learning from the tsunami
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Learning from the tsunami. Rohan Samarajiva www.lirneasia.net. Agenda. Three ways of responding to hazards Pretend the danger will not happen Retreat from areas of possible danger Understand the risks, make the necessary preparations, get on with life - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Learning from the tsunami
Rohan Samarajivawww.lirneasia.net
Agenda Three ways of responding to hazards
1. Pretend the danger will not happen2. Retreat from areas of possible danger3. Understand the risks, make the necessary
preparations, get on with life What is the choice for a dynamic growth-
oriented country? For a dynamic growth-oriented firm? Role of government? Role of private sector?
Pretend the danger does not exist
Sri Lanka has had plenty of disasters Mostly floods and
cyclones Even tsunamis
But we have passed up opportunities for effective preparedness
Examples: From NDMC 1999 Country Report ( excl. 2000 & ’03)
Year Disaster Deaths Affected families
1978 Cyclone 915 250000
1993 Landslides 29 870
1994 Cyclone 10 456
1996 Cyclone 10 8360
1997 Landslides 15 626
2000 Cyclone 8 55000
2003 Floods 200+ 25000+
Consequences are serious Because no national public warning system
existed, gap between first contact (Kalmunai 0827/0836 SLT) and other locations further North, South and on West Coast not used to save lives Estimate: 7,000 could have been saved
Because no dedicated disaster warning center, no effort made to seek information in aftermath of Sumatra-Andamans quake Estimate: 23,000 could have been saved
Retreat from danger If we leave
Beaches for fear of tsunamis . . .
Mountains for fear of landslides . . .
Valleys for fear of floods . . .
. . . . Where will we live?
Retreat Is there any basis in law and
economics? DoesDoes this approach address economic
costs and tradeoffs? What does it do to our psyche? Is it compatible with an
entrepreneurial society? Can any firm adopt it, and yet remain
dynamic?
Embrace risk, intelligently Understand the
hazards Identify the
economic costs and benefits
Work on disaster preparedness
The middle path
Do not take unnecessary risks But do not also run away from risk
Choice based on best possible information and calculation of trade-offs
“Be prepared,” but be adventurous
Understand the hazards
Best possible information on nature of relevant hazards
Vulnerability mapping Physical and historical data Probabilistic
Identify the economic costs and benefits Social and economic data
Disaster preparedness Timely, accurate,
credible warnings Consultative
process in Jan-Feb 2005
Draft document at www.lirneasia.net
Revised text will be published & handed to authorities around Feb 26th
Disaster preparedness Appropriate action is
what will save lives Response plans, drills,
audits Relocation,
modifications, as required
Disaster awareness through education at all levels NIE said to be
promoting in schools Vanguard Foundation
will focus on media and emergency response personnel
Vanguard Centre for Disaster Preparedness
What companies can do . . .Choose your approach
No help needed for 2; if the other . .
Let’s work together to Devise industry-level responses Integrate disaster preparedness into the
very fabric of how firms operate Planning Training Audits Certification
Useful SL websites
www.lirneasia.net for early warning discussion document, lively discussion Emphasis on ICTs
www.vanguardfoundationlanka.org for disaster preparedness work with market emphasis
www.indi.ca on seven historical tsunamis