10. Mainstreaming Education Into Disaster Management to Facilitate Disaster Resilience

Disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity with impacts across all facets of human endeavour globally. Moreover, the impacts of disasters have been exacerbated by the climate change phenomenon. Climate change and weather events do not create disasters in isolation. However, disasters occur when extreme weather events intersect with vulnerable communities, dysfunctional governance and dilapidated infrastructure. Disaster education provides a viable tool for reinforcing the resilience of vulnerable communities and enhancing sustainable development. Hence, attaining knowledge and its implementation are considered as a viable approach to the management of disasters. This study employs the qualitative research method involving literature reviews on the nexus of disaster education and resilience, to assess the relationship between education and disaster management – particularly how it can reinforce disaster resilience – and the implications for sustainable development. Disaster education aims to capacitate vulnerable groups (in particular) and the public (in general) with the requisite knowledge and information to limit their susceptibility to disasters to the barest minimum. Study findings indicate that disaster education is a crucial element in disaster preparedness with implications for the safeguarding of developmental gains and human resources development. Inclusivity enhances community-based disaster management. Well-informed people are in a better position to protect their households and communities against the negative impacts of disasters. Ultimately, mainstreaming social media in planning and designing of holistic disaster education programs is vital for equipping people with the rightful information that can help them thrive in the face of increasing incidences of disasters in our contemporary society.