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Cover TITLE Know Risk [pdf 256 KB]
DATE 2005
SYNOPSIS Know Risk is a fully illustrated, 376-page hardback book in which over 160 authors describe their work in disaster reduction at international, regional, national, municipal and local levels. Their commentaries draw upon experiences around the world to reflect how people are living with natural and related environmental and technological risks, and how they are making their own efforts to reduce their exposure to disasters. Know Risk reflects the progress in this field over the past ten years, highlighting good practices and drawing on the UN/ISDR coordinated review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World (1994). By focusing on the experiences and livelihoods of people in vulnerable human habitats, Know Risk emphasises the benefits of experience leading into future actions and institutional commitments to disaster reduction.

Cover TITLE Guidelines for Reducing Flood Losses
DATE April 2004
FOREWORD
excerpt:
Throughout the history of mankind, floods have brought untold wealth and prosperity to civilizations, and yet at the same time, they have caused tremendous losses and resulted in untold suffering for millions of people. Even today, floods lead all natural disasters in the number of people affected and in resultant economic losses, with these numbers rising at alarming rates

In response to the devastation arising from water-related natural disaster, particularly flooding, a series of three workshops and symposia were held, sponsored by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. One objective of these events was to create comprehensive guidelines that could be used by governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and civil society to help avert losses from flooding....

...This publication is based on the findings of those three sessions and is a contribution to the overall efforts that are required to help society cope with the forces of nature...