Universitas Sumatera Utara’s disaster preparedness initiative in Simamora

Dolok Sanggul,rnHumbang Hasundutan – Still recovering from the trauma of a recentrnhydrometeorological disaster, the village of Simamora is courageously taking arnstep forward. An innovative initiative led by the Lembaga Pengabdianrnkepada Masyarakat Universitas Sumatera Utara (LPPM USU) has brought renewed hope to therncommunity with a program aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness throughrndisaster mitigation exercises.

The disaster mitigation exercise program took place onrnSaturday, July 6, 2024, at SD Negeri 175794 Silangkubuk, involving bothrnacademics and villagers. Led by Dra. Fatma Wardy Lubis, M.A., the communityrnservice team developed a series of simple actions to be used in case of floodsrnor landslides.

“We want the children not only to recover from trauma butrnalso to gain basic skills to protect themselves and their families,” Fatmarnexplained.

The drills consist of eight easy-to-follow movements: fourrnfor flood preparedness and four others for landslide preparedness. More thanrnjust a physical activity, these movements are designed to instill the memory ofrnessential emergency steps to be taken in the event of a disaster. By combiningrnphysical movement with mental awareness, the program aims to build community resilience.rnThe success of this disaster preparedness exercise is expected to mark thernbeginning of a disaster resilient village, with plans to make it a regularrnactivity in schools. The exercises will also be made available through videorntutorials on social media.

“This exercise is very fun. Now I know how to protectrnmyself in case of a flood,” said one enthusiastic student.

In addition to the drills, the program includesrnpost-disaster trauma counseling, disaster simulation training, and the broadrndissemination of information through social media. University students activelyrnparticipate in the initiative, from planning the program and creatingrnpromotional materials like flyers and banners to guiding children in therndrills, especially at the elementary school level. For the students, thisrnexperience provides a valuable opportunity to interact directly with therncommunity, understand their challenges, and develop social and leadershiprnskills. By involving students, the program not only benefits the villagers but alsorninspires young people to become agents of change.

“This program has given me the opportunity to gainrnvaluable insights into the importance of teamwork and the potential to makernpositive contributions to society,” said Daffa, one of the participating students.

Finally, thisrnprogram is anticipated to equip Simamora residents with the knowledge andrnpractical skills needed to face disasters with confidence, empowering them tornprotect their families and strengthen their community’s resilience for years torncome.