The Community-based Disaster Preparedness is the approach used since 1992 to reduce risk and prepare communities for disasters. This program is part of the Red Cross Vision 2010. In the core area of disaster preparedness, national societies are expected to help establish plans based on participatory assessments. The vision also requires raising the awareness and strengthening disaster management education to minimize loss.

The CBDP program is supported by a course on understanding the concepts of disaster management. It explores the community environment, organizations, relationships, as well as the positive and negative behaviors to expect. The training includes successful ways of interacting with the community. The goals of the course are:

To have community leaders and residents develop and implement disaster preparedness plans

To provide knowledge and tools so communities can implement these plans

To explore strategies and materials for use in facilitating disaster awareness information for target communities.

The learning experience directly addresses what should be done to prepare and respond to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods etc. hazards to which a community may be exposed. Role play and exercises are used to strengthen knowledge and skills.

Red Cross Society volunteers and other nationals trained in CBDM apply these skills through direct interaction with the target community. A major output of this interaction is the development of Community Disaster Preparedness Plans. Hence Organizing Communities for Disasters is a programme component.

Today the aim is to not only to prepare plans, but to give communities the skills to reduce the bad effects of disasters. Thus, CBDP was expanded to include the more interactive Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA).

Not only would plans be developed but Community Disaster Teams would be organized. These CDT would have basic resources and training for First Aid, light search and rescue etc. The CDT would be a valuable response tool in times of disaster.

In addition minor project activities are identified. These activities would focus on activities the community was capable of implementing. The project would further reduce the community's risk to hazards while building the confidence of community members take ownership of their risk.