ARMENIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY
HAZARD, VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENT IN VAHAGNI COMMUNITY, LORI REGION
REPORT
YEREVAN, ARMENIA
JULY 2014
This material was developed within the framework of “Building Safe and Resilient Communities” Project of the Armenian Red Cross Society.
Program is implemented with financial support of the Austrian Development Agency and Austrian Red Cross.
The objective of the Program is to reduce vulnerability of the rural and urban population toward disasters in Armenia.
The capital of the Republic of Armenia and Lori region has been selected as a target for implementation of the program. There are six target communities in Lori region that include four rural and two urban communities.
96000 people intended to become a beneficiary within the framework of the Project. Those are people who live in the most vulnerable, disaster prone urban and rural communities and permanently affected by different types of disasters.
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List of Content
1. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS 5 1.1 Secondary data 5 1.2 Geographical location and climate of Vahagni community 5 1.3 Community population 6 1.4 Hazards affecting Vahagni community 7 1.5 Main buildings 7 1.6 Local and National roads 7 1.7 Transport 8 1.8 Sewage 8 1.9 Garbage removal 8 1.10 Irrigation 8 1.11 Water supply 8 1.12 Energy 8 1.13 Gasification 8 1.14 Special services 9 1.15 Transportation resources 9 1.16 Employment 9 1.17 Vitally important facilities 9
2. MAPPING 10 3. SEASONAL CALENDAR 12 4. HISTORICAL CALENDAR 13 5. SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS 15 5.1 Phenomena that threaten the community 15 5.2 Emergency situations occurred in community in recent year and their consequences 15 5.3 Capacity of the community toward resilience and response to emergency situations 16 5.4 DRR related events organized in the community 16
6. MASS SURVEY AMONG RESIDENTS USING QUESTIONNAIRES 16 6.1 Main hazardous phenomena threatening community 16 6.2 Sesonality of hazardous phenomena 18 6.3 Frequency of hazardous phenomena 19 6.4 Losses incurred by population as a result of emergency situations in the community 19 6.5 Combination of hazards and vulnerability 20 6.6 Knowledge of community residents about disaster resilience 21 7. DRR ISSUES AND THEIR PRIORITISED SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT OF VAHAGNI COMMUNITY 7.1 Brief description of disaster risk 29 7.2 Formulation of DRR issues 32 7.3 Recommended solutions to DRR issues according to priorities 35
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List of used acronyms
MES – Ministry of Emergency Situations ARNAP – DRR National Platform DRR – Disaster Risk Reduction DRA – Disaster Risk Assessment DRM – Disaster Risk Management VCA – Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment ARS – Armenian Rescue Service ES – Emergency situation
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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PROCESS IN VAHAGNI COMMUNITY OF LORI REGION Disaster risk reduction system is a range of processes and functions aimed at increasing disaster resilience capacities. It focuses on preventing hazards, reducing their possible negative impact as well as contributing to sustainable development of society.
1. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Disaster risk reduction study in Vahagni community has been conducted through participatory approach. Disaster risk assessment was conducted by “Lore” Rescue Team. Particularly, it is worth to note the active participation and interest of community population and community main actors during the whole DRR process. Total number participants involved in DRR study participants was 72 people. Community meeting participants – 21 people, including - Head of community, - Deputy Head of community, - Accountant of the Community hall, - Operator of the Community hall, - Family doctor, - Family nurse – 2, - School military instructor, - Pedagogue, - Electric mechanic - Head of Post office - Mechanic - community residents - 9, • community residents taken part in survey – 51 people: 61% of respondents were men. According to the age, 39% of respondents were from 26-50 age group, 61% of respondents were from 50 and older age group. Comparative analysis of the data collected as a result of VCA was done during a meeting and in cooperation with community. Based on the results, recommendations on how to reduce hazards affecting community have been developed.
1.1 Secondary data Data about Vahagni community has been collected from Lori regional municipality, Vahagni Community Council, Rescue Service, official webpage of the State Cadastre etc.
1.2. Geographical location and climate of Vahagni community Vahagni community is located in Lori region, 23km away from regional center. Community is located in the lower valley of Pambak river, on the left side of Vanadzor – Alaverdi highway. Community adjoins administrative areas of Dzoragyugh, Antaramut, Eghegnut, Vahagnadzor communities. In the south part, administrative area of the community adjoins area of the national fund. Geographical location is mountainous. It is located 1400 - 1600m above the sea level.
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Climate is cold and temperate. Winter lasts 140 – 160 days. The lowest temperature is -280C , the highest temperature is up to +380C. Average annual temperature is 9,90C. Precipitation in January is 19mm, in May 86mm, and average precipitation is 501mm. Administrative area of the community is 4491 ha, from which 1265 ha are for agricultural purposes, including:
• 250 ha are arable land,
• 178 ha are hayfields,
• 566 ha are pastures,
• 20 ha are orchards. Forests area is 1743 ha. 1.3. Community population Vahagni community was established in 1805.
Data about population number is taken from Cadastre Data Service, where no explanation about the absence of information on population number during 2005 – 2013 is provided.
Data about Vahagni community population is available from 1831. The number of population of Vahagni community was: in 1831 - 113, in 1979 - 1149, in 1897 - 913, in 1989 - 817, in 1926 - 1688, in 2001 - 1251, in 1939 - 1970, in 2004 - 984, in 1959 - 1432, In 2014 - 1178 people. in 1970 - 1359,
Number of community population from 1831 to 2014 .
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Currently the number of population of Vahagni community is 1178, from which 1242 are currently living there. Number of community households is 375. Male population is 52% Young people before 18 years old comprise 12% of the population, people from 18 – 63 years old comprise 79 % and people older than 63 years comprise 9 % of the population. 4 % of the population is fully employed, 17 % are pensioners, 37 % are involved in seasonal works and 3% are immigrant workers. There are 48 beneficiary families in need in the community, 13 families with 3 and more children, 5 single mothers, 2 families that lost their breadwinner, 7 families living in temporary shelters and 59 disable people.
Local self-governance is implemented by the Head of Community and Elderly Council that includes 5 members (5 male members). Staff of the Community hall appointed by the Head of the Community consists of 9 people (5 men and 4 women).
1.4 Hazards affecting Vahagni community
No study over hazards affecting the community has been conducted and no data over specific and defined hazards is available.
According to the studies conducted in the community, it can be stated that different types of hazards are threatening the community. Among natural hazardous phenomena, the following are posing threat to Vahagni community: mudflow, hail, lightning, strong wind, freezing, landslide, earthquake, drought, lightning, rainfall and rockfall. During recent years, frequency and strength of cases with mudflow, hail and strong wind have been increased. Among man-made emergency situations tht posing threat to community are fires of buildings, collapses, car incidents, forest fires. Environment pollution was also noted, which is connected with garbage removal and can become emergency situation of environmental nature. Fires in hayfields have been also noted, which can become an emergency situation of environmental nature (destruction of certain animals and plants, reduced soil fertility, erosion, etc). Cases with fires in hayfields have been frequently occurring during recent years, which are particularly explained as consequences of human inattentive or intentional behavior. There are issues related to livestock deseases, which is a threat to livestock area. Wild beasts are also posing threat to this area. 1.5 Main buildings Main buildings in the community are include, Community hall, school, Post office, 3 catering facilities, 4 markets, a clinic, Culture house, Post office, school and market. Clinic. 1.6 Local and National roads Vahagni community is located 300 m away from Vanadzor – Alaverdi M-6 highway. The road which connects community with the highway is paved with asphaslt and is in good condition.
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Roads connecting with neighboring Dzoragyugh, Antaramut, Eghegnut and Vahagnadzor communities are unmettaled and in bad condition.
The length of intercommunity roads is 10km from which 1.5km are paved with asphalt and remaining 8.5km are unmettaled and in bad condition. 1.7 Transport Transport connection with regionanal and other communities is implemented mainly by minibuses. Connection with neighboring communities is also carried out by train. There are 2 roadbridges which are in a good condition and one footbridge which is also in a good condition. 1.8 Sewage There is no sewage system in the community. 1.9 Garbage removal No garbage removal is carried out in the community. Some residents throw garbage within the community, in gulches etc. 1.10 Irrigation There is no irrigation system in the community. 1.11 Water supply Water is provided through Novoseltsovo – Vanadzor water pipe. Water supply is carried out 24 hours through centralized water suplly system. 1.12 Energy Main sources of energy demand are gas and electricity. Firewoods are also used as an energy source.
1.13. Gasification Community is gasified partially. 30% of residents use gas.
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1.14. Special services Fire-Rescue Service The region is served by subdivisions of Lori Regional Rescue Department of MES Rescue Service of the Republic of Armenia. The closest Fire-Rescue Service is located in Vanadzor city. Police The community is served by Gugark division of Lori Regional department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia.
1.15. Transportation resources According to the information provided by the Head of community, there are 50 passenger cars, 10 trucks and 5 tractors in the community. 1.16 Employment Community population is mainly involved in cattle breeding, fruit-growing (apple and pear), cultivation of grain and fodder crops. There are residents involved in beekeeping as well.
1.17. Vitally important facilities School Secondary education is provided, which is a third level of mandatory education and invoves three levels of main projects of public education. There is a secondary school in Vahagni community. The building of the school is newly constructed, two floor, standard building. School needs sport premises, sport hall, heating system, boiler room, technical equipment and didactic materials, as well as specialists form certain fields. School has 33 people staff and 115 pupils. It has 12 classrooms, laboratory, preliminary military training and computer rooms, workshop and open air sport premises. 4484 books available in library.
Health system “Vahagni Health Center” Primary health care functions for Vahagni community residents is carried out by “Vahagni Health Center” CJSC. The center provides service also for residents from Vahagnadzor, Eghegnut, Antaramut, Dzoragyugh and Debed communities. Service is provided by 2 doctors and 4 nurses. They provide service for 4438 people. The Health center is located in a cabin. There is a need to build stone building or renovate the old one.
Culture There is a Culture house in community which was built with tin. There are no seats and its general condition is bad. For that reason, community is deprived from cultural events. Historical monuments There is a St. Sargis Church in the center of the community, buil in 1850, which requires renovation. Dragon statue for the memory of Vahagni residents who died in the Great Patriotic War (1973) together with adjacent museum also need renovation. There are many cross stones and a fortress from cyclopean era in community area.
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Means of Communication There are landline and mobile communication, internet and post office in the community. Information sources Among available information sources are public and satellite TV, public radio, internet and press.
2. MAPPING
The aim of the mapping is to identify and inform public on hazards and risky areas, as well as on community vulnerabilities and capacities, marking them in community maps.
The aim of the mapping is to make visible all risky areas, particularly highlighting those that are hidden or left without proper attention. The study included schematic and visual notes, photos of risky and vulnerable areas. Collected data was on the map downloaded from internet, as community didn’t have appropriate working maps.
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Hazard, Vulnerability and Capacity Map of Vahagni community of Lori region of the Republlic of Armenia
Collapse Landslide area 1
5 6 3 7 4 1 Drainage 2 1 2
Rockfall
Vahagni – Alaverdi road
- Capacity, - vulnerability, - hazard,
1. – Mudflow area, 2. – Mudflow vulnerable areas, 3. – School, 4. – Church, 5.- Post office, 6.- Market, 7.- Community hall, 11 - Hail, - Strong winds.
After mapping, the first meeting with community residents and different experts has been organized. Overall, 20 people have participated on that event. Several tools that were presented, discussed and filled in, are presented below.
3. SEASONAL CALENDAR Seasonal Calendar allows to highlight hazards affecting the community and assess frequency of risks from the point of view of community population. It allows to describe changes in community over a year, dangerous impacts, impacts related to climate change, changes in socio-economic area, periods of desease’s outbreaks etc. Seasonal Calendar was filled in together with the community, and the results are presented below:
Seasonality
Events
April
January February March May June July August September October November December
Social economic
High income x x x Low income x x Immigration x x Labor migration x x Homecoming x x Harvest x x x Outage x x x x x x x Cattle slaughter x x Health Influenza epidemic x x x x Livestock epidemic x x x x Hazards Hail x x x Mudflow x x x x x Strong winds x x Drought x x x x Freezing x x x
Lightning x x x x
Fire x x x x
Autumn is comparatively favorable for socio – economic development of the community. High income during this period is explained by selling of crops and incomes from cattle slaughter.
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In health sector, during March – April and November – December months cases with influenza epidemic are observed, which poses threat to community residents. During spring – summer period, livestock epidemic cases are observed which causes serious problems for cattle breeding. Spring – summer is an active agricultural period. Hazards occurred during this period cause serious dangers for this area, particularly frequently occurred hail, freezing, drought, strong winds may become a cause of partial or full lost of harvest. . The negative impact of hail is also a result of absence of anti-hail stations. Drought is due to the absence of irrigation network. During years with drought, the possibility of outbreaks of epidemics threatening both population and cattle is raising. Damages caused by freezing are mainly result of absence of early warning and forecasting. AS a result, no event in how to be protected from freezing is organized.
4. HISTORICAL CALENDAR Historical calendar allows highlighting those specific events and cases that have their impact on development of community life. It allows to identify causes and consequences of events that have had an impact on development of the community and understand community development trends. Historical Calendar was filled in together with community residents.
Since ancient times arable farming, particularly horticulture was developed in this region. During the Soviet times, main constructions have been carried our, orchards have been set up and agricultural machinery have been imported. Unfortunately, community was unable to implement those activities and
projects timely during the Soviet times that would ensure more favorable conditions for improving living
opulation
Period P House/ Building Orchards Cattle/ Land Infrastructures Hazards/ Disasters
1970 1970-1980 landslide 1980-1990 Landslide, earthquake 1990-2000 Drought, mudflow, hail 2000-2010 Mudflow, landslide 2010-2013
13 standards and development of the community. The collapse of the Soviet Union, war and economic crisis have had their negative impact on community infrastructure, buildings, agricultural machinery, vitally important facilities. There was also decline of agricultural sector, in particular fruit-growing sector, as agricultural processing factories have been closed which caused problems with sales. As a result, community has experienced lack of employment opportunities and decline of socio-economic situation. During last 10 years, international organizations accreditised in Armenia, individuals and funds boosted and made their partial contribution in development of the community. Old orchards have been reestablished and new ones have been set up. Small agricultural processing factories and green houses have been built in the community. Community residents also involved in beekeeping. During these years, there are some changes related to building infrastructures and renovations, which have been carried out by the support of governmental and international organizations and foundations. Positove changes are presented in the historical outline below which is a description of events that have had a significant impact on development of the community and its memory.
Year Description
Water pipe renovation (Save the Children)
Water pipe renovation, construction of bus station (Jinishyan Memory Foundation)
Water pipe renovation (WFP)
Open air sport premise (Embassy of Poland) 2000-2014 Gasification (IFAD)
Asphalt pavement of 1.3 km of the road (State budget)
Construction of mudflow channel (Projects requiring urgent solutions, community investment)
Construction of Sport hall (Social investments, community investments)
While comparing the outline and Historical Calendar, it becomes obvious that:
Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there are still some human resources in the community which is a strong capacity for community development, Fruit-growing, gardening, vegetable-growing, agricultural products processing, animal husbandry and tourism development are the main factors for preventing population decline, Main changes in the community are connected with renovation of structures and infrastructures, agricultural products processing traditions and setting up small inductries, establishment of refrigeration and green house enterprises, that create good opportunities for community development. Related to hazards that threatens the community, it can be proved that the following disasters have permanently treatened community: mudflow, hail, strong winds, landslide, freezing, rockfall,
14 drought etc. However, there is an increased intensity and frequency of hail and freezing observed during recent years. The main cause of drought is a scarcity of water and issues related to irrigation. With the aim to resolve community issues, community authorities actively cooperate with governmental and international organizations. 5. SEMISTRUCTURED INTERVIEWS Taking into account that interviews require specific knowledge and experience, semistructures interviews have been conducted with the Head of communty and members of the Community Council in Vahagni community. All received data fro interviews was classified in the folowing directions.
5.1 Phenomena that threaten the community According to the data provided by the Head of the community, among man-made hazards that threaten the community is forest fires. However, the following natural phenomena are frequently occurred in the community: Mudflow, which poses a threat to community due to the location, Hail, which causes serious damages to community, particularly to agricultural sector due to the absense of anti-hail statioins, Strong winds, that pose threats to roofs of residential houses, sown areas, threes and electric pillars, Landslide, that mainly damages community roads and residential houses, Freezing, which poses threat to agriculture due to the absense of information, Drought, that ooccured once in two or three years and damages sown areas, Earthquake also threatens community, Rainfall that occures in spring and mainly damages residential houses , sown areas and roads.
5.2 Emergency situations occurred in community in recent year and their consequences According to the official data, the folowing phenomena have been registered and caused damage to the community:
EMERGENCY YEAR NEGATIVE IMPACT SITUATION
1988 Earthquake Whole community was affected:
2010 Mudflow Roads, sown areas were damaged. Residential houses were flooded.
2011 Drought Lost of harvest
Permanently Hail Residential houses and sown areas were damaged.
Residential houses, sown areas and electric-communication system were Permanently Strong winds damaged.
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5.3 Capacity of the community toward resilience and response to emergency situations The following capacities existing in the community have been identified during interviews: landline and mobile communication, evacuation plan Schools, river, some agricultural machines, spring water sources, health center, sport hall, forests, market, milk processing factory, human resources etc. have been also noted as a resilience capacity against emergency situations.
5.4 DRR related events organized in the community Local authorities and residents have never participated in DRR related events.
6. MASS SURVEY AMONG RESIDENTS USING QUESTIONNAIRES 51 residents of the community have taken part in a survey, as a result of which the following data have been obtained: Knowledge on hazards affecting community Knowledge on vulnerable elements and capacities of the community Main actors in the field of DRR Resilience toward emergency situations and readiness to response Residents’ readiness to contribute to DRR event planning and implementing process About interest adnd participation in DRR events. Data collected from survey was classified and is presented below:
6.1 Main hazardous phenomena threatening community As a man made disaster, fire, car accidents households accidents have been identified by residents. Separately, hayfields fire, that could turn into environmental emergency situations, have been
Mudflow Hail Strong winds Earthquake Freezing Landslide Drought
mentioned (dispappearence of some types of plants and animals, reduction of land yealding capacity, erosion etc). Cases with hayfields fire have become more frequent, which is particularly explained as a consequence of human deliberate or unattentive behavior. Environmental pollution that poses threat to human health and animals was also noted.
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Other phenomena that pose threat to the community is shown in a graph below.
Among natual phenomena mudflow, hail and strong winds have been mostly noted. Indeed, these phenomena have become cause for material losses. Very often, the impact of natural hazards and hazardous phenomena bring to qualitative changes of living environment and in many cases to disastrous consequences. Every natural hazardous phenomena depending on its type, nature, scale, cause different consequences, and its frames are due to harmful factors, areas, local conditions, vulnerable elements, that in their turn may cause new hazardous phenomena. Data gathered from the survey was classified by priority and results are presented below.
PHENOMENA JUSTIFICAITON
1 Mudflow Community landscape and wasteful deforestation conduce to emerging of mudflow streams. In the region, mudflow streams appeared as a result of abundant rainfall become cause of emergency situations. Those streams damage community roads, sown areas and residential houses, in-near house areas.
2 Hail Hail has been always occurred in the community, but it become more frequent and severe in recent years. Hail is the most dangerous hazard for sown areas, in-near house orchards as it strikes coincide with the period of vegetation and florescence. It is worth to note that hail damages also roofs of buildings, windows and transport.
3 Strong winds Due to its location, strong winds in the community have permanent nature. Direction and speed of strong winds are not constant. However, it could be proved that the frequency and intensity of winds have increased in recent years. Strong winds pose threats to residential houses, electric and communication systems which is the main energy source of the community.
4 Earthquake Earthquake is an unpredictable phenomenon that threatens all areas of the Republic of Armenia. Conditions of buildings and the absence of knowledge among residents may cause human and material losses during earthquake. It could be also a cause of other phenomena and emergency situations /explosion, fire/.
5 Freezing Freezing that occurred in spring and autumn posses serious threat to agriculture on regional level. Frequency of freezing has increased in recent years. Cases with freezing continuously enhance damages in agriculture posing threats to economic and social welfare of the community. Freezing causes damage mainly to grain plants.
6 Landslide There is a landslide area in the community. It poses threat to residential houses,
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barns, roads, gas pipes and sown areas.
7 Drought Drought begins when no raining falls during growing of plants or rainfall is less than 200 millimeter. Thus, it is a precondition for drought when during a period of an intensive irrigation of plants in spring there is scarcity of water and no artificial irrigation is carried out. Due to unprecedented heat wave, drought can pose threat to animal husbandry sector as well when forage in pastures and hayfields is limited.
Fires in plough - lands have been also mentioned among hazardous phenomena that pose threat to community, which can become an emergency situation of environmental nature. There are also wild beasts in the community that can pose threat to animal husbandry.
6.2 Sesonality of hazardous phenomena Study of seasonality identifies different periods and relevant hazardous phenomena that pose threat to the community, which allows with refenrece to the past to identify changes and tendencies occured with phenomena.
Drought
Landslide
Freezing
Earthquake
Strong winds
Hail
mudflow
winter spring summer autumn Can’t be surely said
Data on seasonality of hazardous phenomena gathered from community residents
Study of hydrometeorological data shows that there is 0.850C increase in average temperature and 6-8% decrfease in precipitation during the last 80 years in Armenia. Changes in temperature and precipitation have different trends during different seasons in relevat regions of the Republic of Armenia. Study of seasonality shows that from the point of view of comunity residents, spring-autumn is the most dangerous period. Phenomena occured during this period, mudflow, landslide, hail, freezing, strong winds, drought pose threat to agriculture.
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6.3 Frequency of hazardous phenomena Study on hazardous phenomena shows that the number and intensity of hazardous phenomena has increased and the tendency to increase is remained. According to the State Hydrometeorological and Monitoring Service, total number of cases with dengerous phenomena has increased with 1.2 during the last 30 years and with 1.8 cases during the last 20 years. Data collected from community residents over frequency of hazards is presented in the graph below: Duscussions and interviews clearly shows that most people consider more dangerous and pay more attention to those natural phenomena that cause or may cause financial losses. People have particularly noted small scale hazards (mudflow, hail, strong winds) and their increased frequency. Information about such cases and caused damages are not reported, so they are not registered in official statistical data.
Drought
Landslide
Freezing
Earthquake
Strong winds Hail mudflow
Once every 6 months Once every year Once every 2-3 years Once every five years Less than once every 5 years Less than once every 10 Less than once every 20 years years
Data collected from community residents over frequency of hazardous natural phenomena
6.4 Losses incurred by population as a result of emergency situations in the community 37% of respondents have suffered losses as a result of small scale hazards and emergency Losses of crops situations in the community.
63 % of respondents have lost their harvest. For Residential houses that reason, they have had serious material losses. have been damaged Remaining 31% have suffered material losses Losses of livestock related to damages to roofs of houses, windows etc. Due to epidemies and unremoved garbage, some residents lost cattle as well. According to community residents, mechanisms of information and projections’ (agrohydrological or hydrological – flood, mudflow) preparation and dissemination are either incomplete or do exist. It becomes clear during interviews, that early warning system on community level does not mainly exist. 19
6.5 Combination of hazards and vulnerability Every hazard has its specific kind of vunerrability that are typical for every single area, thus, they are also different depending on states, regions, communities or individuals. Causes of vulnerability are consequences of physical, economic, social and political-institutional weaknesses. The graph below shows, which hazardous phenomena specific to community may pose threat to vitally important facilities, infrastructure, dwellings and agricultural facilities according to residents opinion Respondents opnion over vulnerable buildings in the community is shown in the graph. According to the survey results, residential houses, church and monument were considered as the most vulnerable toward against emergency situations. Residential houses have been noted as vulnerable being old and not seismically resistant. Indeed, church is partially dilapidated and is in emergency condition.
Livestock People School Communication system Electric-communication system Water supply system Community roads Sown areas Residential houses
mudflow hail Strong winds earthquake freezing landslide drought
Data collected from residents on treatening hazards that affect community vulnerable elements
The following graph shows the group of people most vulnerable to emergency situations. The most vulnerable group of people is a children group.
disable monuments church
elderly Residential children houses
Data collected from the community residents Data collected from the community residents on on community vulnerable groups community vulnerable buildings
There was special notes that the level of vulnerability of all groups included in the graph would either decrease or increase depending on the change in their health condition and the level of awareness. According to residents, man and woman are equally vulnerable toward disasters.
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Access to various services was also studied. Most respondents noted, that below mentioned services are available to community population, equally to man and woman.
Police
Social
Educational
Health
Fire-rescue
availabl Difficult to access Not available Don’t know e Data collected from community residents on assess to community services
6.6 Knowledge of community residents about disaster resilience The most vitally important factor in protecting community is a local capacity to disaster resilience and response which is reflected by existing response tools and mechanisms in place, by technical means and the level of population preparedness.
Printed media Internet Satellite TV Public radio Public TV
Data collected from community residents on information sources Community is faced with disasters at first. Capacity of the community to face with and to respond to similar situations depends on the level of knowledge and skills of local authorities and community residents. Lack of knowledge and skills among residents has significant impact on the level of vulnerability of the communty. To define the level of disater resilience and response, self-assessment among community residents on disaster preparedness was conducted. During the interview, it becomes clear that there is a lack of knowledge among community residents and local authorities in applying and using existeing capacities available in the community.
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Preparation starts from information and the ways and possiblities of its provision. It is worth to note that among the main sources of information provision, public TV is avaialable to community. Availability of information sources is shown in the graph: Large part of the respondents have noted that they use several sources of information at once. The main sources of receiving information are following: public and sattelite TV and internet. The main sources of information are the following: public and sattelite TV, internet, printed media and public radio. Interestingly, internet as an information source has become more available. There is a large interest over sattelite TV, particularly over russian TV chanels. Local level of disaster preparedness depends on people’s ability to prepare and withstand with disasters. None of respondents have ever participated in disaster preparedness trainings. Clear self-assessment picture of knowledge and skills over practice in emergency situations Aware and first aid is shown in the graph, according to Partly which only 55% of respondents have knowledge Aware and skils over practice in emergency situations and Do not first aid. It could be considered as a capacity, aware which will contribute to the reduction of the level of vulnerability in emergency situations. The Data collected from community residents on emergency opinion of the resondents over community situations and first aid. residents’ and local authorities’ withstanding and readiness to respond to emergency situations is shown in the graph below.
Do you think local authorities are ready to Do you think community residents are Are you ready to respond to emergency respond to emergency situations? ready to respond to emergency situations? situations?
Yes Yes Yes Partly Partly Partly No No No Do not Do not Do not know know know
The study on residents’ knowledge over active stakeholders in the field of response to emergency situations identified that respondents mainly consider local authorities and local residents’ participation in the fields of disaster reponse and elimination of consequences.
Local Local authorities authorities
Rescue service Community residents Heath system Local The businessmen Government of RA
In your opinion, who can provide substantial help In your opinion, which organizations can immediately after disaster before arrival of play substantial role during disaster? 22 rescue forces?
Obtained results over main actors in in case of disasters are explained by two circumstances: by economic losses, damages caused by emergency situations occurred in recent years and the leresidents vel of response from the part of stakeholders and which organization community residents suppose to receive support from. Experience shows that disaster resilience and the issue of readiness to respond to emergency situations are explained by residents willingness to be voluntarily involved in different disaster preparedness, prevention and respond projects. Such projects incorporate actions so that whole communty will benefit from. Generally, 100% of respondents expressed their readinees to voluntary participate in disaster preparedness and prevention activities. People’s level of preparedness to withstand with disasters contribute to increasing the level of community preparedness which may reduce the impact of disasters and minimize losses. The graph below shows about which disasters or emergency situations and other related issues respondents
would like to have information.
all
ake
Hail
Rescue
First aid First
Freezing
arthqu
E Behavior skills Behavior
About what emergency situations or disasters you What information realated to disasters or
would like to be informed? emergency situations you would like to know?
Above mentioned statements make it clear that commnunitiea play vitally important role in disaster preparedness and reduction of its consequences. Disaster preparedness and prevention involve several actions before, during and after disaster. Expressed voluntary willingness by residents is an advantage which has to be taken into consideration and used. Respondents expressed their readiness to participate in disaster related preparedness, prevention and response activities voluntary. The graph below shows responses over participation on activities before or after emergency situation made by repondents.
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Implement disaster preparedness and prevention activities Participate in social activities in case of disasters
Rescue those in danger
Help to save property
Provide victims with shelter and food
Provide First aid
Inform others about hazard
Data collected from community residents over participation in actions before or after disaster.
It can be summarized, that psychological preparedness of community residents allows them to withstand with and respond to emergency situations. Summing ap results, it becomes clear that people realize that involvement in preparedness and prevention activities will reduce the impact of disaster which directly affect the process of sustainable development of the community. Obviously, every community has human and technical resources so that such issues like enhancing behaviour skills, cleaning river banks, or river pollution or awareness raising can be easily tackled by their own resources. The whole community would benefit from such activities. This is an important fact that brings to the conclusion that the best way to withstand with hazards is to have resilient community.
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Issues identified by the community residents, their causes and possible solutions according to vulnerability reduction and enhancing capacities
Negative consequences Type of hazard and main Recommended solution/ Vulnerable elements Expected results description proposals as a result of VCA
Natural disasters
Mudflow Avoid possible floods and losses. During spring and autumn season, water Community roads, basements, hives, Damages to community roads, Sternghtenning mudflow risky overflows its banks as a result of mountainsides by natural means. sown areas, chickens. basements, hives and sown areas. intensive rainfall. Due to the community location, there are mudflow streams appearing and flooding low-lying areas.
Rainfall
Rainfall is typical for the area where the Intra community and intercommunity Rainfall become a cause for mudflow Sternghtenning mountainsides by Development and deployment of community is located. Due to and extensive humidity. Rainfall also natural means. roads, sown areas, houses. early warning and forecasting deforestation, quantity of water that flows prevents implementation of agricultural Develop and deploy early warning system. Avoiding material losses. through the community has been works. and forecasting system. Ensure early increased. Old drainage system does not warning awareness for population meet current needs for water flow. Renovation and cleaning up of mudflow channels.
Hail
In average it occurred once a year. Roofs of the buildings, sown areas, Crops, sown areas are damaged; roofs Anti-hail stations, development and Protection of crops, improvement of Diameter of hailstone reaches 3sm. gardens. and windows of buildings are broken. deployment of and early warning and economic situation. Heavily damages mainly agricultural Brings to substantial material losses. forecasting systems. sector.
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Strong winds
Strong winds are typical to the region Residential houses, roofs of Strong winds having permanent Development and depoyment of Avoiding material and human and have permanent nature. There is buildings, electric communicaiton nature damage electric poles and early warning and forecasting losses. wires. Roofs and windows of an increased strenght and frequency system, hives. system. buildings are also damaged. of strong winds in recent years.
Landslide
Mudflows as well as location of the Residential houses, buildings, As a result of landslide, houses are Expertise examination of landslide Avoiding human and material community foster activation of residential areas, gas pipe, barns, collapsed and roads are closed. sectors, mapping, population losses, provision of new houses landslide. roads. evacuation from emergency for evacuated population, public buildings, fundraising for awareness over accurately construction of new houses. described illustration of landslide Organization of permanent sector. monitoring, early warning about hazard.
Freezing
There is an increased frequency of Agricultural sector Decline of yield capacity, lost of Provision of reliable climate Avoiding possible losses, cases with early spring freezing in crops and therefore material losses. information, deployment of new reduction. recent years. It damages mainly technologies and plants. agricultural sector.
Rockfall
Due to the location of community, Roads Worsening of socio-economic Artificial removing and relocation Avoiding possible losses, rockfall posses threat to everyday life situation. of woobly rocks, construction of reduction. of the community. It occurred almost barriers and retaining walls, every year in spring. During gridding of mountainsides. earthquake, there are cases where large fragments of rocks are breaking out.
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Drought
There is an increase of temperature Agricultural sector, animal Decline of yield capacity, lost of Deployment of new Avoiding possible losses, and decrease of rainfall particularly husbandry, natural springs, crops and, therefore material technologies (drip irrigation) reduction. registered in summer during recent beekeeping. losses. ensuring reliable climate years.Drought posses serious threat information. to sown areas. One of the preconditions of drought is when during a period of an intensive irrigation of plants in spring there is scarcity of water and no artificial irrigation is carried out.
Earthquake
Earthquake is unpredictable. Can be Destructions of houses, buildings, Public education, seismic risk Avoiding possible losses, a cause of other phenomena material and human losses, assessment, Earthquake reduction. Buildings, people (lanslide) or emergency situations emerging of secondary disasters. engineering. (explosion, fire) typical to the community.
Thunder / lightning
Thunder and lightning have been Electric equipment, people, Damages of electric equipment, Installation of lightenning Avoiding possible losses, always occurred in the livestock. threat to people health and life, arresters, public awareness and reduction. community. Lightning posses losses of livestock. educaiton. serious threat to the community. Man-made disasters
Explosions, fire, fire in hayfields Residential houses, buildings, Material and human losses Training on safety rules, Avoiding possible losses. areas school protection. Public awareness,
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Sown areas education.
Road traffic incidents (RTI) People, livestock Human and livestock losses. Organization of speed regulatory Avoiding possible losses. measures (installation of speed cameras, construction of concrete barriers).
Other hazards
Groundwater Buildings, residential houses. Buildings are damaged, people Expertise examination of Avoiding possible losses. incur material losses. groundwater sectors, fundraising for building new houses, systematic deployment of control measures during the whole year.
Predators People, pets. Threats to health and life, losses of Regulated hunting, FA training, Avoiding possible losses. pets. awareness and training in behavior skills.
Livestock epidemic Livestock, people Threats to health and life, losses of Timely vaccination performed Avoiding possible losses. livestock. Implementation of preventive measures.
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7. DRR ISSUES AND THEIR PRIORITISED SOLUTIONS THAT ENSURE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT OF VAHAGNI COMMUNITY
7.1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DISASTER RISK
TYPE OF HAZARD AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION VULNERABLE ELEMENTS NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES CAPACITY OF COMMUNITY
NATURAL DISASTERS
Mudflow Fixed and mobile communication, During spring and autumn season, water overflows its banks as a result Damages to community roads, basements, hives and Community roads, basements, hives, sown Internet, of intensive rainfall. Due to the community location, there are mudflow areas, chickens. sown areas. Accessibility to information streams appearing and flooding low-lying areas. sources, Human resource, Rainfall Community hall, School, Rainfall is typical for the area where the community is located. Due to Intra community and intercommunity roads, Rainfall become a cause for mudflow and Health center, deforestation, quantity of water that flows through the community has sown areas, houses. extensive humidity. Rainfall also prevents been increased. Old drainage system does not meet current needs for implementation of agricultural works. Some agricultural vehicles water flow. Transportation means - 50 vehicles, Hail - 10 trucks, - 5 tractors: In average it occurred once a year. Diameter of hailstone reaches 3sm. Roofs of the buildings, sown areas, gardens. Crops, sown areas are damaged; roofs and windows Sown areas, gardens Heavily damages mainly agricultural sector. of buildings are broken. Brings to substantial Cattle, pigs, poultry, bee material losses. families, Strong winds River, Natural springs, Strong winds are typical to the region and have permanent nature. Residential houses, roofs of buildings, Strong winds having permanent nature damage Forests, There is an increased strenght and frequency of strong winds in recent electric communicaiton system, hives. electric poles and wires. Roofs and windows of Bridges, years. buildings are also damaged. Markets,
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Landslide Milk processing factory, Evacuation plan Mudflows as well as location of the community foster activation of Residential houses, buildings, residential As a result of landslide, houses are collapsed and landslide. areas, gas pipe, barns, roads. roads are closed.
Freezing
There is an increased frequency of cases with early spring freezing in Agricultural sector. Decline of yield capacity, lost of crops and recent years. It damages mainly agricultural sector. therefore material losses.
Rockfall
Due to the location of community, rockfall posses threat to everyday Roads Worsening of socio-economic situation. life of the community. They occurred almost every year in spring. During earthquake, there are cases where large fragments of rocks are breaking out.
Drought
There is an increase of temperature and decrease of rainfall particularly Agricultural sector, animal husbandry, natural Decline of yield capacity, lost of crops and, registered in summer during recent years.Drought posses serious threat springs, beekeeping. therefore material losses. to sown areas. One of the preconditions of drought is when during a period of an intensive irrigation of plants in spring there is scarcity of water and no artificial irrigation is carried out.
Earthquake
Earthquake is unpredictable. Can be a cause of other Destructions of houses, buildings, material and phenomena (lanslide) or emergency situations (explosion, fire) human losses, emerging of secondary Buildings, people. typical to the community. disasters.
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Thunder / lightning
Thunder and lightning have been always occurred in the Electric equipment, people, livestock. Damages of electric equipment, threat to community. Lightning posses serious threat to the community. people health and life, losses of livestock.
Man-Made disasters Explosions,
Fire Residential houses, buildings, school, mine. Material and human losses, destruction of animals and plants. Collapses Forests, hayfields, animals, plants. Destruction of animals and vegetation. Reducing soil fertility, erosion. Forest fire and fire in hayfields. Damage to environment. Damage to environment Gold mine operating in the community area that was deployed Ecology, vegetation, animals, soil, air, Environment pollution. Decline of as an open mine for a long time as well as absence of landfill water, population. biodiversity, pollution of soil, air, water, have a huge negative impact on environment. worsening of health condition. Will bring to ecological disaster in case of absence of control.
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7.2 FORMULATION OF DRR ISSUES
FORMULATION OF ISSUES THAT IMPACT OF AREA DEVELOPMENT ON DRR IMPACT ON AREA DEVELOPMENT AREA ENSURE DISASTER RESILIENT EXISTING RISKS DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT
Renovation and improvement of relevant Implementation of DRR events will To limit possible damages to education buildings will considerably reduce existing considerably ease the issue of education system caused by disasters (strong winds, risks. development, because resources that earthquake, fire) through reviewing and have been concentrated toward strengthening disaster resilience capacities Upgrading with relevant tools, equipments elimination of consequences of of education system. and literature will support the process of different types of disasters through organization of qualified education, years, will be focused on improvement availability of DRR information for staff and of education system that will ensure pupils, will enhance protection and disaster continuation of education in the resilience level. community. Reforms and development of education area Expertised examination of seismic will reduce possibility of migration and EDUCATION resistance of educational institutions contribute to economic growth and poverty will allow to organize reconstruction reduction. and renovation works in a best way, their further maintanance, operation and continuous renovation. As a result of incorporating DRR education into the education system disaster resilience skills of staff and pupils will be enhanced which will reduce human losses and health threatening risks.
Improvement of health system of region and Events related to prevention and Establish clinic, ensure some improvements HEALTH community, improvement of buildings and reduction of risks posing threats to in infrastructures and services, ensure that offices of clinics, timely prevention of community, increasing knowledge of people have gained knowledge and skills
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epidemics, running anti-epidemic population in disaster preparedness and related to disaster and epidemic campaigns, public awareness raising will epidemic resilience issues, preparedness in order to minimize threats to substantially reduce disaster and epidemic improvements in infrastructure of human health and life. related risks posing threat to people’s health. public services will ensure security of population and promote improvements of public health and life protection.
Improvement of health system of region and Events related to prevention and Establish clinic, ensure some improvements community, improvement of buildings and reduction of risks posing threats to in infrastructures and services, ensure that offices of clinics, timely prevention of community, increasing knowledge of people have gained knowledge and skills epidemics, running anti-epidemic population in disaster preparedness and related to disaster and epidemic ENVIRONMENT campaigns, public awareness raising will epidemic resilience issues, preparedness in order to minimize threats to substantially reduce disaster and epidemic improvements in infrastructure of human health and life. related risks posing threat to people’s health. public services will ensure security of population and promote improvements of public health and life protection.
Deployment of modern methods in Mitigation and prevention activities to Organize prevention events for some agriculture, setting food processing, green reduce hail, drought and freezing risks, infrastructures, particularly related to house and refrigeration industries, implementation of adaptation projects irrigation system, improvement of local and acquisition of agricultural machinery, and and applying new technologies and other secondary roads, campaigns against repairment of old ones, improvement of wells seeds as well as planned events related wolfs and rodents, develop and implement network system, deployment of new to actions over soil protection and climate change adaptation projects, technologies, crop and crop rotation, against erosion, implementation of including adoption of new crops, organize control of quality of seeds, pesticides and events related to development of cattle public trainings on the issues related to AGRICULTURE fertilizers, planned utilization will ensure breeding will create favorable agriculture, particularly related to setting up increasing of soil fertility, and at the same conditions for development of the area. a culture of deployment of new technologies time minimize desertification and erosion of with the aim to minimize damages causes by soil. Meanwhile, intensive utilization of soil threatening risks to agricultural sector. within the context of existing condition of irrigation system and not effective utilization of pastures will increase a threat of soil erosion.
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Complex study of emergency condition of houses, buildings and working conditions of Implementation of DRR activities will To minimize possible damages to infrastructures, their timely reconstruction promote preservation of durability of community houses, buildings, and preservation, consideration of risky buildings and infrastructures, will infrastructures from threatening risks by factors before providing lands for HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, URBAN reduce tempo of increasing emergency reviewing and strengthening disaster CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE construction and finally, strictly following all conditions, will allow saving means resilience capacities of community, construction norms during a construction allocated for elimination of renovating and reconstructing will reduce existing threatening risks and consequences and focus them toward infrastructures and buildings
prevent formation of new ones. implementation of preventive and mitigation projects.
Setting up new employment opportunities, Disaster risk reduction is one of Provide effectiveness of main ecenomic improvement of economic and social prerequisites for sustainable areas of community, ensuring effective condition, providing employment and developmentthat will have positive operation of infrastructures and systems, entertainment will lead to combination of impact on development of all areas of organization of anti-hail system and EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOOD personal and community interest aimed at economy creating new employment irrigation, implementation of measures ensuring sustainable development of opportunities and welfare. against rodents and wolves, planning and community taking into consideration threats implementation of long-term adaptation and risks. projects.
Development of water supply and sewage Establishment of sewage, drainage Ensure quality of drinking water and its systems, control of quality of drinking water systems, water treatment systems will permanent supply, resolve the issues of will promote the issue of sustainability of reduce risks of outbreak of epidemies. sewage, wastewater and rain water healthy life. Meantime, it will prevent Public education and awareness will treatment and disposal. Improve irrigation WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION penetration of wastewater and rainwater to reduce outbreak of epidemies, threats and well systems. residential and other agricultural areas. to human health. Improvement of irrigation and wells will As a result of effective management of prevent water scarcity. irrigation system threat of drought will be reduced.
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Every community resident, being a part of Setting up DRR regional and Carry out measures to involve DRR the process of community management will community teams, proposing DRR management in operational processes of considerably strengthen implementation of participatory management mechanisms community self-governance, take into activities toward ensuring community in community will promote consideration risks threatening community, LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, security and development, considering DRR democratization of local self – risks restraining community development
DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY as an important factor for development. government, ensuring community and the ways to reduce them. population participatioin in decision making and implementation processes.
7.3 RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS TO DRR ISSUES ACCORDING TO PRIORITIES
PRIORITIES INTEGRATION INTO SOURCE OF AREA OF DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS FOUR YEAR DEVEOPMENT Priority Implementation FUNDING indicator period PROJECTS DRR training for staff and pupils on disaster preparedness in educational 3 xxx institutions. EDUCATION Renovation in schools 2
Construction of kindergarten building 1
Community public education and awareness in DRR (first aid, rescue norms etc.). 6
HEALTH
Organization of sanitary-hygienic events and 5
community awareness raising in sanitary-
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hygienic norms. 4 Construction of sewage
Purchase of equipments and means for 3 organizing garbage removal. xxx
Construction of new Health center 1 building. 2 Purchase of ambulance vehicles.
Forest restoration 1 xxx
Construction of sewage 3
Organization of environmental trainings. 5 ENVIRONMENT Purchase of equipments and means for 2 organizing garbage removal.
4 Ensuring security in rockfall areas.
Purchase and renovation of agricultural 4
machinery. xxx 5 Construction of irrigation network. 6 AGRICULTURE Implantation of new plants.
Public education and awareness in agricultural 7 issues.
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Deployment of anti-hail equipment. 1
Forest restoration. 2
Deployment of lightenning arresters. 3
Expertise examination of seismic resistance of 13 community buildings. xxx Strengthening of community buildings from 12 seismic security point of view.
Construction of kindergarten building 11 Renovation of Health center 10 Construction of new Health center building 9
Renovation of intracommunity roads and 8 lighting. HOUSING CONSTRUCTION, URBAN CONSTRUCTION, Construction of irrigation system 7
INFRASTRUCTURES Construction of sewage 5
Construction of drainage channel. 2 xxx
Construction of mudflow channel/ 1 xxx strengthening of mudflow risky mountainsides by natural means.
Construction of new houses 6
Deployment of anti-hail equipment/means. 4
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Construction of community center. 3
Purchase and renovation of agricultural 12
machinery. xxx Renovation and enlargement of irrigation 11 network.
Deployment of anti-hail equipment/means. 10
Construction of sewage 9 Construction of drainage channel. 2 Implantation of new plants. 8
Construction of kindergarten building 7
Renovation of intracommunity roads and 6 EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOOD lighting.
Purchase and renovation of agricultural 5 machinery.
4 Renovation of Health center
Construction of new Health center 3
building. Construction of mudflow channel/ 1 strengthening of mudflow risky mountainsides by natural means.
Construction of new houses. 13
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Organization of sanitary-hygienic events and 1 community awareness raising in sanitary- xxx hygienic norms. WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION 3 Construction of irrigation network. 2 Construction of sewage.
Setting up Community DRR Certificate and its
approval. Development and implementation of
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, community development/ annual plans.
DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRACY Implementation of community DRR mini-
projects. Annual monitoring and assessment of Disaster
management functions.
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