Towards a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean

1. Towards a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean IOC of UNESCO

2. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO • Established in 1960, part of UNESCO • Purpose is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making process of its Member States

3. Tsunami Warning and Mitigation • ICG/ITSU: since 1965 • 26 countries in the Pacific region • System based on national and regional centres • Global network of tsunami scientists

4. Now: need to act for Indian Ocean • Jakarta, Kobe, Phuket • IOC of UNESCO is ready to assist • Proposal • Seeking partnerships

5. Elements NationalTWC NationalTWC NationalTWC RegionalTWC NationalTWC RegionalTWC NationalTWC RegionalTWC NationalTWC RegionalTWC NationalTWC Internatonal TsunamiInformationCentre (ITIC) Regional Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System

6. Warning Path RegionalTWC Earthquakeobservation Calculate epicentreand magnitude 6.5<M<7.5: Info7.5<M<7.8: Watch>7.8: Warning If>6.5 Check SL data if tsunami generated Issue Bulletin If yes NationalTWC Danger? decide based on M, epicentre Confirm Warning If yes National emergencyresponse (Evacuate or Stay alert)

7. Objective of the System • Develop national and regional capacity to: • Assess national tsunami risk (Hazard assessment) • Promote preparedness and risk reduction against tsunami hazard (Mitigation and Public Awareness) • Establish a national and regional warning system against local and regional tsunamis (Warning guidance)

8. 3 integral components

9. Processes • Governance • Technical implementation • Capacity building

10. Governance • System built and established through International Cooperation within the IOC as a family of Nations • System shall be owned and managed by the Member States of the Indian Ocean region • Built on NATIONAL capabilities and centres

11. Governance • Local tsunami warning can be handled by national system, but • Regional/Oceanwide tsunami NEEDS regional cooperation, data sharing and coordination • IOC of UNESCO can provide international forum and coordination mechanism • IOC of UNESCO brings 40 years of experience in Pacific region through ICG/ITSU • System to be developed in partnership with member states and other (specialized) agencies synergy, complementarity.

12. Activity: 1st Coordination Meeting • 3-8 March 2005: International coordination meeting for the development of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean within a global framework (Paris)

13. 1st Meeting expected output • Indian Ocean Member States fully informed at technical level on tsunami warning and mitigation programme; • Draft framework proposal including International, regional and national levels;

14. 1st Meeting Provisional agenda • Day 1: information session on tsunamis, warning system, system components, services & products, hazard assessment, preparedness and awareness, national & regional requirements • Day 2 and 3: Discussions on way forward; review existing proposals and integrate into single strategy • Day 4: The Indian Ocean system in a wider global framework

15. 1st Meeting Participants • National technical/scientific experts with experience in meteorology, geophysics, seismology or ocean observation + managers of existing warning centres • International tsunami experts • Other experts and interested parties

16. Activity: National Assessments & National Coordination Meetings • Know-how: To assess national capacity in Seismology Sea-level monitoring Natural Hazard Early warning • Structure: National policies and emergency plans; National inter-agency coordination mechanisms; National networking; telecommunication; existing alert and response mechanisms.

17. Activity: 2nd Reg. Coordination Meeting • End of March 2005: Regional coordination and planning meeting for the deployment of a Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in the Indian Ocean Venue (Indian Ocean region) to be decided

18. 2nd Meeting expected output • Commitment of Indian Ocean Member States to establish System • Commitment to share data • National commitments to the regional component of the System • Agreement on multi-hazard approach • Agreement on inter-agency partnerships • Formalized commitments of participating countries and partners • Detailed work plan, budget and timetable • (Draft Resolutions for IOC Assembly 2005)

19. 2nd Meeting Participants • High level Government Officials of Indian Ocean Member States • High level donor country representatives • High level partner organization representatives

20. Activity: Public Awareness • Distribution of pamphlets to promote awareness and preparedness • N awareness and preparedness activities  

21. Activity: Technical implementation • Establishment of core of operational GLOSS sea-level gauges in the Indian Ocean region • Provision of interim tsunami bulletin service

22. Capacity building • Assist with national assessments • Assist with organization of national coordination and information meetings • Provision of equipment • Organization of regional training courses in all aspects of tsunami hazard assessment, mitigation and warning • Assistance with development and circulation of public awareness materials (national/regional) • Provide assistance for internships and visiting expert programmes • Any other assistance

23. IOC Timeline 2005 IOC Assembly 2nd Coordination Meeting (in region) 1st Coordination Meeting (Paris) Implementation National assessments Capacity Building

24. Partners’ timeline today 2005 • 25-26/1: China-ASEAN Beijing Workshop • 28-29/1: Ministerial Meeting, Phuket, Thailand • 16/2: GEOSS, Brussels • 21/2: CTBTO Technical Working Group, Vienna • 24-25/2: GE-GLOSS-9 Sea Level, Paris • 28/2-2/3: Workshop NHK and Asian Broadcasting Union • 3/3/-8/3: IOC 1st Regional Coordination Meeting, Paris • 7-8/3: Regional Disaster Conference, UN/ESCAP, Bangkok • 10-11/3: NWPTIC inauguration, JMA, Tokyo • 6-19/3: JICA/ADRC training course, Tokyo • 14/3-16/3: WMO GTS workshop, Jakarta, Indonesia • End March: IOC 2nd Regional Coordination Meeting, ?

25. Deliverables within initial 6 months • GTS connected throughout the region • Data of existing observational systems available throughout the region; • GLOSS Sea Level network upgraded in the region • PTWC/JMA providing intermediate warning service and providing to nationally-designated National Tsunami Warning Centres; • National capacity assessed in all participating Member States; • Potential Regional Tsunami Warning Centre(s) identified; • Capacity building, training and educational programmes started; • Project document (strategy, work plan, timetable, costing INCLUDING long-term maintenance strategy) prepared and adopted;

26. INTERNATIONAL TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION WARNING CENTER OPERATORS Pacific, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Mediterranean Tsunami Warning Centers GLOBAL REGIONAL NATIONAL TSUNAMI SCIENTISTS University and Govt Researchers EMERGENCY MANAGERS Civil Defense Local Authorities Comprehensive Tsunami Risk Reduction Stakeholders build Tsunami Resilient Community