Turkish municipalities launch disaster preparedness initiatives

Municipalities in Turkey are implementing new initiatives to increase community resilience and disaster preparedness.

In Efeler, Mayor Anıl Yetişkin has announced the Neighborhood Disaster Volunteerism System. The project aims to improve local coordination and information flow during disasters before professional teams arrive. The system will focus on identifying the status of buildings and locating vulnerable residents, such as individuals with disabilities. Under the coordination of AFAD, volunteers will receive basic disaster awareness and first aid training. Applications for citizens aged 18 and over are open from October 18 to October 30 via the Efemobil application or Efe Masa.

In Konak, the municipality is continuing its disaster awareness training sessions. Following summer programs for children, the municipality is now conducting training for women at neighborhood centers. Led by instructors from the Disaster Affairs Directorate, these sessions include practical demonstrations and drills on how to act during and after an earthquake. Mayor Nilüfer Çınarlı Mutlu emphasized that creating a resilient city requires fostering social awareness through science-based policies.