Cultural knowledge of employees of disaster management authorities as a resource

Cannon et al. explain how the local cultural knowledge of employees in disaster management authorities is also an important resource that is often overlooked: In many organizations, volunteers and staff who work with the local people are often aware of the beliefs, decisions, needs and priorities on which these people’s livelihood activities are based. But often they do not know what to do with this knowledge… The grass-roots knowledge fades or is lost completely at higher levels of the organization’s administration, where decisions are made within the organization’s own ‘culture’, involving financial, logistical and donor constraints. This represents another possible area where capacities can be harnessed and enhanced. Using these volunteers and other staff in this way could also serve to build long-term relationships and rapport with local leaders who may also be the gatekeepers to the community.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Local knowledge, Livelihoods

Hazards: Natural hazards, Man-made non-intentional hazards or emergency situations, Man-made intentional hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery, All disaster phases

Types of Actors Concerned: National civil protection body, Local authorities, Non-active citizens, Active citizens, Government, Red Cross, NGOs, Military, Law enforcement agencies, Healthcare and emergency services, European Civil Protection Mechanism, UN and other international organisations

Recommendations:

• Use local knowledge, collective memory and shared cultural values to improve disaster preparedness, response and recovery