Istanbul is most vulnerable city because of its seismic-prone location nearby the North Anatolian Fault, and its high population and commercial/industrial densities. Taking into consideration that the probability of a major potential earthquake in next years will bring mass destruction in physical environment and economic sector with a high risk of life loss to Turkey, there is an urgent need to shift existing faith-oriented, reactive and recovery based policies into proactive, mitigative and preventive approaches.
Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project (ISMEP) is a significant attempt to implement essential principles of comprehensive disaster management financed by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. The responsibility for project implementation and monitoring is vested in the Istanbul Project Coordination Unit (IPCU) established under the Istanbul Special Provincial Administration (ISPA).
The objectives of the project are to enhance the technical and institutional capacity in disaster management, to improve the public awareness in emergency preparedness and response, the feasibility studies of public buildings against seismic risk and retrofitting or reconstruction of these buildings with respect to the feasibility results, support to the national disaster studies, inventorization and the project design of cultural and historical heritage buildings against seismic risk and the practical measures for building code enforcement.
Accordingly, ISMEP Project consists of three (3) sub-components;
Component A: Enhancing Emergency Preparedness Capacity
The objective of this component is to enhance the emergency response capacity and preparedness of the institutions relevant with emergency management in İstanbul, especially in emergency situations arising from earthquakes.
The main activities within the scope of this component are shown below:
- Improving the Emergency Communication Systems,
- Establishing Emergency Management Information System,
- Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate (ADM),
- Upgrading the Emergency Response Capacity of the first responders to emergencies (Search and Rescue Unit, İstanbul 112 Provincial Ambulance Services, Provincial Health Directorate Emergency Health Services Unit)
- Public Awareness and Training.
Component B: Seismic Risk Mitigation For Priority Public Buildings
The studies carried out under this component is relevant with the priority public buildings, support to the national disaster studies, cultural and historical heritage buildings.
The main activities within the scope of this component are shown below:
- Retrofitting or reconstruction of priority public buildings consisting of schools, hospitals, dormitories, administrative and social service buildings,
- Support to the National Disaster Studies,
- Making inventory of the cultural and historical heritage buildings under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Istanbul and preparing retrofitting projects by means of seismic risk assessments,
- Analyzing the current land management policies and instruments for assessing public lands in different ways in terms of reconstruction and replacement.
Component C: Enforcement Of Building Codes
Includes the enhancement of the institutional and technical capacity for the enforcement of the building codes and various training activities.
- Increasing public awareness on the importance of carrying on building activities in compliance with building codes for public security,
- Investigating the legislation for determining the problems faced in building code implementation by the municipalities and suggesting solutions,
- Carrying out studies on training of engineers.
- Strengthening institutional and technical capacity of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and two pilot municipalities to support the efficient implementation of building codes and building permit
