“I lost everything,” said that Belgian woman crying at what she had lost, everything but her life. The heartbreaking moment put aside, what is the difference between this human being among others across Europa, and another human being somewhere in the World who has to live one or two natural disasters a year?
Concerning Belgium — my country — there are three major causes: Lack of preparation, the very particular Belgian political system, and maybe the extraordinary talent of the human species to become blind when it needs.
1. Because it only happens to others
The entire World will remember the floods of the summer of 2021, but Europeans especially. Why? Because we are used to seeing it happen to others. The consequence is that we were not ready for what happened to us.
Of course, when you have to deal with a small and contained natural disaster once a decade, you can forget how destructive Nature can be. The way you store your belongings, the equipment you have when you are used to dealing with a natural disaster, such as a water pump in case of a flood, for example, can be different.
When you choose to evacuate, what you decide to take — or not — with you, how long it takes you to be ready to leave your home to save your life may depend on your knowledge of the danger that nature can pose. All of these factors can increase the risk of experiencing the deadly impact of a natural disaster.
Populations that are used to dealing with natural disasters know how to react faster and better than those that have never had to deal with such an experience. Indeed, some populations are trained to react to a given natural disaster.
One example that comes to mind is Japan. From a very young age, the Japanese are trained to deal with seismic events. Perhaps people and our politicians could find some inspiration in this?
2. Belgian political system
At the end of June and following the Jurgen Conings affair, The Economist even presented Belgium as the “world’s most successful failed state.” From my point of view, as I am not a politician or anything else, this is rather funny to hear…
Fun until our political system comes to be in part responsible for the human cost of the floods. Why? In this article written in French by Laurent Eschenauer, the impermeability between regional power and federal one is highlighted by David Dehenauw, head of work at the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium (RMI).
While RMI services are under federal jurisdiction, the floods are regional one. Consequences? One is watching despite the evidence that they should give the alert, and the second one underestimates the risks because it must be clear. Results? Non-action and late decision-making ended up in preventable deaths.
3. The climate change clock is ticking
Natural disasters have always affected people. Ok, but whatever the climate sceptics say, the recurrence of natural disasters at more or less frequent intervals is due to human activity.
Although what has happened cannot be linked with certainty to global warming, climate change generally exacerbates extreme weather events.
So you see, between the need for more tar and global warming: floods and other natural disasters are likely to become more frequent. But who will pay for this? Until now, those who can make a difference had no real answer about this. Maybe they have, now.
It is no longer just a problem for those on the other side of the planet. You can no longer turn off your TV to avoid what happens. Because the water is now in your house and destroying your belongings, taking away lives around you.
So whose fault is it? I would say, everyone: the politicians, the people, the companies. Everyone has to learn from this situation. It’s time to realize that global warming is not just about eating ice cream all year round. We have to keep in mind that Nature can take back what it gives to humans, giving them some advice they should pay attention to.
