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Exercise Pacific Wave 06 A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Communication Exercise New Zealand Exercise Observations. Laura Kong Director, UNESCO IOC ITIC David Coetzee NZ National Exercise Coordinator Trinidad, June 2007. Exercise Pacific Wave 06. PURPOSE:
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Exercise Pacific Wave 06A Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning and Communication ExerciseNew Zealand Exercise Observations Laura Kong Director, UNESCO IOC ITIC David Coetzee NZ National Exercise Coordinator Trinidad, June 2007
Exercise Pacific Wave 06 • PURPOSE: • Evaluate ability of countries to respond • to an ocean wide tsunami • BACKGROUND: • ICG/PTWS-XX, Oct 2005 • noted Pacific-Wide • exercise never occurred • Exercise PTWS to • evaluate readiness
OBJECTIVES • Validate • TWC dissemination • Countries to receive / confirm Bulletins • Dissemination of message to Agencies • within Country, Provinces, Local jurisdictions • Organizational decision making processes • about public warnings / evacuations • Identify modes to be employed to notify / • instruct public • Assess elapsed time until public instructed
Exercise Style • Functional exercise aimed at • Communication / decision making at govt • levels, without disrupting / alarming public • Individual countries could extend Exercise • down to level of public warning • (See ITIC documentation on types of exercises)
Method • 2-day period 16-17 May (same day for PTWC) • Time compression of 4 • Reasonable work hours across 13 time • zones of Pacific and South China Sea • 30 member states & 7 non member states participated in either: • M9.2 EQ off-central Chile • M8.8 EQ north of Philippines
RECOMMENDATIONS - Prelim Report • Future exercises desired Allow time for strategic / critical decision-making Run Exercise in real time • Countries develop / conduct tsunami exercises to regularly exercise national arrangements Conduct prior to Intl exercises to best benefit • Ensure 7X24 Tsunami Warning Focal Points regularly reviewed / updates circulated • Consider inclusion of addl information in bulletins Simple English word-picture of tsunami threat • Networking between agencies / media must continue to enhance awareness
NEW ZEALAND • All (16) Regions; 10 Departments actively exercised. 6 more observed • Sub –objectives: • Assemble (decision makers) • Consider (information) • Decide (warning/evacuation)
Post Impact Pre Impact 1. A Different Paradigm • Information flow • Warnings vs Situation Reports • Scope of Impact
2. Scenario Development • Basic development done for S. America • Proved essential for determination of critical decision points:
Scenario Development • All distant & regional sources req’d:
3. Tsunami Experts Panel • New development • Collective of tsunami experts assembled • Liaison in National Crisis Management Centre • Permanent institution
4. Tsunami Advice • Standard advice: ‘1km inland or 35m above sea level’: Historical & real data facilitate more accurate advice • Understanding of PTWC info: • Model applied • Changes • Time
5. Information Systems • 10 separate alert/warning messages sent to 200+ recipients via National Warning System • Sending & confirmation processes proved time & resource intensive • Confirmed requirement for unified messaging system • Confirmed need for better information sharing & integration
6. Exercise conduct & format • All partcipants commented positively: • Inclusiveness/scale of exercise • Contributed to improvement of planning • Compressed time • High exercise tempo impacted on quality • Loss of reality
Thank You For more information, contact: Exercise Task Team Chair, Mark Sullivan (Australia) : tsunami@ema.gov.au ICG/PTWS Secretariat - ITIC Director, Dr. Laura Kong : l.kong@unesco.org New Zealand Exercise Coordinator, David Coetzee: david.coetzee@dia.govt.nz