Fires, floods, droughts, cyclones and earthquakes: what should we do?

Before the organization is set up, a visit to the United States' FEMA to arrange potential transfers of knowledge would be essential.

v Emergency Management Corp

Switzerland has an enviable cadre of emergency workers across the nation based on national conscription. We do not need go to that far, but it would be nice to have every community member equipped with survival skills. In Japan, neighborhoods are organized with wardens and team captains all trained in the basics of first aid, ready to move into pre-set positions when the local alarms sound.

Ideally, a three-to-four-week citizen service boot camp would train up citizens to assist trained EMC staff. Each local council would have a disaster emergency plan. Post-boot camp, people would volunteer for roles in the council's emergency response. The EMC would then have skilled helpers to assist them to deal with simple tasks such as safely moving people.

How do we pay for all this?

The best way is to make disaster participation an element of the 'citizenship franchise'. One model is that of the State of California, which adds a slight premium to the homeowner and occupier premises' insurance premium, which is already risk adjusted. Or alternately, there could be an annual stamp duty for any non-pensioner owning or renting property, based on the size of dwelling: something like $1 to $2 per sq metre a year. Less than a cup of coffee to save the future and secure the present.