Disaster preparedness training in Başiskele

A two-day practical training was conducted in Başiskele as part of the “Neighborhood Public Disaster Preparedness Training” project carried out in Kocaeli.

Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality continues to raise disaster awareness in the community. In this context, a joint project titled “Kocaeli Neighborhood Public Disaster Preparedness Training Project” was organized in collaboration with Kocaeli University, Kocaeli Provincial Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate, Başiskele Municipality, and the Ground and Earthquake Inspection Branch of the Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Urban Planning and Development, where two days of training took place in Başiskele.

The main goal of the project is to create a culture of disaster awareness in society. In this scope, trainings were provided to neighborhood volunteers regarding what should be known and done before, during, and after a disaster. The training held at the Başiskele Turkey Century Youth Center covered topics such as “resilient society against disasters” by Prof. Dr. Esma Buluş Kırıkkaya, “disaster awareness” by AFAD Trainer Alper Şen, and “observational neighborhood hazard analysis and mitigation of non-structural risks” by Assoc. Dr. Serpil Gerdan.

In his opening speech, KOÜ Vice-Rector Ömer Faruk Çelik stated, “The entire society needs to be aware of disasters. Such work is more important than anything else. As Kocaeli University, we are aware that raising awareness in the entire society against disasters cannot be achieved only through local governments. These trainings are an important awareness project for society. These trainings are an important mobilization to instill a basic disaster education awareness on a neighborhood basis.”

Pointing out that Turkey is an earthquake country, Başiskele District Governor Şenel said, “Disasters are an ongoing agenda in Turkey. The earthquakes from the Erzincan earthquake to the February 6 earthquake are the reality of this geography. Although disasters are associated with earthquakes in our country, they can also occur as a result of natural events. As administrators, we are trying to fulfill our responsibilities. We have created our district disaster response plans. Today, we gathered not for post-disaster but for disaster preparedness. We must create a disaster awareness.”

“Earthquake is a reality of our country”

Stating that they are working to create a resilient city against earthquakes, Metropolitan Municipality Deputy President Berna Abiş said, “We are together for an important training meeting. Since 2016, training has been provided to 1,206 people in 37 neighborhoods in 6 districts. Today, our trainings continue in the Başiskele district. When we think of disasters, we think of earthquakes. We experienced the earthquake on August 17, 1999. Major earthquakes have occurred in different cities on different dates. Earthquake is a reality of our country. We are providing training as Kocaeli University, AFAD Provincial Directorate, and Metropolitan Municipality. Additionally, as the Metropolitan Municipality, our goal is to create a resilient city, Kocaeli. Our society needs to be aware. Hopefully, these trainings will continue in other districts as well.”