Disaster preparedness program: "Get Airports Ready for Disaster" (GARD)
Extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes or tsunamis can turn into disasters if communities and infrastructures are not adequately prepared. Bottlenecks occur most often at local airports, which quickly become overwhelmed with the large volume of incoming relief supplies. This can delay – or even stop – the onward transport of lifesaving supplies. To avoid such scenarios, in 2009 we developed the “Get Airports Ready for Disaster” (GARD) program together with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Due to its unique methodology and concept GARD helps local communities to help themselves.
GARD
- provides professional trainers from DHL Aviation to hold the workshop – free of charge
- is addressed at airport managers and disaster related authorities und thus brings important people for disaster relief together
- within the 3-5 days session, participants gain a hands-on approach to disaster preparedness including a mix of classroom elements and on-site assessment work
- provides a clear action plan to increase the airport surge capacity (Airport Assessment Report)
Partnership with UNDP
Deutsche Post DHL has forged a long-term partnership with the UNDP and cooperates closely with governments and local authorities. This facilitates the coordination and the roll-out of the workshop as well as the implementation of follow-up activities after the workshops. Therefore, GARD becomes a platform for experts of humanitarian logistics and disaster management.
GARD footprint and roadmap
GARD has been conducted at 18 airports worldwide and is planned to be rolled out further.
The GARD workshop program is constantly being developed in terms of both content and structure. Since the pilot in 2009, GARD was conducted at 18 airports in 7 different countries that are highly prone to natural disasters. All in all, more than 235 local airport employees and representatives from disaster relief organizations received GARD workshops. For the future we plan to run further GARD workshops in three different regions and refresher GARD plus workshops.
New refresher concept "GARD plus" fosters a sustainable approach
Our trainers have developed the follow-up program GARD plus, which allows repetition and application of the workshop content 6-12 months after the GARD workshop. Therefore, it contributes to a sustainable implementation of disaster preparedness activities. GARD plus has been launched initially in December 2012 in Beirut, Lebanon after the participants built a GARD committee with the goal to integrate all aspects of GARD into the national Lebanese disaster risk reduction program.
Workshop and methodology
GARD is targeted at local airport officials and national disaster management personnel. To assure effectiveness, the workshop is always held at the airport to be made disaster-ready and lasts three to five days. With the consulting support of the trainers, participants evaluate their airport and identify potential bottlenecks in the event of a disaster, based on a mix of in-class workshop, assessment work an on-site fieldwork. The goal is to develop a GARD Airport Assessment Report that gives a structure which enables the participants to assess the surge capacity, limiting factors and alternative uses for facilities and processes in and around the airport site.
GARD workshops in 2013
El Salvador is located in an area of intense seismic activity due to the clash of several tectonic plates. This earthquake-prone area is also known as the “land of volcanoes” and it is extremely susceptible to hurricanes. “Due to its vulnerability to natural disasters and its political commitment to handle this challenge El Salvador has been a perfect fit and suitable for the GARD exercise.“ says Stefano Pettinato, UNDP El Salvador, Country Director. In this GARD Workshop from April 23rd to 26th 32 participants have created a surge capacity plan for the two airports Cuscatalán International Airport and Ilopango Airport near San Salvador.
GARD workshops in 2012
"I think the GARD workshop should be continued for allairports in Indonesia," says a GARD participant. This would be challenging,considering Indonesia has more than 100 different airports. 6 of them havealready received the GARD workshop; the latest 2 on Sumatra island in November2012. Due to its geographical location and geological construction,Sumatra, one of Indonesia'slargest islands is subject to a number of natural disaster events such asearthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and typhoons.
GARD has been successfully introduced in Europe’s largest metropolitan areas and one of the fastest growing cities: Istanbul. Turkey is hit by hundreds of earthquakes per year. Most of these earthquakes are small in size but, occasionally, the earthquakes reach above magnitude 7.0. In the next few years, an earthquake in the immediate area of Istanbul is expected. Thus, the GARD workshop was extremely helpful and contributed a great deal to the region's preparedness in the event of a disaster.
Lebanon is subjected to a range of natural hazards, the largest, single, natural disaster threat is that of a severe earthquake or an associated Tsunami. In Beirut, the capital of Lebanon the poorly planned urbanization has greatly increased exposure and vulnerabilities of the Beirut citizens to seismic losses. The building stock in large parts of the town is old; the roads narrow and building safety practices are absent. Thus, GARD equipped everyone with tools and knowledge to better handle aid supplies in crisis situations.
GARD workshops in 2011
Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries. It is subject to a number of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions and thus, in need for disaster prevention initiatives. GARD workshop was conducted at two airports in Indonesia – one on Bali and one in West Timor. A total of 31 airport and disaster management personnel took part in the program; 15 of the participants came from other Indonesian airports to receive workshop. Also on hand were eight representatives from the UNDP and the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) as well as members of the Indonesian Red Cross.
Bangladesh is a high-risk country for both earthquakes and tsunamis. It also experiences regular flooding, with a large portion of the nation situated in the Ganges River Delta, at the confluence of several rivers and along the Gulf of Bengal. Many of the country's cities are just a few meters above sea level. To better handle disaster situations, 20 individuals from both airports and disaster control organizations took part in the GARD workshop program held in Bangladesh. The workshop was conducted in the country’s capital of Dhaka and in the southern city of Chittagong.
GARD workshops in 2010
Nepal was the first location to receive the GARD workshop after the program’s 2009 pilot workshop. The Himalayan country was selected due its high-risk of earthquakes, mudslides and drought. For this reason the GARD workshop was used to evaluate five different airports in Nepal. A total of 24 employees took part in the workshop.
