Knowledge for Disaster Preparedness: A Literature Review

Abstract

This paper is based on a review of literature pertaining to the knowledge and practices. It attempts to give an overview and framework of local knowledge in disaster preparedness, an understanding of its usefulness in disaster management, and the benefits and problems involved.Evidences showthat knowledge and practices can help implementing organizations to improve disaster preparedness activities. Notwithstanding this evidence, the marginalization of knowledge and practices by mainstream literature and institutions involved with disaster managementcontinues. A knowledge system is composed of different knowledge types, practices and beliefs, values, and worldviews. Such systems change constantly under the influence of power relations and cross-scale linkages both within and outside the community. As such, knowledge and practices need to be understood as adaptive responses to internal and external changes which resultin disaster preparedness at local level. In order to identify knowledge on disaster preparedness, one should focus on four key aspects: people’s ability to observe their local surroundings, people’s anticipation of environmental indicators, people’s adaptation strategies, and people’s ability to communicate about natural hazards within the community and between generations. In totality, the ability a community has to prepare itself for disaster preparedness needs to be understood within the broader context of livelihood security and sustainability and building up community resilience in the long term.