Managing Natural Disasters: Policies for Schools

Atukunda Lucky

Faculty of Business Administration and Management Kampala International University Uganda

Email: lucky.atukunda@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

ABSTRACT

Natural disasters pose a significant threat to the safety, stability, and functioning of educational institutions worldwide. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, and storms, schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, remain ill-equipped to handle their impacts. This paper examines comprehensive policies and strategic frameworks aimed at mitigating disaster risks in educational settings. It assesses the effects of natural hazards on school infrastructure, student welfare, and educational continuity while proposing practical emergency preparedness and post-disaster recovery measures. Key focus areas include community involvement, communication strategies, policy frameworks, and case studies from countries like New Zealand and Fiji. The study emphasizes the need for proactive planning, policy innovation, and stakeholder collaboration to build resilient school systems that can serve not only as centers of learning but also as hubs of safety and recovery during crises.

Keywords: Disaster Risk Reduction, School Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Educational Resilience, Policy Framework, Post-Disaster Recovery, Community Involvement.

CITE AS Atukunda Lucky (2025). Managing Natural Disasters: Policies for Schools. IDOSR JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES 11(3):59-65. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAH/2025/1135965