Preparing for Earthquakes at AUW

Saturday, 22 November, 1997, BBC News reported that six people had died in the earthquake that struck the Bangladeshi port city of Chittagong on Friday, there could still be several people trapped in the ruins of a building that collapsed. About 200 people had been injured in this earthquake, which had measured six on the Richter scale (BBC News). Recently, in Chittagong, there have been some earthquakes, but they are not so strong. In September 9 2014, an earthquake was recorded at 3:28:41pm and the magnitude of the quake was 5.3 in Richter scale (BSS).

Asian University for Women (AUW), situated in Chittagong, Bangladesh, was founded in 2008. Since it was established, AUW has experienced a number of earthquakes. Although the earthquakes were weak and did not cause serious damage, the university was very concerned about this problem. AUW has concerns about the safety of the students, so it has done so many things to prepare both the students and the staff for earthquakes.

AUW has specifically planned about what to do, where to go in an event of earthquake. Mr. Ezaz Afzal, AUW‘s director of logistics and security management, stated “Here at AUW we do not often experience earthquake. It just happens by chance and Chittagong is just in the area affected, not in center of an earthquake. However, it is necessary to be fully prepared for the disaster” (Interview 1). He also mentioned “AUW has emergency exits, the intended safe area to stay. Moreover, AUW also gives presentations for the students on how to survive when an earthquake occurs; it organizes many rehearsals on this topic as well” (Interview 1).

In order to prepare for the earthquake, AUW has established a security team. All of them are well-trained staff. They are trained to deal with disaster and guide students into the safe place. They have also completed first-aid training courses. In an event of earthquake, they will be the ones who guide students, control the traffic to make sure all of them safely arrive at the intended safe area and do basic first aid. Their principle on working is “Stay calm, we always assist you” (Interview 1).

At the beginning of the school year, Mr. Afzal, has always given the presentations for new students to have the basic knowledge about what to do in an event of an earthquake at AUW. Furthermore, the Director has also written the preparation guide for students and professors. The guide includes Precautions, Emergency Preparedness, and Essentials during Earthquake.

AUW also organizes many rehearsals for the students to be acquainted to reacting to an earthquake. Mr. Afzal also said “Last year, we had one rehearsal for earthquake, the 2 previous years we also had two rehearsals. We practiced going under the table, using covering things to protect our head when an earthquake struck. We also taught the students how to safely arrive at the safe areas” (Interview 1).

According to an undergraduate 3 student the rehearsals organized by AUW were so informative and meaningful. Thanks to the knowledge and experience she had gained from those activities, she felt more confident when there was an earthquake and she knew what to do. When earthquake happened, she was able to stay calm and protect herself then (Interview 2).

AUW has experienced many earthquakes up till now, and students can control the situations. Indeed, providing knowledge and preparing students fully about earthquakes, is not only necessary but also compulsory for the safety of all students.