Disaster risk management and reconstruction in Latin America

This book offers an up-to-date resource covering both methodological and technical aspects of disaster mitigation, involving adequate risk assessment and the implementation of risk reduction strategies. It is based on Latin American experiences of disaster response and planning programmes, and particularly emphasises the importance of community-based participatory processes. It uses the experience of past disaster events, most notably earthquakes and floods, to show how local knowledge has been used to develop community responses that both help to raise awareness of dangers and also help prepare for improved future disaster response and reconstruction.

It contains: (i) vulnerability, disasters and housing in Peru; (ii) research and application of earthquake-proof technology; (iii) ITDG in San Martín, Ayacucho, Moquegua and Tacna (Amazon, highland and coastal regions); (iv) lessons obtained and recommendations; and (v) methodological intervention guide. Previously published in Spanish, this revised manual contains many practical diagrams and illustrations of building reconstruction case studies following earthquakes and is an important resource for all involved in humanitarian disaster response and planning.