When most people think about disaster preparedness, they imagine stocked shelves of canned food, flashlights tucked away with fresh batteries in their bedside table, and their family’s plan for maintaining safety during an emergency. And while all of these measures can be life saving during catastrophic events like natural disasters or war, they only offer one – albeit important – perspective of what it means to be prepared.
From an up close and personal perspective, these individual or family-focused disaster preparedness plans are crucial elements of our day-to-day lives, providing citizens with peace of mind and a sense of control over their own response to catastrophe. All the while, a deeper sense of comfort comes from the trust that most citizens have in their own local and national governments, hoping that if or when disaster strikes, they’ll be looked after and protected.
Protecting Citizens Through Foolproof Preparedness Plans
Recognizing that preparedness doesn’t – and shouldn’t – fall solely on the shoulders of citizens in need, governments and countries accept the valuable responsibility of creating and implementing solid plans should disaster strike. While these larger-scale, nationwide plans might not be top of mind when considering disaster preparedness for your family or community, it’s important to recognize the important role that nations play in protecting their citizens.
Whether they occur naturally (like weather events) or are human-caused, the potential for disaster lurks around every corner. It’s crucial that when catastrophic events occur, governments are able to respond from a place of confidence and control as opposed to concern or surprise. Doing so can mean the difference between life and death for citizens, and is not a responsibility to be taken lightly.
There are a few nations that continue to exemplify a high standard of emergency preparedness plans, equipping their governments and citizens with the knowledge, infrastructure, technology, and tools needed to prioritize safety at every turn. By taking a closer look at some of the more prominent, effective disaster preparedness plans on a global stage, we can begin to gain a better understanding of how to protect our greatest resource: human life.
A Closer Look: Disaster Preparedness On A National Scale
Keeping citizens safe requires extensive consideration and resources from numerous parties within local and national governments. Beyond designating and delegating responsibilities and tasks to relevant parties, countries and leaders must think through what disaster means across their landscape. In other words, preparedness goes far beyond simply asking “what is most likely to happen?”
Instead, leaders must consider all possibilities of risk, no matter how seemingly outlandish or unlikely. This task can be assisted by conducting a thorough assessment of a nation’s current strengths and weaknesses to inform a strategic path forward. Only through this rigorous, exhaustive process can preparedness be achieved.
Beyond identifying potential threats, though, disaster preparedness and management requires far more than many realize.
Empowering Citizens to Prioritize Preparedness
Japan does a notably great job of keeping their citizens informed and involved in disaster preparedness plans, resulting in an empowered and informed population. After an earthquake with 7.9 magnitude hit the Kanto Plain in 1923, launching a subsequent typhoon and resulting in a significant loss of life, Japan considered relocating its capital city to somewhere safer. As a result of Japan’s proximity to fault lines, it’s common knowledge that citizens and communities are at a higher risk for disaster. But instead of resigning to the risks and relocating an entire capital city, Japan’s government took control, creating comprehensive plans to reinforce their infrastructure and keep citizens safe.
By rebuilding in the wake of the earthquake, Japan was able to replace outdated structures with reinforced materials like steel and concrete. Seeing a need for a stronger foundation, they took advantage of the resources they had and used them to create not just a sense of security, but a more structurally sound community. These reinforcements were only half the battle, however.
Acknowledging their vulnerability as a nation prone to earthquakes, Japan was quick to involve citizens in their prevention efforts, arguably positioning them as a world leader in disaster preparedness. Since 1960, Japan’s population recognizes – and celebrates – Disaster Prevention Day on September 1st (the anniversary of the 1923 quake). On this day, schools conduct evacuation drills, the Prime Minister acknowledges prevention and management efforts, and awareness is brought to these plans. These country-wide initiatives result in a more engaged population, ultimately leading to a more prepared society.
Now equipped with some of the most advanced earthquake and tsunami detection systems, hundreds of weather-proof shelters, and an empowered citizen base, Japan exemplifies what it means to prioritize preparedness – not just awareness – at every turn.
There’s Always Room For Improvement
While Japan and other nations showcase what it means to prioritize preparedness, there’s always room to grow and improve with the goal of eliminating loss in the face of disaster. Prometheus is built on the idea that all problems have a solution, even when those problems seem larger than life. By constantly staying up-to-date on how countries like Japan approach disaster preparedness, the Prometheus team can learn from their example, build upon their findings, and help bring others into the fold. We know that there’s strength in numbers, and in an effort to work towards better preparedness standards for all, we continue to challenge the status quo.
