Dear Readers

We are pleased to bring out this issue of the Asian Disaster Management News focusing on “Cyclone Preparedness and Mitigation". Typhoons/Cyclones (as they are known in different parts of Asia) with their high winds, torrential rain and accompanying storm surges have a devastating impact when they make landfall. During the 90s, Asia experienced 42% of typhoons worldwide, resulting in 180,206 deaths (87% of worldwide fatalities). Effective early warnings, evacuation to safe havens and resilient housing are key ingredients of protective programs.

This ADMN issue brings you experiences from the region of successful programs and initiatives in the typhoon-prone areas of South and South East Asia. Mr Wahab describes the 30-year-old volunteer-based Cyclone Preparedness Program in coastal Bangladesh based on partnership between the Red Crescent and Government - an ongoing testimony that ‘preparedness pays’. Dash’s viewpoint on warning dissemination in the Orissa Cyclone contextualizes Pielke’s article reiterating fundamentals, and emphasizes the challenge of using scientific information in practice. The report evaluating the impact of the Philippines Core Shelter Program, and Chantry’s piece on efforts at community financing of housing reinforcement in Vietnam, illustrate the challenge of sustaining safer housing in typhoon-prone coastal communities. This is also addressed in an ADPC seminar on safer housing in Vietnam. Several book references, reviews and web resources also deal with the issue’s theme.

We received an enthusiastic response to the readership survey included in our last issue and would like to thank all those who responded. Your feedback will continue to guide our planning of the newsletter. To those who have not yet responded, I encourage you to visit our website http://www.adpc.net/infores/newsletter/newsletter.html and fill up the questionnaire. Your inputs are valued.

Loy Rego
ajrego@ait.ac.th

Themes for Forthcoming Issues of the Asian Disaster Management News
Disaster Risk Communication (April-June 2003)
Urban Disaster Mitigation (July-September 2003)