Introduction
Within WP5 of ROADMAP2, three flash reports were produced as part of the knowledge building and sharing activities. These flash reports are short documents that define a specific topic and collect good practices in DRM related to that topic. The collection of good practices follows the methodology established in the ROADMAP2 project for selecting such practices. Thanks to the Community for the European Observatory of Good Practices (CEO), the following topics have been identified for the Flash Reports:
- 1st Flash Report: Using Foresight Techniques in Longer-term Disaster Risk Management;
- 2nd Flash Report: Practices of engaging people in vulnerable situations in disaster risk management;
- 3nd Flash Report: Good practices of communication in disaster risk management.
How to identify a good practice
The selection of GPs for the Flash Report follows the framework developed in ROADMAP2 for identifying and assessing good practices in DRM. This framework is based on an extensive literature review and advice from the CEO. It includes identification criteria from the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the EU Disaster Resilience Goals.
The end users of the ROADMAP2 framework are the European Union Civil Protection, national/regional/local civil protection authorities, first responders and stakeholders in DRM and DRR.
The framework provides a definition of DRM GPs, which are actions that reduce disaster risks for the target population. These practices are shown to be effective, achievable, environmentally sustainable, relevant, impactful and potentially transferable to other contexts. The definition emphasises the importance of evidence from research or practice to ensure that GPs are proven to work and meet the specific needs and objectives of the ROADMAP2 framework in DRR and DRM.
1st Flash Report: using foresight techniques in longer-term Disaster Risk Management
In the context of modern disasters, anticipating and preparing for emerging risks requires comprehensive risk assessment using foresight techniques. Moving beyond past-oriented paradigms, disaster risk should be conceptualised as a dynamic system. Foresight techniques, such as horizon scanning and scenario building, help to identify key drivers of change and analyse the impact of different future conditions. The European Union's Disaster Resilience Goals emphasise the systematic application of these methods in DRM. However, legal frameworks for foresight analysis in DRM are underdeveloped. The ROADMAP2 project explores how foresight techniques are used in risk assessments to guide adaptive, preventive or preparedness actions in the civil protection system.
On this topic, the flash report presents the following good practices:
Tasmanian heatwave case: Riddell and colleagues conducted a foresight exercise on heatwave risks in Tasmania, developing future scenarios and integrating them into a dynamic risk assessment to propose risk reduction methods.
Imagining the future of pandemics: WHO's foresight analysis aims to support informed decision-making on the transition from emergency response to future preparedness for pandemics and epidemics.
National Risk Assessment in Finland: anticipate sudden events that require deviation from normal activities, identifying and assessing risks with a wide national impact in 15 threat scenarios.
National Risk Assessment in Belgium: contributes to the mid-term review of the Sendai Framework by providing an overview of existing disaster risk reduction practices in Belgium and insights into future perspectives.
Canada’s National Risk Profile: reduce disaster risk and increase resilience by raising awareness, identifying gaps in emergency management, and supporting federal risk assessment and climate change adaptation efforts.
2nd Flash Report: Practices of engaging people in vulnerable situations in disaster risk management
Involving people in vulnerable situations in DRM is crucial to building a more inclusive system. Exclusion can increase the impact of crises, so inclusive DRM aims to address vulnerability and promote equity through capacity building and empowerment. The 2nd flash report of the ROADMAP2 project describes several good practices for including people in vulnerable situations in DRM, further developing the analysis started in the ROADMAP project. The European Union's Disaster Resilience Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction emphasise the importance of increasing disaster risk awareness and preparedness of the whole society, including and empowering vulnerable groups.
On this topic, the flash report presents the following good practices:
Paré pas Paré (‘Ready or not?’): increase disaster risk awareness and behaviour among 8-12 year olds, and improve their confidence and mental health, through seven natural hazards, including cyclones and volcanic eruptions.
Dopomoha: online information and support platform for Ukrainian refugees in Romania, allowing refugees to request the resources they need and public authorities, private companies and NGOs/volunteers to register their available resources.
Individual Evacuation Plan for people with special needs in Japan: personalised evacuation strategies through proactive identification, comprehensive assessment and inclusive coordination, enhancing disaster preparedness and community resilience.
ABCD model/Snowman method: integrate the strengths and resources of older community members into DRM strategies, recognising them as active contributors and building community resilience.
3rd Flash Report: Good practices of communication in disaster risk management
DRM consists of four phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Communication plays a key role in each phase. Risk communication involves messages aimed at shaping people's understanding of hazards and their risk awareness, while emergency or crisis communication aims to minimise casualties and support rapid recovery during and after a crisis event. The European Union's Disaster Resilience Goal 2 emphasises the importance of increasing risk awareness and preparedness among the population. This flash report explores how civil protection authorities have improved their practices to increase the accessibility and understandability of risk and crisis information, and to overcome barriers to acting on such information.
On this topic, the flash report presents the following good practices:
Crisis preparedness app ‘Be prepared!’: smartphone application, developed by Estonian volunteers from the Women's Voluntary Defence Organisation, improves crisis preparedness among residents;
Situational awareness information system ‘SITREP’: online platform of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior to improve communication and coordination between crisis management agencies;
Location-based SMS threat alert systems: public alert system using cell broadcast technology to send alerts to all mobile phones in a given area during major emergencies;
‘Safe Village’ and ‘Safe People’ wildfire safety programs: safety protocols and education to increase community resilience to forest fires in Portugal;
‘You are part of the Norwegian preparedness’ campaign: campaign to increase risk awareness and preparedness for infrastructure failures;
‘I don’t take risk’ campaign: Italian public communication campaign to promote good civil protection practices to raises awareness of natural and man-made risks and encourages preventive behaviour.