KNOWLEDGE DIVIDES AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS THAT AFFECT DISASTER PREVENTION Dr. Walter Hays, Global Alliance For Disaster Reduction

ACT IT IS TIME FOR A “GLOBAL WAKE UP CALL” HEAR IDENT-IFY NOW 1990-2010 PERIOD OF INTEGRATION 21ST CENTURY PERIOD OF IMPLEMEN-TATION NOW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY UNDER-STAND IDENT-IFY HEAR PERSON-ALIZE ACT

WAKE UP THE SLEEPING GIANT OVERCOMING THE GLOBAL RIP VAN WINKLE EFFECT THAT IS ALLOWING THE 21ST CENTURY TO BECOME THE CENTURY OF DISASTERS

A DISASTER is --- --- the set of failures that occur when three continuums: 1)  people, 2) community (i.e., a set of habitats, livelihoods, and social constructs), and 3) recurring events (e.g., floods, earthquakes, ...,) intersect at a point in space and time, when and where the people and community are not ready.    

WHEN AN INTERSECTION OCCURS, A DISASTER OCCURS - - - - - - IF THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT READY FOR WHAT HAPPENS COMMUNITY PEOPLE RECURRING EVENTS P T S O CP

THE SLEEPING GIANT IS YOU (AND ME) WAKE UP!

RIP VAN WINKLE

RIP VAN WINKLE IS NOT PREPARED TO BE A CHAMPION OF DISASTER PREVENTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY --- He slept through the most important 20 years of his life --- the IDNDR (1990-1999) AND ISDR (2000-2010)

HE IS UNPREPARED AFTER MISSING 20 YEARS OF INNOVATION --- VULNERABILITY REDUCTION --- RISK REDUCTION --- PREVENTION --- PROVENTION --- MITIGATION --- DISASTER REDUCTION --- DISASTER RISK REDUCTION --- DISASTER RESILIENCE

BY MISSING APPROXIMATELY 10,000 OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN FROM THE NOTABLE EVENTS AND DISASTERS THAT HAPPENED DURING THE PERIOD 1990—2011, HE IS UNPREPARED.

ARIZONA: JUNE 8, 2011

VOLCANO PUYEHUE’S ASH CLOUD: JUNE 4, 2011

MISSISSIPPI RIVER BARGE TRAFFIC HALTED: MAY 6

WESTERN TANZANIA: INUNDATION; MAY 6

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: JANUARY, 2011

NORTH DAKOTA LEVEE BREACHED:JUNE 23, 2011

TUSCALOOSA, AL: APRIL 27, 2011

SENDAI, JAPAN”BEFORE MARCH 12TH

AFTER MARCH 12th

ACT IT IS TIME FOR A “GLOBAL WAKE UP CALL” HEAR IDENT-IFY NOW 1990-2010 PERIOD OF INTEGRATION 21ST CENTURY PERIOD OF IMPLEMEN-TATION NOW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY UNDER-STAND IDENT-IFY HEAR PERSON-ALIZE ACT

THE 21ST CENTURY’S WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY GLOBAL SOCIETAL RESILIENCE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCELERATE THE RECOVERY PROCESS AFTER EACH RECORD OR NEAR-RECORD DISASTER OF THE 21ST CENTURY

STRATEGY: TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF RECOVERY THE POLITICAL and MEDIA SPOTLIGHT IS ON ALL DECISIONS AND ACTIVITIES TOP PRIORITY: RESTORATION TO NORMAL (OR BETTER) AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE, INSURANCE PAYOUTS, AND DONORS: ALWAYS AVAILABLE

TYPICAL TOP PRIORTIES DURING RECOVERY RESTORATION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE RESTORATION OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES-- SCHOOLS

“VAN WINKLE BARRIERS” TO ACHIEVING GLOBAL SOCIETAL RESILIENCE MYTH– there is a “general public,” so one glove fits all. REALITY--there are many different sectors of the public having different motivations and needs, so develop sector- specific knowledge.

“VAN WINKLE BARRIERS” TO ACHIEVING SOCIETAL RESILIENCE MYTH– people will do what they say they will do REALITY—the coefficient of correlation between what people say and what they actually do is VERY LOW, so have legal mandates to ensure compliance.

“VAN WINKLE BARRIERS” TO ACHIEVING SOCIETAL RESILIENCE MYTH– mailing a report is communication REALITY—communication is an active 2-way process involving: A SOURCE and A RECEIVER, A MESSAGE, and A CHANNEL (or multiple channels), so develop programmes with a long time line.

COMMUNI-CATION “SOCIETAL RESILIENCE” COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS FUNCTIONAL NETWORKING CHANNELS INFORMATION NETWORKING CHANNELS READINESS FOR A POSSIBLE DISASTER ORGANIZATION NETWORKING CHANNELS PRIVATE SECTOR PUBLIC SECTOR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ACADEMIA Stratec Consulting

“VAN WINKLE BARRIERS” TO ACHIEVING SOCIETAL RESILIENCE MYTH– mailing a report or sending an e-mail is transfer of ownership of knowledge REALITY—transfer of ownership of knowledge is a process: HEARING, UNDERSTANDING, and PERSON-ALIZING FOR ACTION.

WHAT IS THE PAYOFF OF GLOBAL SOCIETAL RESILIENCE FAILURE: WE WILL HAVE DISASTERS DURING THE 21ST CENTURY THAT WILL MAKE 1990—2010’S DISASTERS LOOK LIKE “A WALK IN THE PARK.” SUCCESS: !!!!!

RESTORATION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE SEE APPENDIX A: RESTORATION OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

RESTORATION OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES-- SCHOOLS SEE APPENDIX B: RESTORATION OF ESSENTIAL FACILITIES-- SCHOOLS