Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster Risk Reduction
CRS ensures that its recovery and development programs build family and community resilience to natural and manmade crises by incorporating relevant elements of Disaster Risk Reduction.
About the program
What We Do
CRS ensures that its recovery and development programs build family and community resilience to natural and manmade crises by incorporating relevant elements of Disaster Risk Reduction. In countries that suffer recurrent disasters, CRS facilitates communities and families to more effectively protect their lives and livelihoods and mitigate the effects of disasters.
Disaster Risk Reduction activities focus on preparedness efforts in disaster-prone communities—those hit cyclically by floods, droughts, typhoons, and other crises. CRS works with local leaders and community members in activities, conversations and approaches that help save lives, strengthen community resilience, and prevent lasting damage.
Every $1 spent on disaster preparedness saves $7-$10 in disaster response.
Our Impact
How We Do It
Reducing Risk and Strengthening Preparedness
CRS’ approach to Disaster Risk Reduction builds on people’s capacities to better prepare for disaster. Preparation can help save a family a lifetime of savings and assets, as well as protect lives by knowing what to do when disaster strikes. These activities include:
- Community risk mapping;
- Establishment of early warning systems;
- Preparation of evacuation kits; and
- Developing evacuation plans.
Bolstering Resilience for Recovery:
Long before disasters take place, CRS works with disaster-prone communities on methods and practices that bolster their resilience in disaster’s aftermath, thereby reducing the lasting impact and quickening their speedy recovery. These activities include:
Diversifying livelihoods;
Protecting assets, such as protecting water sources from contamination in flood prone areas, and promoting safe storage of seed and animal feed;
Promoting improved practices that people undertake using their own resources, like modifying the use of locally available building materials to construct disaster resilient housing; and
Connecting communities with governments for their response and support in a crisis.
Prioritizing Local Participation, Leadership and Economy:
Community members play a critical role in the conversations, strategies, and leadership that help to protect them in crisis and allow them a safer, speedier recovery. CRS also anchors activities in ways that support the local market—through cash or voucher systems, and other interventions that help to keep the local economy going. This approach contributes to the restoration of the economic fabric, which is a key component of sustainable disaster recovery. At the same time, working with communities to improve housing so that it is more resilient to recurrent disasters protects families when cyclones or other crises strike, and reduces post-disaster reconstruction needs so that people can focus on resuming their lives.
Where We Work
Explore the regions where CRS is transforming lives through your generosity. From Africa to Latin America, discover stories of hope and resilience across the globe.
Explore Our Projects

CRS Welcomes Temporary Pause in Fighting in Gaza but Renews Calls for End to Violence
CRS Welcomes Temporary Pause in Fighting in Gaza but Renews Calls for End to Violence
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Six Months On, CRS Expands Humanitarian Operations in Gaza; Calls for Immediate End to Violence
Six Months On, CRS Expands Humanitarian Operations in Gaza; Calls for Immediate End to Violence
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CRS Warns of Life-Threatening Food Shortage in Gaza After Report Reveals Risk of Famine
CRS Warns of Life-Threatening Food Shortage in Gaza After Report Reveals Risk of Famine
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CRS Calls for Humanitarian Access to Gaza and an Immediate End to Violence
CRS Calls for Humanitarian Access to Gaza and an Immediate End to Violence
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CRS Resilience Framework
Catholic Relief Services conducts resilience programming that spans many (if not all) key technical areas and sectors.
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Monthly Interval Resilience Analysis (MIRA)
Measuring Resilience and Well-Being for Stronger Food Security and Resilience Programming
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Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning in Emergencies
A resource pack for simple and strong MEAL
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Shelter, Settlement and Infrastructure Case Studies
A Spotlight on Innovation and Quality for Rebuilding Safe, Dignified and Resilient Homes and Communities
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MARKit: CRS Market Monitoring, Analysis and Response Kit-2nd Edition 2020
MARKit provides a framework for market monitoring, analysis and response decision‑making, using prices as the main indicator.
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CRS Supply Chain Management Handbook, Version 2.2
This handbook captures best practices in supply chain management that enable CRS to effectively meet the needs of those we serve.
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CRS Global Food Crisis Response Strategy
Millions of people around the world are experiencing life-threatening levels of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in a global crisis that has reached unprecedented levels.
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CRS EMPOWER Approach
EMPOWER, for Empowering Partner Organizations Working on Emergency Responses, promotes the leadership of humanitarian response by local organizations that have nationwide coverage.
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Program News & Articles
With a team of Communications staff around the world, we can provide real-time updates during emergencies and on a wide variety of current issues and events facing the developing world and the international community.