In a bold step toward fortifying national safety, Colombia has launched a comprehensive disaster risk assessment covering all 1,122 municipalities, marking a milestone in resilience planning. The initiative, spearheaded by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) in collaboration with the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC), represents a breakthrough in disaster preparedness, leveraging cutting-edge data analysis to mitigate threats ranging from landslides to extreme weather events.
Colombia, one of the most disaster-prone nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, has already been implementing major risk reduction measures, including a landslide early warning system in Medellín, transportation infrastructure upgrades, and urban greenway projects designed to combat extreme heat and pollution. Now, with this new scientific assessment, decision-makers will have unprecedented access to hyper-local risk data, enabling targeted responses at the municipal level.
A New Era in Disaster Preparedness
Over a two-year period, the assessment was developed with support from the U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. The findings were presented on February 19, 2025, through PDC’s DisasterAWARE Pro platform an advanced early warning and disaster intelligence system designed to assist policymakers in planning and response efforts.
“PDC’s data processing and analytics capabilities were put to the test during this groundbreaking collaboration,” said Scott Kuykendall, PDC’s Disaster Management Specialist. “This is the first time we’ve scaled our results to a hyper-local, municipal level. Municipality-level data will enable UNGRD to focus programs within smaller communities more effectively to achieve the desired outcomes.”
Bridging Science and Policy
The assessment not only maps vulnerabilities across Colombia but also provides a strategic five-year action plan to enhance resilience. Marcela Tovar, Head of International Cooperation at UNGRD, emphasized its significance:
“The NDPBA is going to be a great asset for us. It’s not only useful for Colombia’s National Disaster Response Unit but for other entities within the national government. We plan to share this information with other ministries, as the eleven hazard categories presented could be useful in multiple sectors across the country.”
By integrating scientific risk analysis with governmental planning, the initiative paves the way for data-driven decision-making that could save lives and infrastructure in future crises.
Next Steps in Resilience Building
Beyond the assessment’s immediate insights, UNGRD and PDC plan to extend their partnership, offering DisasterAWARE training and engaging other governmental organizations to further integrate the findings into national disaster preparedness strategies.
As Colombia continues to strengthen its defenses against natural hazards, this landmark project underscores the country’s commitment to a safer, more resilient future one where science and technology play a central role in protecting communities from the increasing threats posed by climate change and environmental disasters.