Mitigation plans need to exist and be coordinated at many levels, from a single company or building to a city or region. Key issues and challenges Several key issues were identified in the course of the discussion. Many of these issues echo concerns raised at previous forums, with a heightened intensity due to the size, complexity, and interconnections of today's cities. Partnerships are needed. Natural disasters are too large and costly to be handled by any one sector of the society.
Mitigation is critical.
Post-event response and recovery are necessary, but alone they are not an efficient or effective means to reduce cities' risk from natural and manmade disasters in the long term. Science and technology must be employed to help reduce the vulnerability of cities and megacities to natural disaster. Hazard mitigation should be integrated into the general urban development process. In many regions, cities have grown and changed significantly since the last major disaster. Past experience alone, therefore, is not a reliable predictor of the future.