Media And Communication

A five-step method for building flood early warning systems with local communities, municipalities and national weather and civil defence services in the Andes.

It was developed by CIIFEN, the International Research Centre on El Niño, under the regional programme PRASDES, which Finland’s foreign ministry financed. It joins the four components of early warning set out by the UN disaster-reduction office to an approach of the Organization of American States in which trained community volunteers operate simple rain and river-level instruments. 

In 2015-2016, residents of 19 communities in Escoma, Bolivia, mapped flood-prone areas with the municipality to build a local flood early warning system.

A global educational simulation that challenges players to act as disaster risk managers, tasking them with protecting communities against imminent natural hazards through strategic planning and resource management. In each 10-20 minute session, players navigate one of five scenarios - tsunami, hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, or flood - where they must decide how to spend a limited budget on structural and non-structural measures.

A comprehensive national communication initiative designed to provide Romanian citizens with standardized, life-saving behavioral guidelines for seismic events. The initiative utilizes high-visibility video spots, downloadable educational brochures for schools, and interactive digital content to replace common myths with scientifically backed "correct behaviors." By ensuring that every citizen knows how to "drop, cover, and hold on" and avoid dangerous actions like using elevators or running onto stairs, the campaign builds a culture of national seismic resilience.

A national preparedness campaign that gives the public clear, practical steps to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

Ready.gov offers all-hazards and hazard-specific guidance - plans, supply kits, alerts and warnings, and recovery actions, with dedicated sections for Ready Kids and Ready Business that tailor preparedness actions to schools/families and the private sector.

A community training programme that turns residents into organised, trained volunteers who can support emergency response and recovery in their neighbourhoods.

The Tokyo Resilience Project is a city-wide preparedness programme that equips residents with practical tools and learning experiences to improve everyday disaster readiness.

In practice, the project operates as a multi-hazard resilience “umbrella”: it strengthens physical protection (e.g., regulating reservoirs and river measures; coastal protection and sea-level-rise readiness; upgrading buildings and lifelines) while also trying to make preparedness “everyday” through accessible products and outreach. Examples of public-facing outputs include:

A global educational simulation that challenges players to act as disaster risk managers, tasking them with protecting communities against imminent natural hazards through strategic planning and resource management. In each 10-20 minute session, players navigate one of five scenarios - tsunami, hurricane, wildfire, earthquake, or flood - where they must decide how to spend a limited budget on structural and non-structural measures.

A comprehensive national communication initiative designed to provide Romanian citizens with standardized, life-saving behavioral guidelines for seismic events. The initiative utilizes high-visibility video spots, downloadable educational brochures for schools, and interactive digital content to replace common myths with scientifically backed "correct behaviors." By ensuring that every citizen knows how to "drop, cover, and hold on" and avoid dangerous actions like using elevators or running onto stairs, the campaign builds a culture of national seismic resilience.

A community training programme that turns residents into organised, trained volunteers who can support emergency response and recovery in their neighbourhoods.