DRM helps communities become more robust | DRM helps communities become more robust | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Disaster-Risk-Management-Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <div>The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre (DRMC) facilitated a series of community training sessions the last few weeks, aimed at making participants aware and better prepared for future challenges. </div><div><br><br></div><p><br></p> | <div>During the past six months, DRM completed 451 public education and awareness sessions in schools, libraries, at risk communities, old age homes, and with NGOs, religious organisations and youth groups . </div><div><br></div><div>The recent sessions included community based risk assessment workshops, climate change programmes and First Aid training.<br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/workshop1.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /></p></span>The workshops were multi-faceted, aiming to identify and understand the myriad of hazards, risks and vulnerabilities faced by communities.</div><div><br></div><div>‘By engaging and talking to our residents, we are able to gain valuable insight into their experiences and this in turn leads to the development of practical action plans. The goal was to enhance community preparedness and empower residents to take ownership of managing risks. We are heading into winter, when many of our communities bear the brunt of adverse weather, and the sessions also shed light on flood risks and the importance of community preparedness,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.</div><div><br></div><div>The programme for each of the workshops for younger participants kicked off with an information hike and a lesson on biodiversity, while the rest of the programme focused on climate change and the social and economic impact it has on the global population and environment. Other topics included plastic pollution, composting and food security. <br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/workshop3.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1900px;" /></p></span>It also zoomed in on the local landscape and how the city is being affected by this phenomenon, while the First Aid training session conducted in collaboration with Emergency Medical Services, aimed to enhance capacity and resilience within the community.</div><div><br></div><div>‘There is a growing risk of disasters due to a number of factors and we are being proactive in ensuring that our communities are aware of the risks, and how to mitigate these. While the DRMC often responds to incidents after they’ve happened, the centre drives many awareness programmes, workshops and other interventions to help educate communities into becoming more robust,’ said Alderman Smith.</div><div><br></div><div>In addition DRM assists in ensuring the safety at events and facilities.</div><div><br></div><div>Officials responsible for event safety play a crucial role in ensuring the mitigation of risks and the implementation of an event safety plan by conducting thorough risk assessments, and developing a comprehensive event safety plan that outlines procedures and protocols to be followed in the event of an emergency. </div><div><br></div><div>Should an emergency occur, DRM performs a co-ordination role between services to ensure that all responders are activated.</div><div><br></div><div>Along with the occupational health and safety committees at facilities, DRM identifies potential hazards, evaluates risks, develops response and recovery strategies, and implements measures to mitigate these risks. </div><div><br></div><div>Through collaboration with Disaster Management officials and input from all stakeholders, facilities can establish effective emergency protocols. </div><div><br></div><div>This ensures that when a natural disaster, accident, or other emergency occurs, the organisation is well-equipped to swiftly and efficiently respond, minimising potential damage and ensuring the safety of all involved. </div><div><br></div><div>‘Being prepared for a disaster can save lives, reduce fear and anxiety, and help us recover faster after an event. With education and awareness, we can enable communities to help us improve our preparedness and response capacity. By working together, we can lessen the impact of disasters,’ added Alderman Smith. <br></div><div><br></div><div><span><p><img src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/workshop4.jpg" class="responsive" alt="" style="width:1069px;" /></p></span>Caption: Young people joined in a workshop which included topics such as climate change, composting and food security. The programme kicked off with an information hike and a lesson on biodiversity.<br></div><div><br></div><div><strong>End</strong><br></div><p><br></p> | 2024-03-09T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#64cbcded-2450-464f-b1ec-c0f303bcd4a4;L0|#064cbcded-2450-464f-b1ec-c0f303bcd4a4|Climate change;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#cb2fbda2-f27c-4834-be95-7f049c8640b3;L0|#0cb2fbda2-f27c-4834-be95-7f049c8640b3|disaster management;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#bf0774d4-a685-4a96-a711-2dc1fddccd46;L0|#0bf0774d4-a685-4a96-a711-2dc1fddccd46|workshops;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |