Disaster preparedness and resilience at household level in Yangon, Myanmar

Sophie-Bo Heinkel (), Benni Thiebes, Zin Mar Than, Toe Aung, Tin Tin Kyi, Win Lei Mar, Saw Sandar Oo, Christian Miller, Marlene Willkomm, Win Maung, Zin Nwe Myint, Khin Khin Soe, Regine Spohner and Frauke Kraas
Additional contact information
Sophie-Bo Heinkel: University of Cologne
Benni Thiebes: German Committee for Disaster Reduction (DKKV)
Zin Mar Than: University of Cologne
Toe Aung: Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
Tin Tin Kyi: Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
Win Lei Mar: Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
Saw Sandar Oo: Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
Christian Miller: Institute for Security Science and Rescue Technology (ISR)
Marlene Willkomm: Flood Protection Centre of the Municipal Drainage Operation of the City of Cologne (StEB Köln)
Win Maung: Myanmar Environment Institute (MEI)
Zin Nwe Myint: University of Yangon
Khin Khin Soe: University of Yangon
Regine Spohner: University of Cologne
Frauke Kraas: University of Cologne

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2022, vol. 112, issue 2, No 11, 1273-1294

Abstract: Abstract Resilience has become important in disaster preparedness and response. Unfortunately, little is known about resilience at the household level. This study presents the results of a survey into individual and household level preparedness to disaster events in Yangon, Myanmar, which is prone to natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, flooding, and earthquakes. The study aimed to understand societal resilience and to provide information that could be used to develop a holistic framework. In four different Yangon townships, 440 households were interviewed. The results of the survey indicate how risk preparedness could be improved by specific measures related to the following five factors: (1) increasing the general public’s knowledge of first aid and its role in preparedness; (2) improving mobile phone infrastructure and capacity building in its usage so that it can be used for communication during disasters, along with building up a redundant communication structure; (3) better use and organisation of volunteer potential; (4) more specific involvement of religious and public buildings for disaster response; and (5) developing specific measures for improving preparedness in urban areas, where the population often has reduced capacities for coping with food supply insufficiencies due to the high and immediate availability of food, shops and goods in regular times. The findings of this survey have led to specific recommendations for Yangon. The identified measures represent a first step in developing a more general framework. Future research could investigate the transferability of these measures to other areas and thus their suitability as a basis for a framework.

Keywords: Risk management; Disaster preparedness; Societal resilience; Cyclone; Earthquake; Flooding; Yangon; Myanmar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-022-05226-w

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