Managing city-scale slow-onset disasters: Learning from Cape Town's 2015–2018 drought disaster planning. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cole, Hugh D.; Cole, Megan J.; Simpson, Kayleen J.; Simpson, Nicholas P.; Ziervogel, Gina; New, Mark G.
• Is Part Of: International journal of disaster risk reduction. Volume 63(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Climate risk -- Metro-scale disaster -- Water shortage -- Disaster management -- Urban disaster planning -- Day zero; Emergency management -- Periodicals; Risk management -- Periodicals; Disaster relief -- Periodicals; Hazard mitigation -- Periodicals; 363.34
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2212-4209

Abstract

Abstract: Disaster planning for slow-onset city-wide shocks will be become increasingly necessary, particularly as cities face increasingly severe climate hazards. This paper provides unique insight into the disaster planning and management that was undertaken by the City of Cape Town government in response to its most severe hydrological drought on record. It describes how risk was understood and why decisions were made on key elements of the plan, including trigger points, risk prioritisation and mitigation, and the location and design of points of distribution of water rations for the public. Reflecting upon the authors' experience and interviews with senior City officials who worked on the drought disaster planning and response, the paper extracts five key lessons learnt that have since been applied during the COVID-19 pandemic: (i) the need for cross-functional planning and response skills, (ii) the need for integrated, up-to-date and scale-appropriate data; (iii) the importance of scenario-based simulations, communication and rapid costing to enable the rapid scaling-up of a response; (iv) the value of being able to use outsourced expert capacity effectively; and (v) the application of previously used disaster management and planning experience to build resilience in cities. These lessons, captured in a visual framework, help reflect on capabilities required for responding to future city-scale disasters. The paper provides an informative case study for other cities and risk managers, and will be particularly useful for global South contexts that face drought and other slow-onset disasters, most recently illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights: First public description of Cape Town's disaster planning for Day Zero. City-scale planning for water rationing and distribution described. Social Vulnerability Index and Economic Nodes Index developed for Cape Town. Five key lessons learnt are combined in a framework for city-wide disaster response. Lessons learnt from drought planning informed City's response to COVID-19.