Oudomxay Province, Lao PDR, February 2025 — In February 2025, two flood-prone villages, Phonsavath in Houn District and Thin in Xay District, conducted validation workshops and emergency simulation exercises. These activities were part of the Strengthening Community-Based Disaster Risk Management in Lao PDR project, implemented by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) in collaboration with the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) and the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), and funded by the World Bank through the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative.

The workshops focused on validating Village Disaster Risk Management Plans (VDRMPs) and conducting simulation drills to strengthen the capacity of newly established Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMCs). These exercises tested emergency response capabilities and aimed to improve coordination across all administrative levels—central, provincial, district, and village.

VDMC members refined disaster response plans through tabletop exercises, laying the groundwork for field simulations

In Houn District, Lao Red Cross ambulance units contributed to the simulation exercises, enhancing their depth and practical relevance. Community participation was prioritized, with particular attention given to vulnerable groups, including youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Field simulations brought together district and village disaster committees with community members to practice coordinated emergency responses

Over two days in each village, key stakeholders from the DMH, DSW, Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment (PONRE), District Disaster Management Committees (DDMCs), and VDMCs worked together to finalize the VDRMPs with technical support from ADPC. They incorporated local socio-economic data, assessed hazards and vulnerabilities, and refined emergency contact lists and resource inventories, ensuring that each plan reflected local challenges and resources.

The simulations translated plans into action. Tabletop drills and field exercises enabled VDMC members to rehearse emergency response procedures, clarify roles, and test early warning dissemination systems. These drills also revealed areas for improving coordination and communication across all levels of governance.

Central and provincial officials practiced issuing early warning messages, enhancing coordination and response readiness

The activities highlighted the importance of cooperation between central authorities and local communities and demonstrated the increasing capacity of VDMCs to lead disaster preparedness efforts and safeguard vulnerable populations.

This initiative marks a key step toward building disaster-resilient communities in Oudomxay Province. By fostering collaboration across government levels and empowering local disaster management committees, the project offers a model for effective disaster risk management that can be replicated in other flood-prone regions across Lao PDR.

ADPC is supporting the implementation of activities in Cambodia and Lao PDR under the framework of the CREWS initiative. Supported by the World Bank, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the initiative aims to strengthen early warning systems and risk information by enhancing the capacities of national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs) and national disaster risk management organizations (NDMOs).