CASTE STUDY - RESPONSE volcanoes - Indonesia

Question 1

methods in helping to modify and prevent vunerability

Answer 1

• center for volcanology (CVGHM) set up in 1920 1st seismo graph set uo on mt merapi in 1924 (limited capapbility)
• today more than 60 volcanoes are monitored and sophisicated equip monitors gas emmissions
• threat of lahars is esp high in indonesia due to very ashy eruptions and hugh amounts of rainfall
• established a disaster management agency who work with indonesian and foreign researchers to intall lahar sensors to monitor at risk areas during rainy season (nov - march)
• CVGHM works closely with the gov by advising mitigation strats and prep commuities
• permanent settlement illegal on the highest slopes around the crater and financial assistance and plots of land are given to encourage villagers on the lower slopes to move to “safe zones”

Question 2

methods in modifying and coping with loss

Answer 2

• a big problem is that due to strong bonds with village sites people often return and rebuild quickly after eruptions
• Indonesia is a lower middle income country so it has limited rescources to deploy during a volcanic event
• many farming communities affected have limited rescources
• however indonesia does have some well trained and well equipped emergency services including the military experienced in search and rescue
• temporary shelters available in safe zones which are sometimes upgraded to permanennt homes
• in order to reduce flooding many river channels have been cleared.
  some of this debris has been used by locals to build houses.