Izmir Metropolitan Municipality also implemented the "Take Position" application after the Emergency Izmir application in order to minimize the damage of possible earthquakes and to overcome the post-disaster communication problem. The Metropolitan Municipality aims to determine the location of the citizens who are under the rubble by sending a link to all phone users after the disaster.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Information Processing Department has also implemented the "Get Location" service, following the Emergency Izmir application developed after the Izmir earthquake in 2020. The application, which was developed to overcome the communication problems experienced in disasters and to reach the citizens in the fastest way, can be used easily. With the life-saving Get Location project, a link is sent to all phone users after a disaster in a message. Thus, it is aimed to determine the places of the citizens who were under the rubble. In case of disasters such as earthquakes and floods, it becomes easier to reach İzmir Metropolitan Municipality via Emergency İzmir, Get Location Service and 153 helpline.
Messages will be sent to mobile phones.
Stating that they developed the “Get Location” program for those who do not download the Emergency İzmir application to their phones, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Information Processing Department Head Ata Temiz said, “During a possible earthquake, we send SMS to all phone users living in İzmir via the Get Location application. This message will try to reach people for 28 hours. The information of those who cannot be reached falls into the system. Repeated attempts are made to reach these people. These trials continue until they reach the citizens. And in the end, it will definitely be reached. As soon as it arrives, a link will fall on users' phones. Users can send us their location by clicking the link. The person under the wreckage can send us his/her location directly by clicking the link,” he said.
The location of those who are under the debris will be determined by this application.
Reminding that the relevant units in Izmir Metropolitan Municipality will be activated after clicking the link sent to phone users, Temiz said, “As soon as the citizens click on the link, the situation falls on our management panel. After the fall, firefighters will come to the scene with the officers. Emergency Izmir application will quickly determine the location of the person. The important thing here is to know that the person is under the debris. With this system, we learn how many people are under the debris. If people in Izmir reach their phones under the rubble and click on these messages, we get an idea of how many people were under the building that collapsed during the earthquake. At the moment, we are in a position to reach all users across Izmir.”
Emphasizing the importance of communication network in case of disaster, Temiz continued his speech as follows: “Our infrastructure is ready to enable our citizens to reach us in case of a disaster. We have all the scenarios, what kind of situation we will be involved in during the disaster. We did all the work by following these scenarios. If you have survived the wreckage and you cannot reach anyone, the help they need will be delivered by the authorities to the citizens who are injured or need help by calling 153.”
After the disaster, citizens will be reached through the teams of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department and volunteer teams established by the fire department.
What will the survivor do?
Those who cannot be reached in case of disasters such as possible earthquakes or floods should call the number 153 to reach the municipal teams. In addition to the currently active Alo 153 Citizens' Communication Center (HİM), the special Alo 153 Helpline is also activated in case of disaster.