Disaster and crisis preparedness
The number of disasters and crises continues to increase every decade, with the related impact on lives and livelihoods of those affected. Humanitarian crises are increasingly protracted, unpredictable and complex, forcing the humanitarian community in general, and the Red Cross Red Crescent in particular, to adjust its practices and tools accordingly to provide a more effective and early response to those in need.
National Society preparedness
Panama Red Cross working with communities on family emergency plans to keep them prepared for any disaster or crisis.
Photo: Panamanian Red Cross
National Societies play a crucial role in disasters and crises, with their preparedness and response capacities determining the success and efficiency of emergency operations. Investing in their capacity is essential for timely and efficient disaster response. Red Cross and Crescent Societies worldwide, supported by IFRC, are working to improve their local preparedness for disasters and crises. This includes:
- Coordinating with local authorities, partners, and communities to know what risks and hazards to prepare for in line with the National Societies Auxiliary Role and Mandate.
- Training and equipping millions of volunteers as first responders to a wide range of hazards.
- Revise and adapt the National Societies' operational capacities to deal with current and future emergencies, including overlapping disasters and crises.
- Researching new technologies to improve their response, such as setting up early warning systems so communities and humanitarian organizations can take early action before a disaster hits.
Watch: An introduction to National Society preparedness
Preparedness for Effective Response (PER)
Red Cross personnel from nine countries across the Caribbean being trained in a regional Preparedness for Emergency Response (PER) training for facilitators.
Photo: IFRC
The National Society Preparedness for an Effective Response (PER) Approach provides a structured and standardized way of interacting with National Societies’ systems and processes to contribute to and increase National Societies’ preparedness, readiness, and response capacities in the immediate and long term.
The approach enables the IFRC network to use a common language through the PER Mechanism, which is the centerpiece of the Approach. It represents the organization’s functions, capacities, assets, tools and processes needed to respond effectively to crisis and disasters.
If you are from a National Society and are looking for more information on the PER approach, download this leaflet, take our e-learning course, or contact [email protected]
Explore our preparedness work
Success stories
Learn more about preparedness through our success stories, articles and case studies.
Preparedness videos
Learn more about preparedness through interviews, animated and explanatory videos.
Social network
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Pillars of preparedness and response
Policy, Strategy and Standards
Includes the foundational elements of National Societies' preparedness systems to fulfill their mandate.
Analysis & Planning
Includes the components that enable National Societies to better understand and plan for evolving risks and changing contexts.
Operational Capacity
Includes elements that facilitate National Societies' response actions, operational coordination, sector-specific needs and actions, and support methods.
Coordination
Includes components that outline coordination with various stakeholders.
Operational Support
Includes a set of components that enable National Societies to maintain essential functions required to operate during an emergency.
Watch: preparedness videos
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