Natural disaster vulnerability is high in India. Earthquakes, floods, droughts and cyclones are common. For example, the country’s capital, New Delhi, is located in a zone of high seismic activity. During emergencies, the continued operation of lifeline centers such as hospitals, police stations, schools and government ministries is an essential factor in mitigating the immediate and lasting effects of such events. These institutions are critical to saving lives, protecting properties and helping people to return to normalcy.

USAID and its implementing partner, Geohazards International, are working with officials in New Delhi to ensure that the city’s lifeline centers are able to function during a disaster. Through the India Earthquake Safety Initiative, USAID has supported a panel of Indian and U.S. experts to design plans for retrofitting five critical installations in New Delhi. USAID is also working with local leaders to conduct non-structural prevention – securing bookshelves, fastening objects that topple easily, storing chemicals safely, etc. – that can reduce the chances of injury during an earthquake.

The New Delhi retrofitting also serves as the pilot for a national program that:

• Transfers knowledge between Indian and American seismic experts
• Facilitates seismic improvements of other lifeline centers in India
• Educates structural engineers and architects on the latest advances in seismic-resistant design
• Strengthens construction guidelines and identifies further lifeline centers for retrofitting
• Teaches administrators and staffs about achieving earthquake preparedness through non-structural techniques.