Analysis of risk and disaster reduction strategies in South American countries

Abstract

There is a growing interest in disaster risk management due to an increasing vulnerability to extreme natural events and man-made disasters that prevent normal relations in societies worldwide. Thus, this study aimed to analyze disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies in the context of seven Spanish-speaking South American countries, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. We conducted an analysis of different DRR plans by using text mining techniques. Textual processing of the DRR strategies was conducted using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis. This process was complemented with the use of statistical models, such as the hierarchical cluster analysis and multiple correspondence analysis. Among the main results, 87 DRR strategies were found in the selected countries. The categorization of these strategies were different based on four management planning elements: planning based on social participation and stakeholder management, management planning based on disaster response, post-disaster continuity management planning, and management planning of essential sector continuity. Thus, this paper highlights the region's strengths and weaknesses and serves as a basis to follow up on the 2030 agenda for DRR discussed at Sendai in 2015.