Opportunities for capacity development in EWS and issues related to warning communication dissemination Lessons learnt from R3i project Challenges – 2 slides Opportunities – 4 slides How ? - 3 slides Recommendations – 1 slide

Challenges Multi-country : 11 territories: –All different in their exposure, vulnerability and level of preparedness. –Different capacity levels and absorption capacities : »Issue of time taken on DM staff for implementation of regional programs –Differences in legal context, languages etc.

Challenges On implementers side: –Short implementation periods –Regional integration purposes –Coordination and synergies with other regional initiatives Complexity of EWS: –Legal and procedural aspects, –Disaster management aspects and coordination with response teams, –Hydro-met network and other warning origination institutions –Technical aspects –Notification mechanisms, medias etc –But above all: »“To Warn is Human” (Art Botterell) A game of power and national sensitivities

Opportunities While countries participation for supporting information of regional entities has reached its limits (cumbersome questionnaires and regional workshops), there is a huge potential (mobilization capacity) at country and community level to develop adapted local solutions. Technical solutions (IT) for networking exist and may provide a first step in coordination efforts. Sector improvements in EWS may go alongside with Multi-hazard integration.

Opportunities Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Warning System Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Schemes taken from “to warn is human” – Art Botterell

Opportunities Single, simple and consistent facility for warning originators slide taken from “to warn is human” – Art Botterell

Opportunities Country X CAP control system Warning systems CAP control system Systemes d’alerte CAP control system Waarschuvig systems Abstract integration level CAP provides a level of abstraction allowing coordination between different countries, even if their warning systems differ.

HOW ? -> Let’s try ! R3i may serve as a pilot project for the region CountryLevel 0Level 1Level 2Level 3 Anguilla Aruba Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curacao Montserrat Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maartin Turks and Caicos

HOW ? Capability LevelCharacteristics 0. No all-hazard public warning system Limited or undetermined administrative or technical program for all-hazard public warning. (May have warning policy for particular hazards and/or audiences.) 1. Administrative Capability Legal and policy framework for all-hazard public warning in place, but limited or no technical facilities for all-hazard origination, aggregation and dissemination. (May have technical capabilities for specific hazards and/or audiences.) 2. Initial Operational Capability Functioning capability to originate alerts for all hazards and to disseminate them to at least limited audiences via at least one delivery means. 3. Effective Operational Capability Functioning capability to originate alerts for all hazards, to disseminate alerts to the public via multiple delivery means, and to share alert information with other organizations and governments. Simple capability levels defined by R3i for R3i purposes

HOW ?  Work at local level R3i provides : - Access to expertise (experts like Art Botterell) - Harmonized technical requirements to allow interoperability of systems, security, possibilities of evolution, maintenance etc. - Regional coordination forums - Contractors :  Integrators : system design,  Systems vendors : warning systems installation What R3i does not provide: R3i provides :What countries will work on individually with R3i assistance (contractors and expert) - Access to expertise (experts like Art Botterell) - Harmonized technical requirements to allow interoperability of systems, security, possibilities of evolution, maintenance etc. - Regional coordination forums - Contractors :  Integrators : assistance for system design, awareness campaign, procedures  Systems vendors : CAP “Backbone” and warning systems installation. -The design of their early warning system -The design of their public awareness campaign -The identification of their “lead agency” - the details of their procedures - the choice of the dissemination systems (sirens, church bells etc.) => Regional partners do not need to know the details of countries capacities.

Summary Recommendations: -let’s try ! -Let’s simplify ! -To warn is human -Let the countries do what they best do for themselves

Thank you !