Role of Architect in Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and Response

India is one of highest disaster prone areas in the world. The disasters caused by floods and earthquakes are
more often and disastrous. These disasters cannot be controlled but the effect of them can be minimized. This
can be done by proper planning of the disaster and the precautions to be taken before hand in the disaster
prone areas. The architect’s play a very major role in the controlling of the disaster.

• The planning for the disaster control is an architect’s role. Any disaster can be handled if there is a
proper way of planning and preparing for the disaster.

• The reconstruction of the buildings that were destroyed due to the disaster is also one of the
important role of the architect as now they have to be sensitive about the design, structural system,
techniques used for the construction and the materials used for the making of the same. These
parameters define the new building and its response to any future disaster.

Disaster

Mitigation Response

Preparedness Recovery

Disaster Risk Management Cycle

Role of architect in Response:

1. Mobilizing the effect of the disaster.

2. Providing temporary shelters for the people affected by the disaster.
3. Assessing the buildings that were damaged or destroyed and coming with a solution for the same.

Role of architect in Recovery:

1. Repairing the damage caused.

2. Rebuild the structures that were destroyed with a better construction according to the guidelines required for a
disaster resistant structure.
3. Relocate the people that were affected and the areas that can be damaged in future if any disaster may occur.
Role of architect in Preparedness:

1. Educating the future architects and the architects about the importance of disaster resistant structures.
2. Analyzing the type of structures that were successful during the disaster and proposing the required guidelines
related to disaster management for any new construction.

Role of architect in Mitigation:

1. Planning a proper scheme for the control of any future disaster.

2. Assessment of risks and rebuilding of long-term housing.

The conclusion is that the architect is involved in all the steps of the disaster management. These required measures can
only be taken by a cumulative work of architect and the local government. It is the role of the architect to ensure the
sustainability and preparedness of the recovery done for the future disasters and educate and train the students of
architecture the importance for the disaster resistant and resilience.