DEALING WITH DISASTERS

THE City of Joburg’s public safety department is developing a new, citywide disaster management strategy and accompanying policies.

A workshop was held earlier this month in the light of the fact that the city constantly undergoes dynamic growth both in development and population, and therefore faces underlying vulnerability such as ageing infrastructure as well as both natural and human-induced hazards, said the city member of the mayoral committee for public safety, Michael Sun.

These pose as major disaster risks to the lives and livelihoods of residents, he said.

“We need to adopt an ‘all hands on deck’ approach when dealing with risks and actual disaster in the city, each one of the city’s functions must identify and take ownership of the risks and management of disasters under the coordination of disaster management. It is just as important for the residents in the city to be prepared and trained to deal with incidences of emergencies when disasters strike. The department of public safety will, throughout the year, announce further events and training opportunities on disaster management,” Sun said.