Disaster response needs to address misbeliefs about health hazards, respect bereaved, and allow dignified laying to rest
Dead body management (pdf) is a key element of disaster response: how corpses are dealt with can have a profound impact and long-lasting effect on the mental health of survivors and communities, say experts.
Today, there are more people at risk from natural hazards than ever before, with those in developing countries particularly at risk.
Whilst achieving the correct response to such disasters is critical, so too is forecasting events and planning to minimise their impact.
The field of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) plays a critical role in this process, and this report seeks to draw on the excellent work already being done on DRR around the world.
The project has been guided by a group of experts from a range of disciplines, and was informed by the best current research across the physical sciences, health, social sciences and economics. Its findings will help UK and international policy-makers navigate a challenging and uncertain future.
Download the report or the executive summary below. You can find all supporting evidence and documentation here.
"This story map tells the tale of Earth's tectonic plates, their secret conspiracies, awe-inspiring exhibitions and subtle impacts on the maps and geospatial information we so often take for granted as unambiguous. But is it? You will find yourself hovering over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, or swimming in magma deep within the Earth's core. Have fun and we hope your voyage is fruitful!"
"Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) explain how a recent discovery could help tsunami-prone areas reduce the impact of future disasters. Before the Japanese tsunami of 2011, the inland reach of such an event had been drastically underestimated. Soil samples from affected areas have proved to be the key to designing measures that can mitigate future disasters "