Disaster risk reduction is the concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyze and reduce the causal factors of disasters. Reducing exposure to hazards, lessening vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improving preparedness for adverse events are all examples of disaster risk reduction.
Our approach to disaster risk management now emphasizes the consequences of hazard impact on communities and how best to minimize those consequences . This demands an holistic approach. It is no longer appropriate, for example, to simply focus on the hazard phenomenon, its history of impact and probability of recurrence. It is essential to also develop a comprehensive understanding of the community that is exposed to the hazard (its people, livelihoods, infrastructure, economic resources and natural environment) and the degree to which those elements are vulnerable to various hazard impacts. Further, it is widely acknowledged that it is no longer appropriate to simply focus on the physical consequences of disaster; it is essential to consider the ‘triple bottom line’ of disasters – the economic, social and environmental consequences.