Southeast Asia leads in disaster preparedness despite vulnerability

A Gallup survey reveals that Southeast Asia, one of the most disaster-prone regions, is also among the best prepared to handle natural disasters.

David Rising reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• Southeast Asia has high disaster preparedness despite frequent exposure to natural hazards like earthquakes and typhoons.
• The region's success is linked to effective early-warning systems, community approaches, regional cooperation and access to disaster finance.
• Wealth is not the key factor in preparedness, as Southeast Asia, with lower-middle-income countries, surpasses wealthier regions.

Key quote:

Southeast Asia is "a region that clearly has much to teach the world in terms of preparing for disasters.”

— Ed Morrow, senior campaigns manager for Lloyd’s Register Foundation

Why this matters:

Southeast Asia’s effective disaster preparedness strategies could serve as a model for other regions. Learning from these practices could help save lives and reduce damage globally.

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• Disaster preparedness starts with facing reality