The Weather Aspect of Disaster Planning and Preparedness – the Hong Kong example C.Y. Lam Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong, China 28 March 2007

Weather warnings for disaster reduction Led by needs Shaped by social expectations Supported by science Diversification Reaching out

Casualties caused by tropical cyclones in Hong Kong

What made the difference ? Reliable weather warnings Effective information dissemination Organised response actions Built environment

HKSAR Government Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters Weather information dissemination Response units Disaster-related information flow

Weather warning systems Not just warning signals Not just objective criteria But also - triggers for action - meeting expectations

Warnings with a heart

Factors determining the form of a warning system The built environment Expectations of the Society Warning System Meteorological Science Communication Factors determining the form of a warning system

Tropical cyclone warning system in the early years Flimsy structures Some loss of lives taken for granted Slow pace Numbered signals focus on wind Little data Visual signals Tropical cyclone warning system in the early years

Tropical cyclone warning system, 1960’s to 1980’s Better houses Increasing value placed on life Faster pace Textual information Broadcasts Wind & track Satellite Radar Radio TV Tropical cyclone warning system, 1960’s to 1980’s

Tropical cyclone warning system, 1990’s Complex transport infrastructure “No loss of life” Minimum disruption to economic activities Textual and graphic information on TC and local weather Individualised alerting, Homepage Wind, Rain, Track NWP Automatic weather stations Telephone Pager Mobile phone Internet Tropical cyclone warning system, 1990’s

Evolution of severe weather warning systems in Hong Kong

Warnings Diversification in nature Severe local storms Hot or cold weather

Warnings with a heart Precautionary announcements The human touch

Interpretation and Decision-making Process Warning Process Interpretation and Decision-making Process NATURAL HAZARD HUMAN SOCIETY IMPACT Development Process Review Education Process

Warning process Detection and forecasting Dissemination – contents, multiple channels

Verification of HKO TC position forecast

SWIRLS: provides 3-hourly rainfall forecast

Delivery to the Public Phone TV Fax Radio Pager Internet Mobile PDA Increasing direct contacts with users - more intimate relationship

Statistics of direct access to the HKO by users in the past decade

Daily page visits of Hong Kong Observatory web page on days with tropical cyclone signal No. 3 or higher

Within Government Dedicated web-based information system GOWISE E-mail warning, SMS warning, etc. Talk over the phone To develop closer interaction

GOWISE: Dedicated web-based information system

Media Central briefings Hourly TC updates To be seen as a trustworthy person

Decision making The man in the street The sophisticated The underprivileged To serve niches

Review Objective verification Public opinion survey Press comments Annual liaison meetings To learn from lessons

Public opinion survey (a) on tropical cyclone (b) on rainstorm

Education - A process of reaching out Friends of the Observatory TV documentary Pamphlets Popular science lectures and writings Courses for laymen Talks to students and the elderly

Weather warnings for disaster reduction Led by needs Shaped by social expectations Supported by science Diversification Reaching out