In an important meeting hosted by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality, disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness processes were comprehensively evaluated. The meeting focused on community-based disaster management approaches with the aim of creating a more resilient society against disasters.
“We Must Build Disaster Preparedness with Common Sense”
The meeting, where community-based disaster management studies were discussed, was also attended by representatives of Kocaeli University Disaster and Emergency Application and Research Center (AHAP) Coordination and Kocaeli Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate (AFAD). Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Disaster Affairs Department Director Şemsettin Yıldırım, who hosted the meeting, emphasized the vital responsibility of all public institutions in the disaster preparedness process. Yıldırım said in his speech, “The disaster preparedness process is an extremely important issue that must be carried out shoulder to shoulder with all segments of society. This meaningful meeting is being held with the aim of strengthening the culture of acting together against disasters and building a resilient society structure using common sense. I hope that our meeting will be beneficial for our city.”
Importance of Inter-Institutional Cooperation Emphasized
Speaking at the meeting, Kocaeli Provincial AFAD Director Mehmet Emin Koçan said, “I would like to emphasize the great importance of a community-based disaster management approach in terms of reducing disaster risks and increasing disaster response capacity. This strong cooperation established between our institutions will also significantly increase the effectiveness of the practices we will implement in the field.” Throughout the meeting, the determination to take joint action to make Kocaeli a city that is more prepared and resilient against disasters was strongly reiterated. In this context, the main goal was determined as the dissemination of studies embracing all segments of society, conveying disaster awareness to the masses, encouraging voluntary social participation and maximizing coordination between institutions. In addition, an important consulting mechanism called the “Resilient Society Science Board” was established within the framework of the Kocaeli Resilient City Action Plan.
Resilient Society Science Board Created
The Resilient Society Science Board was formed by faculty members from Kocaeli University who are experts in their fields. Among these valuable names are Prof. Dr. Esma Buluş Kırıkkaya, Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Çağlayan, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Örgen Uğurlu Ortaç, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yıldız Öztan Ulusoy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Osman Nejat Akfırat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serpil Gerdan and Dr. Faculty Member İsmet Cem Kaba. It was stated that the members of the Resilient Society Science Board will provide significant support to the community-based disaster management studies to be implemented by the Kocaeli Provincial AFAD Directorate and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality with their academic knowledge and scientific approaches. This collaboration will provide a strong scientific basis for Kocaeli's efforts to build a more conscious, prepared and resilient society against disasters.
