Disaster preparedness
It is important to train aid workers and local communities how to respond effectively following disasters. However it is also important to build knowledge and awareness of how to be better prepared before disasters occur, in order to minimise the damage and loss of life.
When Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh in 2007, 3,500 people died. However, 16 years earlier a similar cyclone killed 140,000 people. Due to having disaster preparedness knowledge, tens of thousands of volunteers went out to tell villagers how to protect themselves and help evacuate those in danger. Announcements were broadcast over mosque loudspeakers to alert communities to the impending disaster [Reuters Alertnet].
Helping communities be better prepared
Disaster preparedness training can help communities and aid workers take measures to reduce the impact of disasters, and help people recover from the effects of the disaster through positive community initiatives.
RedR runs Emergency Preparedness workshops in Sri Lanka where we help build the capacity of local organisations to respond to current situations and future disasters. We can also offer tailored disaster preparedness training to aid agencies and other organisations around the world.
In 2008 we trained over 100 people directly in subjects relating to emergency preparedness in Sri Lanka enabling local communities be better prepared.
“The Disaster Management Workshop stressed the importance of pre-emergency tasks and so with this in mind we took all necessary precautions… This cyclone did not take us by surprise, we had been continuously observing the weather conditions during previous days.”
Social Organisation Networking for Development (SOND) Projector Manager, Kandasamy Senthoran, Sri Lanka
SOND staff in training session. As a result of the RedR training, SOND staff relocated villagers before the cyclone struck the North of Sri Lanka, potentially saving their lives.
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