ABSTRACT
CONTENTS Introduction............................................................................................ 282 Profile of Natural Disasters in Turkey..................................................... 283 Evolution of the Disaster Management Structure in Turkey ................... 288 Current Disaster Management Structure in Turkey ................................ 293
Disaster Preparedness ..................................................................... 293 Emergency Response and Rescue ................................................... 303 Disaster Recovery ........................................................................... 309 Disaster Mitigation......................................................................... 312
Conclusion.............................................................................................. 316 Bibliography............................................................................................ 317
Introduction The disaster management structure in Turkey underwent significant reorganization in the aftermath of the August 17, 1999 earthquake, one of the most damaging earthquakes in the country’s recent history. This chapter traces the evolution of the current disaster management structure in Turkey, and outlines the changes that have happened since the earthquake. Within the context of these changes, it clarifies the organizational responsibilities with respect to the four phases of disasters (i.e., disaster preparedness, emergency response and rescue, disaster recovery, and disaster mitigation), the scholarly literature on which is scant. Despite the changes, there are several shortcomings in the present disaster management structure.
