Local Administrations on Individual Preparations Against Disasters and Roles of Non Governmental Organisations titled workshop was hosted by our university with cooperation of Anatolian Education and Culture Foundation, Municipality of Beylikdüzü, Disaster Education Application and Research Center (AFAM), Faculty of Communication Public Relations and Publicity Department.
Nearly 200 expert participants from 12 universities, 24 non-governmental organizations and 14 district municipalities, Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, Istanbul Aydın University Rector Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakkı Aydın, Deputy Governor Mahmut Hersanlıoğlu, AFAD Istanbul Provincial Director Prof. Dr. Haluk Özener, academicians and many students attended the workshop. The workshop aims to create a synergy between local governments and non-governmental organizations and contribute to social resilience against a possible Istanbul earthquake.
“Disaster Preparedness Saves Lives and is the Guarantee of Continuity of Life“
Speaking at the workshop, Mehmet Murat Çalık, Mayor of Beylikdüzü Municipality, said, “There are many things we need to do as individuals for earthquakes. Ensuring the safety of our homes, preparing emergency kits, knowing how to act in case of a disaster, supporting our close environment starting with our children, but creating and spreading this awareness goes beyond individual efforts. Local governments and non-governmental organizations have an important role here. Preparedness for disasters saves lives and guarantees the continuity of life. Being prepared for disasters requires first and foremost individual awareness. Local administrations and non-governmental organizations are the two most important actors that strengthen this awareness and mobilize the society. Every disaster reminds us of the fact that we cannot prevent disasters, but it is in our hands whether they turn into disasters or not. I would like to emphasize the critical importance of individual and social preparation against disasters. Local governments and non-governmental organizations have an important role to play.”
“We have launched the Disaster and Emergency Management Center”
Explaining their work, Çalık said the following:
“Generally, administrations do not allocate resources for Pre-Disaster Prevention Works, they spend all their resources after the Disaster. We have to develop the ability and culture to overcome hazards with minimum loss. Beylikdüzü Disaster Management Model, which we have implemented in this context, is an approach designed to cope with disasters from before to after. Our model is handled in three basic stages: Before Disaster, During Disaster and After Disaster. Each stage includes carefully planned steps. Before the disaster, we launched the Disaster and Emergency Management Center to minimize all risks. In addition to physical preparations, we also raise social awareness here. The training of our search and rescue teams, seminars and drills to raise disaster awareness are conducted from this center. We established the Disaster Moment Coordination and Logistics Center to ensure coordination in the event of a disaster, and we use it very effectively. As an operational base, this center ensures that our search and rescue teams are directed in the most effective way. After the disaster, our Shelter and Logistics Center comes into play.”
