Disaster Informatics: Information Management as a Tool for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction

Background

Disaster risk reduction is “the conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of sustainable development” (UNISDR, 2004, pp. 17). Disaster risk reduction has become a mainstream agenda in the sustainable development (UNDP, 2004) and efforts are underway to put more money on prevention which not only saves development efforts being washed from disasters but also will result in reduction of the resources spent on relief and recovery. The evolution and progress in disaster management (Alexander, 1997) has shifted the focus from emergency response to building resilient communities to disasters (UNISDR, 2005).

In the evolution of disaster management, the importance of information for effective disaster management has been firmly grounded. Information is a vital form of aid in case of disasters (IFRC, 2005) and people need information as much as water, food, medicine or shelter. Information can save lives and information can save resources. Information management is collection of the information, processing it, translating the information into knowledge and action and disseminating them to the communities in need. However, the emphasis of institutions working in the field of disaster management is much on collection of information and the later stages of information management are not in priority. ICT has advanced by leaps and bounds in the last couple of decades and its advancement has opened the possibility of efficient and effective information management for disaster risk reduction.