The 17 August 1999 earthquake, the 2020 İzmir earthquake, and the Kahramanmaraş earthquake that caused destruction in 10 provinces revealed the reality of earthquakes throughout the country. Along with the earthquake, forest fires that take place every summer burned the lungs. Based on the fact that concrete steps should be taken after all these disasters, EGİAD Aegean Young Businessmen Association, by establishing a Disaster Coordination Board, determined the works to be done in case of a disaster with its members, and once again broke new ground for the region. The association, which has organized first aid training in the past days, has recently been involved in search and rescue activities in the Hatay region. EGİAD It brought together the Izmir SAR Search and Rescue Association, which also hosts its members, with its members. Taking important decisions at the meeting, the NGO will carry out preparations for possible disasters with the Disaster Coordination Board meetings that it will organize every month.
To meeting EGİAD President Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer, Deputy Chairman Kaan Özhelvacı, Arda Yılmaz, Secretary General Prof. Dr. It was hosted by Fatih Dalkılıç. At the event, SAR Izmir Leader and EGİAD Mehmet Karakuş, member of Sar Izmir and EGİAD With its member Can Atik EGİAD Member Deren Acar talked about his work in the region during the recent earthquakes and gave information.
The keynote speaker EGİAD President Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer stated that disaster preparedness coordination, which starts from individuals and spreads to all segments of the society, is important, and said, “Recent earthquakes have shown us that we need to be conscious about this issue. We set out to bring a culture of disaster preparedness, to raise awareness, to share the basic precautions they can take in the places where they live, to ensure that they learn and implement the right behavior patterns, to inform them about the preparation of disaster and emergency plans, and to share the basic measures that can be taken. As an NGO, we have to form public opinion, including steps such as risk analysis, infrastructure and building stock. In particular, we saw how important it is to take inventory and determine the necessary resources. EGİAD As our company, we determined our members who make tents, who produce containers and who pay for transportation. We are making our preparations by creating our inventory.”
Yelkenbiçer, who suggested that they are in contact with the associations and federations with which they cooperate in order to get help from the surrounding provinces for a possible earthquake in İzmir, and that joint studies can be carried out, “Our city was able to coordinate quickly in the last earthquakes. It happened because of the bitter truths we learned from the 2020 earthquake. We brought to life what we experienced. Joint campaigns with NGOs and Chambers in the region started immediately. Job opportunities were created by realizing the employment project. EGİAD Some of its members are experienced in SAR Search and Rescue. Through them, we can make our members experienced in the field of search and rescue.”
Speaking at the meeting, SAR İzmir Assistant Leader and EGİAD Member Mehmet Karakuş and Sar Izmir and EGİAD Its member, Can Atik, shared his painful experiences and miracles in the earthquake region and found it on the road map.