Evaluating reliability and limitations of disaster loss accounting databases

Abstract: Disaster loss accounting is an essential tool for assessing the effects of disasters and creating policies for disaster risk reduction that are supported by data. This study compares disaster data for two of the most used disaster loss accounting databases, EM-DAT and DesInventar in the context of six Latin American countries, namely, Uruguay, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Venezuela. The analysis focuses on the quantitative reporting differences for corresponding indicators and disaster events. In their current state, disaster loss accounting databases have several flaws, including a limited use of Global Identifier Numbers (GLIDE), a general description of their sources, a large number of missing data, a lack of a common terminology, an underrepresentation of slow-onset hazards and low-intensity disasters, and insufficient reporting of secondary disasters. However, these restrictions should not be seen as a reason to cease utilizing the databases, but rather as a motivation to enhance them and use them at their full potential.