Cultural adaptations of the environment

There are also numerous examples where communities adapt their local environment, despite pressure to move away from risk-prone areas. At a local level in disaster cultures, citizens sometimes successfully become part of empowered communities that collaboratively manage the disaster risks affecting their own land and livelihoods. Where DMAs channel the knowledge, skills and practices of a disaster culture, citizens and communities necessarily become “critical stakeholders” in the formal disaster management process, due to the essential local adaptive strategies they adopt and the knowledge of risks that they hold.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Local knowledge, Livelihoods, Attitudes toward environmental issues

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, Government, Red Cross, NGOs, Military, Law enforcement agencies, Healthcare and emergency services, European Civil Protection Mechanism, UN and other international organisations

Recommendations:

• Develop a personal “culture of preparedness”
• Foster the adoption of a culture of disaster prevention and resilience by informing and motivating citizens to take action