29 November 2011: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) has announced that it has awarded Tyrol, Austria, with role model status for its activities in community-based risk assessment.

According to UN/ISDR, Tyrol will have the opportunity to share their experiences in the production of detailed risk maps showing over 7,100 risk areas, spots exposed to dangers that range from rockfall and debris flow to avalanches and floods, events often driven by climate change, therefore creating a legacy of leadership in the area.

The Mayor of the Tyrolean Village of Galtür also committed the 278 remaining Tyrolean municipalities to supporting UN/ISDR’s “Making Cities Resilient” campaign. The aim of the campaign is to enlist over 1,000 local government leaders to invest more in disaster risk reduction (DRR), including: improving urban planning, infrastructure and building safety; reinforcing drainage systems to reduce flood, storm and health threats; installing early warning systems; conducting public preparedness drills; and taking measures to adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change. [UN/ISDR Press Release]