GEOLOGICAL HAZARDS SUBSECTOR OVERVIEW
Geological hazards—including earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes—threaten millions of people worldwide and can devastate communities in a matter of seconds by destroying homes, causing food and water shortages, adversely affecting health, and disrupting livelihoods. Although geological hazards cannot be prevented, proper mitigation and preparedness efforts can minimize the effects of these disasters and promote resilience, potentially saving lives and reducing the negative economic effects of geological events. USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) supports geological hazard disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs, which emphasize an “end-to-end” approach that ranges from identifying hazards to helping communities and households reduce the impact of disasters. USAID/OFDA geological hazard DRR activities include monitoring events, supporting early warning systems, and educating at-risk populations and community leaders on proper response processes.