Better disaster preparedness

“GIVE a person a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish and they feed themselves for a lifetime”. Self-reliance and independence are the surest forms of security, surely.

The A-G on his recent visit to those severely affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa was quoted as offering the reassurance that “I have heard what are your problems and I will give you solutions”.

While those in desperate need should be reassured by this promise, perhaps another version might also be offered: “I have heard what are your problems, and together we will work out the best solutions”. “Together” means empowering people to be part of the process and to help themselves, both now and in the future, ahead of events, and after them.

Aid is desperately needed, certainly, but so is teaching people how to be resilient and self-sufficient at the worst of times. The people of Fiji are not strangers to hard times, and most will make the best of even the worst situation. However, it can take some time before help arrives, and people need to be able to survive until it does. Are we yet teaching people to better prepare themselves by creating a crisis plan for the cyclones we see each season, or merely how to survive afterwards? What ways have been taught to prepare in advance, with the preservation and protection of basic needs? Are we teaching communities effective ways to safely store essential supplies (food, water, medical supplies, tarps ropes), to create a small, strong storm-proof shelter above storm surge levels, to provide shelter for livestock where possible, and to both make a plan and act on it when severe storms are threatening? Perhaps a combination of “aid provided” and “solutions generated locally” will provide for today’s urgent need, and build strength for the future?

What has been learned in each of the devastated communities, both in Yasa, and back in Winston, apart from the harsh lesson that severe tropical cyclones can wipe out homes, crops, kill livestock, and wash away boats — and livelihoods? How much of this devastation might have been reduced with some smarter strategies? Lessons learned are valuable, but only if they are acted on. Each affected home and community can benefit from the collective wisdom of experiences, shared at post-storm village meetings. For example why did some structures remain standing while others did not?

What changes are being made to the ways in which houses are being built, or is the same old style still being used, despite its failure to withstand severe storms? The village of Koroipita benefited from the building experience of Australian Peter Drysdale when their houses successfully withstood the anger of STC Winston, when many did not: https://www. abc.net.au/news/2016-02-27/ village-built-for-fijis-poorsurvives-cyclone-winstonunscathed/7204826 How widely could this building style be utilised?

From experience can come successful plans to mitigate even the disaster of a Cat 5 storm like STC Yasa. After STC Winston a “Disaster Recovery Framework” document was created in which stronger homes, with better disaster preparedness involving community self-reliance was envisaged. How well are we meeting any of those goals yet?

My deepest sympathies go to all those terribly affected by the ravages of STC Yasa. I sincerely hope we can learn from the experiences to be better prepared in the future.

VIVIEN COUNSELL MITCHELL Serua