French meteorological “vigilance” procedure A presentation and evaluation of the procedure Vigilance procedure – december 2007

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 French meteorological “vigilance” procedure  Context  Procedure’s routine working  Users’ feedback  Conclusion

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Why?  Effective since the 1st of October 2001, replaced older (BRAM and ALARM) procedures wich were in effect since  Goals: – to better inform, thanks to a simple and condensed message that focuses on dangerous weather phenomena, – to improve the early warning, – to broaden the dissemination of the information.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 How?  Two parts: – The meteorological watch map – A follow-up report in case of a dangerous phenomenon

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 For whom?  Governmental Services – National; – Regional (administrative unit made of multiple “departments”); – Departmental (a department is a regional administrative unit).  Media  The public at large The crisis room of the COGIC (Operational Centre for Interministerial Crisis Management)

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Vigilance is not alarm  The “vigilance” is a meteorological watch (Météo-France) and the alarm is decided by the Civil Defence Organization – watch => follow-up ; – No systematic watch –> alarm tipping ; – Both work to create a risk culture ;

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 French meteorological “vigilance” procedure  Context  Procedure’s routine working  Users’ feedback  Conclusion

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 The meteorological watch map (1 of 3)  This map over continental France represents for the next 24 hours a definition of potential meteorological danger;  by department;  Four levels of risk, associated with 4 colours : green, yellow, orange and red.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 The meteorological watch map (2 of 3) Which phenomena are indicated :  Violent winds;  Heavy precipitation -> rain - flooding;  Thunderstorms;  Snow/sleet;  Avalanches;  Coldwave;  Heatwave

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 The meteorological watch map (3 of 3)

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Follow-up reports  Produced in case of orange or red watch  Approximately every 3 hours

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 The 4 watch levels Green : – No particular vigilance is required. Yellow : – Be attentive if practising activities exposed to meteorological risk, for some phenomena have been forecast, that are occasionally dangerous, although usual in the region (e.g. mistral wind, summer thunderstorms); keep informed about weather developments. Orange : – Be very vigilant; dangerous meteorological phenomena have been forecasted; keep informed about weather developments and directives broadcasted by the authorities; Red : – Absolute vigilance is required; dangerous and exceptionally intense meteorological phenomena have been forecasted ; keep regularly informed about weather development and conform to directives or orders broadcasted by the authorities

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Production  Produced twice a day, broadcasted at 6 h and 16 h standard time.  Exceptional production may be initiated outside these hours (if the risk significantly increases or diminishes).  In case of an orange or red zone: – a clear, concise text about the phenomenon; – some directives on behaviour, drawn up by authorities.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Dissemination  In projected (“input”) mode National, regional and departemental services in charged of Civil Defence, Road, Health, Environment and Media; In take-over (“pull out”) mode on web-site : –Media; –Mayors; –Corporate and private users; Backup Internet site

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Follow-up in case of orange or red zone(s)  At Météo-France national and regional forecasting level – Co-ordination of forecasting – A follow-up national level report – The regional Centres are responsible for regional reports  At Météo-France departemental level – The departmental centres play an essential role as interfacing with their local partners: prefects (head of departements), rescue services, customers, media.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Follow-up reports  Produced in case of orange or red vigilance ; – approximately, every 3 hours  The content is: – Type of event – Location and duration (time of start and finish) – Present situation, development – Description of the event (comparisons, frequency) – Possible consequences – Recommandation on behaviour – Time of the next report

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 French meteorological “vigilance” procedure  Context  Procedure’s routine working  Users’ feedback  Conclusion

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Usefulness and common knowledge  The general public: a wide common knowledge – The map is very well known (80%); – one feels sufficiently informed (70%); – main access to information (96%): television.  Prefectures: a noticeable improvement – + early warning; – + a decreasing number of weather watches; – + local expertise; – – reports must be improved; – – improved communication to be performed towards mayors and the general public

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Knowledge of the chart by the general public (%)

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Influence on self behaviour – Do you follow the recommendation on behaviour (%) ?

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Conclusion  Vigilance : a concept which has been making rapid strides – European meteorological vigilance ; – Specific Flood vigilance

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Statistical data 2006  46 orange vigilance episodes  96 separate days with orange vigilance.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 A dynamic procedure…  Evaluated and assessed by a follow group in which active partners meet 3 times a year;  An interministerial steering committee meets once a year to decide on procedural developments;  An annual evaluation is co-authored by all the active partners

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 The “annual assessment” document  An institutional communication tool on meteorological vigilance; feedback about procedure and presentation of statistical data;  A 20 page document, deliberately a digest;  Published and produced by Météo- France, with logos from the 4 Ministries: Interior, Ecology, Transportation and Health;  A foreword co-signed by Météo-France & Ministry of the Interior

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Continuous improvement – A partnership procedure providing real progress: focusing on the most dangerous events, conversion of meteorological thresholds into risks, massive and parallel distribution, mindful of staying close to end users. Note: 2001 was a transition year between former procedure Bram-Alarme and new meteorological vigilance procedure, set up on the 1st of October.

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Performances in percentage of false alarms percentage of non detection6642 Percentage of early warning > 1h (91) percentage of early warning > 3h655266(81) () departemental level

« vigilance » procedure –december 2007 Statistical data 2005