Disaster and emergency management: Example of a shopping center in Tekirdağ

Many disasters occur in different regions in the world but these events vary in scope and size. These events are called disasters when they reach dimensions that the society cannot overcome with their own efforts, cause great loss of life and property, and require the mobilization of national or international resources. Since disasters are unavoidable events, public institutions and private organizations should always be prepared for disasters. Disaster management is a broad definition that ranges from the structural design of a building to the provision of necessary equipment and training people to cope with a crisis situation. Disaster management purposes to decrease or prevent potential losses from dangers, provide rapid and suitable support to disaster victims, and ensure efficient rescue. The best way to face a disaster is to be well trained and have a well prepared Disaster Management Plan to keep panic at bay. In our age, shopping malls develop activities that can serve various age groups at the same time, together with the developing technology. As urbanization progresses, individuals from all ages of society spend their hours here. For this reason, Disaster Management Plans of shopping malls should be well-prepared so that people can evacuate quickly when a disaster occurs. In this study, natural and technological disasters and disaster management process are examined and an example of an emergency procedure of a shopping center in Tekirdag province is presented. It has been researched how prepared this shopping center is for emergencies and how well the procedure is followed.