Natural Disasters Government Response for Effective Handling

Natural disasters government response determines the quality of natural disaster management. The national program is highly dependent on government policies and measures. Each program must be ensured to run effectively, so all risks can be handled. It guarantees quality of people’s lives is restored after a disaster, and risk mitigation is enhanced in the future.

Urgency of Natural Disasters Government Response

The safety of all its citizens is a responsibility of the government. The unavoidable risk of natural disasters requires the disaster management programs to be strengthened. The formulation and implementation of the program reflect the government's response to natural disasters. Here are some urgent needs for responsive government action.

1. Minimizing Disaster Risk

The government's response to disasters is manifested in risk mitigation programs, from prevention to recovery. All of this is done to minimize disaster risk. The more positive the government's response, the lower the risk.

2. Accelerating Recovery

One of the government's post-disaster responses is recovery. After evacuation, the mandatory program from the government is a recovery. Restoring the affected area to its normal condition is the purpose of recovery program.

Besides restoring housing, infrastructure, and public facilities, the psychological well-being of victims also needs to be restored. It can be accelerated with concrete programs, multi-stakeholder coordination, and adequate funding.

3. Cost Effectiveness

The government's response to disaster management inevitably requires funding. Established national programs and their budgets must be implemented.

In its implementation, budget effectiveness can encourage targeted budget utilization. Consistency between budget plans and reality can be achieved. Communities are helped and restored to prosperity, without budget waste or profiteering for irresponsible parties.

4. Stabilizing Condition after Disaster

Stabilizing post-disaster conditions takes time. Conditions will return to stability after an optimal and comprehensive response to all affected locations. The government's response is crucial, mobilizing all relevant parties to assist disaster victims and affected locations.

5. Increasing Life Quality

The quality of life certainly declines after a disaster. It is the responsibility of states to restore the well-being of its citizen lies. The government, with related parties, must immediately address disaster risks, and the recovery process must begin before those risks escalate.

Positive Response for Effective Handling

The natural disasters government response must be effective to handle the disaster risks. A positive and responsive response is a form of responsibility expected by all parties. The following are forms of government response that must be present and optimized.

1. Evacuation

First of all, an initial program in risk handling that is realized after a disaster is evacuation. Local governments conduct evacuations with the assistance of evacuation teams. The process follows established procedures.

If the risk is severe enough, the local government can request assistance from the central government. It can ask for the declaration of a national disaster status. With this statement, all state institutions can be mobilized to assist with the evacuation.

2. Aid Distribution

The distribution of aid starts with fulfilling the basic needs of all victims, such as food, supplies, drinks, clothing, blankets, and medicine. All of this must be distributed quickly and effectively. To ensure a healthy condition, fulfillment of clean water and sanitation improvements is also urgently needed. To address injuries and health issues, medicines and vitamins are also needed.

3. Recovery

Recovery must be completed immediately after a disaster. After evacuation and aid distribution are carried out according to procedures, recovery follows immediately. Recovery is carried out according to risk.

The objects being restored are the damage to homes, land, and the surrounding environment (watersheds, slopes, forests). Quality of life after a disaster depends on this recovery process. So, the recovery process must be ensured to run effectively and reach high quality.

4. Giving Education Program

As a high-risk country for natural disasters, Indonesia needs educational programs for every citizen. The program consists of outreach and simulation. Public knowledge and awareness of natural disasters can be increased through outreach. The ability to evacuate and survive in a disaster can be strengthened by holding a simulation.

5. Optimizing Disaster Warning System

A disaster warning system is the first step in risk mitigation. A warning system can be implemented to reduce disaster risk. It involves providing warning signals to the public about potential disasters. It enables them to be aware and willing to evacuate before a disaster occurs. To realize it, the government needs to allocate a budget for the implementation and improvement of the capacity of the system.

6. Evaluating Mitigation Program

Mitigation programs encompass disaster prevention, response, and recovery. After each program implementation, an evaluation must be conducted to determine what aspects need improvement and what needs to be maintained.

An optimal natural disasters government response certainly supports national disaster management and risk mitigation programs. The government's response to optimize the disaster warning system is highly anticipated. This is necessary because the disaster warning system plays a role in reducing disaster risk by notifying affected communities before a disaster occurs.

An emergency message-sending machine based on SMS (Short Message Service) is available with a range of up to 2 km to all operators. Through this machine, emergency messages containing potential disaster information can be disseminated simultaneously and promptly. The government can procure this specific machine at smsbroadcaster.com.