Have you viewed our Guide to Disaster Management recently? Across Australia there are floods, fires and storms that are triggering power outages, destroying homes and causing people to temporarily leave their homes. This guide describes what resources are available to help you personally and also outlines what happens nationally.
The problems are not limited to Australia – every country needs to be more resilient to face the challenges of increasing climate change events that impact lives and economies as described in this short video.
We know that women and girls are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and if you want to know more, read this article.
Have you seen the International Zonta Says NOW Disaster Ready Guides? The five guides start with describing why women and girls are more vulnerable to the impacts of disasters. The next guides then take you through the steps required to prepare your household, and your community, including one guide where you capture information about your local disaster relief organisations. The final leaflet asks if your country is disaster ready and encourages you to find out more about your national disaster preparedness and response strategies. Check them out here!
There is nothing like sharing first hand experience to make you realise the importance of being disaster ready.
Zonta District 12 Action for Environment and Gender Equality committee hosted a fellow Zontian, Liz Witham, from the Zonta Club of Prowers County, to speak about disaster preparedness. Her presentation covers many issues women face in the USA when a natural disasters and evacuation are imminent. This presentation provides tips, advice, and how to plan for evacuation. Her presentation is very relevant for Australia and the discussion afterwards is great!
Check out the other disaster-related resources on the USA Caucus Disaster Risk Management Page and on the District 12 website.
October 13 is the United Nations Disaster Reduction Day so why not plan to invite your local disaster management leaders to share how they involve women in their disaster preparedness and response planning?