ICTs in disaster-risk reduction Rohan Samarajiva IDRC-CIDA workshop 12 July 2007, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

Agenda  Disaster risk reduction: what must be done  Disaster cycle and the role of ICTs  Selected cases Warning  LIRNEasia-Sarvodaya Last-Mile HazInfo Project Response and preparedness  Lanka Software Foundation’s Sahana

Disaster risk reduction: Minimizing loss of lives, livelihoods, property from hazards that intersect with human habitations  What we must strive for: Saving of lives and livelihoods through systematic attention to risk reduction  ICTs are but one element Significance depends on aspect of disaster cycle  Overall improvement in governance is what is required ICTs can play a role, hopefully catalytic

The disaster cycle

Role of ICTs  In essence, ICTs are about Moving information from one physical location to another at the speed of light (communication) Qualitative improvements in the manipulation and retrieval of information (information)  Because governance centrally involves both information and communication, ICTs can play an important role in its improvement But, in interest of time, only two areas where Sri Lanka has comparative advantage will be discussed

Physical world where hazards occur Symbolic world where action originates Mediated interpersonal Physical and symbolic worlds, absent linking technologies

Physical world where hazards occur Symbolic world where action originates Mass media Mediated interpersonal Warnings The physical, the symbolic & their linking through ICTs, simplified More time to run; more lives saved

But ICTs are just part of the solution  The research that will be reported during the next presentation will discuss the larger institutional problems as well as the related ICT issues

ICTs in preparedness, response and recovery

ICTs for response  In the immediate aftermath of a disaster there is a need to manage information Disaster = breakdown of normalcy  uncertainty  need for information (and coordination  communication of information)  Sahana includes easily adaptable database modules Missing Person Registry Organization Registry Request Management System Camp Registry Volunteer Management Inventory Management Situation Awareness

More than response...  Parachuting in Sahana is good Pakistan earthquake Philippines mudslides Indonesia earthquake, etc.  But prior customization and training (=preparedness) is better Example of current efforts to deploy Sahana as part of New York City preparedness plans Ongoing work on making Sahana a central element of the Sarvodaya Community Disaster Management Center and the strategic plan  Integrating communication features across modules will make it even better