A consolidated guide for integrating hazard considerations into project planning and development
Introduction¶
This guide provides essential technical recommendations for reducing disaster risks across various hazard types. These recommendations are derived from international best practices and are designed to help project developers, engineers, and planners integrate risk reduction measures from the earliest stages of project development.
Key Principles:
Prevention is better than cure: Avoiding hazard-prone areas and preventing hazard amplification saves lives and resources
Expert guidance is essential: Local and international expertise ensures context-appropriate solutions
Multi-hazard thinking: Consider interactions between different hazards
Build resilience: Design for recovery and continued operation after disasters
1. Risk Assessment & Planning¶
Start with understanding your risks. Before committing resources, gather comprehensive hazard information specific to your project location.
Key Actions:¶
Obtain pre-existing hazard information from local and national sources
Conduct site-specific risk assessments for all relevant hazards
Review historical hazard events and their impacts on the area
Verify that global datasets align with local conditions
Evaluate project vulnerability before finalizing location and design
2. Expert Guidance & Standards¶
Engage qualified professionals. Technical expertise ensures your project meets appropriate standards and addresses local conditions.
Key Actions:¶
Hire qualified engineers and hazard specialists with local experience
Comply with local building codes and international standards
Ensure designs are reviewed by professionals with relevant expertise
Consult government agencies responsible for hazard management
For critical infrastructure, require higher design standards
3. Avoiding & Reducing Hazards¶
Do no harm. Project construction can inadvertently increase hazards for the site and surrounding areas.
Key Actions:¶
Avoid building in high-hazard zones where relocation is feasible
Assess how construction will affect local hydrology, slopes, and microclimates
Do not increase hazard exposure for adjacent properties
Maintain natural drainage systems and vegetation where possible
Consider relocation if local assessments confirm high hazard exposure
4. Hazard-Specific Mitigation¶
Implement targeted protection measures. Different hazards require specific mitigation strategies.
Key Actions:¶
For floods: Consider green infrastructure, flood defenses, and drainage management
For water scarcity: Plan for storage, alternative sources, and efficient use
For extreme heat: Use appropriate building design, materials, and vegetation
For wildfires: Apply fuel management, site design, and ignition prevention
For earthquakes: Secure non-structural components and building contents
5. Infrastructure & Interdependencies¶
Think beyond your project boundaries. Infrastructure depends on networks that may be vulnerable to hazards.
Key Actions:¶
Identify critical infrastructure dependencies (power, water, communications, transport)
Assess vulnerability of the entire dependency network
For critical facilities, ensure functionality during and after hazard events
Plan for backup systems and redundancies
Consider cascading effects if network components fail
6. Early Warning & Emergency Response¶
Prepare for emergencies. Early warning and response planning can save lives and reduce losses.
Key Actions:¶
Identify and integrate with existing early warning systems
Ensure warnings reach all facility occupants
Develop and practice evacuation plans and emergency protocols
Incorporate emergency features (exits, signage, equipment) in design
Align with government emergency response policies
For volcanoes and tsunamis, ensure the project can act on warnings
7. Multi-Hazard Considerations¶
Consider hazard interactions. Multiple hazards may occur simultaneously or trigger secondary effects.
Key Actions:¶
Account for coastal flooding from cyclones and storm surge
Consider earthquake secondary hazards (landslides, liquefaction, tsunamis, fires)
Assess impacts beyond the immediate hazard source (e.g., volcanic ash, flooding upstream)
Evaluate effects on local populations and the environment
8. Financial Protection¶
Transfer residual risk. Insurance can help projects recover when mitigation is insufficient.
Key Actions:¶
Consider hazard-specific insurance for risks that cannot be fully mitigated
Evaluate insurance options for earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and wildfires
Include coverage for business interruption and recovery costs
For wildfires, consider indemnity against legal action
Resources & Further Guidance¶
International Frameworks & Standards¶
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 - Global blueprint for disaster risk reduction
Words into Action Guidelines - Implementation guides for disaster risk reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction Terminology - Standardized DRR concepts and definitions
PreventionWeb - Knowledge platform for disaster risk reduction
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)
GFDRR Project Portfolio - Case studies and project examples
Understanding Risk - Community of practice for risk assessment
ThinkHazard! - Web-based tool for hazard screening
OpenDRI - Open data for resilience initiatives
Resilient Infrastructure - Technical guidance for infrastructure projects
Technical Guidance by Hazard Type¶
Earthquakes
Floods
Cyclones & Wind
Climate Hazards (Heat, Drought, Wildfires)
IPCC Special Reports - Climate science and adaptation
Multi-Hazard Approaches
Building Codes & Standards¶
Global Earthquake Model (GEM) - Earthquake engineering resources
National and regional building codes (consult local authorities)