December 19, 2006
Contact:
(US) Jeremy Barnicle, +1-503-367-7738
(Indonesia) Debbie Tomasowa, +62-812-133-0551
- Exercise shows reconstruction effort's growing emphasis on disaster preparedness and planning
PADANG PARIAMAN, Indonesia - On the two-year anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami - December 26 - the global humanitarian agency Mercy Corps will conduct a tsunami preparedness drill in the coastal town of Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra. The training is critical in helping the vulnerable community prepare for future natural disasters.
Sumatra is the most active seismic and volcanic region in the world. Just yesterday, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake, epicentered in Padang Pariaman, shook the region, killing seven people and leveling hundreds of homes and businesses. Communities along the island's west coast are highly vulnerable to future disasters, and towns like Padang Pariaman are just as exposed as tsunami-devastated Banda Aceh to the north.
Mercy Corps is organizing the drill with its local partner organization KOGAMI (Komunitas Siaga Tsunami, or 'Tsunami Ready Community') and government officials of Padang Pariaman. Since the 2004 tsunami, the town has sought international support for improved disaster response mechanisms, such as early warning systems, clearly-marked escape routes and community training. The goal of this tsunami drill is to improve evacuation skills and create emergency response plans to minimize loss of life and damage.
This will be the second drill Mercy Corps has conducted in West Sumatra. The project is part of a larger Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded program to help organizations and communities respond better to emergencies in developing countries.
WHAT: The warning siren, which kicks off the drill, will sound at 10 am. The Bupati (head of district) will instruct citizens to run through pre-determined evacuation routes. Eight communities - approximately 1,000 people - will participate: schools will evacuate, first-responders will come to the scene and officials will set up a command center.
WHERE: The drill will commence at Nagari Kuranji Hilir (near the market) in Sungai Limau sub-district, an outdoor area in Padang Pariaman, nearly equidistant between Jakarta and Banda Aceh on the western coast of Sumatra. Padang Pariaman is about one hour away from the Minangkabau International Airport in Ketaping. Please contact Debbie Tomasowa for assistance in coordinating travel.
WHEN: Government officials will address the community before the warning siren sounds, which is currently scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Media should plan to be on-site by 9:00 a.m.
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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
