Developing Disaster Management Strategies in Old Urban Contexts of District 12 of Tehran

Most of historic and old cities in Iran have been worn. These contexts along with treasures of social memories have been highly vulnerable against disaster occurrence especially earthquakes. Paying attention to disaster management in these contexts has an especial necessity. Applied principles in disaster management can effectively help to improve environmental situation and residence and safety of city against possible incidents and will cause the concept of safe city. This study wants to show that physical, social, economic and institutional- management structure of old contexts of district 12 has a vulnerable and an incomplete framework in the field of disaster management elements and requirements; and by providing guidelines for reducing disaster’s impacts, help to improve urban planning and management process and provide optimum safety and rescue services. At first AHP questionnaire was designed, then the impact of each component of physical, social, economic and institutional management old urban context was studied by Tehran disaster management experts and officials in the matrix of paired comparison and were measured the weight of each of them by using Expert Choice software. The physical dimension has the most effect on vulnerability of district 12. Social, economic and institutional management dimensions are next positions. In order to reduce vulnerability of the district in terms of earthquake should note to before, during and after disaster measures. Preventive measures such as strengthening of existing building, creating sufficient open spaces, widening streets, increasing disaster management support bases and establishing neighborhood emergency response volunteer groups and comprehensive communications to residents are related before the disaster, emergency response actions are related to during a disaster and projects about reconstruction are related to post disaster.Type of Paper: Research article