Community Disaster Preparedness: Local Strategies for Natural Disasters | Hidenori Tanaka

How can communities become better prepared before disaster strikes? In this session, Hidenori Tanaka shares practical approaches to community disaster preparedness, demonstrating how everyday relationships, local gathering spaces, and hands-on learning can strengthen resilience in the face of natural disasters.

Drawing on the work of Transition Town Amagasaki and community initiatives in Japan, Hidenori explores how disaster preparedness can become part of daily community life rather than something considered only during emergencies. From neighborhood meeting spaces and disaster awareness activities to practical workshops on resilient technologies, this session highlights how local action builds confidence, skills, and mutual support.

Participants will discover inspiring examples of community-led resilience, including disaster preparedness classes, eco-friendly emergency technologies such as rocket stoves and solar food dryers, local maker spaces, and initiatives that foster stronger neighborhood connections before crises occur.

Speaker

Hidenori Tanaka is a community organizer, Transition practitioner, and founder of the nonprofit organization Hachi in Japan. Since joining Transition Town Amagasaki in 2012, he has helped develop projects focused on community resilience, ecological restoration, social inclusion, regenerative agriculture, and local disaster preparedness. His work spans Japan and the Philippines, supporting sustainable livelihoods, nature restoration, and community-led solutions to today’s environmental and social challenges.

This session is ideal for Transition groups, emergency preparedness practitioners, community organizers, local government leaders, resilience hubs, and anyone interested in community disaster preparedness, mutual aid, regenerative communities, and strengthening local capacity to respond to natural disasters.