Let's Talk Disaster Management

"Can you imagine being responsible for
485 million people through this phone?" - Nyikos

       I didn't expect to study abroad and have the opportunity to meet bigwigs of the Hungarian government.  Who does?  Today, the JSBP field studies experience gave us the opportunity to meet with Dr. Attila Nyikos, the Head of International Relations of Disaster Management, which is a subordinate body of the Ministry of the Interior here in Hungary.  A Google search of his name shows his interviews with BBC, NPR, The EU Times, CBC, and others.  Nyikos is a well-known figure here in Hungary, and his presence has been even more important throughout the last year because Hungary held the presidency of the EU for the first six months of 2011 and he was one of the people responsible for the disaster management for the Red Sludge disaster of October 2010.

         One of the first things that Dr. Nyikos said was that while he was leading the EU Civilian Protection Mechanism, he was responsible for the lives of 485 million people through his cell phone, God forbid disaster struck.  That’s a pretty huge responsibility!  Now that his focus is back on Hungary, his job—still of great importance—must seem a little bit easier to take on. 

         Nyikos taught us that the phases of disaster management take place in a cycle: prevention, response, and recovery.  Each phase is dependant on the others, and the most importantly, Dr. Nyikos stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes.

Aerial view of Red Sludge disaster

         In regards to the red sludge disaster, Dr. Nyikos asserted his opinion that almost no mistakes were made with the response and clean up of over 700,000 m³ of red sludge (a toxic by-product of the aluminum).  Their greatest success was that their quick response time stopped any toxic material from reaching the Danube.  Despite the fact that the Red Sludge disaster happened at all (its cause is still unknown), the Hungarian people gave great feedback and credit to the work of Disaster Management Directorate.

         Dr. Nyikos equated his department to the American FEMA.  FEMA does great work and the best they can under the circumstances they are thrown into, yet we always expect more.  In the States we hear the opinion of the media and FEMA’s biggest critics (Hurricane Katrina, anyone?), and while this discussion was not with the head of the American agency, it was interesting to hear the other side. 

The dirty work.

         Dr. Nyikos explained that his department is constantly evaluating risks, making investments, and doing everything in their power to be prepared for disasters to strike.  Following the Red Sludge disaster, mining laws in Hungary were reformed,  “red sludge” was classified as dangerous material, and satellites have been employed to monitor any serious ground movement.  It’s great to see that within a year, so much was done to prepare for future incidents.  I am impressed by the quick and decisive action that the Hungarians were able to take so that lives could be saved and excessive spreading would be stopped.

         Someone has to be responsible for lives of Hungarians upon disaster, and they are lucky that Attila Nyikos is able to keep calm under all this pressure.  This summer, he oversaw the evacuation of 120 EU residents from Tripoli, Libya.  I can’t imagine that was an easy task.  He has the authority to make decisions on the spot, and it also seems that he has the ability to make the right ones. 

Nyikos calls his boss, who calls his boss, who calls this guy: the Minister
of the Interior, Sandor Pinter Bildunterschrift.  Within seven minutes,
swift and direct disaster response is in effect.  

Live and Learn (and Learn and Change).