additional goods and services in a key resources for effective timely fashion. response, such as emergency supplies, emergency shelters, identified evacuation routes and contingency plans available at all times? Financial Does the local government have a Redundant A risk financing/insurance program Protection risk financing/insurance program enables the city to transfer some of the in place? risks of financial losses during disaster events to the private sector. Financial protection mechanisms create financial buffers by avoiding additional strains to the municipal budget during disaster events. Financial To what extent do home-owners, Robust Accessibility and usage of insurance Protection private sector, etc. have access coverage amongst home-owners and and make use of insurance the private sectors acts as an incentive coverage for catastrophic events? to invest in asset improvement and upgrading, making assets more robust to withstand future disturbances. 5 Recovery Does the city have standard Reflective Procedures for assessing damages procedures to assess post-disaster and losses indicate that the city has damages and losses? the ability to monitor and evaluate the impact of an event, which influences decisions regarding reconstruction and risk reduction investments. Recovery Does the city have a post event Robust A post event Recovery Plan is Recovery Plan for hazards? important for ensuring quick recovery of functions. 6