Main challenges on community-based approaches in earthquake risk reduction: Case study of Tehran, Iran

During the recent years and especially after the destructive Bam Earthquake in December 2003, the importance of public awareness and community-based activities for disaster risk mitigation and management have been revealed more clearly to Iran׳s authorities. In this regard, several national policies have been prepared and some activities were carried out by governmental and non-governmental organizations for improving the public awareness and participation in earthquake risk reduction programs from local to national levels. In this paper, these activities have been partly addressed. In addition, the results of a pilot study carried out in three districts of Tehran are presented and discussed in order to evaluate the current situation of public awareness as well as the willingness of Tehran residents to participate in risk mitigation activities. After providing the necessary training and preparing disaster maps, the results of this study showed that communities found novel ways to improve their capabilities for reducing the impacts of potential earthquakes and responding to their effects. Understanding the physical and technical shortages of community-based organizations in Tehran in the field of disaster preparedness and management was another outcome of this research.