1. Watching the weather to protect life and property
Disaster Risk Management and the role of the Meteorological Department Curaçao
Watching the weather
to protect
life
and property
Albert Martis
Director

2. Mission & Vision MDC
To protect life and property through the issuance of appropriate weather forecasts and warnings for the Dutch Caribbean, adjacent waters and air space, and to provide meteorological and climate related services to specific sectors, in order to sustain social-economic development. Deliver service of high quality, timely and accurate
Mission
Vision

3. Natural Disasters
Natural hazards become natural disasters when people’s lives and livelihoods are destroyed.
Natural disaster is the consequence of a natural hazard, which moves from potential into an active phase and as a result affects human activity.

4. WMO Disaster Risk Management Program
Input to
Emergency
Plans
Education and
Public outreach
Programs

5. Early Warning System 1. Detection and Monitoring
Hazards and Risks
2. Production of Bulletins
3. Dissemination
Response or Action
4. Monitoring
Hazards, Impact and information
5. Updating the Bulletins

6. 1. Detection and Monitoring
Land stations
Weather Radar
Upper air stations
Satellite imagery
Numerical models
Flood Guidance Systems
US NHC (WMO RSMC)

7. Key Costumers of MDC Public Weather Services (WMO) (24%)
Aeronautical Services (ICAO) (65%)
Airports Hato International, Flamingo, Saba and St. Eus
Airlines and airports operators
Curacao Flight Information Region through NAATC
Search and Rescue, Militarily operations
Public Weather Services (WMO) (24%)
Authorities, Emergency Organizations,
Media and General Public
Police Investigations and Insurance Companies
Research consultants and Universities
Marine Services (WMO and IMO) (11%)
Port Authorities, ships, Coast Guard
Small craft, Tour Operators

8. Hurricane Felix 2007
Curacao radar
Hurricane Felix 2007

9. 2. Categories of Hazards Severe Weather Seas Tropical Cyclone
Seismic event
Tsunami

10. 2. Types of Bulletins Daily Forecasts Information Bulletins
Special Bulletins
Tropical Cyclone Bulletins
Reports

11. 3. Dissemination System Aviation Sector Real time Met data
Text: Reports, Bulletins, Warnings
Graphics: Radar, Satellite SWC
Alarm: Sound, Pop-up window

12. Sutron Display

13. 3. Dissemination System for General Public
Radio and TV interviews s
Weather App
Wathsapp
Facebook
Mobile

14. EWS Tropical Storm Tomas
Local Hazards and Impacts
Winds : no Tropical storm force Winds
Seas: Small craft advisory /high surf advisory
Rainfall: heavy rainfall ( mm local flooding)

23. Impact Tropical Storm Tomas
mm in 7h
Impact Tropical Storm Tomas

24. Communication Error Tomas
Heavy rainfall
75mm
Media
General Public
Dry
19: : :00
Time (hours)

25. EWS Tropical Storm Omar
Local Hazards and Impacts
Winds : no Tropical storm force Winds
Seas: Small craft advisory /high surf advisory
Rainfall: heavy rainfall ( mm local flooding)

33. Impact Omar

34. Tropical Storm Matthew
Local Hazards and Impacts
Winds : no Tropical storm force Winds
Seas: Small craft advisory /high surf advisory
Rainfall: heavy rainfall ( mm local flooding)

35. Warwaru (landspouts) Landspouts 1976: Curaçao 2004: Aruba 2008: Aruba
Curacao (2x)
Bonaire

36. Effectiveness EWS Understandable Reliable Timely Good coverage
Mobile telephone (> 100%)
Emergency radio
TV and website
Receiver can take responsible actions

37. Special Bulletin
SB are issued for weather events, sea conditions or geological phenomena that can cause general inconvenience or public concern and cannot adequately be described in a weather forecast.
SB will be issued to describe when and where severe weather or hazardous sea conditions are expected to occur or are already occurring.

38. Type of Hazards

39. Color Code Special Bulletins

40. Ch

41. Ch

42. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin

43. Dissemination of Bulletins

44. Challenges and Opportunities EWS
Production
Different languages (English, Papiamentu, Dutch, Spanish, French),
Understandable (“plane” language, new Production engine )
Dissemination
Good Coverage
Monitoring Communications
Radio Emergency,
TV (breaking news),
Radio Alarm system
SMS (text)
Meteo App
Website
Facebook/twitter