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Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready!
Create or improve an accessible multi-hazard early warning system • Establish an early warning and communication system that includes protective measures and clear evacuation routes, as part of the preparedness plan. • Strengthen local capacity to avoid dependence on external resources and to encourage participation and knowledge sharing. • Clearly define who has the institutional and decision-making responsibility for updating risk information and activating early warning systems. Simulate contingencies to test the effectiveness of proposed responses and public information and education on risks and risk management.
Upgrade the city’s emergency response services • Determine what type of equipment, training and resources may be needed to deal with the hazards and vulnerabilities a city faces and establish priorities for procuring and/or upgrading as needed. • Provide specialized training for first responders not only in the use of equipment but also in new techniques for dealing with the type of emergency situations they may potentially face.
Develop tabletop exercises and periodic drills • Carry out tabletop simulation exercises in which local actors evaluate a community, institution or agency’s ability to respond and execute one or more parts of an emergency preparedness plan. • Conduct exercises on a regular basis to test complex responses and evaluate the plan, policies, and procedures. This will help reveal any weaknesses and identify resource gaps. • Involve a wide range of organisations, including fire, law enforcement, emergency management, and when necessary, other agencies such as local public health, public safety, the Red Cross and others.
Plan for recovery before disaster happens • Before a disaster, tackle the challenges of planning and implementing a successful post-disaster recovery, in collaboration with the public, local professionals as well as the private sector. Planning for recovery enables city government to build consensus on recovery goals and strategies, gather critical information to inform recovery decisions, define roles and responsibilities and develop the necessary capacity to efficiently manage recovery operations.