Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş, Assistant Director of Üsküdar University Health Services Vocational School (VSHS) and Head of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program, evaluated Türkiye's level of disaster preparedness, individual and institutional responsibilities, the importance of disaster education, and volunteer efforts on the occasion of November 12 Disaster Education Preparedness Day.
“Making investments to reduce losses before a disaster is crucial”
Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş stated that Türkiye has an institutional structure and response plans for disaster management. “Türkiye has an institutional structure and response plans for disaster management. However, when evaluating preparedness, we must jointly examine how these plans work in the field, the safety of buildings, and local resources. Official reports prepared after the recent major earthquakes revealed the need to strengthen safe construction, effective supervision, local response capacity, and inter-institutional coordination,” he said.
Emphasizing that disaster management should not solely focus on post-disaster intervention, Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş added, “The main lesson I draw from this is: Making investments to reduce losses before a disaster is as crucial as being able to intervene after it. We must prepare for earthquakes, floods, fires, and landslides according to the hazards of our location.”
“Disaster awareness begins with recognizing the dangers of our environment”
Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş stated that disaster education is not limited to learning what to do during an earthquake. “Disaster awareness includes recognizing the dangers of our environment, reducing risks at home, and deciding as a family what to do beforehand. Families should determine meeting points, how to contact each other, and safe exit routes; they should secure cabinets and prepare emergency kits. The needs of children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and those who take regular medication should also be planned separately,” he explained.
“The correct behavior during a disaster varies depending on the type of event”
Demirtaş noted that each type of disaster carries different risks and that correct behaviors should be determined according to these risks. “The correct behavior during a disaster varies depending on the type of event. During an earthquake, it's important not to run to the stairs while the shaking continues and to minimize exposure with the drop, cover, and hold on movement; in a fire, knowing the safe exit route is crucial. Afterward, it is necessary to check our own safety, stay away from damaged structures, and follow the guidance of authorities. First aid should also be learned through practical training. Trainings should be age- and needs-appropriate, repeated at short intervals, and reinforced with practice,” he said.
“The foundation for reducing major losses is safe settlements and functioning institutions”
Demirtaş stated that institutional and local government responsibilities are as decisive as individual preparedness in reducing casualties and material damages in disasters. “These responsibilities complement each other, but they do not have the same resources and impact. Citizens can secure their belongings and prepare a family plan. However, safe construction, infrastructure, protection of riverbeds, supervision, and uninterrupted public services require institutional responsibility. My assessment is that the foundation for reducing major losses is safe settlements and functioning institutions. Individual preparedness strengthens this foundation. While we ask citizens to be prepared, we must also openly discuss the responsibilities of institutions,” he expressed.
“Misinformation can lead people into danger”
Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş stated that the fear, panic, and uncertainty experienced during a disaster can lead to wrong decisions. “Fear is an understandable reaction. Previously practiced behaviors help to act more controlled during moments of uncertainty. Unverified evacuation calls, old images, and incorrect location information, however, can lead people into danger and make it difficult for aid to reach the right place,” he said.
Emphasizing that reliable and verified information should be the basis of disaster communication, Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş said, “Institutions should make brief, clear, time-sensitive, and consistent statements. Citizens should check the source, date, and location of information before sharing; they should follow announcements from AFAD, governorships, and relevant institutions. When communicating with relatives, text messages or internet-based messaging should be used if possible, and essential phone calls should be kept short.”
“Drills show whether disaster plans actually work”
Demirtaş stated that the disaster preparedness levels of schools, universities, hospitals, and workplaces should be evaluated with different criteria. “We cannot make the same preparedness assessment for all these institutions. Building safety, clear escape routes, employees knowing their duties, and continuity of service should be examined separately. Drills show whether the plan actually works,” he said.
Demirtaş emphasized that disaster drills are important for identifying shortcomings in advance. “Where congestion occurs during evacuation, who will help individuals in need of support, and how headcounts will be conducted in the assembly area are observed in practice. In hospitals, patient safety and the continuity of health services must also be planned separately. After the drill, shortcomings should be identified, responsibilities assigned, and corrections followed up,” he stated.
“We must make disaster preparedness a part of daily life”
Demirtaş stated that November 12 Disaster Education Preparedness Day should not be limited to awareness activities held on a specific date. “We should view Disaster Education Preparedness Day as a reminder for ongoing efforts throughout the year. Knowledge learned at school should be carried home; it should be reinforced with regular education and drills in neighborhoods, universities, and workplaces. To make the increased sensitivity permanent after a disaster, we must make preparedness a part of daily life,” he said.
“AFAD volunteerism combines the desire to help with knowledge and responsibility”
Demirtaş stated that volunteer efforts play an important role in increasing social resilience against disasters. “I attach great importance to the Support AFAD Volunteer trainings in this regard. These trainings combine the desire to help with knowledge, skills, and responsibility. They enable volunteers to be trained to support professional teams in areas such as search and rescue, fire, first aid, and humanitarian aid. Prioritizing one's own safety, knowing the limits of one's competence, and acting in coordination form the basis of volunteerism,” he explained.
“Students and faculty members should participate in trainings together at universities”
Instructor Esad Sadık Demirtaş pointed out that universities can undertake important responsibilities in developing and disseminating disaster awareness. “I find it valuable for students and faculty members to participate in these trainings together at universities, in terms of developing a common culture of preparedness. After the trainings, we must keep the acquired skills alive with regular practices and drills. We should evaluate success by looking at the extent to which people can apply what they have learned, along with the certificates given. Our goal should be a society that reduces risks before a disaster, acts correctly during a disaster, and can provide support in coordination afterward,” he said.
“I invite everyone to become an AFAD volunteer”
Emphasizing that all segments of society have a responsibility regarding disaster preparedness, Demirtaş concluded his words as follows:
“I recommend everyone who meets the conditions set by AFAD and can dedicate time to trainings to become an AFAD volunteer. Volunteerism is an important way to combine the desire to help with education and responsibility. Especially by participating in the Support AFAD Volunteer trainings, we can develop our knowledge and skills and contribute to society in line with our competencies and in coordination with the assigned teams when needed. I invite our students, faculty members, and citizens to be a part of this process.”
