ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview on how to cope with risk and reduce vulnerability to potential disasters in urban areas of humid tropics. The chapter encompasses introductory concepts and ideas on common hazards in urban areas (Section 6.2 to Section 6.6), and strategies for early warning and preparedness (Section 6.7). Section 6.8 covers human resources, in particular, interdisciplinary groups, innovation technology and ethical issues. Finally, a short case study on risk assessment and management, summarizing the strengths and limitations, is presented in Section 6.9. The conclusions in Section 6.10 are not exhaustive but provide avenues of exploration for programmes and policies aiming to enhance the capacity of communities in the face of hazards, vulnerability and exposure to risks.
