PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reminds all parties to carry out preparedness exercises or simulations on Disaster Preparedness Day (HKB) on Friday (26/4/2024).

Head of the BNPB Disaster Information and Communication Data Center, Abdul Muhari, stated that BNPB emphasizes the importance of preparedness training or simulations so that the spirit of 'Ready to be Safe' is inherent in every citizen.

“Preparedness efforts can be carried out within the family, for example making a family preparedness plan. "Every family can start to ensure family members understand and carry out preparedness exercises," said Muhari, Thursday (25/4/2024).

"In the family sphere, what does preparing a family preparedness plan look like? The head of the family can invite each family member to identify risks, dangers, vulnerabilities and capacities within them," he added.

According to Muhari, to identify potential dangers, every family can use the inaRISK application which can be downloaded via smartphone. The inaRISK application developed by BNPB will display mitigation efforts after a hazard threat is identified.

"Training is very important because each family has a different level of risk, for example the house they own is not completely earthquake resistant or there are family members who are disabled," he said.

Each family must be able to identify these things so that risks can be prevented or mitigated early on.

On the other hand, Muhari explained, families can also determine collection points when a landslide occurs or take steps in the event of a flood, for example monitoring weather information, storing important documents and preparing disaster preparedness tasks.

Various practice scenarios can be developed by each family. First, understand every threat, vulnerability and capacity.

This capacity can take the form of many things, such as the proper way to expel water, the ability to swim and much more.

Furthermore, families can come up with solutions when a disaster occurs, for example determining a place for family gatherings, having an institutional telephone number for emergency support, and preparing disaster preparedness tasks.

Through practice, each family can learn to hone their skills in anticipating crisis or disaster situations. BNPB hopes that with training, citizens' panic during a crisis or disaster can be controlled by each individual.

Based on a post-earthquake survey in Kobe in 1995, the highest percentage or around 34.9 percent of residents survived the disaster because of their own ability to save themselves. After that, 31.9 percent of the victims survived because of help from family members.

The implementation of training or simulations at HKB receives full support, one of which is through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek). Through letter number 11385/A.A7/HM.00.00/2024 regarding Participation in 2024 Disaster Preparedness Day, the Ministry of Education and Culture appealed to all universities in the Region III Higher Education Service Institutions to participate in the HKB.

In 2023, HKB raised the theme 'Increasing Village Resilience, Reducing Disaster Risk'. BNPB held the peak of activities in Lamongan Regency, East Java Province.

In 2024, HKB will raise the theme 'Indonesia is Resilient, Indonesia is Great'. The peak of the activity was held in West Sumatra Province. (rep no)