Disaster Preparedness

Reliance Foundation strengthens community preparedness for disasters through enhanced early warning systems, anticipatory action and localised risk reduction efforts. Using GIS, digital platforms and a multi-channel communication approach, we ensure improved awareness of vulnerable communities to save their lives and assets during disasters.

Our early warning programme equips communities with predictive insights and critical information, enabling them to take informed action ahead of disasters and minimise loss of life, assets and livelihoods.

Early Warning and Early Action

Early Warning and Early Action (EWEA) focuses on proactive disaster preparedness and risk reduction by ensuring that timely alerts are translated into effective preventive measures to minimise the loss of lives, livelihoods, and assets. By bridging the gap between hazard detection and on-ground response, EWEA enables communities and other stakeholders to act before disasters strike. This approach aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which aims to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information by 2030.

Through its Disaster Management programme, Reliance Foundation strengthens last-mile early warning dissemination to enhance the timely preparedness of communities against climate-related hazards and reduce disaster impacts. Reliance Foundation partners with government agencies at national and sub-national levels, along with regional institutions, to receive timely advisories and support vulnerable communities to take early action.

Capacity Development

Reliance Foundation is building resilient communities by strengthening capacities to withstand and respond to disasters. We are developing a cadre of trained community volunteers skilled in first aid, search and rescue, public health risk management and livestock protection. Communities are supported to develop disaster preparedness plans, and regular mock exercises are conducted.

Our capacity development initiatives include creating repositories for public health risk communication, training master trainers and community cadres on WASH-focused public health management in emergencies, and integrating gender-responsive approaches including Menstrual Hygiene Management during disasters.

For livestock protection, preparedness modules draw from various guidelines and standards such as Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS), Animal-Centric Technological Interventions in Emergencies (ACTIE), early warning systems, handling and feeding practices, and zoonotic disease management.

School Safety

Reliance Foundation is committed to creating safer and more resilient learning environments by actively engaging schools in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. By strengthening awareness, planning, and response mechanisms, the initiative supports schools in building resilience and improving their ability to respond effectively to emergencies.

A key component of this effort is the development of School Disaster Management Plans (SDMPs), which is a structured framework that helps schools prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters by identifying hazards, vulnerabilities, risks, and existing capacities. These plans are designed to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff while minimising disruption to education during emergencies. Preparing children on safety measures is critical, as managing large numbers of students during a disaster can be challenging without prior planning and practice.

Reliance Foundation undertakes a range of activities to strengthen school-level preparedness. These include conducting training of trainers for teachers on school safety, supporting School Management Committees in preparing and updating school safety plans, and organising regular mock exercises at the school level. Mock drills are conducted in collaboration with key government departments, fostering coordination and clarity of roles during emergencies.