Flood Emergency Management System in Turkey - Case Study Example

FLOOD EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN TURKEY Student’s Name: Code + Course name Professor’s name University City, State Date Introduction Turkey’s climate, topographic structure, and geological conditions have subjected the country to frequent natural disasters (Okay 2005). The Turkey Disaster Management System underwent a significant transition from the traditional system that focused its efforts on crisis management to the contemporary system that focuses on risk management. The traditional system entailed different institutions tasked with the responsibility of responding to crises caused by flooding events, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, the system lacked efficient and effective coordination. The traditional system also adopted a reactive approach to disasters as opposed to a proactive approach. The absence of a systems approach and the focus on crisis management were some of the features of the traditional system. Currently, the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the Directorate General for Water Management are at the center of managing flooding emergencies at the strategic and tactical level (GDWM 2016). Other organizations also manage flood risks before, during, and after their occurrence. The Flood Management Approach The reorganized flood management approach has resulted in the establishment of a single coordinating body, a more decentralized system, and powerful local authorities (Kuterdem 2010). As mentioned earlier, the Directorate General for Water Affairs, an affiliate of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs in conjunction with other units is responsible for managing flooding emergencies. The relevant sections of flood management handled by the Ministry through its units include the policy, strategy, planning, legislation, flood protection measures, and recovery measures such as rehabilitation works. Coordination efforts during and after the occurrence of a flooding incidence are the responsibility of the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Presidency (AFAD) (Kilicaslan 2016). AFAD is best suited to coordinate the response and recovery measures since its responsibilities revolve around addressing the needs of the flood victims and flood intervention. In the event of occurrence of a flooding event, the Basin Governor provides the connection link between cities located in the basin and other cities, organizations, and institutions located outside the basin. In essence, the Basin Governor links the affected basin with the national government and other agencies and institutions. It is the responsibility of local administrators to prepare development plans, conduct disaster planning, and emergency rescue operations. It is also the responsibility of Metropolitan Municipalities to rehabilitate rivers located within their territorial jurisdictions. The responses of the individual institutions in managing flood risks before, during, and after are as shown below. The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs The institution is at the helm of the flood management process. As a result, it is responsible for responding to flooding emergencies at the national level. The Ministry utilizes the General Directorate of Water Management, the General Directorate of Meteorology, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, and General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion. The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works The Directorate is responsible for the implementation of structural measures prior to the occurrence of floods. The Directorate also plays a massive role in the response and recovery aspects of a flooding emergency. The tasks of the Directorate include the preparation of plans and strategies, preparation of district and provincial floodplains, regulation of training on flood response and recovery, reporting on flooding incidences, and other non-structural work such as the development of zoning plans (Balaban 2009). The State hydraulic Works (DSI) is also responsible for the maintenance and repair of flood control facilities and the cleaning of riverbeds (DSI 2012). According to the provisions of the law No. 4373, DSI in conjunction with the Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management are responsible for identifying zones as prohibited areas for all settlements and forms of structures because of their high risk of experiencing floods with the help of assessments, flood risk maps, flood hazard maps (Ozaltin 2015). The General Directorate of Water Management The Directorate is responsible for the identification of policies and strategies associated with floods and the preparation of relevant legislation. The Directorate also coordinates flood management with the use of flood management plans. In addition, the Directorate is responsible for performing related work associated with transferring the Flood Directive (GDWM 2016). The General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion The Directorate handles all tasks associated with combating erosion and desertification. These include determining strategies and policies associated with flood control and landslide activities. It also implements integrated basin rehabilitation projects and plans. Moreover, the Directorate prepares up-stream flood action plans and guarantees the implementation of the activities in a controlled and planned manner (GDWM 2016). It is evident that the rehabilitation projects and plans play a crucial role in inhibiting sediment transportation to the lower basin. The General Directorate of Meteorology The Directorate relays the signal of a potential flooding emergency by warning both the private and public sectors about the possible occurrence of a flooding event. The warning enables responsible stakeholders to prepare for the flooding emergency thereby guaranteeing the implementation of immediate response and recovery operations. Besides acting as a warning system, the Directorate also conducts research and development works on early warning and flash floods. The General Directorate of Nature Conservation National Parks The Directorate is responsible for conserving and improving wetlands. The function delays the passage of floodwaters to the river basins thereby reducing the potential damage caused by floods. The General Directorate of Forestry The tasks of the Directory include afforestation, rehabilitation of basins and pastures, the control of erosion, and either preventing the passage of floodwater to lower basins or keeping rainwater in the upper basins. The Directorate also implements structural measures prepared by the General Directorate of Colonization and Erosion (GDWM 2016). The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization The Ministry is responsible for the preparation of environmental plans and the upper scale spatial strategy that form the basis of physical plans, land use, and settlement. The Directorate carries out these roles in conjunction with related organizations and institutions. Moreover, the Directorate prepares zoning and environmental plans of all sizes and types and is responsible for their establishment and approval. The other function of the Ministry is to develop areas of urban renewal and transformation. The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency The primary role of the Presidency is to coordinate all authorities, agencies, and institutions associated with disaster and emergency management. The Presidency plans and implements the activities before, during, and after the emergency while ascertaining the proper coordination and cooperation of all organizations and institutions. The Presidency also develops strategies and plans associated with the activities (Sahin 2013). At the provincial level, the Presidency works through the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorates established under the governor’s authority. This is in accordance with Article 35 of Law No. 6525-dated 20.02.2014. The governor bears the primary responsibility of disaster and emergency activities as well as the directorate at the provincial level (Yuksel et al. 2011). The role of the Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorates is to manage all activities associated with emergency and disaster management at the provincial level. The proper implementation of such activities necessitates the coordination and cooperation of all relevant organizations and institutions with reference to the specific type of activity. Provincial Special Administrations Their responsibilities have a direct or indirect association with the management of flooding emergencies in accordance with their law provisions. The factor that determines their level of engagement is whether the administrations are metropolis or not. The administrations are responsible for preparing emergency rescue and relief services, the provincial reconstruction and environment plans, and the evaluation of emergency and disaster plans. The administrations consider the specific attributes of the provinces in order to determine the proper ways of protecting them from flood, industrial accidents, fire, earthquakes, and other disasters in the quest to reduce the damage caused by the disasters. The administrations also prepare different forms of equipment to respond to emergencies besides educating individuals in the preparation phase. Throughout the implementation of its tasks, the administrations ensure coordination with other emergency plans at the provincial level including the opinions of other professional organizations, public institutions, ministries, local administrations, and universities. Governorates Governorates are at the helm of the provincial general administration. The governor also has command over the various branches of ministries at the provincial level. The ‘Communique’ determined ‘Coordinator Governors’ as published in the May 20, 2015 Official Gazette numbered 29361 that also play a crucial role in the basin scale. Metropolitan Municipalities Metropolitan Municipalities have either a direct or an indirect responsibility in flood management within the confines of the law that determines their scope of operation. The functions include preparing master development plans, supervising the approval and implementation of zoning plans of the metropolitan first-tier municipalities and sub-provincials, implementing stream remediation, and executing plans and preparations associated with natural disasters at the provincial level. If deemed necessary, metropolitan municipalities also provide tools, supplies, and materials to other disaster areas. They also execute fire and emergency services, evacuate at-risk individuals from unsafe buildings, and destroy buildings that bear the disaster risk or pose a significant threat to property. Municipalities Municipalities prepare emergency and disaster plans while considering the specific attributes of the province to protect it against industrial accidents, fire, floods, earthquakes and other disasters to reduce the damage and injury that such disasters cause on property and individuals. Municipalities also prepare the response team and equipment besides coordinating other emergency plans that exist within the province. The actions of the municipalities take into account opinions from local administrations, universities, professional associations, ministries, and public institutions. Coordination of Flood Risk Management Turkey has employed a structured approach towards flood risk management. As a result, the country has structured the management approach in national, basin, and provincial scales as shown in the flow chart below. Figure 1: Coordination of Flood Management in National, Basin, and Provincial Levels (Delipınar & Karpuzcu 2017) The Water Management Coordination Board The establishment of the Water Management Coordination Board as published in the Official Gazette dated March 20, 2012 and numbered 28239 tasked the Board with the mandate to identify measures of protecting water sources using the integrated basin management approach. The role of the Board is to ascertain inter-sectoral cooperation and coordination and accelerate water investments to guarantee effective water management. The Board also develops strategies, policies, and plans that enable the attainment of the objectives in national and international documents. The Board also evaluates the carrying out of issues that public institutions and organizations intend to fulfil in accordance with the plans of the basin. In essence, the Board plays a massive role in ensuring high-level cooperation and coordination among all relevant stakeholders as shown in the figure below. Figure 2: Water Management Coordination Board President and Members Public institutions and organizations proceed with their respective tasks under the coordination of the Water Management Coordination Board both prior to and after the occurrence of a flood disaster. The Board determines working groups to handle specific areas according to the goals of the organization. In some cases, the Board includes the Water and Soil Working Group and the Monitoring Working Group when deemed necessary. The Directorate General for Water Management, an affiliate of the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs carry out the Board’s secretariat services besides monitoring and coordinating the implementation of decisions. The Basin Management Central Board Since its establishment by the ‘Communique’ and subsequent publishing in the Official Gazette dated May 20, 2015 and numbered 29361, the Board operates under an Undersecretary from the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs. Undersecretaries from different ministries also form part of the Board. They include: Undersecretary of Ministry of European Union Undersecretary of Ministry of Science, Industry, and Technology Undersecretary of Ministry of Environment and Urbanization Undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary of Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock Undersecretary of Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources Undersecretary of Ministry of Development Undersecretary of Ministry of Interior Undersecretary of Ministry of Health Undersecretary of Ministry of Culture and Tourism Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Maritime, and Communications General Manager of Water Management General Director for State Hydraulic Works General Manager of IIbank Inc President of Turkish Water Institute Prime Ministry (Disaster and Emergency Management Director) The General Directorate of Water Management executes the Board’s secretarial services. In relation to the management of the flooding risk, the Board coordinates all relevant institutions to ensure adequate preparation of the plans and activities associated with flood management. Besides preparing for the plans and activities, the Board also implements follow-up measures following the implementation of the plans and activities. The Basin Management Committee Since its establishment according to Article 6 of the ‘Communique’ and subsequent publishing in the Official Gazette dated May 20, 2015, and numbered 29361, the Committee also performs crucial roles in the management of flooding events. The Committee contributes to the development of flood management plans by the Ministry at the basin whose management is its responsibility. The Committee also monitors and evaluates the implementation of the plans after which it informs all relevant institutions and organizations on the implemented actions. The Committee also presents audit and sanction results prepared by organizations and institutions to the Basin Management Central Board. Finally, the Committee ensures public access to information besides enabling the public to take part in preparing, monitoring, and updating flood management plans. The Provincial Water Management Coordination Committee Following its establishment according to Article 8 of the ‘Communique’ published by the Official Gazette dated May 20, 2015 and numbered 29361, the Committee comprises professional members that also take part in the management of the flood risk. Conclusion At the center of Turkey’s emergency management system for floods is the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the Directorate General for Water Management. The country has implemented a structural approach towards the management of flood risks that replaced the ill-fated traditional approach. The management of flood risks starts from the preparation and implementation of flood prevention measures, as well as the response and recovery measures. The relevant stakeholders also take part in educating the public about ways of mitigating the adverse effects of the flood. Besides the MoFWA and the Directorate General for Water Affairs, other institutions and organizations that take part in the management of the flood risk include the Water Management and Coordination Board and its subsidiary, the Basin Management Central Board. The Basin Management Committee is responsible for the implementation of a tactical response at the basin level. The Provincial Water Management Coordination Committee is responsible for the implementation of an operational response to the flooding emergency at the provincial level. Reference List Balaban, M.Ş., 2009. Risk Society and Planning: The Case of Flood Disaster Management in Turkish Cities (Doctoral dissertation, MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY). Delipınar, Ş. and Karpuzcu, M., 2017. Policy, legislative and institutional assessments for integrated river basin management in Turkey. Environmental Science & Policy, 72, pp.20-29. DSI., 2012. General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works. Available at: http://en.dsi.gov.tr/about-dsi- General Directorate of Water Management (GDWM)., 2016. Flood and Drought Management Department. Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs. Kilicaslan, C. H., 2016. “Legal and Institutional Basis of the Asi Basin Management Committee”, in Water Resources Management in the Lower Asi-Orontes River Basin: Issues and Opportunities, Geneva:Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies; Istanbul: MEF University, pp. 43–55. Kuterdem, K., 2010. A New Disaster Management Structure in Turkey. In 1st Meeting of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR) (pp. 6-8). Okay, N., 2005. The risk profile and disaster management system of Turkey. Risk. Ozaltin, A.M., 2015. Flood Management Planning in Turkey within the Context of EU Flood Directive. Sahin, D., 2013. Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency: Transition from Crisis Management to Risk Management-Establishment of AFAD. Yuksel, I., Arman, H., Goktepe, F. and Ceribasi, G., 2011. Flood management to prevent flooding damages in western Black Sea region in Turkey. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 6(29), pp.6759-6766. Read More