Resilience starts at home: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Resilience starts at home. That is the message of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, marked on 13 October.
The theme, chosen by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), puts the home at the centre of disaster risk reduction. The campaign highlights the importance of addressing inequalities and strengthening household preparedness, including ensuring that early warnings reach everyone at risk and that people know what early actions to take.
The campaign is in line with the EU's work on population preparedness. Under the Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025, preparedness is a task for the whole of society, with citizens playing an active part. The European Commission is currently working with Member States on guidelines on population preparedness, including for 72-hour household self-sufficiency and how to act in emergencies, adapted to all types of disability and training of first responders.
The UNDRR campaign invites partners worldwide to amplify its messages and share examples of how people, governments and the private sector are strengthening resilience at home. They especially welcome stories that make resilience visible, illustrated with photos and videos.
The concept note and full campaign materials are on the IDDRR 2026 website.