TorqAid diagrammatic framework for disaster risk management

This article summarises diagrams which are used to discuss the key elements of disaster risk management (DRM). These include the Disaster Risk Management Cycle (DRMC), and the Effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) diagram. The DRMC outlines the key initiatives carried out both in the Emergency Response and the Recovery Stages of a disaster; the effective DRR diagram suggests that there are five complementary factors which constitute DRR, one of these being DRM initiatives. The paper also includes a DRM planning diagram, which illustrates how government DRM plans, particularly at lowest levels, are complemented by NGO community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) initiatives.

This paper was updated in July 2011, and draws down on relevant aspects of recent regional and global major disasters. These include the developing drought and food insecurity situation in the Horn of Africa; the 2011 Japan earthquake/tsunami; NZ Christchurch earthquake; and Australian floods and Cyclone Yasi; the 2010 Pakistan Floods and Haiti earthquake; the 2009 Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires; the 2008 Myanmar/Burma cyclone; the 2007 Bangladesh Cyclone Sidr; and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.