Comparison of August 1999 earthquake and october 23-November 9 2011 Van earthquakes in terms of crisis management

Unpredictable disasters which cause crises, loss of life and property are commonplace in our country. The August 17 and November 12, 1999 earthquakes, both of which inflicted substantial damages in the way of pecuniary and intangible losses, have shown that Turkey has a deficiency in terms of disaster management and crisis management. Laws, regulations and plans were prepared after the fact and certain developments were achieved with regards to disaster management.It's has also became clear that the current mentality of the disaster management and methods that dealing with it crises should be changed. In this sense, its pretty significant that to make some preparation like being taken more active role by the local governments and occur crises plans in case of the any sudden disaster events. It's been introduced a new law ( 5902 law no. ) for disaster and emergency management presidency about its organization and functions. They've been some dramatic changes in disaster management system after the resolution has passed. With this law, disaster and emergency management authority AFAD has been established under the Prime Ministry to collect the authorities and responsibilities in one hand. The developments that has experienced in the field of disaster and crises management after the 1999 years lead to create a new application area with Van earthquake that took place on 23 October-9 November 2011. However, it was revealed with the Van Earthquake of 2011 that to the contrary of these developments, shortcomings continued to remain in terms of disaster and crisis management. As its aim, this study analysed the August 17, 1999 and 2011 Van Earthquakes, both of which caused substantial losses of life and property in our disaster-area country, in terms of crisis and disaster management, establishing favourable and unfavourable examples. It is intended to minimise loss of life and property for possible earthquakes through establishing effective disaster and crisis management.