Effective and Reliable End-to-End Tsunami Warning Systems

1. Effective and ReliableEnd-to-EndTsunami Warning Systems:Tsunami Emergency Response SOP Laura Kong Director, UNESCO IOC ITIC Trinidad, June 2007

2. TEWS Success measured by ability • to rapidly move people out of harm’s way • DMO at all government levels require • pre-event development of documents • describing responses / actions • Response Plans, Standard Operating • Procedures (SOP), Checklists enable • quick 24x7 action to alert communities • (and conduct evacuation) Tsunami Emergency ResponseConcept of Operations - “End to End”

3. Set of written instructions Document a routine, or repetitive activity followed by organization. SOP - real time procedure followed in case of an emergency. • Detail work processes conducted or followed within an organization. What are Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ?

4. EOC SOP - CHECKLISTS • Procedures • Action Criteria • Scenario Flow Charts • Checklists • Scripts • Decision-making • Call-down lists • Message Defn • Dissemination • Communications • to make Reliable, redundant

5. SOP - Important points • Emergency Managers at local level (usually) responsible for SOPs for different bulletin types • Strong understanding of bulletin types ensures that TWC bulletin information is directly linked to DMO SOP • Once issued, safety action must reach people rapidly. SOP coordinate warning messages quickly • Multiple communicationchannels (high / low tech) used to ensure message is received

6. TSUNAMI WARNING Tsunami Signboard TSUNAMI WARNING Communication & Transmission of Tsunami Warning to Localities & Civil Defense Authorities Central Government Local government TSUNAMI WARNING Radio TV / Radio Station TV（Telops, Warning maps） Cabinet Office Japan

7. What should the Public do? • Keys: • If time, then educate so that warning means evacuate inland or to higher ground • If no time, consider policy for vertical evacuation to reinforced concrete buildings • Local Tsunami (saving people near EQ epicenter): First Line of Defense is Public awareness and education

8. Examples of Notification Systems • Use of Mass Media (Radio, Television) • Siren Towers • First Responders (i.e. Police, Fire, Lifeguards) • Public Loudspeakers on building (Mosques) • SMS Text Messaging – Telephone Companies • Emergency Telephone Call Lists (public and private sectors) • Amateur Radio Organizations • Military Resources - Helicopters and Aircraft w/ Speakers • RANET – Worldspace broadcasts (satellite) received on computers • Worldspace Emergency Alert radios (receive satellite broadcast on emergency channel)

9. Alert & WarningTechnology assists people-based warnings • Getting warning to responders • Getting warning to public • Use drills and exercises for training • Conduct drills in the community • Test the notification systems

10. LOCAL TSUNAMI WARNING – EXAMPLE: RADIO BROADCAST SCRIPT “The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued Tsunami Warning for the Islands of (select islands or geographical location). A local tsunami has been generated. Immediately evacuate all beaches and all low lying coastal areas. Move inland to higher ground or move to the 3rd floor and above in reinforced concrete buildings. I Repeat, …..

11. Coordination of Tsunami Evacuation Zones • Encourage exit walking (not riding) out of Evacuation Zones • Develop and activate a mobile ground/air/ sea Plan to disseminate evacuation notices • Develop and activate a Traffic Management and Roadblock Plan • Develop and activate a Public Transit Evacuation Plan • Develop and activate a Shelter Evacuation Centers Plan

12. When can the Public Return? “All Clear” • Once public evacuates, local public officials must inform when it is safe to return by broadcasting “All Clear” • If area received little or no damage, “All Clear” broadcast after TWC warning cancelled • If severely damaged, it may be many hours / days before before “All Clear” • Reasons: Debris, roads impassable, gas/electric lines down, search / rescue operations carried out

13. TSUNAMI STAKEHOLDER COORDINATION COMMITTEE(all levels) - topics • Reduce risk of tsunamis - coordination / implementation of “end to end” TEWS. • Address Hazard ID, Risk Assessment, Warning Guidance, Public Awareness, Mitigation • Improve public policy, TERP / SOPs, public affairs and media / education outreach. • Involve scientists, engineers, planners, emergency managers, public affairs personnel, NGO’s, other public / private sectors

14. Training Exercises (1) • Goal: To identify, evaluate, and improve organizational weaknesses / gaps in Plans, Policies, Standard Operating Procedures, Communications, Interagency Coordination • Purpose: To evaluate the ability to respond to a local, regional, or ocean-wide tsunami.

15. IOC Executive Secretary: Dr. Patricio Bernal IOC Paris (Tsunami): Dr. Peter Koltermann, Head Masahiro Yamamoto, Senior Tsunami Advisor Dr. Uli Wolf Bernardo Aliaga CARIBE-EWS: http://ioc3.unesco.org/cartws/icg-ii Secretariat: Bernardo Aliaga b.aliaga@unesco.org Chair: Trinidad & Tobago Vice-Chair: USA, Venezuela IOC ITIC: Dr. Laura Kong, Director l.kong@unesco.org ITIC: www.tsunamiwave.info PTWS Secretariat: ITIC, ioc3.unesco.org/ptws Chair; Vice-Chair: Chile, Canada Thank You