Disaster Risk Reduction

In this course, Dr. Hans de Moel will introduce you to the topic of Disaster Risk Reduction. First, the concepts of hazards and risks will be addressed, and how these can change over time and due to human activities. Next, potential impacts will be explored and how these can a-priori be assessed. Finally, we will look at how risk can be reduced, using the disaster management cycle as a framework to structure different types of adaptation measures.

The focus of the course will be on flood-related disaster risks, but the frameworks and concepts can be used to address and manage other risks related to natural hazards as well. After each lesson, there will be some quiz questions to evaluate the content of that lesson.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

No specific skills and knowledge required. Though some general understanding of flooding and climate change will help to put things in proper perspective.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define disasters, risks and their components of hazard, exposure and vulnerability
• Understand how the components of risk are dynamic
• Quantify the components of risk to assess disaster risk
• Understand and classify the wide variety of possible impacts
• Structure adaptation measures through the disaster management cycle
• Come up with relevant adaptation measures from all parts of the disaster management cycle which together can reduce the overall risk

ABOUT INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Hans de Moel is an assistant professor in the field of water and climate risks at the Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research focuses on natural hazard risk management, climate change and adaptation.

Certification

This course is part of the certificate programs ‘WE are Water Eduction (Myanmar)’ and ‘WE are Water Eduction (Indonesia)’.