In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly decided to maintain the observance of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction on the second Wednesday of October (resolution 56/195 of 21 December), as a vehicle to promote a global culture of natural disaster reduction –- including disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The Assembly had designated that Day to be observed during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999 (resolution 44/236). In 2009 the date was set on October 13 and the name was changed to International Day for Disaster Reduction.
"Even if natural hazards will continue to be part of our world, human decisions and actions can play a critical role in preventing them from becoming future disasters." - UNISDR