Community-Based Disaster Risk Management: A Case Study of Landslide Disaster Preparedness, Preparation and Mitigation in Tacuba, El Salvador

Like many areas of the region, the community of Tacuba, Ahuachapan, El Salvador, is subjected to the hazard of landslides. During the last years, thousands have died in landslides in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. The effects on economic development have also been disastrous. Central government institutions often lack the resources, personnel, technical equipment and training to assess and manage hazards. Recognizing the importance of mitigation before disasters and the involvement of the local community in the process, the project MARLAH initiated measures to prepare for future landslides in Tacuba that included raising awareness, assessing the hazard, installing early warning systems, creating vulnerability and hazard maps and developing emergency plans. We also present this case study of disaster mitigation in a rural area of El Salvador to show the relevance of a community-based disaster risk management approach to other areas and contexts.