SUSAN KIM
United Methodist Committee on Relief
May 21, 2015—There are recent disasters that leave us reeling: the earthquake that killed 8,200 people in Nepal, for example. And there are “repeat disasters,” which seem to strike some communities over and over, such as the tornadoes that in the small town of Harvest, Ala., have taken the lives of 57 people over the past several decades.
Do we just wait for the next disaster—and pray it doesn’t happen? Isn’t there something we can do?
Yes. That “something” is disaster risk reduction (DRR), and UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, has a DRR program that quietly saves lives, saves money, and saves people from the fatalistic thinking that they are helpless in the face of the next disaster.
How much do you know about disaster risk reduction?
Q: Isn’t reducing disaster risk lengthy and expensive?
A: Not always. For example, at one primary school in Bangladesh, a single eight-hour training by UMCOR partner Muslim Aid—focusing mainly on cyclones—inspired the school staff to establish a small committee to manage disaster risk reduction issues by analyzing risks in the school building. They made small repairs that could avert future damage. Then they reached out to a national organization in charge of public schools, and received a grant to make more significant repairs. “This was not only a training but an example of empowerment,” explained Yovanna Troansky, UMCOR’s program manager for Disaster Risk Reduction. “Not only were people able to understand the risk but they also took the initiative to find resources to reduce the risk. Disaster risk reduction can empower communities to find solutions to the situation that they face.”
Q: Can people really change the way they think about disasters?
A: Yes! Generally speaking, there are two types of thinking that increase disaster risk. First, there are people who know the “next disaster” will happen, but they feel powerless to lessen their risk. So, they do nothing. Second, there are people who are not aware of disasters at all because they either don’t have access to information or they choose to live with a lack of awareness. So, they do nothing. Both these mentalities need to change, and disaster risk reduction—which UMCOR pursues in many locations across the world—is gradually changing people’s outlook and lessening their risk, said Troansky. “I know when we see people suffering during a disaster, we feel moved to do something,” she said. “But if we don’t invest in disaster risk reduction, we are not going to stop seeing people suffering because they will be impacted again and again.”
Q: Is Disaster Risk Reduction really a good investment?
A: First, Disaster Risk Reduction saves lives. In the town of Harvest, UMCOR helped fund a tornado shelter that will keep 475 priceless people safe. This is the most important investment of all. In terms of monetary value, “for every dollar we invest in disaster risk reduction, about $7 dollars will be saved in economic losses and recovery costs,” said Greg Forrester, who heads UMCOR U.S. Disaster Response. Forrester was citing U.N. Development Program information.
In the U.S., UMCOR also funds training to build disaster resiliency among annual conferences that then pass their disaster risk reduction knowledge down to local churches. “It’s a great investment, and we should pay as much attention pre-disaster as we do after the disaster strikes,” said Forrester.
You can support this lifesaving strategy with your gift to UMCOR International Disaster Risk Reduction, Advance #3021952.
Last Updated on February 2, 2024