March 2009 Sergio Soto-Priante Deputy Director General for Hydraulic Infrastructure for Agriculture National Water Commission (Mexico) V World Water Forum Managing risks associated with natural disasters 1

Emergency Unpredictable and uncontrollable events with impact in the population and infrastructure that can be catastrophic. 2 Situación fuera de control que se presenta por el impacto de un desastre Natural Emergencia causada por intervenciones andrógenas Situaciones derivadas de la ocurrencia de fenómenos hidro-meteorológicos extremos, en locales donde existen obras construidas por el hombre

I. Measures to be taken before the Emergency: Prevention (1) Prepare maps of risk areas. Territorial management and relocation of human settlements. Build control and regulation infrastructure in rivers (levees, dikes, channels, flood gates, diversion dams, spillways). Maintainment in rivers (bridges, siphons, tunnels, dredge works). 3

Install and operate early warning systems (weather forecast, flow measurement in real time, hydraulic and hydrological models). Develop contingency plans in rivers and high-risk areas. Establish communication and operation protocols with state and local authorities. 4 I. Measures to be taken before the Emergency: Prevention (2)

Preliminary diagnosis of type and extent of damage. Planning of emergency measures. Integration of teams and coordination with local authorities. Monitoring the evolution of the hydro- meteorological phenomenon and its impact. Assessment and correction of emergency measures. II. Measures to be taken during the Emergency: Response 5

Assess damage to water infrastructure and monitor its behavior, including storage dams. Restore and normalize the supply of drinkable water and sanitation services. Dislodge water volumes in flooded towns. III. Measures to be taken after the Emergency: Reconstruction (1) 6

Provide potable water to the population where service cannot be restore. Carry out reconstruction of the hydraulic infrastructure. Start protocols for resource use of federal funds for reconstruction. 7 III. Measures to be taken after the Emergency: Reconstruction (2)

IV. Case: State of Tabasco The State of Tabasco is located in Southeastern Mexico and has a population of 2’034,507 inhabitants. Average annual rainfall is 2,102 mm. 8

Rivers of Tabasco 9

Hydro-meteorological events 2007 During the months of October and November 2007 there were two cold fronts, combined with a low pressure channel, and the tropical storm "Noel" in the Caribbean Sea. During October 2007, precipitation mounted to 1,960 millimeters (93% of the annual average). During October 28 th, 29 th and 30 th the precipitation was 961 millimeters (46% of the annual average). 10

The fundamental objective of the IWPT is to optimize conditions to reduce risk and vulnerability upon the population, their economic activities and ecosystems in the occurrence of extreme hydro-meteorological events, and the possible effects of climate change. General Objective Integrated Water Plan for Tabasco (IWPT) 11

1.Management of the rivers Samaria, Carrizal, La Sierra, Pichucalco, and Usumacinta to protect 370,000 inhabitants and 46,000 farming hectares. 2.Optimize the operation of the hydroelectric dam system of the Upper Grijalva River. 3.Territorial management and the resettlement of population located in high risk areas. 4.Support the development of local capacities through: research projects, specialized studies and preparation of professionals. Specific objectives (1) 12 Integrated Water Plan for Tabasco (IWPT)

5. Integrated management of upper basins (reforestation, soil conservation and restoration) 6.Monitoring of the works and preventive policies on a regular basis. 7. Develop an efficient geographic information system. Specific objectives (2) 13 Integrated Water Plan for Tabasco (IWPT)

Investment Program STAGE TOTAL INVESTMENT (million US Dlls) YEARS 1. Urgent Actions Immediate Actions Studies and Medium Term Actions Total626 14

Main results INFRASTRUCTUREQUANTITY Placement and removal of Flood barriers (kilometers)68.5 Leveling of levees (kilometers)23.3 Repairing landslides (kilometers)22.5 Dredge of streams and drains (kilometers)23.0 Channel reparation (kilometers)21.0 Alleviation spillways2 Control structure on rivers (River Carrizal 1 st stage)1 15