Cooperating with Media in Disseminating Tsunami Warnings Peter Koltermann Head, Tsunami Unit Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission UNESCO-IOC 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR 2 – 4 December 2008 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Warning Systems dormant, continuous, to jump start The Concept of Early Warning know the hazard, estimate the risk, be prepared in time, train….. “Saving time is saving lives” EWS is the best investment in disaster relief and recovery !

End-to-End System

Concept of End-to-End Systems From detection to evacuation -overall clear responsibility -legal authority -accountability -authenticity -national, regional, local clear line of command

Build National / Regional Capacity to: 1. Assess national tsunami (and ocean-related ) risk (Hazard assessment) 2.Operate national / regional warning centre covering local and regional tsunamis (Warning guidance) 3.Promote education / preparedness and risk reduction against tsunami (and ocean-related) hazard (Mitigation and Public Awareness) TWS SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF TWS SYSTEM COMPONENTS OF END-TO-END SYSTEM MUST EXIST !!!

EWSs have two major tasks: - Identify, detect, verify and predict natural extrema, such as tsunami, cyclones, earthquakes with potential implications to mankind (upstream component) - Raise awareness and preparedness to react appropriately to warnings of such extreme events (downstream component) The unseen part of post-disaster recovery process is an Early Warning System EWS

International Mechanisms and National Legislation Disaster do not stop at a border Emergency Management, Civil Defence/Protection, All need clear legislation - information gathering, flow, access, - decision making, line of command - money: who pays always, every time ? “Where national sovereignty meets international needs” -How can a country say yes or no, or stay silent?

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Established in 1960 in UNESCO In 1965 the IOC established the ICG/ITSU International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning & Mitigation System in the Pacific (PTWS) -In response to the 1960 Chilean earthquake and tsunami: recommends & coordinates tsunami programmes, including timely ocean wide tsunami warnings successful & operational since more than 40 years system is based on 26 national and 4 regional centres Central system with PTWC and JMA on 24/7 watch

The threat and major source for tsunamis © GFZ, Potsdam

EARTHQUAKES LANDSLIDES VOLCANOES All three can cause a tsunami! Source: Office of Naval Research Generation mechanisms for tsunamis

Travel times for 26 Dec 2004 tsunami

Khao Lak Bay, Thailand 30 Dec Ikonos image Resolution: 10 m Imaged area: 6.83 km x 6.30 km Source: CRISP, Singapore Sofitel Magic Lagoon Hotel Blue Village Pakarang Resort

End-to-end TEWS

IOC Mandate: TWSs in four oceans to coordinate

Tsunami probability based on historic data F. Schindele, CEA

1. 88 need upgrade 2. Denser Network => Need more sta => New Install => Data share(GTS) Target stations: GLOSS GLOSS Australia SPSLCM Australia SPSLCM NZ natl NZ natl ASEAN ?? ASEAN ?? (data gap - SCS, marginal seas) (data gap - SCS, marginal seas)

Network of IO real time sea level stations

Agreed upgrade of the IO seismographic network

Warnings and such things…. Warnings or Emergency Messages are NATIONALLY mandated! Each country has to DECIDE itself ! Warnings have an information part, and an active instruction part: RUN TO A-HILL! Warnings are followed by a Cancellation! That is equally important, do not ignore Advisories, Alerts, Alarms are INTERNATIONAL, they are no warnings!

The media and tsunami warnings? The problem does not lie in whether or not broadcasters or other media technologies will broadcast warnings... The problem lies in who initiates the warnings. That is a Government responsibility, not the responsibility of broadcasters !

“News" and freedom of the press... Broadcasters can say and broadcast whatever they want. They cannot broadcast an 'emergency message' unless it comes from an authority which has the power to do so. They should NEVER change the warning !!!!! They cannot be forced to broadcast that message... They relay such messages because it is in the public interest to do so and is often part of the charter for the licensing requirements of a radio/TV station.

What can the media do? ABU can ask all its members to commit to relaying urgent messages on tsunamis, cyclones, earthquakes etc. when they are received from the authorities. Do not question the “Warning”! There is no time! Agree on a standard procedure with the responsible agencies NOW! Empower the night editor to act, not to call back! Do not have the night editor of SLBC (Sri Lanka) or RRI (Indonesia) or FBC (Fiji) or MBC (Maldives) to scramble for that memo… Train together, every week!

What can we do together IOC as the UN-mandated body can have its members agree to a standard procedure, worldwide, for ensuring messages flow from the TWCs to the in- country authorities to the media and telecoms people. IOC promotes a 'generic' system because many countries are probably wondering how they would go about it should a tsunami warning be issued. Tell your representatives in the IOC

Maybe.. Put something as simple as a laminated wall-chart on the wall, with very precise instructions and a flow-chart (in the local language) as to the procedure of who calls who and who does what when the Tsunami warning arrives by fax or e- mail….

A perfect warning will be useless if people do not know what to do in case of an emergency Awareness and preparedness at the country level is essential

IOC in UN partnership ISDR IOC WMO Warning guidance Hazard assessment Mitigation Communication (GTS) Multi-hazard Public awareness Preparedness

There is NO time to waste ! For further information see: Khabar baik