A Novel Operational Risk and Resilience Management Process for Emergency Planning and Civil Contingency

Intensive and extensive risks are growing at an unprecedented rate as reported by the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction. While disasters are claiming fewer lives annually, they are also costing more and increasing poverty and economic losses. Understanding and managing risk and resilience helps governments, institutions, businesses, and communities make better decisions in a world of uncertainty. Building on the existing risk and resilience management processes (e.g., national risk assessments, international risk management standards, literature on risk and resilience assessment), this study proposes a novel operational risk and resilience management process for emergency planning and civil contingency. The proposed framework is an iterative process consisting of interrelated phases:

• Scope, context and criteria
• Risk and Resilience Identification, analysis and evaluation
• Risk mitigation and resilience strengthening
• Monitoring and review
• Communication and consultation
• Recording and reporting
• Initial and detailed assessment

The proposed operational framework will provide guidance for disaster management authorities to better understand and manage complex impact and systemic risk from a multi-hazard and disaster risk perspective.