Disaster Preparedness

 In view of the presidential elections two weeks from now, I feel we need to be prepared. I don’t mean to alarm anybody—It is not completely certain that there will be post-election unrest but why risk? It is better to be prepared than not.

 Several reports have prompted this discussion: A recent warning by the UN about possible civil unrest following the coming polls, A BBC report in 2009 which observed that rival tribes were purchasing firearms in preparation for the probable violent conflict after 2013 elections (BBC, 2009), and a recent report about violence hotspots prepared by the Ministry of State for Special Programmes (which is mandated to coordinate implementation of the draft national policy on disaster management.)

 Now, I do not claim to be an expert, but I have been extensively trained on Relief, Disaster Mitigation and Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. I also recently wrote a paper on Disaster Preparedness in Kenya—it is being peer reviewed for publication so I feel I can be of help.

 During a disaster, the government and relief agencies may take a long time to respond. Being prepared before a disaster strikes is therefore important for a community. Most people in Kenya however, are unprepared for disasters, even those living in disaster prone areas.

 Disaster preparedness is defined as ‘…a package of precautionary measures, taken in advance of an imminent threat to help people and institutions respond to and cope with the effects of a disaster (GOK, 2009: 22). A survey reveals that although most Kenyans recognize that personal preparedness to disasters is essential, many do not know exactly how to prepare for civil unrest, a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Here are a few of my suggestions on how we can improve on disaster preparedness in Kenya.

•  Government should train the public on disaster preparedness. It should prepare handbooks for emergency preparedness and distribute them to the public. These include: An Emergency Preparedness Checklist, A Citizens Guide to Terrorism Preparedness and Do’s and Don’ts in Case of a Disaster. 

•  Most people do not know how to protect their property in case of a disaster such as the post election violence in 2007-2008. One interviewee lamented that had he known, he would have insured his business. He lost property worth approximately Ksh 800,000. Another trader in Kisumu reported that during the same period of unrest, his truck, his mini-market and bicycle shop, all worth about Ksh 6 million were torched by hoodlums. In view of this, the community should be trained on property protection e.g. through basic coverage for property which is often established under a fire and extended insurance. Other ways to protect property is by shutting off electricity and water in the event of an earthquake, floods and other disasters.
• People in disaster prone areas should work together to develop a community disaster preparedness plan. This would include a community warning system, local safe shelters, evacuation procedures and escape routes. They should also identify people in their neighbourhood with special skills e.g. doctors or people with CPR and first aid training. The preparedness plan would also factor in members of the community who may need special assistance during an emergency such as the sick, the aged, the disabled and children. People should also make friends with matatu owners/drivers/kanges. These are people who can offer lifts in case one needs to escape from a disaster area.
•  Stock your kitchen with enough food stuffs to feed your family for at least a month. That includes vegetables—dry ones are better e.g. beans, dengu, peas.  
• Store enough water just in case the city council’s well runs dry.  
• Have enough fuel to last at least a month—cooking gas, makaa, firewood etc.
• Have some floating cash under the mattress—or wherever you hide your money. Also have some in your M-Pesa account.  In case of unrest, banks will stay closed. When civil unrest struck in Sierra Leone, a friend of mine and his family could not afford to pay for a convoy that was ferrying people across the border. They had money in the bank but banks were closed and they had no cash. He walked to safety—for 11 days without food or water. His younger siblings and mother did not make it. Some died of hunger and some were killed by the militia.  
• Ensure you have enough minutes on your phone—buy enough credit. Your family may be separated during a disaster and you will need to communicate with them.
• Prepare a disaster supplies kit which is simply a collection of basic items your household may need in the event of an emergency. These include a spotlight, warm clothes, food (e.g. dry snacks), bottled water, meds etc. Try to assemble your kit well in advance of an emergency. You may have to evacuate at a moment’s notice and take essentials with you. You will probably not have time to search for the supplies you need or shop for them  
• Participatory approaches for disaster preparedness should been employed to strengthen communities’ capacity in disaster preparedness but the approaches should be mutually reciprocal with local communities supplementing existing national disaster management strategies.  
• My study reveals that the premise of self-help is deficient in many communities. Many depend on others, but mostly the government to intervene on their behalf. Although many recognize that disaster preparedness in essential as earlier mentioned, they still have the fatalistic attitude that it is the work of the government to deal with disasters—with the common saying: ‘tunaomba serikali iingilie kati’ (we request the government to intervene). So please, don’t wait for others or the government to help you. Be prepared!