MANAGING RISK TO REDUCE DISASTERS RISK

Experiences in the region show that disasters obtain protracted and long-lasting characteristics, and from lessons learned so far it is necessary to find the direction for their outgoing or elimination. Therefore, the author presents an inner view to risk assessment as an integral part of decision making process in disasters and its implementation should involve and require close collaboration among all the sectors of society. This approach seems multi-disciplinary process, rather than an activity, that allows for the identification, quantification and understanding of the nature and extent, and impacts of the risks a community or society is facing, which are associated with unanticipated extreme events and the vulnerability of the exposed community or society. Each stage of the risk management process should be recorded appropriately. Assumptions, methods, data sources, analyses, results and reasons for decisions should all be recorded. The records of such processes are an important aspect of good governance. The goal of a disaster assessment process is to provide objective and transparent information for making decisions on countermeasures to reduce disaster risk. To do this, the risk assessment, assesses and compares risks according to their likelihood and impact, to prioritise planning and allow a proportionate allocation of resources.