Flood Evacuation Simulation Empowers Fatudere Community
By Aprilia de Jesus, Communications and Liaison Manager, AHP Consortium Timor-Leste
The drill saw Community Health Volunteers performing First Aid simulations. IMAGE: Aprilia de Jesus/CARE in Timor-Leste
In Viqueque, the rainy season often brings uncertainty. With support from CARE through Disaster READY, people from Fatudere were given the opportunity to practice saving lives through a flood evacuation simulation.
"Before these simulations, we would just run when the waters came," explains Maria Gomes, a longtime Fatudere resident. "Now we know exactly what to do, where to go, and how to help each other."
The comprehensive evacuation exercise, implemented by Disaster READY Project field team in Viqueque alongside Cruz Vermelha Timor-Leste (CVTL) in collaboration with the municipal Autoridade Proteçao Civil (APC), brought together over 50 community members. from the youngest participants to the elders, everyone played their role with seriousness and purpose.
"The difference now is that we don't just wait for help," Maria said with quiet confidence. "We know how to help ourselves and each other first." IMAGE: Aprilia de Jesus/CARE in Timor-Leste
As the simulation began, volunteers positioned strategically throughout the village sounded the alarm. Community members quickly gathered essential documents and emergency supplies before heading to designated meeting points. The pregnant woman and persons with disabilities were assisted by trained community volunteers, ensuring no one was left behind.
Community members learned how to support one another and that with proper coordination, even the most vulnerable could be kept safe. IMAGE: Aprilia de Jesus, CARE in Timor-Leste
What impressed observers most was the community's ownership of the exercise. Local leaders coordinated evacuation routes, community health volunteers performed first aid demonstrations, and youth groups helped maintain communication throughout the evacuation process.
"The difference now is that we don't just wait for help," Maria said with quiet confidence. "We know how to help ourselves and each other first."
As climate change brings increasingly unpredictable weather patterns to Timor-Leste, communities like Fatudere are taking their safety into their own hands. With continued support from the Disaster READY Project from CARE and the local government, they stand ready to face whatever challenges come their way.