ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT (May 20, 2014)
Climate change is upon us. Nothing can be done to stop it. The only thing that remains to be done is disaster management. It concerns preparing for natural and manmade disasters, responding to them, and recovering from them. In the last analysis, this is the task of each community of organized citizens, for little can be expected from governments. Preparing for them involves listing possible disasters and best responses to them in accordance with the community’s resources. Responding to them involves organized community action in accordance with plans and adjustment to unforeseen circumstances. Recovering from disasters also involves organized community action in accordance with plans and adjustment to unforeseen circumstances. Having recovered, the community needs to start preparing for upcoming disasters once again. The cycle of preparation, response, and recovery continues indefinitely. Disaster management also involves the defense of the community from unwanted intruders. In response to climate change, the principles of disaster management appropriate to each community need to be made comprehensible to all concerned. As they are developed, they need to be passed from one generation to another. And that is all that needs to be done about climate change at this stage of human development.