Stories Archive - PrepareCenter

Health Fair Implementation with a Resilience Approach, San Lorenzo, Valle, Honduras

Aynur Kadihasanoglu — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 15:02:44 +0000

Under the CoCHAP project the city climate resilience coalition of San Lorenzo City, in Valle, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Municipal Government, and Honduran Red Cross, organised a health fair with a resilience approach, aiming to provide medical assistance to the population and raise awareness about the effects of high temperatures.

General medical, psychotherapy, gynaecology, fluoride for children, vaccination, and blood pressure measurement are among the services that were offered. Talks were also provided about hydration, heatwaves, what to do when high temperatures arise, and the consequences of direct sun exposure without protection. An alliance with essential partners was formed, including the National Police, the Fire

Department, and Save the Children, who gave support and assistance in the creation of the activity.

The health fair was not only successful in terms of participation and attendance, but it also had a long-term impact on the community. Beneficiaries left with the knowledge and resources they needed to take control of their health and well-being. Furthermore, community relationships were developed as neighbours of various ages and backgrounds came together to improve their quality of life.

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Reactivation of Municipal Nursery Garden, Nacaome City, Valle. Honduras

Aynur Kadihasanoglu — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:55:23 +0000

The climate change coalition of Nacaome City, Valle, in collaboration with the Municipal Government and the Honduran Red Cross, is implementing climate change adaptation actions through social micro-projects to reactivate the municipal nursery for action against extreme heat, with the goal of ensuring the propagation and growth of various species of timber, fruit, and ornamental trees adapted to local climatic conditions.

Beginning with the cleaning and modification of the premises where the plants will be located, the soil will be prepared for filling bags in which the plants will germinate and grow until they are transferred to their permanent soil.The goal is to maintain plants in order to restore green areas at the municipal level, as well as to keep educational centres, churches, and places near water sources reforested, so mitigating the effects of high heat.

To ensure the project’s long-term viability, partnerships have been formed with critical allies. Similarly, community engagement will be encouraged in order to establish local collaborations and address the region’s climate change implications proactively.

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Digital mapping the cities and communities to understand risks and vulnerabilities

Aynur Kadihasanoglu — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 16:41:04 +0000

Around ending of December to January month as a way of complimenting the achievements of the previous City-Wide Risk Assessment Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) in collaboration with ARDHI and Climate Change Alliance (ZACCA) conducted the GIS-based Mapping in both part of Tanga and Unguja cities. The assessment aiming at developing municipality-level GIS-based Base Map showing the details of existing land use pattern, including other associated features and attributes. The maps may be considered to assist in strategic planning, resource utilization management, planning and management of day-to-day operations and for the preparation of municipality-level disaster and climate risk management planning.

Both ARDHI University and ZACCA foundation assessments focused in 20 wards, 10 each from both cities of Unguja and Tanga to the most affected areas with climate change and its geographical positioning to disasters particularly to Flooding, Coastal erosion, Salt water intrusions, Sea level rise and extremely heat.in two cities.

Both team of ZACCA and ARDHI university success data surveying and collection in collaborating with TRCS (Staff and Volunteers) were all 20 wards/Shehia visited, collected and mapped per cities by using drone images.

During data collection all datasets including information on offices, hospitals, schools, health centers, bus routes, bus stations, main roads, and railway are collected. This data was gathered through a combination of on-site surveys, collaborations with local authorities and institutions.

The maps intricately detail vital structural assets, critical infrastructure, and various facilities and services essential for urban planning and disaster management purposes.

Read Full report here.

TRC_CWRA_GIS_Report Tanga city

ZACCA-FINAL GIS MAPPING REPORT-UNGUJA

Example of satellite images captured during data collection at Tanga city

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Beating the Heat: American Red Cross’ Heat Wave Preparedness in Texas

Adriana Mangones — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 20:03:50 +0000

2023 was officially named the hottest year on record, marked by scorching heat waves across the globe. With heat waves projected to increase in both frequency and intensity, preparedness and risk reduction become more crucial to mitigate impacts and save lives. The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) asked Red Cross Red Crescent (RCRC) National Societies to reflect on their response to 2023 heat waves and share lessons learned to better prepare for future extreme heat events.

This case study delves into the preparedness and response initiatives undertaken by the American Red Cross of Central & South Texas Region during the 2023 heatwaves, which pushed temperatures to a staggering 128°F (53°C). The focus is on showcasing effective strategies and drawing insights from the lessons learned to improve preparedness for future heatwaves.

Table of Contents

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Context

In the United States, heat waves increased from an average of two per year during the 1960s to six per year during the 2010s and 2020s, according to EPA data. The effects of heatwaves are far-reaching, impacting access to food and water, healthcare, and increasing risks like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Alarmingly, the EPA data reveals that "heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, even though most heat-related deaths are preventable through outreach and intervention."

Texas was among several other states in the USA that experienced scorching heatwaves in the summer of 2023. The 2023 heat wave set all-time record highs in some parts of Texas where weather observations have been recorded for over a century. Cities like Austin and El Paso had streaks of over 40 consecutive days with temperatures above 100°F (38°C), while Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth had over 20 consecutive days of intense heat.

Persistent "heat dome" brought scorching temperatures to Texas in summer 2023. Map shows exceptionally high daytime highs and nighttime lows offering little respite from the heat wave. Source: National Weather Service

The 2023 heat wave resulted in a record number of heat-related deaths since they started tracking this information in 1989. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 334 people died, which is more than double the number from the last deadliest heat wave in 2011, when 160 deaths were recorded.

The effects of heat were multifaceted in Texas: besides the heatwaves with no cooling effect during nighttime, heat-smog pollution increased all over the state. At the same time, Texas deployed warnings due to increased stress on the power grid due to high usage and concerns for dam safety and infrastructure integrity. With heatwaves becoming longer and starting earlier in the year, there are smaller time windows to conduct repairs and maintenance.

The state experienced an extreme drought, which increases the risk of wildfires, puts more pressure on farmers to increase supplemental feed and water for livestock, while dealing with decreased yields for irrigated crops. Texas also reported severe losses of fish, plants, and wildlife.

Social effects have also been observed in communities, like increased violent episodes. The National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed the correlation between increased heat and child neglect. There are also reports that crime and aggression alerts increase during heatwaves in the state.

The American Red Cross Response in Texas

During the sweltering summer of 2023, the American Red Cross of Central & South Texas Region launched a targeted outreach campaign to help the 9.4 million residents they serve to understand and mitigate the risks posed by extreme heat conditions. Danella Hughes, the Regional Disaster Officer for ARC Central and South Texas Region, identified the intense heat waves as one of the primary challenges the Red Cross grappled with throughout the summer of 2023, alongside residential fires and wildfires.

Integrating Heat Safety into Existing Community Outreach

During the 2023 heat wave, the Red Cross combined heat preparedness education with its smoke alarm installation program, doubling outreach efforts.

To address the sweltering heat, the Red Cross strategically incorporated extreme heat education into their annual Home Fire Campaign outreach efforts. While this campaign normally focuses on home fire safety, during the heatwave season, they added heat stroke education and heat risk prevention messaging to maximize the impact of their community engagement initiatives.

The outreach spanned several major cities across the region, including Austin, Waco, San Antonio, and El Paso. However, reaching all communities across the vast Texas landscape remained challenging due to the Region’s large service area and the considerable distances involved. For example, driving from Austin to El Paso could take more than eight hours.

The organization also prioritized high-risk areas like Hondo, Marlin, West Odessa, and Moreno based on identified vulnerability factors. In these areas, prevention was crucial due to the weather and geographic conditions. For example, around Odessa, there was a record-breaking 15-day streak of 100-degree days.

Multilayered Approach: Education, Hydration, and Cooling

In these at-risk areas, prevention was key. Residents were continuously encouraged to stay hydrated and assess if anyone needed extra attention based on their response and symptoms during extreme heat days. The Red Cross provided education on both fire prevention (including installing smoke alarms) and heatwave preparedness, addressing the multi-hazard environment.

To offer respite, the Red Cross also created hydration stations and installed outdoor "mister fans" – systems that emit a fine, cooling mist – in public spaces to assist with outdoor activities and provide relief from the heat.

The American Red Cross of Central & South Texas Region serves a vast area with a highly dispersed population. The distance between different chapters can span up to 8 hours of driving.

Prioritizing Bilingual and Inclusive Outreach

The Central and South Texas chapters made it a point to deliver for the area's diverse communities. With around 40% of the Texas population being Hispanic, ensuring information was provided in languages spoken at home, like Spanish, was crucial for preventative measures to be understood and acted upon.

Bilingual volunteers and staff proved instrumental in conducting educational initiatives in Spanish, covering topics such as fire escape plans, hydration practices, and fan usage. However, there was an identified need to expand this bilingual approach to the chapter's online presence and social media awareness campaigns.

Messaging provided in both English and Spanish to educate the Texas population on preparedness and prevention during heatwaves.

Despite facing some challenges in expanding Spanish-language content on social media platforms, the Region's new communication director is now driving a strategic campaign to enhance multilingual outreach efforts. Collaborations with key stakeholders, including volunteer interpreters, translators, aim to replicate inclusive messaging across channels.

With the ever-present dangers of extreme heat in the state, exacerbated by Texas' geography and climate patterns, the Red Cross is already making plans for an even more comprehensive multilingual campaign for the 2024 season.

Key good practices

Bilingual outreach and engagement.

Adopting a bilingual approach by integrating bilingual volunteers and public information materials in both English and Spanish proved highly effective in reaching out to the large Hispanic community in Texas.

Leveraging ongoing campaigns to raise awareness about extreme heat risks.

"Piggybacking" heatwave public education onto other active campaigns like Sound the Alarm and home fire prevention initiatives was a successful strategy employed by volunteers in Texas. They leveraged these ongoing campaigns to simultaneously educate the public about home fires and protective measures for heat waves.

Key Lessons Learned

Improved coordination between local-level stakeholders to ensure wider coverage of services.

There is a need for more coordinated efforts between the Red Cross chapters within the state and local government offices to ensure comprehensive reach for prevention and mitigation efforts. Due to the vast land area, with some smaller towns over a six-hour drive away, certain regions and communities currently have little to no access to support services, leaving gaps in outreach and assistance.

Expanding physical outreach materials.

While social media campaigns with universally understandable flyers and posters featuring pictographic elements have been effective, expanding efforts to distribute printed materials in both English and Spanish can further enhance preparedness. Providing these physical resources directly to families and community spaces can serve as a handy reference, helping to highlight critical information more effectively within homes and local communities.

As 2023 was the warmest year on record globally, projections indicate 2024 may surpass it, increasing the likelihood of longer and more severe heatwaves. By studying other Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' efforts during extreme heat events, we can adapt best practices to improve our own preparedness for the coming summer and future years.

This is especially crucial for heatwaves. Despite being among the deadliest natural hazards, their negative impact can largely be prevented with the right preparedness and risk reduction measures in place. By learning from peer National Societies, we can fine-tune our systems to face the challenges ahead while sharing best practices across our global network.

Written by: Adriana Mangones | Edited by: Vladislav Kavaleuski

Related Case Studies

Navigating the “dog days:” Experience of the Mexican Red Cross during 2023 heatwaves

The Weather of Hell: Experience of Italian Red Cross During 2023 Heat waves

Additional Resources

HEAT Toolkit

Extreme Heat Safety

Heatwave Guide for Cities

Heatwave Guide for Red Cross Red Crescent Branches

Heat Action Plan developed by Nepal Red Cross Society for the city of Nepalgunj

Research on Extreme Heat

Extreme Heat: Preparing for the Heatwaves of the Future

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From Challenge to Change: The journey of Extreme Heat in Indonesia begins here

Aynur Kadihasanoglu — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 21:05:41 +0000

In the tapestry of natural disasters woven into the landscape of Indonesia through Law No. 24 of 2007, there are no elements of extreme heat or heat waves. However, the absence of these elements does not diminish their presence in almost all regions of Indonesia, especially in areas like Surabaya and Medan. As temperatures rise, so does the urgency to act.

Armed with several studies and reports, including the article “Urban Heat Stress in Indonesia (1983-2016)”, the Coastal City Resilience and Extreme Heat Action Project (CoCHAP) project embarked on a mission to address this glaring gap. However, in its early implementation, the project faced significant hurdles: a lack of recognition that extreme heat is an urgent issue, both by the central and local governments.

In response to this challenge, the CoCHAP team in Indonesia understood the crucial importance of government involvement. Through collaborative efforts with key stakeholders such as BNBP (National Disaster Management Agency), BAPPENAS/BAPPEDA (National Development Planning Agency), BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), and KLHK/BLHD (Ministry of Environment and Forestry), various workshops were conducted. These sessions led to a consensus: a scientific study on Extreme Heat Risks is crucial, serving as the basis for further interventions.

Led by BMKG, CoCHAP will engage stakeholders ranging from health ministries to industries in collaborative meetings and workshops. The goal is to understand and address health, economic, and labor impacts, fostering dialogue and sharing best practices.

The decision to appoint BMKG to lead this national-level study garnered widespread praise. A. Fachri Radjab, Head of the Climate Change Information Center, commended this move, acknowledging BMKG’s direct involvement from planning to outcomes. This marked a significant departure from the norm, where BMKG often served merely as a data provider, signaling an important shift in Indonesia’s climate change study landscape. Further validation came from Sezin Tokar, Senior Hydrometeorological Hazard Advisor at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Her optimism during her visit to Indonesia bolstered the CoCHAP team’s spirits, affirming the carefully crafted strategy for sustainability.

Through this collaboration, a significant milestone will be achieved: the creation of a comprehensive understanding of Extreme Heat, its risks, and its nationwide impacts. Minimum threshold values for extreme heat events in Medan and Surabaya will be established, alongside the development of a three-tier Early Warning System for extreme heat at the city level. These achievements lay a strong foundation, poised to significantly alter the trajectory of extreme heat events in Indonesia. As the CoCHAP project progresses, it not only ensures responses to current challenges but also provides a blueprint for climate resilience in the future

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City-Wide Risk Assessment: A system Centric Approach for Building Resilient Coastal Cities in Bangladesh

Aynur Kadihasanoglu — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 20:58:31 +0000

Bangladesh’s southern coast faces frequent extreme weather events like cyclones, tidal surges, tsunamis, floods. Climate-induced risks disrupt the functioning of the core city systems and are exacerbated by rapid and unplanned growth of the city with inflow of people from rural areas due to a variety of reasons. The Coastal City Resilience Project (CoCHAP) implementing in Bagerhat and Satkhira Municipality, Bangladesh brought together city stakeholders to identify climate change risk, map their impact on the city system and entry points for building city resilience through the City Wide Risk Assessment (CWRA).

This project was commenced with a baseline study to develop city profiles conducted by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS). Following that, core facilitators training was organized to orient municipalities and the BDRCS branch staff and volunteers for better understanding on the city-wide risk assessment tool. Afterwards, CWRA workshops were arranged in Bagerhat and Satkhira city in September 2023, with participants representing city mayor, ward councilors, urban local govt, development partners, service providers, teachers, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society etc. Key areas such as shortage of potable water supply, encroachment of water bodies, poor solid waste management, inadequate drainage and road infrastructure, unplanned informal settlements were emerged as focal points for intervention through a series of exercises and discussions among participants.

To enrich the information from these CWRA workshops, an external consultant team was further engaged to support municipality teams & BDRCS analyzing city profiles and workshop reports for bridging gaps through desk reviews, field visits to each city and conducting interviews with key stakeholders.

The collaborative process has resulted in the refinement of comprehensive City-Wide Risk Assessment (CWRA) reports, analyzing vulnerabilities across various city systems and the most affected pockets across the municipal areas. The findings of the assessment will help to conduct further risk perception study in project locations, arrange dialogue among city stakeholders on the findings and develop city level solutions collaboratively with municipality, private sectors, academicians, and the local community considering climate induced risk.

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Upskilling for Resilience: A Guide to Free Online Disaster Preparedness Training

Mira Adam — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:21:11 +0000

As disasters continue to challenge communities worldwide, it is crucial for disaster management practitioners to stay up-to-date with the latest knowledge, training, and skills to help keep communities safer during these crises. To aid in the professional development of this critical workforce, the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) has curated a list of free online courses. These enable disaster management and humanitarian professionals to expand their expertise across diverse aspects of disaster preparedness and risk reduction - ranging from disaster risk financing to nature-based solutions.

Organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations, the World Bank, Start Network, and edX offer a set of high-quality, accessible training courses free of charge. These training materials are designed to address key themes such as:

Early Warning and Early Action

Disaster Risk Reduction

Disaster Risk Financing

Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience

Early Warning and Early Action

In its Public Awareness Public Education (PAPE) & the WhatNow Service: localizing action-oriented messages, the IFRC introduces you to the following points:

PAPE & the WhatNow Service.
PAPE — Actionable messages to reduce disaster risks.
Adapting and adopting key messages at a national level.
The WhatNow Service — a digital repository of critical messages.

Modules 1 and 2 are meant for anyone interested in initiating a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process to adapt and adopt key actionable messages at a national level. Module 3 is intended explicitly for National Society representatives wishing to upload their vital, actionable messages onto the digital platform, the WhatNow service.

The Anticipatory Action: A Proactive Approach to Disaster Risk Management is a training driven by the changing climate, the frequency and severity of extreme climate and weather events have increased and will continue to do so. Yet progress in observation data, satellite imagery, and computer modeling over recent decades means that we can now make increasingly precise predictions about when and where hurricanes, drought, flood, and other hazards are likely to occur and what their potential impacts on people will be. These advances in forecasting make anticipatory action possible.

Anticipatory action refers to actions taken before a disaster or crisis hits to prevent or reduce potential humanitarian impacts before a shock or acute effects are felt. The actions are carried out based on forecasts or predictions of how the event will unfold. The types of actions vary and depend on the hazard and context and can range from evacuation, the reinforcement of homes, and the distribution of health protection kits to mobile cooling centers and cash distribution.

Another e-learning course is Preparedness for Effective Response (PER.) The PER Approach aims to enable National Societies to fulfill their auxiliary role by strengthening local preparedness capacities to ensure timely and effective humanitarian assistance to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The training will provide an overview of the PER Approach and a fundamental understanding of what the PER Approach is, why it is used, and how it works.

Disaster Risk Reduction

A Resilient Future: Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction aims to introduce participants to existing and emerging technologies suitable for disaster risk reduction while promoting the overall aim of sustainable development. The course focuses on three main natural hazards: floods, landslides, and earthquakes. It also discusses the challenges and limits of adapting and adopting technologies depending on context (Global North and Global South) with examples from Switzerland, Nepal, Colombia, the Philippines, and other countries.

The content of this course includes but not limited to:

Explain Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) related concepts, science, and technology for DRR.
Identify and describe existing and emerging technologies for landslide and flood reduction.
Explain methodological tools for assessing vulnerabilities and risk and strengthening the resilience of communities at risk of landslides, floods, and earthquakes.

Disaster Law and Policy for the Protection of the Most Vulnerable is a course designed to help you learn about the role of law and policies in disaster risk management at both the international and national levels. Experienced academics and practitioners will provide you with deep insights into the legislative and institutional frameworks that apply to the different phases of disaster risk management, such as risk reduction and prevention to preparedness, response, and recovery.

You will explore how international, regional, and national legal and policy frameworks can effectively reduce the impact of catastrophic events on exposed communities and ensure the protection of the most vulnerable by regulating the conduct of all actors involved in disaster-related activities. This includes authorities of both affected and supporting countries, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society, including the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the private sector.

The Introduction to Disaster Risk Management is another self-paced training material provided by the World Bank. This introductory course familiarizes development practitioners with contemporary concepts and practices in disaster management and discusses the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive approaches in this cross-cutting development field. You will have access to timely resources such as:

Ted likes video talks.
Podcasts
Formal learnings (i.e., Self-paced courses/Facilitated Courses/MOOCs)
Live events and Knowledge Exchanges
Communities of Practice

Disaster Risk Financing

The IFRC provides insights about Cash Assistance through Financial Service Providers ‘FSP’ during disasters. The content includes, but is not limited to:

Determining Cash Feasibility.
Mapping Financial Service Providers and Risk Management.
Identifying Procurement Basics.
Requirements for FSPs.
Understanding Procurement Authorization Levels.
Launching a Tender.
Addressing Issues for Contracted FSPs.

In a similar vein, Start Network presents a course entitled Introduction to Disaster Risk Financing (DRF.) This self-guided course will build your understanding of Start Ready's Disaster Risk Financing-DRF proactive approach to predictable triggered funding at scale for foreseeable crises, using innovative risk analysis, collective planning, scientific modeling, and pre-positioned financing.

Contingency Planning in Disaster Risk Financing (DRF) is meant to build knowledge on the 1st pillar, the Contingency plan. It is divided into three units to define the contingency plan and its importance, the preparations needed, and the process to design it according to the Start Ready Building Blocks framework.

Climate Adaptation and Resilience

The theme of climate change adaptation is enriched by many educational materials designed by the United Nations, EDX, and Kaya. The Thought Leadership Course - Synergizing Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation explores the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), focusing on good practices, attitudes, and behaviors towards their integration. It supports you with a clear understanding of the synergies between DRR and CCA.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants should:

Have a clear understanding of the synergies between DRR and CCA.
Be able to define integration between DRR and CCA.
Identify good practices on DRR-CCA integration and implementation.
Facilitate further changes in attitudes and behaviors towards the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

In the Nature-based Solutions for Disaster and Climate Resilience, UNEP and environmental experts from around the world will provide you with answers to those questions, reaching out to you, to planners, policymakers, engineers, businesses, and youth. This is an opportunity to join a community of learners and environmental advocates.

First, touching upon “why,” the course introduces nature-based solutions for disaster and climate resilience, benefits, and potential opportunities. Then, specific modules aimed at different target audiences will focus on the practical application of nature-based solutions, the “how.”

Your Road Map to Community Resilience is another efficient training material to explore and get hands-on with the IFRC’s Road Map to Community Resilience through the Enhanced Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (R2R via EVCA). This course is intended to familiarize you with the IFRC’s key concepts and approaches to community resilience and how to apply them in RCRC programs and actions.

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Data Ecosystems: Fostering Cross-Border Collaboration for Disaster Risk Reduction

Mercedes Aguerre — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 19:42:25 +0000

By Anouck Adrot (Université Paris-Dauphine PSL) and Mercedes Aguerre (Croix Rouge Française)

Cross-border data sharing strengthens disaster preparedness through increased collaboration, optimized resource use, advanced research, and addressing regional challenges. In this context, data ecosystems have emerged as valuable tools to foster information exchange within organizational networks in disaster risk management.

This blog, based on recent research from Paris Dauphine University and the French Red Cross, examines how data ecosystems can improve cross-border disaster preparedness. It explores relevant data ecosystem applications, barriers to implementation, and potential solutions for more effective systems supporting disaster risk reduction.

The French Red Cross is committed to collaborating with communities, authorities, and stakeholders to promote holistic disaster risk reduction practices. Recognizing the importance of partnerships, especially with academia, the organization has proactively forged ties with the University Paris Dauphine PSL's Master of Conflict Transformation and Peace Studies program. This mutually beneficial partnership enables master's students to gain practical experience through joint research projects meeting French Red Cross needs. The collaborative research design involves a researcher, master's students, and a practitioner working closely together from start to finish. Ultimately, by tapping academic insights, the goal is to advance resilience-building disaster preparedness in at-risk communities.

Data ecosystems as a driver of cross-border cooperation

Our recently published research study aims to better understand how a data ecosystem can support cross-border organizations in reducing disaster risk. Today, data ecosystems represent valuable tools to produce, share and integrate information between disaster management organizations in both development and emergency contexts. A data ecosystem is a collaborative network of organizations and actors that interact to produce, share, and consume data sets and services. This collective effort involves various entities, including private companies, communities of practice, nonprofits and international agencies working together to share critical data sets and services.

A relevant example of a humanitarian data ecosystem is the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). Created via OpenStreetMap, HOT aims to enhance accessibility to diverse humanitarian data types. It serves as a platform bringing together different organizations to leverage data sharing and analysis opportunities. Some of the data sets on HOT originate from UN bodies and the Red Cross network. Its governance includes corporate entities like Google, the World Bank, as well as academic institutions.

Data ecosystems offer critical benefits for disaster management by facilitating cross-organizational information exchange, collaborative tracking of population movements, and risk mitigation around disasters like floods and droughts. In addition to these tangible advantages, they strengthen social connections through increased networking and resource sharing within the humanitarian sector.

Our literature review finds that data ecosystems can significantly bolster disaster risk reduction across borders. First, inter-organizational networks and central data hubs improve situational awareness. Second, data ecosystems promote the development of shared protocols, creating synergies around disaster preparedness. Finally, a collaborative data ecosystem serves as a unifying goal for cross-border cooperation, overcoming conflicts of interest and sustaining local commitment. This demonstrates the strong potential of data ecosystems to drive more effective cross-border cooperation.

DRR data ecosystem in practice

Through a retrospective analysis of data exchanges during the 2020 Roya Valley floods, our study employed a visioning methodology to explore how a data ecosystem can help mitigate risks in practice. Our goal was to generate practical knowledge that could help the emergency response community better leverage data ecosystems for current and future disaster preparation and relief efforts.

The storm Alex took place between 2 and 7 October 2020 in the valleys of the Vésubie, Roya and Tinée rivers in south-eastern France, northern Italy and central Europe. Between 250 mm and 500 mm of rain fall locally in 12 hours leaving at least:

19 dead (8 in Italy, 8 in France, 1 in Austria, Poland and Czech Republic) and 12 missing (11 in France a 1 in Italy)
Hundreds of homes, along with bridges and roads, destroyed.
Outages of power, telecommunication and water supplies occurred due to fallen trees.
Rail service was cut off.

Based on insights from the Roya Valley response, we envisioned a fictitious cross-border data ecosystem, represented in Figure 1. This ecosystem would enable key disaster response actors, including core stakeholders and peripheral supporting organizations, to collaborate around shared data and services. A nonprofit entity we called “Novadata” governs ecosystem operations, under the supervision of its founders. Novadata drives the production of data services based on public and semi-public data. The vision methodology explains how the governance of the ecosystem can regulate the challenges identified in the literature and in empirical data.

Novadata’s mission includes designing processes to include organizations in the ecosystem and define their data rights. It is also responsible for keeping the data sets and services consistent over time through the creation of glossaries and processes to update the data, as well as monitoring the flow of data entered and shared between the various actors involved in the ecosystem.

This governance approach addresses the known drivers and challenges in building a cross-border data ecosystem in the emergency preparedness field. Firstly, not all the organizations in the ecosystem would share the same informational needs. Secondly, these informational needs vary over time. To address this, Novadata structures its services into Task Forces - each focusing on a specific use case shared by ecosystem partners. By combining and analyzing relevant underutilized semi-public data sources, the Task Forces can produce tailored services including:

The production and normalization of data sets
The production and access to outputs from data sets (including visuals, graphs, maps, etc.)
The training and brainstorming sessions
The documentation of services and how to use them. The task force also aims at promoting data culture to address heterogeneous levels of expertise and familiarity with data across organizations.

Navigating Challenges of Cross-Border Data Ecosystems

Implementing cross-border data ecosystems for disaster risk reduction (DRR) comes with inherent complexities spanning technological, organizational and governance spheres. Key challenges include ensuring data quality, establishing interoperability standards, addressing privacy and security issues, defining governance structures and overcoming cultural resistance.

Moreover, data ecosystems for cross-border DRR imply additional uncertainties. They require various areas of expertise, including server administration, programming, data analysis, visualization, safety protocols and more. Since one organization may not have all this capability, ecosystem expansion would be needed to incorporate new experts and companies – actors potentially unfamiliar with the reality of cross-border DRR.

The premise of data ecosystems relies on a willingness to share data openly, which organizations may resist due to commercial sensitivities, differing priorities or general secrecy. This highlights how partners may not share common interests regarding data. Data ecosystems also require complex governance planning to fund and maintain data services, literacy and sets. Finally, cross border cooperation is influenced by distinct cultural, political and economic realities on each side, shaping priorities. This can create divergent interests and potential conflicts despite the shared goal of cross-border DRR.

Representatives from the French Red Cross, Monaco Red Cross, local authorities, and community members joining forces in the aftermath of Storm Alex's devastating Roya Valley floods in 2020.

In essence, data ecosystems represent a promising but uncertain avenue to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) across borders. While offering potential benefits, cross-border DRR data ecosystems surface a set of inherent social, technical and organizational uncertainties that warrant consideration for effective implementation.

Before committing to cross-border data ecosystems, organizations should seek to deeply understand them from a socio-technical perspective. Tackling these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that involves technological solutions, robust governance frameworks and a commitment to ethical practices. It involves fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency and continuous improvement within the data ecosystem.

The role of Research in Cross-Border Data Ecosystems

This research aims to make two key contributions. First, it seeks to advance knowledge on data ecosystems in cross-border organizational contexts. Despite growing research on data ecosystems in general, there remains limited insight into the unique dynamics of sharing data across borders. This study provides an initial framework for conceptualizing and examining potential future cross-border data ecosystems.

The second contribution stems from the practical application of the visioning method. By facilitating collaborative, forward-thinking conversations, this research helped organizations reflect on the inherent opportunities and risks of cross-border data sharing. It is hoped that by leveraging these scientific concepts and approaches, organizations can maximize the value derived from data exchange across borders.

Ultimately, research plays an instrumental role in enabling effective disaster preparedness and response through cross-border data ecosystems. It lays the groundwork for evidence-based practices, enhanced cooperation, and continuous improvement. Moreover, research is essential for realizing the full potential of data sharing, offering vital perspectives to inform decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and strengthen collective action. Investing in research represents a strategic priority for developing more resilient transnational communities.

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From Oyster Castles to Virtual Reality: Hong Kong Red Cross’ Innovative Approach to Building Resilience

GDPC — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 20:04:41 +0000

At the forefront of building resilient communities, the Hong Kong Red Cross (Branch of Red Cross Society of China) is leading exciting disaster preparedness and risk reduction initiatives from local to international levels. Notably, its nature-based solutions work has garnered widespread recognition for its impact and fostering diverse grassroots collaboration. In this DRM Practitioner Spotlight interview, Eva Y W Yeung, Senior Manager of Community Resilience Service at the Hong Kong Red Cross, shares about the organization's holistic approach to preparedness and disaster risk reduction (DRR), which seamlessly integrates traditional nature-based methods with cutting-edge technologies. Discover how the Red Cross empowers vulnerable communities in Hong Kong and beyond to build resilience in the face of crises and disasters.

The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) invites disaster risk management practitioners from the RCRC Network to be featured in the Practitioner Spotlight series. This platform showcases impactful work in disaster preparedness, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and climate change adaptation across the Network. If you are part of the Red Cross Red Crescent and wish to showcase your work, please contact us at gdpc@redcross.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

Overview of Work

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your current role at the Hong Kong Red Cross?

With nearly 20 years of experience in disaster preparedness, relief, and a passion for promoting participatory development and community resilience, I currently work as the Community Resilience Senior Manager at the Hong Kong Red Cross, a Branch of the Red Cross Society of China. Although my professional journey began in logistics at a global beverage company after graduating from business school, my true calling led me to development work within the international NGO sector, eventually joining the Red Cross Movement.

Throughout my career, I have significantly contributed to the development of community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) and community resilience (CR) programs, including increasing the adaptation of community engagement and participation concepts through programming in Mainland China and Hong Kong. This work involved developing program frameworks contextualized to the characteristics of local communities and promoting these through training curricula and materials to strengthen the capacity of local partners, communities, and institutions for enhancing disaster preparedness mechanisms.

Bringing almost two decades of experience in disaster preparedness and relief, Eva Yeung works as the Community Resilience Senior Manager at the Hong Kong Red Cross, a branch of the Red Cross Society of China.

Over the past few years, I have placed a special emphasis on enhancing resilience in high-risk areas of Hong Kong. By integrating international and local experiences, I have examined comprehensive strategies for resilient communities. One notable initiative involves introducing nature-based solutions for disaster risk mitigation in local communities, aiming to mitigate the impact of climate disasters on vulnerable populations. These projects have incorporated the potential of natural ecosystems and the power of community collaboration into disaster reduction strategies, addressing the unique challenges faced by high-risk areas in Hong Kong.

Tell us more about the work the Hong Kong Red Cross does in terms of disaster preparedness and risk reduction?

The Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) has dedicated teams working on disaster preparedness across various levels, ranging from local services to operations in Mainland China and international work. Our work encompasses a broad spectrum of activities tailored to different localities.
For example, at the local level, our efforts span from community-based projects focused on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction in high-risk areas to education and public awareness programs targeting the general population. These initiatives aim to build preparedness and enhance resilience within vulnerable communities.

At the institutional level, the HKRC has established robust institutional preparedness mechanisms to help respond effectively to emergency situations. This includes the formation of surge capacities and the development of comprehensive business continuity plans, ensuring operational readiness and service continuity during crises.

Joining forces with the local organization and community disaster preparedness team in Tai O to repair a historical bridge in this flood-prone Hong Kong community (January 2024).

What current project or initiative do you find especially exciting or impactful? What makes it so?

The disaster risk reduction initiative of building a living shoreline in one of Hong Kong’s coastal areas is an interesting project that showcases the power of collaboration among community stakeholders, technical expertise, and community members. We have implemented the nature-based solution of building oyster castles underwater to mitigate wave force and reduce flooding risks. This solution not only serves as a flood mitigation measure but also provides a living habitat for marine life and enlaces biodiversity. What makes this initiative particularly exciting is the long-term commitment required to trial its sustainability. It involves not only the physical installation of the oyster castles but also the crucial aspect of encouraging continuous community participation.

Want to learn more about nature-based solutions?

Explore our specialized microsite, offering a collection of resources, case studies, training, and other materials focused on incorporating nature into Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Learn More

At-Risk Communities

What are the main challenges that the communities and individuals you work with face when it comes to disaster preparedness?

Awareness of potential risks and being equipped with relevant skills and tools are crucial for communities. One of the significant challenges identified is the lack of a centralized and easily accessible platform that consolidates risk information. The availability of such consolidated risk information is vital for communities to understand the potential threats they may face and develop appropriate preparedness strategies.

How well prepared are communities to meet these challenges? In your view, what could equip them better and strengthen their resilience?

Forming local community-led groups and providing training and tools is one of the key initiatives we suggest in our programs. To facilitate the dissemination of risk information and disaster preparedness knowledge, we have developed a mobile application that offers this critical information. To enhance the information flow, now we are collaborating with stakeholders to create an interactive web platform for improved risk and capacity mapping.

Presenting the climate-smart community resilience project for residents of sub-divided units at the HSBC Leadership Programme in May 2023, showcasing innovative solutions for vulnerable communities.

Sub-divided units (SDUs) in Hong Kong refer to the subdivision of a flat into multiple individual rooms, often leading to issues like tiny spaces, fire hazards, structural problems, and poor hygiene. The Hong Kong Red Cross works with SDU residents to enhance their resilience and ability to face life's challenges. Learn more in this story: Collaborative Partnership – Services Providers and Service Users.

Impact and Priorities

Do you have any recent achievements or successes that you’d like to share with the rest of us? In your opinion, what helped achieve this success?

Our Building a Living Shoreline disaster risk reduction project has been awarded the Outstanding Collaboration Award by the Agency for Volunteer Service, an external NGO, in 2023. This recognition highlights the project's effective involvement of diverse stakeholders, including the community team, schools, religious groups, local organizations, and technical groups, who contributed significantly to the success of DRR impact in the flood-prone community in Hong Kong.

In my opinion, the key factors that contributed to this achievement were the commitment and invaluable contributions of all the stakeholders involved, as well as our dedicated team.

The Building a Living Shoreline Project was awarded the Outstanding Collaboration Service Award in January 2024, in recognition of its exceptional collaborative efforts.

What are one or two top priorities for your team in the next 1-2 years when it comes to preparedness and risk reduction? More broadly, what do you think some of the key priorities should be for our country or globally in this area?

Public awareness is one of our priority service areas. Currently, we are utilizing various online platforms and virtual reality (VR) tools for general DRR education. However, I see the need to further strengthen the application of interactive tools, including immersive technologies, in the coming years to create more engaging and effective learning experiences. To achieve this, we are establishing collaborations with academic institutions conducting research in immersive technologies and promoting their use in DRR.

What advice or a lesson from your experience would you give to colleagues in other National Societies working in this space?

Within each National Society, there exists a diverse range of resources, including technical expertise, networks, funding sources, and a dedicated volunteer base. One of the key roles of the Red Cross is to identify specific needs and effectively coordinate these various resources to formulate comprehensive solutions. Engaging youth and tapping into their innovative ideas can be particularly interesting and impactful in addressing complex challenges.

Presenting Hong Kond Red Cross’ green initiatives the prestigious East Asia Leadership Forum in July 2023, promoting sustainable practices on a regional scale.

What connections or collaborations outside your National Society have been most useful?

Our partnership with a group of technical professions and scholars from other organizations and universities has provided us a lot of opportunities to expand the impact of our service to wide range of the public. These partnerships have allowed us to leverage diverse expertise and create synergies that amplify our efforts to serve a wider range of the public.

Are you interested in showcasing your work in disaster preparedness and risk reduction through our Practitioner Spotlight series? Please reach out to us at gdpc@redcross.org, and we'll be happy to collaborate with you in highlighting your valuable work for the entire Red Cross Red Crescent Network.

The post From Oyster Castles to Virtual Reality: Hong Kong Red Cross’ Innovative Approach to Building Resilience appeared first on PrepareCenter.

Navigating the “dog days:” Experience of the Mexican Red Cross during 2023 heatwaves

Adriana Mangones — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 17:42:45 +0000

This case study explores the preparedness and response efforts by the Mexican Red Cross (Cruz Roja Mexicana) during the 2023 heat waves where temperatures climbed close to 50°C (122°F) in parts of the country. The focus is on showcasing effective strategies and drawing insights from their activities to improve preparedness for future heatwaves.

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Context

Climate change is intensifying heat waves in Mexico, with more frequent and prolonged events. Just in the first 8 months of 2023, Mexico experienced five heatwaves. The July heat wave proved exceptionally severe as it coincided with the canícula (“dog days” in English) - the hot, dry period from July to August with less rain and clouds, resulting in intense sun exposure during the long summer days. This scorching heat wave affected most of Mexico, with temperatures hitting 49°C (120°F) near the northern border and a blistering 56.1°C (133°F) in southern states.

Mexico's National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued emergency warnings in over half of the country's states due to scarce rainfall and extreme heat. The prolonged heat waves exacted a steep human cost, with 249 heat-related deaths reported in the first seven months of 2023. In connection with the high temperatures, Mexico also saw an unusual increase in adverse weather events, including 89 forest fires which surpassed the previous record of 87 in 2022.

The state of Sonora was especially hard-hit, accounting for 47% of total heatwave fatalities nationwide. Despite being a northern state, Sonora lies in the arid Sonoran Desert. Sonora's arid climate and desert geography worsened the extreme heat, leading to the highest death rate from heatwaves in Mexico.

This extreme heat event disrupted agricultural cycles, posed severe public health risks from heat stroke and dehydration, strained energy grids struggling to meet spiking demand, and caused significant economic losses. Specific adverse impacts included electrical grid blackouts, loss of commerce and perishable goods, loss of crops, and cattle deaths due to lack of water in the dry season.

In rural areas, one adaptation introduced was shifting work schedules to avoid the hottest and most dangerous times of the day. Workers began at 4:00 AM, paused at noon when temperatures peaked, and finished in the early evening when the heat had subsided. Densely populated urban areas faced greater challenges replicating these schedule changes. Many office jobs and industries in cities operate on less flexible timelines which are not as conducive to midday breaks. As such, rural agricultural communities proved better equipped to adjust daily rhythms during the heat waves, while urban centers struggled to enact similar preventative measures on a broad scale.

The Mexican Red Cross Response

Adapting Heatwave Response to Local Needs: The Mexican Red Cross’ Decentralized Approach

The Mexican Red Cross has a strong presence nationwide with over 550 offices, 30 hospitals and 11 blood banks distributed across the country. One of their most recognizable assets is their emergency response team structure, which is seen as an international model for disaster response and rescue efforts. Red Cross delegations in each state have the autonomy to develop strategies tailored to local needs and events. The development of specific response strategies for each state is supported by data and updates that are regularly collected at the Mexican Red Cross’ national headquarters, and include information like service demand, complexity, correlated weather events among others. Given Mexico's diverse geographical regions and ecosystems, as well as varied regional cultures, the decentralized approach and tailored made response strategies across different states proved effective in responding to the five heat waves in 2023.

According to Beatriz Romanis Beltran, Disaster Risk Reduction Program volunteer, "This year's heatwaves were more intense. We worked closely with communities as many modified work and school hours in response, with some schools even reverting to online teaching and cancelling outdoor activities." She explained that local governments made the initial decisions on response measures, which were used by Red Cross state delegations to craft complementary response plans.

A key advantage of these localized strategies was the ability to target specific populations and needs. For example, in the states of Edomex (Estado de México) and Tamaulipas the Red Cross launched public awareness campaigns on social media, radio and television to educate people on recognizing heat exhaustion and staying hydrated. In addition to campaigns, the delegations in the states of Baja California and Yucatan also focused on equipping public areas to promote hydration and safety. This included installing drinking fountains and shade shelters in parks and recreation sites, as well as assisting schools in modifying schedules to avoid the highest risk heat hours.

Mexican Red Cross social media awareness campaign

The 2023 heatwaves took a substantial toll with more heat-related deaths and populations facing increased risks from fires and drought compared to previous years. However, not all viewed the response and mitigation actions positively — particularly children. When the state of Yucatán suspended outdoor school activities and kept children indoors for recess during heatwaves, many perceived it as disciplinary “punishment” resulting in missing out on playtime and outdoor freedom. According to Red Cross volunteers assisting schools, this view persisted even after public awareness campaigns explained the policy was meant for safety amid the dangerous heat.

Towards Proactive Heatwave Preparedness

While response efforts have been robust, the Mexican Red Cross acknowledges the need for improved heatwave preparedness strategies, according to Brenda Avila Flores of the National Program for Disaster Risk Reduction. "Right now, our discussions are reactionary," explained Avila Flores. "We talk hurricanes during hurricanes, and floods during floods. But with five heatwaves this year, it's imperative that we shift our focus to proactively discussing heatwaves. We're initiating national-level cooperation specifically geared towards addressing the challenges posed by heatwaves."

The Mexican Red Cross has a long history of collaboration with government agencies on disaster management, including the National Disaster Prevention Center, Environment and Natural Resources Department, National Water Commission, and National Weather Service. For example, the Red Cross was a key stakeholder in supporting the development of the National Climate Change Strategy adopted in 2021. The new strategy initiated more robust disaster mapping of high-risk areas prone to threats like hurricanes and earthquakes. However, being often invisible hazards, heat wave risks were not included in the strategy originally, but were added later as the adverse impacts became clearer.

A key challenge faced is the perception of the Red Cross as a first responder rather than a preparedness actor, according to Avila Flores of the National Disaster Risk Reduction program. “Communities recognize us for helping after disasters, but we need to build their resilience before events occur. A great example of our risk reduction efforts is the Zurich Flood Resilience project, which focuses on floods," Flores explained.

Red Cross volunteers attend a workshop on heat waves in the San Luis Potosí delegation.

Photo Credit: Mexican Red Cross

In addition to aiding national-level policy design and planning, the Mexican Red Cross created its own internal heat wave strategy. According to Beatriz Romanis, increased coordination is needed between preparedness and response strategies. "Now that the National Climate Strategy was created, we need to integrate our initiatives, so they are structured as comprehensive strategies rather than isolated reactions to events happening on an ad hoc basis," Romanis explained. She advocates for developing coordinated preparedness plans to match existing response capacities, allowing for more complete and proactive community services. Through these internal and external steps, the Mexican Red Cross seeks to raise the perception of heat waves as a priority within the country’s diverse risk landscape.

During 2023, the Mexican Red Cross dedicated efforts to improve heatwave preparedness. This included designating Gabriel Reyes, from the Disaster Risk Reduction Program, to serve as the point of contact person responsible for monitoring public heatwave alerts and relevant information. In this role, Reyes coordinated with other Red Cross teams and followed up with regional delegations on appropriate actions when extreme heat were forecasted. These actions involved distributing educational materials, safety information, or other customized resources as needed in each state.

The Cancun delegation of the Mexican Red Cross discusses heat-related medical emergencies in the city. Delegation Director Amilcar Galaviz elaborates on extreme heat risks in the Yucatan and prevention measures citizens can take during daylight hours.

Key good practices

Customized Regional Planning

Enabling regional delegations to create a tailored heatwave response plan according to local requirements. This on-demand approach allows flexibility based on each state's needs.

Youth Education Initiatives

Bringing preparedness campaigns to schools, where volunteers educate children and teens on heat safety, recognizing heatstroke symptoms, and response.

Public Awareness Partnerships

Working in coordination with government agencies to provide safety information and care resources in public spaces during heatwaves.

Key Lessons Learned

Expanding Visibility of Preparedness Work

The Mexican Red Cross has strong recognition for response capacity and prehospital care during disasters. However, prevention and preparedness efforts are newer and require further outreach in communities.

Train Volunteers in Preparedness

Limitations in volunteer availability and training cause extra burden for some states facing simultaneous extreme weather events, overloading their response capacity. While volunteer teams are very well trained in response, they require additional training in preparedness and prevention.

International Cooperation

Maintain strategic relationships with other National Societies to align prevention and preparedness strategies and efforts. The organization has regular engagement with the American Red Cross and Colombian Red Cross focused specifically on collaborating and sharing lessons learned around preparedness and climate resilience.