AtmaGo helps in recovery from volcano-triggered tsunami

Dear *|FNAME|*,

On Sunday, December 23rd, as most of us in the US were preparing for the holidays, Indonesia was hit by its third natural disaster of the year. A volcanic eruption triggered a tsunami across the Sunda Strait, affecting the islands of Java and Sumatra. As of Wednesday, the Indonesian Disaster Agency estimates a death toll of 430, with 1,495 people injured and another 159 missing. Authorities are evacuating residents of the islands around the Sunda Straits, as the Anak Krakatau volcano continues to erupt.

As one of our supporters, you help Atma Connect reach people and communities that are vulnerable to disasters like this one. Here are some key facts regarding the Sunda Strait tsunami, and how AtmaGo is being used by residents to recover in the aftermath.

Affecting communities across both Java and Sumatra, this tsunami came entirely without forewarning. Although early warning systems have failed in the past, scientific experts agree that this tsunami was impossible to predict. Unlike most tsunamis, where an earthquake is both the trigger and the warning, this event was triggered by a volcanic eruption less than 100 miles away. That short distance left little time for warnings of any kind.

AtmaGo exists because early warning systems aren’t sufficient to help people prepare for and recover from tragic disasters like this one.

Above: AtmaGo users share a story of hope, as a 5-year-old child was rescued from underneath rubble by local police, the Mobile Brigade Corps, and local residents. For more photographs of the aftermath of the tsunami, head to the Washington Post.

Thanks to your support, AtmaGo users are sharing access to critical supplies like food and clothing, providing updates on real-world conditions, bringing attention to blocked roads, celebrating successful rescue missions, and surfacing community needs such as baby diapers, milk, and psycho-social healing.

We will keep you posted on what is happening in tsunami-affected communities like Serang, Lampung, Tanjung Lesung, and Pandeglang. As we wrap up 2018, please consider a holiday gift that will expand our on-the-ground efforts to empower neighbors to help neighbors.

AtmaGo connects 1.5M people across 78 communities in Indonesia, and we couldn’t do any of this without you. Thanks to your support, AtmaGo helps low-income people in vulnerable areas to prepare for and recover from disaster and build more resilient communities.

With appreciation,

The Atma Connect team

P.S. Donate to Atma Connect to help recovery efforts across Indonesia!