PEOPLE VS.FLOODSSREĆKO ŠEKELJIĆ

SERBIA CAUGHT UNPREPARED

SERBIA CAUGHT UNPREPARED• Decades of chaotic urban planning and poor

infrastructure

• In 2012 and 2013 government cuts the budget needed for flood-protection, despite urges from experts

• The government and many public institutions didn’t take the natural disaster seriously enough

• Weak response to the disaster created a catastrophe

• People haven’t been evacuated even when the institutions in charge issued warnings

• The state of emergency was declared when it was too late

• Death toll, and number of missing persons unknown

“NEVER WASTE A CRISIS”

“NEVER WASTE A CRISIS”• Prime Minister Vučić at live government sessions asserts

his “iron hand” authority

• Responsibility for the catastrophe pinned to local politicians

• Crisis used for imposing pressure on mayors who aren’t in line with the governing political party

• Covering up the extent of the catastrophe

• Imposing a firmer grip over the media

• Government ministers using the opportunity to promote themselves

PEOPLE RESPOND

PEOPLE’S RESPONSE• Thousands of volunteers sign-up for building temporary

embankments

• Skilled professionals self-organize to save people in flooded areas before the police and military came there

• Radio-amateurs provide information on locations of people caught by the floods

• Free transportation and shelter provided to the people in need

• Tons of food and clothing donated to the evacuated people

PEOPLE’S RESPONSE

Creating web platforms for:

• mapping the floods

• reporting the location of people in need of help

• reporting missing persons

• Coordinating volunteers and donations

Fundraising in Serbia and abroad

Using blogs and social media to tell testimonies on what’s the real situation on the ground and finding missing persons

POPLAVE.RS

A volunteer project started by a handful of people

In just one week:

• 100 volunteers

• 1,000,000 unique visitors

• 5,000,000 views

• Over 500 missing persons reported

• Comprehensive list and location of evacuated persons – over 5,000

• Volunteers’ coordination

• Info for evacuation of people and animals

THANK YOU!