D21 Working with local authorities

• Local authorities are normally responsible both for having emergency plans in place and for ensuring the safety of the community following any disaster. In most situations they have the influence and resources to play the most important role. Community groups should always seek to work with local government officials and never to replicate their work. For effective preparation for a possible disaster situation, there is a need to unite everybody and work together.
• Communities should seek to build good relationship with officials and understand their different responsibilities. Government officials may be able to provide financial help for establishing and strengthening emergency shelters and supplies. Informing them of community preparations may enable them to write positive reports to their seniors, which in turn may lead to more resources for training or preparations.
• Consider working with local authorities to celebrate annual festival days that commemorate past disasters or acts of heroism. These could be used to highlight how well prepared the community is to meet such events if they occur again.

• What are the different roles of community organisations and local authorities in disasters?
• Discuss ways in which links with government officials and between churches and community groups can be improved. What events could be planned that would bring people together?
• Are there any annual or season celebrations in your community that could be used as an opportunity to share ideas of being ready for problems or disasters? Some examples may be: harvest celebrations to encourage storage; Women’s World Day to emphasise the needs of women. Independence Day could be a day to emphasise self-reliance and being ready.
• How can busy government officials be encouraged to incorporate plans to prepare for disaster into their work without adding to their workload?

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This page was last updated on 08 June 2005