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ICTs 4 Disaster Management

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a significant role in disaster prevention, mitigation response and recovery. Timely, predictable and effective information is much needed by government agencies and other humanitarian actors involved in rescue operations and decision-making processes.

ICTs for Disaster Management can be summed up in four principles: multi-hazard, multi-technology, multi-phased, and multi-stakeholder.

Multi-Hazard

Natural hazards include earthquakes, cyclones, floods, mud slides, droughts, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and fires. For all disasters that follow natural hazards, ICTs play a critical role in facilitating the flow of vital information in a timely manner.

Multi-Technology

In mitigating disastrous effects of hazards, ITU promotes the use of different information and communication technologies and networks, including satellite, radio, mobile networks and the Internet, that can contribute to enhance capacity and reduce vulnerability of people.

Multi-Phased

Telecommunications are critical at all stages of disaster management: mitigation, preparedness, response and relief, recovery and rehabilitation.

Multi-Stakeholder

The local community, the government, the private sector, disaster management agencies, meteorological organizations, civil society, humanitarian agencies and international organizations should ensure access to ICTs to better coordinate disaster management activities. Partnerships are the best way to achieve this task.

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ITU plays an important role in using ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management, through the design of national emergency telecommunication plans, the setting up of early warning and monitoring systems and the provision of emergency telecommunications equipment when disasters strike.