Toolkits

The knowledge and capacities developed by governments, response and recovery organizations, communities, and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of likely, imminent, or current disasters. Preparedness action is carried out within the context of disaster risk management and aims to build the capacities needed to efficiently manage all types of emergencies and achieve orderly transitions from response to sustained recovery. Preparedness is based on a sound analysis of disaster risks and good links with early warning systems and includes such activities as contingency planning, the stockpiling of equipment and supplies, the development of arrangements for coordination, evacuation and public information, and associated training and field exercises. These must be supported by formal institutional, legal, and budgetary capacities. The related term “readiness” describes the ability to quickly and appropriately respond when required.

Note: The WHO terminology uses preparedness and readiness interchangeably and this has been adopted in this Toolkit.

The ability of a system, community, or society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform, and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management.

Disaster risk reduction: [activities] aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development.

Disaster risk governance: the system of institutions, mechanisms, policy and legal frameworks and other arrangements to guide, coordinate, and oversee disaster risk reduction and related areas of policy.

Disaster risk management: the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing disaster risk, and manage residual risk, contributing to the strengthening of resilience and reduction of disaster losses.

A process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation.

Note: This may include the latent property or the inherent capability of an agent or substance which makes it capable of causing adverse effects to people or the environment under conditions of exposure.