Although there are natural hazards in both developed and developing nations, developing nations are often more damaged. Even in the developing nations themselves, the most affected segment of the population is the poorest one to the extent that there’s a proposed mutual relation between natural disasters and poverty (Freeman, 2000, Kreimer & Arnold, 2000). Several hypotheses have been put forward to explain that trend: poor people in general will have less of a choice when it comes to where to live and how to build their houses. They spend more time concentrating on other seemingly more urgent matters. (Kreimer & Arnold, 2000) Nevertheless, the benefits of prevention may be bigger than what many countries estimate (Parker, 2000). One very important part of prevention is the introduction of building codes and safer and more resistant building techniques. In this way, builders and contractors can be targeted especially to stop trends that exacerbate the risk of damage (Dilley, 2000)

The general populace is who ultimately will choose where to build, how to build and with what to build their homes since they are the ones who will be paying for it. Nevertheless; engineers, builders and contractors do play a key role in making different options available for the populace to make a better choice. Our duty as an education group is to encourage the use of appropriate technologies: i.e. those that are cost efficient. The decision on which construction techniques are to be used is beyond this group’s scope. I will firstly define the different sub-groups that must be targeted and explain how can communication take place. Different suggested options on how to not only communicate but truly change the construction patterns in developing countries will follow.

1. Formal construction industry:

a. Engineers: Although in developing countries engineers are not heavily involved in many small scale housing construction projects (Vermeiren, 2000) they should have the most expertise in building techniques. If well prepared, Engineers could also play a role in briefing government officials on the matter of tsunami safe construction.

b. Real-Estate companies: these will create housing that will then be sold to the general populace. A well informed real estated company could increase the demand for tsunami safe houses.

The creation of technical manuals would be helpful (Vermeiren, 2000). I believe the quality of the engineers will be best improved by including pertinent courses in local universities and higher learning institutions. Also, the organization of technical seminars and conferences would be recommended.

Enforcement of the building codes is necessary. Moreover, the government could issue a certification for ‘tsunami-safe’ housing that will then imply taxing, insurance or loan incentives for the buyers and sellers (Kunreuther, 2000) these will help people differentiate between non-tsunami safe and tsunami-safe housing, justifying slight but possible differences in price.

2. The informal sector:

a. Masons: these are less technically instructed than engineers, yet they comprise a bigger part of the construction industry.

b. General public: in many cases the general populace is in charge of constructing or partially constructing their homes (Vermeiren, 2000). In countries such as Peru, especially in rural areas, many people build their houses themselves with the aid of their families (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, 1989)

Much attention must be given to this informal sector, as it is the main source of housing for the generality of the most vulnerable population. Due to its lack of structure, this informal sector will require different communication techniques than those of the formal one. Parker (2000) indicates that communication campaigns for builders and general public fail to be as effective as they should be due to the size of the involved population, the low ability to learn new techniques, the lack of time and overly complex messages. Massive campaigns of communication for tsunami awareness should include mention of better building techniques. The messages should be coherent and succinct; Parker suggests that ‘any presentation with more than three main messages is ineffective’.

Community meetings directed to the groups in charge of construction would be a way for not only transmitting information but gaining feedback. In many cases international organizations (such as the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements) have been involved in the training and technical support necessary for builders to learn better building techniques. For instance, in Peru, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements helped establish training centers at building sites as well as published construction manuals that explained the safer construction methods (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements, 1989). The government can also sponsor such programs or supply them itself. Technical education is given by many governments in developing countries and programs on tsunami safe construction could be included, either as independent courses or a section of a more general building course.

The attention issue is something we cannot overlook. Parker indicates ‘the attention of the individual or potential victim is a finite commodity that should not be misdirected’, moreover, it seems that the time when people are the most susceptible to listen is precisely after a disaster takes place: ‘reconstruction projects promoting mitigations need to send the message during the first months after disaster that safer housing is within everyone’s reach. Once the idea is out, it can be reinforced with classes, model buildings, and posters. But once the fear engendered by the disaster event is gone, if people have not heard that safer possibilities are available to them, the window of educational opportunity has closed until the next disaster’. Thus, after a tsunami has occurred and people are reconstructing their homes is a very important time to create model houses and demonstration projects which will have a strong impact. Of course, the best would be changing habits before the tsunami strikes, but in any case, the immediate period after a tsunami presents a unique opportunity for education.

The publishing of national building codes by themselves that aren't read by the population, or that cannot be afforded wouldn't be enough. All the regulations, though necessary as they are, cannot be imposed on people that cannot humanly follow them. Kunreuther pinpoints reasons why there is not enough prevention for natural disasters: underestimation of risk, costs, lack of long term planning and expectation of assistance in the case of a disaster. Thus if we are to change any bad habits there are, we must tackle their causes. To avoid underestimation of risks, mass communication campaigns could be effective. Safer techniques could be made to look more cost effective to the general public (Vermeiren, 2000). This can be done with the facilitation of better loans and tax incentives for tsunami safe properties, as well as long term low interest loans for home improvement. (Kunreuther, 2000).

Although all the recommendations are based on general trends researched in many different developing countries, we expect them to be valid in Peru and the Federated States of Micronesia. Field data should be used to verify whether these measures apply to both countries.

The picture shows the kind of house that Habitat for Humanity is building now in Sri Lanka. Habitat for Humanity is building houses with better, cost-efficient techniques that will help prevent the same amount of destruction that was seen in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; this exemplifies how post-tsunami education can have a stronger impact. Taken from: www.habitat.org/hw/2004tsunami/feature5.html

Sources:

1. Kreimer, A. & Arnold, M. (Eds.) (2000) managing disaster risk in emerging economies. Washington D.C. World Bank. [includes papers by Freeman, Kreimer & Arnold, Kunreuther, Vermeiren, Parker, Dilley].
2. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) (1989) Human settlements and natural disasters. Nairobi, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).