The Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level (APELL) Handbook aims to increase the preparedness capacities of communities on a local level to prepare them for disasters. The document below contains the updated second edition, which builds on the original publication of 1988 and draws on nearly three decades of experience in supporting resilient communities in more than 30 countries.

The APELL methodology aims at raising awareness, communicating and educating the community, and improving emergency preparedness planning in case of a disaster. The APELL process consists of five phases aiming to engage stakeholders, understand the hazards and risks in a specific community and develop, implement, and maintain a preparedness plan. The revised handbook is illustrated with examples of best practices from countries that have successfully implemented the approach.

Consult the handbook here.