ABSTRACT
After the earthquake occurred in Chile in 2010, the vulnerability of the population in urban areas (estimated at 87.8 per cent of the national population by 2017) became evident. This conclusion has been reinforced after other recent disasters such as fires, volcanic eruptions, mudslides, and floods, as well as other earthquakes.
Reconstruction processes after those events have highlighted the need to incorporate risks into planning and development of urban areas. Accordingly, several initiatives have been promoted from 2010 onwards at the communal level, although less attention has been given to the strengthening of municipal institutions, in charge of the disaster risk management at that level.
Municipal resilience to disasters is approached from the analysis of measures taken at communal level to reduce risks and increase resilience together with the discussion on how municipalities are dealing with emergencies and disasters. Municipal governance for disaster risk reduction is examined though a series of interviews with those in charge of emergencies and/or risks offices as well as the analysis of recent studies.
It is noticed that most communities participating in recent initiatives have been affected by disasters that have influenced municipal authorities to take action in promoting resilience. Awareness about hazards to which territories are exposed has increased among both municipal authorities and local communities. Nonetheless, integration between instruments is insufficient, aside from the degree of implementation of resulting proposals. Both aspects increase when the mayor is personally committed. Mainstreaming risk reduction and resilience thinking into municipal planning and development strategies as well as within the municipal institution itself are crucial for risk reduction to be effective and to increase disaster resilience.
