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Learning from the tsunami

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

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Learning from the tsunami

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  1. Learning from the tsunami Rohan Samarajiva www.lirneasia.net

  2. 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 • What is the choice for a dynamic growth-oriented country? For a dynamic growth-oriented firm? • Role of government? • Role of private sector?

  3. 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

  4. Examples: From NDMC 1999 Country Report ( excl. 2000 & ’03)

  5. 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

  6. 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?

  7. Retreat • Is there any basis in law and economics? • Does 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?

  8. Embrace risk, intelligently • Understand the hazards • Identify the economic costs and benefits • Work on disaster preparedness

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. What companies can do . . .Choose your approach

  14. 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

  15. 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

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