The document summarizes Serbia's response to devastating floods in 2012 and 2013. It notes that decades of poor planning and budget cuts left Serbia unprepared for the natural disaster. The government was slow to declare a state of emergency and coordinate evacuations. However, citizens organized impressive volunteer efforts, providing search and rescue, donations of supplies, and coordinating relief through websites. The volunteer-run poplave.rs site in particular grew rapidly to help thousands of people. While the government response was criticized, ordinary citizens stepped up to help each other in the crisis.

1. PEOPLE VS.
FLOODS
SREĆKO ŠEKELJIĆ

2. SERBIA CAUGHT
UNPREPARED

3. 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

4. “NEVER WASTE A CRISIS”

5. “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

6. PEOPLE RESPOND

7. 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

9. 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

11. 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

12. THANK YOU!