LEARNING FROM AITAPE

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LEARNING FROM AITAPE
Australian National Academies Forum - 31 March
2005

• Hugh Davies University of PNG

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The first three lessons from Aitape

• A M7 earthquake can cause a devastating tsunami
• For a near-source tsunami no warning can be given
• Therefore, education is essential

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• Education
• Know the warning signs
• Know what to do

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Prevention - Prepared communities

• Relocate houses back from waters edge
• Training in first aid and counselling

Relocate a safe distance from waters edge
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Prevention

• Have an escape route

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Prevention

• Tsunami shelters and thickets of trees
• Secure 24-hour communications

There was an HF radio here at Sissano District
Office
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Prevention

• GIS data bases (population, infrastructure)
• Strong disaster management structure
• Training programs

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Reserves of emergency supplies and equipment

• Containers of emergency supplies at strategic
  locations
• Emergency supplies were diverted from
  Bougainville crisis and from drought relief

Wewak airport first week Photograph J.
Southwell
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Pre-planning and coordination of NGOs

• Red Cross and NGOs will play a vital role but
  their efforts need to be coordinated by a central
  authority

Unload supplies at Barapu care centre
Photograph H Dennett
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Enhance the tide gauge network
AITAPE
World earthquake map by USGS
Network can track far-source tsunamis
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When disaster strikes -

• The needs are
• Assessment
• Water supply
• Medical
• Shelter
• Food
• Emergency transport
• Emergency communications
• Experienced field staff
• Expert advice information
• Census
• Identify dispose of dead
• Media liaison

• visitor control
• funds control

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Rapid assessment

• Assessment is needed immediately
• Need trained assessors
• First assessment from Aitape was 24 hours after
  the event

Sissano church site, August 1998
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Medical intervention

• Fully equipped emergency teams
• Volunteers trained in first aid
• Transport

High risk of gangrene and hence amputations.
Rescue on Day One by mining company helicopter
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Emergency shelter
The first weeks
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Need expert advice in the field quickly

• Scientists enter the disaster area to advise on
  safety and relocation
• And to provide information for managers and
  public
• International Tsunami Survey Team assessed the
  situation and gave advice in Weeks 2 and 3.

Follow-up information program one year later,
Professor Imamura and Dr Lus
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A local FM-AM radio station

• People are hungry for information, rumours are
  rife
• A local radio station is the most effective way
  to address this

Thousands of pamphlets were prepared at the
University and distributed in care centres
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Census of displaced persons

• Census is vital for
• Management of care centres and allocation of
  stores and supplies
• Tracing victims, bringing families together

Olbrum (Sissano) Care Centre October 1998
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Identification and disposal of the dead

• Plan for identification and recording of the dead
  (photographs, DNA) and safe disposal of the
  bodies

Day Three at Otto Mouth. (Photograph Z.Mlak)
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Funds available and funds control

• Immediate access to emergency funds
• Immediately implementat financial procedures

Tas Maketu Chairman of Aitape Diocese Rehab
Committee
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In the years after the event

• Land issues
• Trauma
• Victims must be involved
• Support needed for the long haul
• Scientific enquiry

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Continuing contact with victims

• Victims are traumatised. Need trained counsellors
• Rural communities do not readily accept that
  disaster is a natural event
• People need ongoing contact, need information

Public awareness program at Arop Sept 1998
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Scientific enquiry

• Provided clues to the cause of the tsunami

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Scientific enquiry

• Revealed how frequent are major tsunamis on this
  coast

Sandy peat beds
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Australias role at Aitape

• ASSESSMENT - Field assessment, report and plan by
  Defence Attache on Day Two
• EMERGENCY SUPPLIES - First C130 with supplies on
  Day Two
• MEDICAL - Field hospital and surgical team
  established on Day Three
• LONG TERM SUPPORT - Financial and adviser support
  by AusAID throughout.