Hydro-illogical Cycle

The term ‘Hydro-illogical Cycle’ was used over sixty years ago, in 1947, by Tannehill and later Vit Klemes when talking about drought research. This term could be used also when referring to the reaction of media and the societal attention to disasters. When a disaster happens, it gets a lot of attention, but when it is over, it looses media interest, and societal interest. I am of the opinion that media could do better in its role of keeping the disasters on the agenda more continuously, and prompting citizens to learn from disasters, so that next time it is easier to face a disaster. Some positive examples of this are community radios in Indonesia. In North and West Sumatra, communities are motivated to create programs and public service announcement on radio, to educate citizens of ways to prepare for earthquakes. One such example is http://www.responradio.com. This radio station was established as an aftermath of Padang September 2009 earthquake, and has been on air even since.