Oxfam International, a British charity, conducted a study in November 2007 that showed that natural disasters are more common now than they were two decades ago.
What steps are taken to ensure safety for humans?
The increasing number of natural disasters is evident in the cases of Hurricane Katrina and Myanmar’s Cyclone, as well as China’s earthquake. The report estimates that the world experienced 120 natural disasters each year since the 1980s. According to the same report, the current number is approximately 500.
There is no evidence that natural disasters will slow down, but nations tend to be more concerned with post-disaster assistance than preparedness for natural disasters. Homes in poor countries push into floodplains and coastlines, leaving them vulnerable. Even in rich countries, where there is the technology and resources to prevent devastation from occurring, emergency preparedness seems to be low on the political agendas.
Why don’t politicians build infrastructures that can withstand damage, instead of putting more police officers on the streets to stop crime? A study by Stanford Graduate School of Business and Loyola Marymount University found that voters reward politicians who respond quickly in the event of natural disasters.
A strong infrastructure is essential to prevent devastating events like earthquakes, fires floods, and hurricanes. Voters must take immediate action to prevent disasters from happening.
The introduction of new building materials is one way that politicians can help create communities that are resilient to natural disasters. These materials have not been widely adopted on a worldwide scale. ACTech Structural Insulated Panels are available for builders (www.actechpanel.comFor instance, it can be used to quickly and economically erect commercial or residential buildings. The steel panels can resist mold, moisture, mildew and fire, as well as hurricane-strength winds. This helps to protect communities against structural damage from natural disasters.
Visit www.infrastructuresthatresist-disasters.org for more information. www.ACTechPanel.comOr call 1-800-859-88813 ACTech trades on OTC Bulletin under symbol ACCY.
