Disaster Mitigation and Response in Cities: Drawing Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic

Chirisa, Innocent Mutambisi Tafadzwa Chivenge Marcyline Matamanda Abraham R.; Ncube, Roselin

This paper discusses disaster management and city resilience in the midst of the upsurge of case of COVID-19, a global biological disaster. The emerging pandemic of the Novel Coronavirus, which is one of the worst biological disasters in 75 years, has questioned various local and national governments on the relevance of their disaster management policies. Through documentary review, case study analysis and secondary data the research paper discusses the failures of technologically advanced countries such as Italy in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need for policymakers to fully equip themselves through the development and maintenance of disaster management sectors in the government as well as to maintain disaster management funds. This is vital as disasters make cities prone to economic regression thereby increasing the vulnerability of communities to a web of interlocking and continuous disruptions.