Sound the Alarm, April 26 Simulation of Simultaneous Disasters in Schools

All schools sounded the disaster warning sound on Friday (26/4/2024), at exactly 10.00 WIB, to simulate a disaster.

FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Students participated in disaster evacuation drills for the eruption of Mount Merapi at Muhammadiyah Pakem Junior High School in Pakem District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, in late January 2020. The activity was held to increase the knowledge and readiness of all school elements in responding to natural disaster threats.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — On Disaster Preparedness Day, April 26, all schools must carry out a disaster simulation which all school members participate in. This is to instill disaster prevention and management from an early age through schools which play a big role in training children to be prepared for disasters.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto, explained that Indonesia is an area prone to various kinds of disasters. Therefore, every community must recognize, understand and cultivate awareness of disasters because disaster management is a collective matter.

The National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB) is inviting all schools to sound alarms, bells, drums, or other disaster markers on Friday (April 26, 2024) at exactly 10.00 AM WIB for a disaster simulation in schools. After the disaster signal is sounded, school residents must immediately evacuate to the designated gathering point until the simulation is declared finished.

"The community must have the ability to survive and rebuild their lives after being hit by a disaster," said Suharyanto in a discussion entitled "Disaster Safe Education Unit (SPAB) Ready to Survive which was held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), Tuesday (23/4/2024).

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

While covering their heads with boards, students saved themselves during a simulation of earthquake disaster response at SMPN 27 Surabaya, in the city of Surabaya, towards the end of November 2022.

The Director of Preparedness at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Pangarso Suryotomo, added that community preparedness for disasters should be instilled as early as possible. This simulation targets school children from early childhood education (PAUD), kindergarten (TK), up to primary and secondary education levels.

As many as 57 percent of the more than 500,000 schools in Indonesia have the potential to be exposed to more than one disaster threat.

He emphasized that the simulation in Disaster Preparedness Day (HKB) is not just a ceremony. Schools must be able to identify threats and predict disaster potential, prevent disasters, and if possible or at least able to reduce the impact of the disaster.

"We must instill this from the smallest level, starting from families who have school-aged children and then taught by teachers and school principals at school," said Pangarso.

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Some activities that school administrators can carry out to instill a culture of disaster awareness in children include disaster risk analysis, preparing school plans, mitigation activities, providing and preparing disaster education needs, preparing evacuation locations, and development of a disaster early warning system.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA (BAH)

Students pass sandbags to avoid flooding at SMP Negeri 2 Tanggulangin, Sidoarjo, at the end of January 2020.

Based on a study by the Center for Data and Information of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the National Disaster Management Agency in September 2022, 57 percent of more than 500,000 schools in Indonesia have the potential to be exposed to more than one disaster threat. Specifically, 413,000 schools are at risk of earthquakes, 202,000 schools are at risk of floods, 49,000 schools are at risk of landslides, 8,000 schools are at risk of tsunamis, 8,000 schools are at risk of volcanic eruptions, and 17,000 schools are at risk of flash floods.

In the last 15 years, 15,358 educational facilities have been damaged by disasters that have destroyed buildings. In addition, 49,997 educational facilities were affected by smoke from forest and land fires due to disasters, although they did not damage the buildings. And finally, there are non-natural disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Disaster preparedness team

The Secretary of the Directorate General of Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture and Research Technology, Praptono, explained that every educational unit must form a disaster alert team. This team will analyze disaster risks, develop prevention planning, train students and teachers to be aware of disasters, and include material in both intra- and extracurricular activities.

"I strongly encourage the local government's education department, especially in areas with a high risk of disasters, to hold and strengthen the SPAB program. By doing so, we can minimize risks such as casualties and damage," said Praptono.

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The Ministry of Education and Culture/Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), according to Praptono, has already set standards and references for educators to raise awareness among school communities about disasters. Starting from module books consisting of three volumes, the road map of the SPAB program, technical guidelines for the implementation of inclusive disaster-safe schools, to books, posters, games, and other materials that can be used as teaching materials in schools.