Strong, Safe, and Resilient: a Strategic Policy Guide for Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index. Table of Contents: Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Editors and Contributors -- Abbreviations -- Key Facts about Disasters -- Key Facts about Prevention -- Note to Decision Makers -- Executive Summary -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 1. Managing Risks in East Asia and the Pacific: An Agenda for Action -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2. Strengthening Institutions and Outreach to Communities -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3. Risk Identification -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 4. Risk Reduction: Measures and Investments -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- References -- Chapter 5. Emergency Preparedness: Weather, Climate, and Hydromet Services -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 6. Financial Protection: Risk Financing and Transfer Mechanisms -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 7. Sustainable Recovery and Reconstruction -- Key Messages for Policy Makers -- Where Are We Now? -- Where Do We Want to Be? -- What Needs to Be Done? -- How Can the World Bank Help? -- Notes -- References -- Appendix A. Urbanization by Region -- Appendix B. Large-Scale Disasters in Asia 2008-11 -- Appendix C. Vulnerability of Cities to Multiple Hazards in East Asia and the Pacific -- Appendix D. Risk Identification Monitoring -- References -- Appendix E. Action Plan for Building Earthquake Resilience -- Short Term (as Soon as Possible) -- Medium Term (the Next 5 Years) -- Long Term (5-10 Years) -- Appendix F. Classification of Meteorological Services in East Asia and the Pacific -- Appendix G. Weather and Climate Services Progress Model -- Observing and Forecasting Systems -- Weather Services Delivery -- Climate Services -- Appendix H. Overview of World Bank Activities in East Asia and the Pacific -- Institutional and Capacity Building -- Risk Identification -- Risk Reduction -- Emergency Preparedness -- Financial Protection -- Sustainable Recovery and Reconstruction -- Appendix I. Glossary of Key Terms -- Reference -- Boxes -- ES.1. Key Terms -- 1.1. Lessons from the Tohoku Earthquake -- 1.2. Approaches to Dealing with Complex Failures and Uncertainty -- 1.3. The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. Publisher Marketing: Disaster risk management is essential in the fight against poverty. Disasters can, in an instant, wipe out decades of hard-fought poverty reduction and development gains and push countless households into poverty. Disasters disproportionally affect the poor: Vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, are at particular risk. East Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-stricken region in the world, suffering from small recurrent as well as rare high-impact events. East Asia is rapidly urbanizing, and cities are becoming disaster hotspots. Unplanned or poorly planned urbanization, which puts more people and assets in harm s way, is the single largest driver of disaster risk. There is deep uncertainty about future disaster and climate risks, challenging our ability to adapt to new developments and changing the physical and natural environment. Decision makers can make a significant difference by effectively managing disaster risk and building resilience. With education and communication, preparedness, and investments, urbanization can be channeled as a tremendous positive force for development. By decreasing disaster exposure and vulnerability through systematic assessments and communication of risks, better land-use planning, and many other practical measures, the impacts of natural hazards can be reduced significantly. At the same time, it is necessary to recognize that the risks of disasters cannot be entirely eliminated, and countries need to plan for failure by considering different scenarios, especially within complex systems and networks. Preventive investments in risk reduction and emergency preparedness can be extremely cost-effective and can greatly reduce the impact of natural hazards. Governments can prioritize actions based on informed decisions about the level of risk to reduce the risks from disasters. Public investments, such as early-warning systems, retrofitting of critical infrastructure at risk, and mainstreaming systematic risk assessments into relevant public investment planning processes, can help to reduce poverty and promote sustainable economic growth. The World Bank supports countries around the world in mainstreaming a comprehensive and integrated approach to disaster risk management into development. The World Bank provides analytical and advisory services, helps to build climate and disaster resilience into core investments across sectors, and offers unique financial solutions to better manage the contingent fiscal risks from disasters."