Disaster Management in Public Institutions After the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes: The Example of Mardin Province

Abstract

It is possible to say that the most devastating, most vital and most destructive disaster among natural disasters is earthquake. Disasters do not only cause deaths and injuries to people by destroying roads, bridges and buildings. They also cause economic, social and psychological destruction. The consequences of disasters can only be mitigated with the precautions, intervention and support of organizations at the state scale. For this reason, the ability and capacity of state institutions to intervene in disasters is directly related to a contemporary, scientific and rational plan, organization and management strategies. In order to examine the success of state institutions in meeting the goals and social expectations in chaotic periods such as disasters, five state institutions operating in Mardin province were selected. In the study, the case study method, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The data obtained from the semi-structured interviews conducted with some employees of these institutions who worked during the disaster period were categorized and interpreted with the descriptive analysis method, and findings and conclusions were reached. As a result of the research, various topics such as inter-institutional coordination, search and rescue, nutrition, shelter, transportation, communication and psychological support were examined; A number of suggestions were made, such as transforming the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) into an independent Ministry, establishing disaster units in municipalities, and not starting damage assessment work before search and rescue efforts are completed. © 2025, Ankara University. All rights reserved.