Surviving The Nature Wrath : The Men Behind

By Bagus Wicaksono Ruswandi

I. Introduction

Some said that disasters are something that is beyond humans reach, that no one can do
something about, Gods will and so on. A natural disaster is the effect of the earth's natural
hazards, They can lead to financial, environmental or human losses
1
. Referring to the definition
by the national law disaster is a series of events which threatens and disturbs the peace in
everydays life that caused by either natural or non-natural even human error factors that leads to
the loss of lives, environmental and psychological damage
2
. A natural hazard cannot be avoided
and can happen in every part of the world. Combined with the geographical situation and the
vulnerability of the area, this natural hazard can turn into something that we call disaster that
causes great losses and damages. To many countries, the danger of natural disasters, as long as
other violent conflicts, are increasing, for they can erase decades of development and further
entrench poverty and inequality.
The closest example of a severe disaster that lacks in human anticipation was the one we had in
Aceh. Emotional aftershocks struck not only our country but also the world in the wake of the
December 26, 2004 tsunami that killed nearly 230,000 people across 13 countries, the largest
number of tsunami casualties in history. Most of the victims were staying in the coast city of
Banda Aceh.
The deadly tsunami was considered one of the world's worst natural disaster ever. The Tsunami
was very powerful as it was caused by an undersea 9.3 magnitude earthquake with epicenter at
50 kilometers below the sea off Banda Aceh coast. The huge tsunami waves were able to remove
huge objects from the sea, including fishing boats and thousands tons of ship, ashore like what
happened in Banda Aceh back then. The disaster unleashed an unprecedented outpouring of aid
amounting to more than US$7 billion for Indonesia alone
3
.
Earthquakes and tectonic activity have become increasingly commonplace in Indonesia. Over the
past two decades more than 40 large-scale earthquakes have hit the country, with 15 of them
generating tsunamis. To mitigate the extent of such disasters, the Red Cross and Red Crescent
have helped create community-based risk reduction programs that perform small-scale
prevention efforts, such as drainage maintenance to prevent flooding during monsoon season.
But the real challenge comes after, are we prepared for something like this in the future?
In the concern of the impacts that the countries are going to take and to actually reduce even
keep away from, a framework to maintain the readiness of one country to face the coming danger
is needed, something that is commonly known as Disaster Management.


1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2
Law Number 24 Year 2007 concerning the Disaster Management
3
The Huffington Post, December 24, 2009 by Sara Schonhardt
II. Legal Background

A countrys legislative and governmental systems provide the basis for plans and organization
in all areas of disaster risk reduction. An adequate institutional basis as well as good
governance, therefore, is an important prerequisite for disaster risk management.
4


Speaking of the implementation of the system, the push to reform the Disaster Management Law
in Indonesia was conceived well before the earthquake and tsunami of 26 December 2004: in
2003 discussions were well underway between United Nations Development Program (UNDP),
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), National Planning Agency
(BAKORNAS PB) and Indonesia Society of Disaster Management (MPBI). But it is unfortunate
that for three years following the December 26 tsunami the Indonesian government had no
budget for disaster management, with the national coordinating board that headed the country's
disaster management program focused on emergency response.

Disaster Risk Reduction was decreed as one of nine national development priorities in 2007, and
this resulted in the DM Laws priority for deliberation in parliament being brought forward in the
Parliamentary calendar. The Disaster Management Law 24/2007 recognizes the shift from a
focus on Disaster Response to Disaster Risk Reduction while clearly identifying a systematic
approach to disaster management across the three phases of the DM cycle. The systematic
approach consists of three phases: pre-disaster planning and preparedness, during emergency
response, and post disaster longer term recovery.

Although it is taking quite some time for the law to be applied in general levels, the Disaster
Management Law 24/2007 actually provides a comprehensive basis for Disaster Management
during the three phases of the DM cycle. The Law mandates the creation of a National Disaster
Management Agency (BNPB) that reports directly to the President, which was subsecuently
established in 2008 with the issuence of President Regulation Number 8 Year 2008.

Having all of that being said, and by looking to the improvement of the system, more and more
efforts have to be done. The three phases that the Law has to offer are all obviously important
but there should be more thoughts poured to the pre-disaster planning. The National Planning
Agency (BAKORNAS PB) as stated also in the Law 24/2007 is emphasizing the pre-disaster
plan into prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
The ability to prevent such impact when a disaster occurs will show the countrys strong point.
Although its being said that no one can control the power of the nature, we can prevent and
actually be prepared about whats going to come. A great management is needed to ensure the
establishment of proper pre-disaster system.



4
UN/ISDR, 2007. Words Into Action: A Guide for Implementing the Hyogo Framework. Geneva,
Switzerland, p.21
The great management, if we refer to the ishikawa diagram
5
used in manufacturing, consists of 6
elements of M. Machine (technology), method (process), material (including raw material and
information), man and mind power (physical and brain work), measurement (inspection) and
something to always look up to, milieu or mother nature (the condition of the environment). In
order for all the other 5 elements to work together it needs the sixth element, that is the Man, or
group of Men to be more precise, to work through them all.
Indonesia needs to do more risk assessments, to have a better early warning system of disaster,
and inevitably, to acquire such a system the country needs to master better technology, and that
leads us to the needs of better manpower. It is not possible to carry out such hugh tasks on pre-
disasters management to a success and actually making significant improvement with it without
having the excellencies of the people involved. This includes the government, the officers in
charge, civil society, and nevertheless, the people of the country.

As the authorities, the government has the leading roles in the disaster management. FIrst thing
first, the government has to prepare disaster legislation, regulations and standard operating
procedures. Its really important to have laws and regulations that work as the guideline to
establish the DM system
6
. Government also has to disseminate disaster risk reduction that
includes risk mapping for all districts / municipals, multi-hazards, especially disaster prone areas.
Not to forget to strengthen capacity through training and education for its field workers. Once the
fundamental parts it is also important to set up disaster management information systems and its
pre-disaster plan in all levels. Having emergency operation center and Rapid Response Team in
national, provincial and district level will also lead to a better system. With the enactment of th
DM Law and the establishment of the National Disaster Management Agency,and all the
Districts/Municipals Disaster Management Agencies setup by each local governments, it is up to
those agencies to make sure the necessary procedures and plans in place.

The capability of officers and personnel in all levels along with the advancement of the
technologies is also one thing to be prioritized. Since we are dealing with the nature and what we
are aiming for is the prevention of impacts, then it is really up to how fast we react and do
something about anomalies when they occur. There should be specialized trainings for the
personnel to do specific tasks and it has to be done by the qualified experts.

The people of Indonesia have to learn from what happened when the Tsunami hit Japan and
Katrina hit USA. Theres a big difference in how the society reacted to the disaster. It was
chaotic, the victims of Katrina hurricane were massive and they are far from fully prepared, this
made it harder for the response team to give direct assistances. On the other hand, Japanese
people are more prepared when earthquakes occurred, they know what to do, they know how to
do it, and they did everything in more orderly. They had been taught to deal with situations like
that. Simulations have been conducted regularly, campaigns are constantly held, and free lessons
are being introduced to schools, groups of communities and companies. Likewise, Indonesian

5
The original 6Ms used by the Toyota Production System have been expanded and referred as
8Ms to include Money Power and Maintenance.
6
Disaster Management in Indonesia, http:www.bakornaspbp.go.id
people have to realize that natural disasters are inevitable and will happen so they need to get
used to it, and to learn to survive.

All aspects of the society have to follow the series of rules that have been prescribed. Everybody
has to understand the importance of it and know that theyre playing the key role towards the
successfulness of the DM. To help with this we need the involvement of civil societies, NGOs
and others to keep everyone on alert on the potential disaster around us and to ensure that
everyone is able to do something about it when it happens. They can take parts by proposing
ideas and plans to the government and conducting campaigns,and trainings to general public.

III. Conclusion

The involvement of all range of actors in the process with common understanding of the
situation and the challenges faced with DM is the key to the better establishment of pre-disaster
management. Although it is the government responsibility to maintain the well-being of its
people, at the end of the day, everyone needs to learn how to survive, how to play by the rules of
the nature.
Management is nothing more than motivating other people.
7


As in the Disaster Management itself, formulating, stipulating policies, coordinating the
implementation and monitoring activities in disaster management, as well as rendering guidance
and direction on disaster management will have to be the priority carried out by the authorities.

There is one very important thing to remember: Nature is extremely unpredictable. Sometimes,
things happen that no amount of survival training or preparations can ready you for. Sometimes,
Nature is angrier than predicted or expected. And sometimes, events can happen without proper
warning. But it is always a good thing to be prepared. Now, ask yourself this; Are you prepared?

IV. Bibliography

Law Number 24 Year 2007 concerning the Disaster Management;

United Nations Developing Program (UNDP) Indonesia : Disaster Management Legal Reform;

President Decision Number 11 Year 2001 concerning the National Coordination Agency on the
Response for Disaster and Refugee as amended by President Decision Number 111 Year 2001;

President Regulation Number 83 Year 2005 concerning National Coordination Agency on
Disaster Managemen (NCA-DM);

President Regulation Number 3 Year 2007 concerning The Amendment of the President
Decision Number 83 Year 2005 concerning NCA-DM;

7
By Lee Iacocca, American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, part of Ford
Motor Company, and CEO and President of the Chrysler Corporation, 1978 1992.

President Regulation Number 8 Year 2008 concerning the National Disaster Management
Agency;

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPN) Report;

Law Number 12 Year 2011 concerning the Making of Laws;

The Huffington Post, www.huffingtonpost.com;

The Xinhua Net, http://news.xinhuanet.com;

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, www.wikipedia.com ;

IOC Brochure 2009-1 (IOC/BRO/2009/1): Surviving a Tsunami Lessons to Learn from Aceh
and Pangandaran Tsunamis (UNESCO 2008)