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, PREFACE This report outlines the concept of an Interna, tional Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction (IDNHR): the need for such an effort, the benefits it might confer, the kinds of projects it might include, and how it might be organized. The report is intended not only for those now in the hazard reduction field, but also for the broader audience of policy makers and the interested public who will provide the motive force behind any successful attempt to reduce hazard,related losses. There is widespread interest in establishing an IDNHR, The scientific and technological com- munity believes that the time is right for a coordinated international program on hazard reduction and, conversely, that if nothing is done, natural disasters will become increasingly severe. There is a growing confidence that important advances in coping with natural hazards are within reach of every nation if a global effort is mounted, It is too optimistic to expect that natural disasters can be completely eliminated during such an effort, but it is reasonable to expect that a strong program can markedly reduce injuries, deaths, and property damage due to natural hazards. The concept of a cooperative international program to reduce natural hazards was first presented by Dr. Frank Press, president of the u.s. National Academy of Sciences, in a speech at the Eighth World Conference on Earthquake Engi- neering in 1984. In his keynote address to the International Association for Earthquake Engi- neering (IAEE), he proposed an International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction, beginning in 1990. After the conference, as copies of the speech circulated, international interest began to build, not only with respect to reducing the toll of earthquakes, but also with respect to other natu- ral hazards. Interest in establishing an IDNHR continued to grow and led to the appointment of a National Research Council Advisory Committee on the International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduc- tion, whose charge was to evaluate the potential for such an effort and how best it might be realized. The committee was composed of natural hazard experts from many disciplines and was drawn from academia, the private sector, and government agencies. The commiTtee benefited from the input re- ceived from Canada and Mexico, our neighbors to the north and south, and from Japan, our partner in many recent cooperative research projects, The present report is the outcome of the deliberations of the committee, and is intended to introduce the concept of an IDNHR to a broad audience. It is not the report's purpose to synthesize or critique the extensive literature on hazard mitigation, but rather to point to opportunities for reducing global risk from natural hazards through the application of science and technology. The prin' cipal sources used by the committee in its delibera- tions appear in the Appendix. In addition, the A ppendix contains a list of suggested readings of a more general nature for readers wishing to pursue the subject, It soon became clear that launching an en- deavor as complex as the IDNHR takes time and careful prior planning. As the IDNHR will ad- dress a number of natural hazards, contributors from many disciplines will be involved, and participation from a number of countries can be expected. Further, in each country many govern- ment and professional agencies will need to begin coordinating their activities so that national and international programs can be organized. Nonetheless, it will require prompt action to initiate the IDNHR in 1990, The committee believes that concerted action now by the world community can yield results quickly and set the tone for major reduction in the impacts of natural hazards in the future. The committee has been greatly aided by many people and organizations. On behalf of the com- mittee, I express gratitude for this help. For myself, I wish to thank all the committee mem- bers, the liaison members, and the National Research Council staff members who have in- spired and facilitated the task at hand, GEORGE W. HOUSNER, Chairman Advisory Committee on the International Decade for Natural Hazard Reduction Xl