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Success Story

Photo: USAID/Virginia Foley

Neighbors helped bandage this mock victim for a disaster-response drill. Thikaria's disaster team made a map with every house in the village, noting who lives where and charting which houses are strong enough to withstand an earthquake — and which are not.

The sound of a siren permeates the tranquil village, interrupting grazing cattle and residents going quietly about their daily lives. Suddenly everything changes. Children flow out of the schoolhouse and head for the trees where village women have already gathered. Village men search houses and find one student covered with red markings to simulate blood. Two poles and a shirt are used to form a make-shift stretcher for the boy, and a sari-clad woman bandages him. A water truck passes by as residents simulate doling out food out of a cooking pot.

The 500 villagers of Thikaria in Rajasthan, India, are practicing for a disaster. Visitors and advisors stand by taking notes: How ready will this village be if a disaster should happen?

In addition to being prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, droughts and floods, India is also vulnerable to emergencies such as fire, epidemics, and chemical spills. The 1999 Orissa cyclone, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami all illustrated the need for response techniques that would minimize the damage done by a range of disasters.

In September 2003, USAID launched a program to build the public sector's capacity to deal with disasters, reinforce the use of climate forecasts and early warning systems, and establish disaster management systems both for the government and for communities.

After residents are trained in response skills, villages like Thikaria participate in drills where 10-20 residents coordinate groups to conduct search and rescue operations, provide first aid, secure water and sanitation, manage shelters and counsel trauma victims.

To assess the damage after a disaster Thikaria's disaster team made a map with every house in the village, noting who lives where and charting which houses are strong enough to withstand an earthquake — and which are not. In the event of a disaster, the closest medical facility is 13 miles away, and phone lines may be downed, so first aid must begin in the village. Thanks to the disaster training and drills, Thikaria is now ready for that contingency and will be able to function on its own for 24 — 48 hours after a disaster.

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