Provincial Administration in Crisis and Emergency Managament in Turkey

The unexpected and extraordinary situations such as typhoon, flood, earthquake, volcano eruption, nuclear, epidemic, chemical and biological substances threatening human health, accidents related to airline, sea or highway transportations, terrorist attacks, widespread act of force, risk of war as well as extraordinary developments in monetary and financial markets are generally considered among the causes of crisis. Due to different factors such its geographical location, geological structure, the characteristics of the settlements and the inconvenience of the existing building stock, Turkey is often faced with disasters and state of emergencies. The Ministry of Interior is responsible and authorized for both ensuring the public order and security in Turkey and for disaster management throughout the country. In the provinces and districts within the provincial administration system. The provincial administrators working as the representative of the central administration are responsible and authorized. The provincial executives undertake the function of “lifeguard in extraordinary situations”. Unlike the other professions, provincial executives fulfill their leadership and organizational duties both on the institutions and organizations affiliated to them, and the personnel working in these units and also on the management of crisis, disasters and emergency situations. In this study, the duties and responsibilities of provincial executives in the management of crisis and emergency situations in Turkey and the capacity of provincial executives to manage crises and emergency situations are presented.