Young professionals: Are we prepared to deal with disasters

30th March 2013!!! A date that you gives goose bumps. On that day, Mauritius experienced devastating flash floods which claimed 11 lives. The city of Port Louis was under water with over 150 mm of rain falling within two hours, that is usually a month worth of rainfall.

This sudden and unexpected downpour did not meet with an adequate response. The emergency response at all levels was criticised but the country had not experienced such a disaster for decades. Three years have since elapsed. Are we now ready to respond to such calamities like flash floods and is extreme weather events would occur more often with climate change?

Kamal Parbhudoyal: “We still lack the expertise”

Internal auditor Kamal Parbhudoyal states that the recent years have shown changes in the nature of the calamities Mauritius has to face. “Flash floods and thunder storms are becoming more frequent. Climate change is indeed affecting our region, and the fact that our island is a small dot in the Indian Ocean does not spare us the least. Mauritius has been preparing itself and is excelling in damage control and preventive measures when it comes to tropical cyclones. With the information available, our island has sufficient time to prepare and secure what is possible prior to receiving the full impact of destruction by nature.”

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She believes that preventive measures with respect to a phenomenon like torrential rain fall, Mauritius still lack the proper tools and expertise to react or even to be proactive with the safety measures. “Flash floods were unknown to Mauritius a decade ago. Today, our meteorological services are now risk adverse concerning their predictions, which is better than gauging the impact if excessive safety measures were not taken. But are flash floods our main problem? Mauritian priorities to calamities need to change.

We are no longer the small island that is only hit by cyclones once in a while. We are now in a situation where we are facing more calamities with higher devastation power in a smaller amount of time. Our monitoring services need to be trained to identify the prelude to such calamities and awareness programs should be disseminated across the population to educate people on the right behaviour to adopt during such crises. The dos and don’ts are essential for our survival.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"21469","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-35744 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"350","alt":"Marie Sophie Mootealoo"}}]]Marie Sophie Mootealoo: “Mauritius is vulnerable”

20-year old Marie Sophie Mootealoo is currently studying Agricultural Science and Technology at the University of Mauritius. She says that natural disasters cannot be prevented as such but their effects can be minimised. “Mauritius is well prepared to face cyclones but when it comes to heavy rainfall and flash floods, our country is quite vulnerable. On the 30th of March 2013, floods took the lives of 11 persons in Port-Louis, around 100 were injured and many buildings, roads and vehicles were damaged. Despite this calamity, Mauritius still lacks preparation to face natural disasters and the incidents related to them. Even if we witnessed no loss of human lives from December 2014 to April 2015 during heavy rainfalls and floods, our island needs a management scheme for natural disasters.”

According to her, the 2013 flash floods and current ones are mainly due to a lack of drains. “Drains should be built and maintained in good conditions. The wetlands have been modified for the construction of roads and the course of waters have changed. All these endanger the environment. Mauritius is very vulnerable to tsunamis and according to Statistics Mauritius, approximately 226,000 persons live along the coast and around 85% of the hotels are situated on the coastal regions.

Our marine ecosystems should be preserved, degradation of our coasts should be stopped and construction of buildings should be avoided in regions at risk. Information should get to the public as soon as there is a small threat of any natural calamity. The emergency response from the public should be reviewed to ensure a good organisation of activities before, during and after a natural calamity.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"21470","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-35745 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"455","alt":"Warda Bhatoo"}}]]Warda Bhatoo: “Climate change is increasingly being felt”

18-year old Warda Bhatoo is joining the University of Mauritius. She states that Mauritius may be one of the most prepared countries in the world when it comes to cyclones, but when it comes to natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, droughts etc. they cannot be forecast with utmost accuracy. “The effects of climate change are increasingly being felt,” states the fresher.

“The weather patterns, having been modified, have put all of us at risks of more intense calamities. The ice in the polar caps have been melting at an unprecedented rate, and the thawing of ice may cause underwater avalanches which could thereafter trigger tsunamis. Given the size and location of Mauritius, the island is set to be extremely vulnerable to tsunamis and storms.

The lives of people residing in the coastal regions would be most at risk. Not to forget that 85% of the hotels are located in those areas. In addition, pointing out the 2013 flash flood, was beyond human control. In less than two hours, 156 mm of rain fell in the capital causing 11 deaths, hundreds of people were wounded and millions of rupees of damage was caused to buildings, roads, vehicles, shops and houses. Emergency services were overwhelmed and unable to provide effective response to the disaster,” she claims.

She says that the population has yet to understand the effects of climate change and that the island will be affected by more floods, landslides and cyclones over the coming years. However, people know what to do and what precautions to take when a cyclone approaches. The weather deteriorates and the meteorological warnings are issued. “Yet Mauritius lacks the same preparation concerning floods and other natural calamities.”

Warda believes that Mauritius needs a management plan for natural calamities. A unit should be set up that is on the alert 24 hours a day, and that can take fast decisions to save lives and prevent material damage. As concrete and asphalt roads sprout everywhere to ease traffic congestion, and as building progresses, green spaces are being reduced at a fast pace. There are very few trees and less than two percent cover on the island that could mitigate the effects of torrential rain, cyclones, etc. Moreover, modifying the structure of the drains that existed hundreds of years ago can prove to be a great way of dealing with difficult situations.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"21467","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-35742 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"272","alt":"Khomal Chutoo"}}]]Khomal Chutoo: “We seem to be well equipped on paper”

English educator working at a private secondary college, Khomal Chutoo recalls that a few days ago, the ship MV Benita was found aground near Le Bouchon and this led to quite some fear among the population, as the risk of oil spill can not be ignored. “Our small island is unfortunately not immune to such environmental disasters and is, on the contrary, exposed to a number of natural disasters as well. It is therefore of utmost importance to ensure that the nation is fully prepared to address such issues when and before they arise.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre has set up numerous measures under the recent National Disaster Scheme 2015 tackling cyclones, heavy rainfall and flooding, tsunami, tidal waves, water crisis, earthquakes and landslides. We seem to be well equipped in terms of our response to such calamities, at least on paper.”

She further says: “It is the implementation of these schemes which heavily, if not totally, depend on an excellent coordination and cooperation between various bodies such as the Mauritius Police Force, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation and the Fire and Rescue Services amongst a long list of others, which is crucial. Oil spills are also catered for in the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. According to the National Strategy for Implementation National Assessment Report 2010, a set of essential combat equipment are available locally. Therefore, immediate response can be delivered in case oil spills occur. Furthermore, oil spill exercises are organised on a yearly basis to train personnel.”

For her, it is necessary that Mauritius invests in new technology regarding our preparedness rather than response in order to minimise the impacts of natural and environmental disasters. “The Mauritius Meteorological Services has a pivotal role to play in this and proper training and equipment should be delivered to our meteorologists to obtain more reliable results. Moreover, Mauritius suffers from a dire lack of infrastructure against natural calamities with the collapse of bridges during torrential rains.

The Special Mobile Force, Fire and Rescue Services and Police Force should receive additional extensive training in disaster management from international experts and NGO’s such as the Red Cross. Our doctors should also be trained to administer primary health care during the aftermath of disasters. Lastly, rigorous campaigns should be carried out nationwide in order to inform the public about measures to be taken before, during. and after a natural disaster as well as the importance of community help and support. It is only if the whole nation works hand in hand that we can stop being afraid of natural and environmental disasters.”

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"21468","attributes":{"class":"media-image size-full wp-image-35743 alignleft","typeof":"foaf:Image","style":"","width":"300","height":"372","alt":"Mamta Mohit"}}]]Mamta Mohit: “An immediate action plan is required”

21-year old hostess Mamta argues that Mauritius was one of the best prepared countries in the world when it came to cyclones, flooding but after having suffered from recent disasters, Mauritius is not at all prepared. Mauritius needs a management plan for natural calamities. “A unit should be set up, that is on the alert 24 hours a day and that can take decisions fast to save lives and prevent material damage.

The country also does not have well-maintained drains to carry the rain water to the sea; instead they are blocked by construction waste. We should be prepared to save lives and minimise damage through good planning and management. To deal with the aftermath, an immediate action plan is required.”

According to her, there is need to set up an ad hoc national coordinating committee to assess the damage and establish leadership. “There is need to assess health hazards, there will be possibility of disease, contamination and food shortage. Set up a monitoring system in each district and reporting to the national coordinating committee. Start a mass mobilization campaign with public education programmes and organize a volunteer effort to join the national campaign. Set up an emergency relief fund to provide assistance to the needy.”