Practical adaptation strategies for preventing disasters - the Singas example

Practical adaptation strategies aimed at preventing disasters for the Singas villagers in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea, for example, have become part of their everyday routine. Their village floods annually, but they remain resident on the banks of the Markham river because their livelihood depends on it, to be close to amenities, and because they believe they are experienced enough to manage the risk. They prevent disaster each year by means of several adaptive strategies. One strategy is that villagers use planning strategies and building methods that are most appropriate for floods. They identify safe building sites, reinforced by drainage systems that re-direct flood water and planting systems that create stability in the soil. Then, buildings are constructed on stilts or on mounds. Secondly, the village has strong community cohesion, whereby they share resources and experiences and proactively support each other. This was generated by regular community meetings with effective leadership and through a mutual need for community survival. The “environmental strategies” they adopt, include the wealth of knowledge that allows them to identify and respond to early warning signs (preparing for evacuation following heavy rains and/or dangerous river behaviour) and then adopting their pre-prepared disaster plans. The villagers also choose crops that survive floods.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Individual/collective memory, Local knowledge, Livelihoods

Hazards: Natural hazards

Disaster Phases: Prevention, Preparedness, Response

Types of Actors Concerned: Local authorities, Non-active citizens

Recommendations:

• Develop a personal “culture of preparedness”