The earthquake in 2006 and the Mt. Merapi eruption in 2010 are incidents that are always remembered by residents of Yogyakarta. Both disasters had damaged many things at UGM. Both had directly and indirectly affected all learning, academic, administrative and other activities on campus. In future, to minimise the possibly damaging impacts, UGM needs to review disaster mitigation instruments that are in place.
“At UGM there are many events being run related to disaster reduction risk, but internally UGM is not ready if a disaster should occur,” said Dr. Djati Mardiatno, M.Si, at the UC hotel in Bulaksumur, Thursday (6/12) during the workshop and focus group discussion (FGD) Disaster Mitigation Management at UGM, organised by UGM Centre for Disaster Studies, with speakers Dr. Djati Mardiatno, M.Si, Winaryo, S.Si, I Made Susmayadi, M.Sc and moderator Aminudin Arhab.
Djati Mardiatno pointed out the Merapi eruption in 2006 had proved the unpreparedness of UGM when a disaster strikes. During the eruption, UGM was only reactive. “We hope that out of this workshop, UGM can start identifying disaster threats potential, whether natural or human induced disasters,” he said.
Currently, disaster resilient schools have been established in Bantul, Padang and Aceh. He hoped that UGM would be willing to become a university model that is disaster resilient.
There are three strategic steps to be taken by UGM to become disaster resilient campus. These are disaster awareness, disaster response and disaster resilience. “The most obvious thing is the eruption which gave us a lesson how this disaster really disrupts our activity. So is the thing with earthquakes or typhoons. So, it is important for us to evaluate what has or has not been in place when a disaster strikes, and how we will deal with it,” he added.
Winaryo, S.Si said that to become a disaster resilient campus, UGM needs to do simulation training and evaluation, because this activity is one effort to build disaster mitigation management toward institutional enhancement of UGM.
“The meaning of becoming Resilient Campus is that when a disaster occurs at various levels in Yogyakarta, UGM can deploy resources, be it human resources or equipment, independently to resolve problems and impacts of disaster,” he explained.