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Middle East Technical University

Disaster Management Research Center

(Established November 1997)

www.dmc.metu.edu.tr

e-mail: dmc@metu.edu.tr

Tel: (312) 210 5410 Fax: (312) 210 1328

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STEERING COMMITTEE

Prof. Dr. Polat GÜLKAN,Department of Civil Engineering (Director)

Prof. Dr. Murat BALAMİR, Department of Urban and Regional Planning

Prof. Dr. Vedat DOYURAN, Department of Geological Engineering

Prof. Dr. Nuray KARANCI, Department of Psychology

Prof. Dr. Mehmet ECEVİT, Department of Sociology

Prof. Dr. A. Cevdet YALÇINER, Department of Civil Engineering

Prof. Dr. Tarık ŞENGÜL, Department of Public Administration

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WHY A RESEARCH CENTER AT METU ON DISASTERS ?

A DISASTER IS A COMPLEX SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT ARE OFTEN TRIGGERED BY AN EXTREME

NATURAL OCCURRENCE THAT LEADS TO A SERIOUS BREAKDOWN IN THE WAY THAT THE

COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS. THE DEGREE THAT THE COMMUNITY CANNOT COPE WITH THE EXIGENCIES BROUGHT ON IT DEFINES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE

DISASTER. OFTEN IT IS COUPLED WITH WIDESPREAD HUMAN, MATERIAL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL LOSSES WHOSE RECOVERY PROCESS MAY TAKE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH.

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PRINCIPAL DRIVERS OF DISASTERS

UNDERDEVELOPMENT UNCONTROLLED POPULATION

GROWTH RAPID URBANIZATION CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IGNORANCE AND APATHY ARMED HUMAN CONFLICT

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MANAGEMENT OF DISASTERS

• THE HOLISTIC EXPRESSION APPLIED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL DECISIONS TAKEN AT EVERY STAGE, INCLUDING FOR MITIGATION PRIOR TO DISASTER OCCURRENCE, OF RESPONDING OPERATIONALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACHIEVİNG SOCIETALLY ACCEPTABLE DISASTER PROTECTION.

• THIS INCLUDES SUSTAINED MITIGATION POLICIES

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THE 2500-YEAR OLD CITY

Sea of Marmara Golden Horn Estuary

Historic Peninsula

Strait of İstanbul

European Side Anatolian Side Toward Bay of İzmit

North

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METU-DMC HAS BEEN A LEADER OR A PARTNER IN:

• LESSLOSS: An Integrated EU Project on Risk Mitigation for Earthquakes and Landslides

• Microzonation for Pilot Municipalities (MEER)• ISMEP (İstanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and

Emergency Preparedness Project) • Zeytinburnu Pilot Project (İBB)• Bakırköy Pilot Project (MEER)• Fatih (İBB) + Çekmece• SeaHellArc (Seismic and Tsunami Risk Assessment

and Mitigation in the Western Hellenic Arc): EU• AFET-2005 exercise

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METU-DMC ANNUAL ROUND TABLE MEETINGS (RTM)

9. RTM 12 January 20078. RTM 20 January 20067. RTM 7 January 20056. RTM 16 January 20045. RTM 28 March 20034. RTM 21 December 20013. RTM 19 January 20012. RTM 16 December 19991. RTM 4 December 1998

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• METU-DMC serves as a counsel for many public agencies in matters related to disaster mitigation and policy guidance. These have taken the form of parliamentary hearings, sponsored consultancy research and conferences. We interact with NGOs and other academic institutions in platforms where we have duties dictated by our mission.

• METU-DMC does not offer degree courses or award diplomas.

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VISION FOR 2007 AND BEYOND

• İstanbul is under seismic threat. The city requires a sustained and long-term rebuilding program that is affordable and consensus-based. İstanbul is the base of the economic driving force for the country.

• There will be many programs related to risk mitigation in İstanbul.