The Düzce Earthquake in November 1999, with its devastating impact, has become etched in our memories as one of the greatest disasters our country has ever faced. Thousands of citizens lost their lives, many were left homeless, and significant material losses were experienced. As part of the 12th of November Disaster Preparedness Day, a program themed "Is Silivri Ready for Disasters?" was held at the Mehmet Balcı Campus of Istanbul Rumeli University, marking the 25th anniversary of the Düzce Earthquake. The event was organized in collaboration with the Silivri District Governorate, Silivri Municipality, Istanbul Rumeli University, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority), and the Turkish Red Crescent.
The program began with opening speeches and was attended by Silivri District Governor Mr. Tolga Toğan, Silivri Mayor Mr. Bora Balcıoğlu, Board of Trustees Member Mr. Sadun Yavuz, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kara, AFAD Provincial Director Prof. Dr. Haluk Özener, Deputy Mayor Mr. Fatih Yavuz, Turkish Red Crescent Silivri Branch President Mr. Emrah Aydın, Silivri Municipality Disaster Affairs Director Mr. Uğur Tozlu, Vice Rector and Chair of the Istanbul Rumeli University Emergency Disaster Commission Prof. Dr. Ayşe Yiğit Şakar, as well as deans, directors, faculty members, and many students.
Following the opening speeches, a Q&A session was moderated by Dr. Lecturer Ayşe Tanşu, where students from our university asked questions about disaster management to our distinguished guests, including Silivri District Governor Tolga Toğan, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kara, AFAD Provincial Director Prof. Dr. Haluk Özener, Turkish Red Crescent Silivri Branch President Mr. Emrah Aydın, and Disaster Affairs Director Mr. Uğur Tozlu. Through the answers provided, the importance of "earthquake awareness," personal responsibility, the necessary precautions to take before an earthquake, actions to take during an earthquake, post-earthquake recovery efforts, and the significance of education in disaster preparedness were all emphasized once again.
Later in the program, certificates were presented to students who successfully completed their AFAD volunteer training. Plaques were also awarded to the Silivri District Governorate, Municipality, Provincial Disaster Directorate, and Turkish Red Crescent for their significant work in promoting "Disaster Awareness" in the Silivri district.
At the conclusion of the program, participants moved to the Earthquake Simulator Truck, where they took part in an earthquake drill. This simulation allowed participants to experience firsthand the "drop, cover, and hold on" measures to take during an earthquake.
In our country, which is considered an earthquake-prone region, it is crucial to continue such efforts in order to raise awareness, take necessary precautions, contribute to the formation of individual consciousness, and fulfill responsibilities before, during, and after a disaster. These initiatives are essential to prevent us from experiencing the same pain and loss again, based on the lessons learned from the major earthquakes we have endured.
