213
Hurricane Luis in September 1995 hit the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin, in
which the northern part belonged to the French and the southern part was governed
by the Dutch. The southern area suffered catastrophic damage compared to the
northern part. Subsequent studies revealed that the structures on the French side
were designed better to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes (Maurice 2013).
Countries that strengthened existing structures, adopted strict building codes
with respect to earthquake and took measures to amplify the population’s preparedness suffered lesser consequences compared to those that did not. Earthquake that
occurred in New Zealand and Haiti in 2010 had a magnitude of 7.0. But the earthquake in New Zealand injured only two individuals with no fatalities, whereas the
Haiti earthquake resulted in more than 300,000 fatalities besides injuries with similar number (Shapira et al. 2018a, b).
The disaster mitigation programme shall direct the following activities with
respect to health (Pan American Health organization 2000):
1. Recognize areas exposed to hazards and identify the vulnerability of key water
systems and health facilities.
2. Hospital building standards are more stringent compared to that of other buildings, as they must stay operational to attend to disaster victims.
3. Include disaster mitigation measures construction materials, choosing the site,
equipment, as well as type of maintenance and administration at the facility.
Figure 10.2 shows sea dike built on beach to protect low-lying areas against
flooding and mitigate effect of sea flooding. Still better structures can be built as a
seawall.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Physical
Planning
Measures
•DecentralizaƟon of
elements at risk
•Control of
populaƟon density
•Design of services
and roads
•Land use regulaƟon
Economic
Measures
•DiversificaƟon of
economic acƟvity
•Economic
incenƟves
•Insurance
Societal
Measures
•Public informaƟon
campaigns
•EducaƟon
•De-sensaƟonalize
hazards
•Community
involvement
•Drills
Management
and
InsƟtuƟonal
Measures
•EducaƟon and
training
•Research
•Technical experƟse
•Strengthening the
capability of local
authoriƟes
Engineering
and
ConstrucƟon
Measures
•Stronger individual
structures
•Hazard control
structures
Fig. 10.1 Measures required for disaster prevention and mitigation
10.2 Mitigation Strategy
Hurricane Luis in September 1995 hit the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin, in
which the northern part belonged to the French and the southern part was governed
by the Dutch. The southern area suffered catastrophic damage compared to the
northern part. Subsequent studies revealed that the structures on the French side
were designed better to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes (Maurice 2013).
Countries that strengthened existing structures, adopted strict building codes
with respect to earthquake and took measures to amplify the population’s preparedness suffered lesser consequences compared to those that did not. Earthquake that
occurred in New Zealand and Haiti in 2010 had a magnitude of 7.0. But the earthquake in New Zealand injured only two individuals with no fatalities, whereas the
Haiti earthquake resulted in more than 300,000 fatalities besides injuries with similar number (Shapira et al. 2018a, b).
The disaster mitigation programme shall direct the following activities with
respect to health (Pan American Health organization 2000):
1. Recognize areas exposed to hazards and identify the vulnerability of key water
systems and health facilities.
2. Hospital building standards are more stringent compared to that of other buildings, as they must stay operational to attend to disaster victims.
3. Include disaster mitigation measures construction materials, choosing the site,
equipment, as well as type of maintenance and administration at the facility.
Figure 10.2 shows sea dike built on beach to protect low-lying areas against
flooding and mitigate effect of sea flooding. Still better structures can be built as a
seawall.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation
Physical
Planning
Measures
•DecentralizaƟon of
elements at risk
•Control of
populaƟon density
•Design of services
and roads
•Land use regulaƟon
Economic
Measures
•DiversificaƟon of
economic acƟvity
•Economic
incenƟves
•Insurance
Societal
Measures
•Public informaƟon
campaigns
•EducaƟon
•De-sensaƟonalize
hazards
•Community
involvement
•Drills
Management
and
InsƟtuƟonal
Measures
•EducaƟon and
training
•Research
•Technical experƟse
•Strengthening the
capability of local
authoriƟes
Engineering
and
ConstrucƟon
Measures
•Stronger individual
structures
•Hazard control
structures
Fig. 10.1 Measures required for disaster prevention and mitigation
10.2 Mitigation Strategy