National tsunami drill a success - DMC

People in 14 coastal districts take part:

by Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

The Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 can be identified as the most devastating catastrophic natural disaster in recent times. When Sri Lanka lost over 40, 000 lives several hundred thousands died in the neighbouring South Asian region making it the worst unexpected attack in centuries.

Scientific research programs conducted after the tragedy showed signs that the region could be a serious earthquake prone area in the future leading to dangerous tsunamis. Surveillance, mitigation and prevention programs came into effect following this.

Once the restoration process was done to a satisfying standard the government had to focus on how to prevent such disaster in the future, how to be alerted about an on coming tsunami and how to act prior to it striking to save thousands of lives was discussed.

The preparation plays a major role in facing a disaster such as this whereas setting the mindset of the people to save themselves from it is important. The necessity to conduct drills or tsunami stimulation exercises were felt badly.

As a result the Ministry of Disaster Management through its technical agency Disaster Management Centre (DMC) introduced a series of simulation exercises targeting all populations living along the vulnerable coastal belt around the country which is being carried out since 2006. It is called National Tsunami Simulation Exercise which is being conducted once or twice a year. This year's first drill was conducted on Thursday drawing residents in 14 districts namely Colombo, Kalutara, Trincomalee, Ampara, Galle, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Puttalam, Hambantota, Matara, Gampaha, Mullaitivu and Batticaloa.

The respective districts as well as the entire country was informed about the drill to avoid an unnecessary panic situation and not to mislead the public of a real disaster. A wide publicity was given through both print and electronic media to educate the people living in the selected areas as well as the DMC itself informed them a few days prior to the exercise.

The afternoon was picked to conduct the drill as people were less occupied from their morning chores and the schoolchildren have returned home.

When conducting these drills, the DMC is much focusing on younger generation as they have strong senses and a memory to grasp the guidelines and instructions given during an exercise.

DMC Deputy Director Media Lal Sarath Kumara told the Sunday Observer how the awareness on the drill was carried out in the respective districts.

The DMC requested at least two members from each family to take part in the drill. Since there are feeble and physically ill people in a family the exercises are being conducted sans them to avoid unnecessary hassle to them.

The exercise was commenced at 3.00pm where all the Early Warning Towers in the 14 districts were activated at one time by the DMC Control Room in Vidya Mawatha, Colombo 7. The warning kicked off with a sharp beep and was followed by the first automated tsunami warning message read out in all three languages.

The message was that a tsunami situation has risen asking the public to be vigilant and cautious.

Within half an hour the second message was announced asking the people in the respective areas to evacuate immediately.

In the meantime other warning methods such as using loudspeakers and megaphones by the designated individuals were carried out with temple and church bells ordered to ring.

The people adhering to these warnings as well as recollecting what was done during the previous drills started to evacuate at once with no hesitation.

Armed with the 'Tsunami Sack', a bag carrying essential and valuable items such as important documents and jewellery. they set out walking briskly towards the safety locations.

The participants chose the correct tsunami routes marked for them to use during an emergency that led to the selected safety points in the area.

These safety locations are picked concerning the safe distance they have from the seashore and the elevation. When a strong and tall tide comes it could ram through the inland even up to a couple of kilometres. So the elevation of ground in the safety locations is important in temporary nesting. Specially public places such as temples, churches or mosques as well as schools are used for this purpose. Not only can they accommodate a large number of people at once but they can also have the basic facilities to temporarily accommodate them for a few days until relief is supplied.

Once everybody is settled in the safety locations the first part of the drill is successful.

Then the third announcement comes from the DMC representatives who visit these points asking them to return home saying that it is safe to do so. Even in a real emergency the people are being informed by the officials to return to their living places once the actual danger is over. With a quick snack and a drink offered to them by the courteous DMC officials the mass started to march towards their homes with happy and smiling faces. Explaining about this positive response to these drills Sarath Kumara said the general attitude and mentality of the people have improved a lot throughout the past few years. Although it seemed a nuisance to them in the beginning of these programs from about five or six years ago the present mindset has changed significantly.

Once they were informed of a pending drill the response is highly satisfying as they were ready to take part in them at any given moment.

The people have already mastered to follow the right instructions and to behave in an emergency. This is really important in saving as many lives as possible in a future disaster. Unlike those days, now people call us and ask about any potential tsunami threats once there is an earthquake in the far South-eastern region reported through the media. Whether it will affect the Sri Lankan coasts or what to do next. This is a very satisfying condition when it comes to the public safety, the Deputy Director said.