World Meteorological Organization Working together in weather, climate and water Launch of Global Assessment Report on DRR Workshop 3: Progress in Reducing Disaster Risk Thematic topic: Early Warning Systems Maryam Golnaraghi, Ph.D. Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, WMO Bahrain 18 May WMO

Economic Losses Related to Disasters are on the Way Up ! Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium

While Casualties related to Hydro- Meteorological Hazards are Decreasing! Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium

First International Early Warning Conferences (Postdam, 1998) Second World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002) - JPA Second International Early Warning Conferences (Bonn, 2003) - PPEW World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, January 2005) - HFA G8 Summit and UN General Assembly (2005, 2006) Third International Early Warning Conference (Bonn, March 2006) –Global Early Warning Survey and EWS check list First Symposium on Multi-Hazard EWS for Integrated Disaster Management (WMO with ISDR, World Bank, UNDP, IFRC, UNESCO, OCHA)(Geneva, May 2006) First Session of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (5-7 June 2007) Second Experts Symposium on EWS with Multi-Hazard Approach (WMO and MeteoFrance) (Toulouse, 5-7 May 2009) 2009 Global Risk Assessment Report (To be launched in Bahrain, May 17, 2009) Second Session of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (16-19 June 2009) International Attention to Early Warning Systems …

International attention to this topic …. NEXT…. Upcoming Documented Good Practices and Guidelines Training volumes to be published by Springer Verlag

EWS-II: Effective Early Warning Systems Must be People-centered (PPEW)

HFA: Early Warning Systems should be an intergral part of a comprehensive DRR strategy Risk TransferRisk Identification Historical/real-time hazard databases, analysis and modeling of changing hazard trends Exposed assets & vulnerability Risk quantification PREPAREDNESS: early warning systems emergency planning /response MITIGATION AND PREVENTION: Medium to long term sectoral planning (e.g. building resilient infrastructure) CAT insurance & bonds Weather Risk Management Other emerging products Risk Reduction Information and Knowledge Sharing Education and training (national to local) Planning, Legislation and Organizational Coordination and Cooperation (national to local)

MHEWS-I: Need Multi-stakeholder Coordination and Collaborations at all levels Media Academia and Research Multi-Sectoral Disaster Risk Management/ Civil Protection and Humanitarian Other Scientific and Technical Services Coordination Collaborations

MHEWS-I identified criteria for good practices in early warning systems… ORGANIZATIONAL Clarity of roles and responsibilities (national to local level) Coordination and partnerships (interoperability, sustainability; reliability) Integrated planning GOVERNANCE Strong political commitment Disaster management plans Legislation and policies (national to local levels) Legal and financial frameworks OPERATIONAL Integration of information in decision processes Preparedness and drills Education & training Effective dissemination and response mechanisms (matching resources and cultures) Feedback mechanisms to improve the system

First International Experts Symposium on Multi-Hazard EWS (May 2006) Development and sustainability of EWS require political commitment and dedicated investments; EWS should be an integral part of national and local disaster risk management planning and budgeting; Enforceable legislation must explicitly define the roles and responsibilities of various authorities and agencies from national to local levels; Implementation of EWS requires clear concept of operations enabling effective coordination among agencies across all components of EWS, at national and local levels; Systematic feedback at all levels are needed, to ensure improvements of the system over time. Public education

2009 GLOBAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON DISASTER REDUCTION Thematic Progress Review Sub-Component on Early Warning Systems Coordinated and drafted by WMO in Collaboration with 18 international organization FAO, GFMC, IFRC ISDR-PPEW), ITU, OCHA, UNU, UNDP, UNEPUNESCO-IOC, UNICEF, UNOOS, UNOSAT, UNITAR, the World Bank, WFP, WHO and WMO

Sources of information WMO Country-level Survey ( ) – 139 countries participated PPEW-UNU survey (51 countries participated) Extensive information collected by other international agencies

Some Highlights … Governence and coordination Financial and Institutional Technical capacities and multi-disciplinary cooperation Incorporation of risk information in warning messages Communication and Dissemination Ability to respond to warnings on the ground

National DRR Capacity Assessment Survey (2006) NMHS Category Planning & Legislation Infrastructure Observation Forecasting Telecom. Technical Capacities Partnerships & Concept of Operations % countries 1Need for development in all areas 12 2Need for improvements in all areas 42 3 Self sufficient Need for improvements in these areas 26 4 Self sufficient Could benefit from sharing of good practices practices and guidelines 20 Under estimated Over 60% of the countries are challenged in meeting technical needs!

Regional and International Trans-boundary and regional aspects International support to national EWS development

Development and progress in EWS Yes! Are we better off ????

Next steps …. EWS must be an integral part of DRR planning and implementation Strengthening of operational technical capacities and info sharing (inter-disciplinary and regional cooperation) Utilization of hazard and risk maps in emergency planning and improving warning messages Communication and dissemination channels Significantly underdeveloped, –sustainability and cultural aspects are key issues!

Next steps …. Concept of Operations and Standard Operational Procedures for early warning systems Effective regional-national-local, multi-agency operational evaluation and feedback mechanism Coordinated approach among international agencies in supporting EWS development Need for a different approach to benchmarking and surveying EWS Investment in research to extend lead-time (climate …)

Identification of Good Practices Documentation of Good Practices and learning Lessons Development of Guidelines for EWS implementation based on Lessons Learnt Projects Implementation of end-to-end EWS projects (planning, institutional coordination, operations) Sharing of good practices WMO is working with partners to assist its Members in Early Warning Systems Building Capacities and sharing experiences and lessons learnt

2 nd Multi Hazard Early Warning Symposium (May 2009, Toulouse, France) 1.Discussed Documented good practices and other national experiences in early warning systems France Vigilance system Shanghai MH-EWS and Emergency Preparedness System Bangladesh Cyclone Preparedness Programme Cuba tropical cyclone early warning system 10 other national examples 2.Finalized the Guidelines: Capacity Development in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems with Focus on Institutional Coordination and Cooperation; 3.Recommend concrete actions for: Documentation of other good practices in EWS Trans-boundary and regional issues and initiatives

Multiple Risk Systematic Multi-Agency Cooperation Projects in DRR with EWS as a critical component….

For more information please contact: Maryam Golnaraghi, Ph.D. Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme World Meteorological Organization Tel Fax Thank You