1. WMO First DPM Coordination Meeting
Synthesis of WMO DPM Projects, Identification of Gaps and Presentation of New Crosscutting Initiatives to address the Gaps
Item 24 By
Maryam Golnaraghi, Chief of DPM Programme
December 4, 2006

2. Overall Analysis of TC and Programme Projects (Doc. 11)

3. Synthesis of TC and Programme Projects on Seven Gap Areas (Doc. 2, 11)

4. New Crosscutting Initiatives (Projects 43 – 47) (Doc. 11)
GA 1: (Project 43) Mainstreaming NMHS and their Technical Services in the National Disaster Risk Management Planning
GA 2, 3, 5, 6: (Project 44) Strengthening of capacities of WMO and NMHSs to contribute to multi-hazard risk assessment and sectoral planning projects
GA 3, 5, 1, 6: (Project 45) Strengthening of NMHSs capacity and partnerships in DRM processes in support of end-to-end multi hazard early warning systems supported by legislation and coordinated national organizational processes
GA 4: (Project 46) Strengthening of WMO and NMHSs Support of post-disaster relief operations
GA 2, 3, 4: (Project 47) Applications of Space information in disaster risk management

5. Reference to Doc 11, Projects 43 - 47

6. Symposium on Multi-Hazard EWS for Integrated Disaster Management (WMO Headquarters, 23-24 May 2006)
Issues: Governance, institutional, technical, operational, resource challenges, benefits and synergies, along the four components of EWS
Participants: 99 experts and practitioners from 18 agencies working in different components of early warning system

7. Governance, Organization and Operations
WMO Crosscutting Symposium on EWS involving 99 experts from WMO and 18 agencies (May 2006)
Governance, Organization and Operations
Observing, detecting & Forecasting of Hazards
“Authoritative” Understandable Warnings & Dissemination Mechanism
Risk Identification and Integration in Warning Messages
Integration in Emergency Preparedness, and Response
Recommendations on how to address gaps and challenges to ensure effective End-to-End Early Warning Systems
Need for coordination and participation of NMHS and other agencies at the national level

8. Challenges for Effective Early Warning Systems
Communication and Dissemination
Effective warning messages:
Incorporation of information about risks in warning messages
Understandable warning messages
“Authoritative” warnings (Authentication of sources)
Dissemination networks:
Interoperability (use of international standards)
Redundancy and resilience of networks
Same distribution channels for warnings of different hazards (cost efficiency, reliability and effectiveness)
Standard warning terminologies
Nationwide and across borders
Traffic light concept
Risk Identification
Data gaps, quality, accessibility, sharing
Hazard
Vulnerability (e.g. socio-economic, topographic…)
Standardized methodologies and expertise (e.g. hazard analysis, risk modelling)
Understanding of the changing patterns of risk (e.g. hazard, vulnerabilities)
Local capacities
Observing, Detecting, Forecasting
Strengthen observation systems
coverage
sustainability
inter-operability
multi-use of networks (where practical)
built on "system of systems" concept
data policies
Prediction and forecasting
methodologies, accuracy and lead time
multi-disciplinary
Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response
Education and awareness (emergency responders, authorities, risk managers, emergency responders, media, public…):
Understanding of warnings and uncertainties
Awareness of less frequent events
Cross-training of operational agencies and media
Operational planning
Drills
Community preparedness and programmes
Coordination and partnerships
across components !

9. Examples: Connecting authoritative warnings to effective preparedness and Response at the Community level

10. Bangladesh: Cyclone Preparedness Programme
Low investments, high efficiency
GOVERNANCE: legislative framework
OPERATIONAL: community-based approach with a network of volunteers, trained and trainers, and infrastructures (shelters)
ORGANISATIONAL: strong partnership among agencies
Authoritative warnings
BANGLADESH
Bay of Bengal
Warning categories:

11. Cuba: Cyclone Early Warning
Small country, 99% access to media (radio & TV), coordinated top-down warning and response mechanisms
CUBAN EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT POLITICAL WILL AS WELL AS A RELIABLE AND TRUSTED CUBAN NMS FORECAST PLUS THE GOOD USE OF THE MEDIA AND THE ACTIONS OF THE CIVIL DEFENSE, HAVE PRODUCED THE SAVING OF MANY HUMAN LIVES MATERIAL LOSSES HAVE ALSO BEEN MINIMIZED.
The Perception of Danger is gradually being created using high quality graphics.
Uncertainty is illustrated by removing the most likely track: all zones inside the probabilistic cone appear like facing the same probability of being hit.
Warning

12. France: "Vigilance" Strategy
Hazards
+ NEW: Flood warning map
Strong wind
Strong rainfall
Thunderstorm
Snow/Ice
Avalanches
Heat waves
Level of warning
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Warnings activate cascades of preventive and response plans, actions and responsibilities
Legislation
Planning
Authoritative Warnings Organizational linkages
Training and feedback
Green No special vigilance required.
Yellow Potentially dangerous and unusual meteorological phenomena have been forecast. Be very vigilant. Keep informed about meteorological conditions.
Orange Be very vigilant; dangerous meteorological phenomena are forecast; keep informed about meteorological evolution and follow advice from authorities.
Red An absolute vigilance is necessary; dangerous and exceptionally intense meteorological phenomena are forecasted; keep regularly informed about meteorological developments and conform to the advice or orders given by authorities.
Flood warnings: montoring, forecasting and warning at the watershed level ; legislation, planning, and response at the local government level (differents borders and entities).
EXAMPLE: HOW HEAT WAVE ALERTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM
2003 heatwave impacts have led to formalized agreements between Météo France and two institutions in charge of public health. By the end of 2003 (see also Chapter 6), a first agreement was quickly set out to provide some new indicators, albeit on a provisional basis, with the operationally oriented "Institut de Veille Sanitaire" (Institute for Sanitary Watch). Another collaboration which is much more far-reaching was established in July 2004 with the medical research institute INSERM. According to the press release, it is due to enlarge and enhance the combined research on heat (and cold) waves and their impact on public health,with an aim to document and study in details the bio-meteorological mechanisms at much finer scales and over a longer period of 30 years.
5 levels from
national to
local authorities

13. Shanghai City: Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Emergency Response Programme
Governance : (mega) city-level.
Organisational: Top-down (monitoring, forecasting, warning) and bottom-up
Operational: Community-based + high tech monitoring and alerting tools
Multi-Hazard Approach: Services are specialized but shared for alert dissemination and response mechanisms.
Multi-agency preparedness, multihazard integration and multi-phase response are the three crucial factors of disaster risk management.
Multi-agency preparedness requires joint efforts from multiple government agencies to support disaster risk management. The Shanghai Emergency Response/Mitigation Commit tee was established on 5 March It consists of 50 members of various government agencies and departments in areas related to flooding, severe weather, fire, traffic accidents, chemical accidents, nuclear power accidents, public health, earthquakes and marine emergencies. Under this committee, the joint Shanghai Emergency Response Centre (ERC) responds operationally and effectively to any emergencies and provides first-aid to local residents. The ERC will narrow the information gaps and develop disaster risk management plans by using a coordinated approach to share resources in dealing with disasters or other major emergencies.
Multi-hazard integration is the integration of multiple hazard information and information platforms. In Shanghai, an integrated urban information platform was established based on a geographical information system (GIS). The information carried includes geographic district boundaries, land type information, infrastructure systems (street network, water system, drainage system, etc.), emergency response facilities, recreational facilities and other relevant data pertaining to city operations. The information is maintained in both computer-aided design (CAD) and GIS file formats. Data from the monitoring of natural disasters and associated products, such as heat wave/health warning and assessment, urban air quality predictions, etc., are jointly distributed by the appropriate government agencies in partnership to contribute to a seamless strategy. The advanced operational information system is an important component of the integrated information platform of the SRMC. The information SRMC provided includes weather monitoring, forecasts and warnings, as well as hazard assessment. Through SRMC’s integrated display and dissemination system, the information is disseminated to the residential communities (>10 000), factories (>22 000), villages (>12 000), schools (>1 500) and more than 3.5 million cell phone users.
Multi-phase response means integrating the various phases of response into one chain (Figure 2) in disaster prevention and mitigation (DPM). The DPM response phases consist of monitoring, prediction and warning, preparedness, mitigation, rescue and assistance. The seamless approach ensures DPM effectiveness. Multiphase response also represents the “end-to-end-to-end” concept. Through the chain, seamless information reaches related government agencies, and then the end user—the public. Meteorological departments are involved in the initial period of DPM activities, the monitoring phase and the prediction and warning phase. Timely and accurate weather information will therefore facilitate government’s quick and efficient DPM directions and actions. Meanwhile, other phases of DPM also need weather information to support disaster preparedness, mitigation, rescue and assistance.
Green No special vigilance required.
Yellow Potentially dangerous and unusual meteorological phenomena have been forecast. Be very vigilant. Keep informed about meteorological conditions.
Orange Be very vigilant; dangerous meteorological phenomena are forecast; keep informed about meteorological evolution and follow advice from authorities.
Red An absolute vigilance is necessary; dangerous and exceptionally intense meteorological phenomena are forecasted; keep regularly informed about meteorological developments and conform to the advice or orders given by authorities.
Flood warnings: montoring, forecasting and warning at the watershed level ; legislation, planning, and response at the local government level (differents borders and entities).
EXAMPLE: HOW HEAT WAVE ALERTS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM
2003 heatwave impacts have led to formalized agreements between Météo France and two institutions in charge of public health. By the end of 2003 (see also Chapter 6), a first agreement was quickly set out to provide some new indicators, albeit on a provisional basis, with the operationally oriented "Institut de Veille Sanitaire" (Institute for Sanitary Watch). Another collaboration which is much more far-reaching was established in July 2004 with the medical research institute INSERM. According to the press release, it is due to enlarge and enhance the combined research on heat (and cold) waves and their impact on public health,with an aim to document and study in details the bio-meteorological mechanisms at much finer scales and over a longer period of 30 years.

14. Common Aspects of Four Cases Discussed
Political commitment and legislation
Complete DRR cycle: prevention, preparedness, response, recovery
Coordination and partnerships among different government agencies
Roles and responsibilities
Linking national to local levels (Top-down, Bottom-up)
Authoritative, understandable warnings
Combine hazard, risk and response information
Dissemination Mechanism match culture/resources
Sustainability, interoperability, reliability
Warning categories – Integration with emergency preparedness and response actions
Community-based programmes
Feedback