Meeting on Regional Cooperation on Early Warning Arrangement,

Preparedness and Mitigation of Natural Hazards

12-14 July 2006, Bangkok, Thailand
1. Background
Subsequent to the Ministerial Meeting on Regional Cooperation on Tsunami Early Warning
Arrangements in January 2005 in Phuket, which agreed to establish a tsunami early warning
arrangement in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian region within a multi-hazard
framework, senior ofcials of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines,
Thailand, and Vietnam met in March 2005 in Bangkok and requested the Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center (ADPC) to facilitate such end-to-end multi-hazard early warning
arrangement in the region. The countries recommended a participatory system where
countries exchange data, information, research results and experience, and form a pool of
local experts to participate in and support regional activities. In the months that followed,
Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka expressed their interest to participate in the system.
Signed Memorandums of Understanding with each of these 10 countries detail the framework
for cooperation on early warning arrangement and preparedness for, and mitigation of natural
hazards.
Through two experts meetings in February and April 2005, a regional program for
establishing an end-to-end multi-hazard early warning arrangement was developed (EWS
Program), with the following program components:
1)Regional monitoring and evaluation of tsunamigenic seismic activity and anomalous
sea level conditions; tsunami prediction and information communication to
participating countries; and regional severe weather forecast research support for a
multi-hazard approach;
2)Strengthening national capacities in early warning, disaster management planning,
risk communication, and emergency response;
3)Enhancing local capacities to assess disaster risks, respond to warnings, and undertake
local risk reduction;
4)Regional exchanges of information, best practices and lessons learned for cross-
country learning and to guide replication; and
5)Research to improve warning technology, enhance understanding of risks, and develop
efective, efcient, and locally-relevant risk mitigation options.
Danish International
Development Agency
US Agency for International
Development
UN International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction
Asian Disaster Preparedness
Center
2. Status of Program Implementation
Since the experts meeting in April 2005, ADPC facilitated the signing of Memorandums of
Understanding with all participating countries, and mobilized resources to implement certain
program activities through submission of proposals to various donors. Governments and
donor agencies that have provided support are Denmark (through Danida), Thailand
(through the Ministry of Foreign Afairs and the Ministry of Information and Communication
Technology), USAID-Bangladesh (through CARE), UNDP and UNISDR. Engagements with
the International Telecommunication Union and USAID (IOTWS program) through
partnerships and professional services ensured that activities undertaken contribute to
program implementation.
Funding to support program implementation gaps is being sought from the UNESCAP-
administered Voluntary Trust Fund. UNESCAP, however, does not accept program proposals,
but small, at most 2-year duration projects. Table 1 provides an update of ADPC-facilitated
activities, or those with ADPC involvement, program component- and country-wise.
3. Meeting Objectives
The objectives of the meeting on Regional Cooperation on Early Warning Arrangement,
Preparedness and Mitigation of Natural Hazards are:
i) Consider, for approval, the EWS program, incorporating gaps at regional, national
and local levels. Meeting participants are to identify these gaps through stakeholder
consultation, and share these through a country presentation in the meeting, for
incorporation into the EWS program. (Reference document titled Comprehensive
Proposal for Establishing an End-to-End Regional Multi-hazard Early Warning Arrangement
is annexed.)
Expected Output: Updated EWS program, with priority activities identifed for
application for phased funding from the Voluntary Trust
Fund
ii) Consider the proposal to establish a regional severe weather forecast research
support to national meteorological services, and develop an implementation plan of
action. (Reference document titled Concept Note on Regional Severe Weather Forecast
Research Support to National Meteorological Services is annexed.)
Expected Output: Recommendations, with an implementation plan of action, to
establish a regional severe weather forecast research support
to national meteorological services
iii) Detail the implementation arrangements of the ADPC-facilitated regional multi-
hazard early warning arrangement, including funding access.
Expected Output: Declaration of the meeting, detailing implementation
arrangements and recommendations for funding of program
activities
2
4. Meeting Agenda
Day 1: 12 July 2006
08:30 09:00 Registration
09:00 09:30 Signing of MoU between ADPC and:
Bangladesh Meteorological Department
China Earthquake Administration
China Meteorological Administration
Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology
09:30 10:00 Opening Ceremony
10:00 10:30 Group Photo and Cofee/ Tea Break
10:30 10:45 Introductory Session
Introduction of workshop participants
Overview of workshop process and outcomes
Review of workshop agenda
Agenda 1. Early Warning System Program
10:45 11:15 The EWS Program: Implementation Status and Challenges
Presentation by ADPC
11:15 12:15 Best Practices
The US-IOTWS Program Dr. Alan White
Community Based Disaster Risk
Management in Southern Thailand Dr. Bhichit Rattakul
12:15 13:30 Lunch
13:30 14:00 Discussion: Regional level activities
Gaps and needs
Priority needs for inclusion into the proposal for funding
14:00 15:20 National Tsunami EWS: Updates and needs (Part 1)
20-minute presentations by national focal points for tsunami early warning of
Bangladesh (BMD), Cambodia (DOM), Maldives (DOM), Myanmar (DMH)
covering:
Current status of national tsunami early warning system
Gaps and needs at national, sub-national and local levels
3
Priority needs for inclusion into the regional program (for proposal for
funding)
Potential contribution to the EWS program (regional/ to other countries
e.g. experience, synergies with ongoing projects, etc.)
15:20 15:35 Cofee/ Tea Break
15:35 16:35 National Tsunami EWS: Updates and needs (Part 2)
20-minute presentations by national focal points for tsunami early warning of
Sri Lanka (DOM), Thailand (NDWC) and Vietnam (NHMS) covering:
Current status of national tsunami early warning system
Gaps and needs at national, sub-national and local levels
Priority needs for inclusion into the regional program (for proposal for
funding)
Potential contribution to the EWS program (regional/ to other countries
e.g. experience, synergies with ongoing projects, etc.)
16:35 17:15 Potential contributions from China (CEA and SOA), and the Philippines
(PHIVOLCS)
20-minute presentations on possible contributions to meet identifed priority
needs (e.g. expertise, experience, synergies with ongoing projects, etc.)
17:15 17:45 Discussions and Wrap-up
18:00 Depart for dinner
Day 2: 13 July 2006
Agenda 2. Regional Research Support to National Meteorological Services on
Severe Weather Forecasting: Presentation and Discussion of Concept Paper
08:30 08:45 Introduction of Agenda Mr. A.R. Subbiah
08:45 09:45 Prediction of Severe Weather Events:
Challenges and demands Prof. U.C. Mohanty
09:45 10:00 Cofee/ Tea Break
10:00 12:20 Severe Weather Forecasting: Current status and needs
20-minute presentations by national meteorological services of Bangladesh
(BMD), Cambodia (DOM), Lao PDR (DMH), Maldives (DOM), Myanmar
(DMH), Sri Lanka (DOM), and Vietnam (NHMS) covering:
Current practice in short-, medium-, and long-term weather prediction
Current status of numerical weather prediction
4
Gaps and priority needs
Priority activities that may be undertaken at the regional level
Potential contributions to support regional level activities (e.g. research
personnel, experience, synergies with ongoing projects, etc.)
12:20 13:30 Lunch
13:30 14:30 Potential contributions from China (CMA), the Philippines (PAGASA) and
Thailand (TMD)
20-minute presentations on possible contributions to meet identifed priority
needs (e.g. expertise, experience, synergies with ongoing projects, etc.)
14:30 15:00 Numerical Weather Prediction in the Tropics Mr. M.C. Sinha
15:00 15:30 Mesoscale Modeling of Severe Weather
Events over India Dr. M. Mandal
15:30 15:45 Cofee/ Tea Break
15:45 16:15 Importance of Mesoscale Data Assimilation
in Regional Prediction Mr. A. Routray
16:15 16:45 High Resolution Modeling in the Philippines Dr. R.V. Francisco
16:45 17:30 Discussion on Data Requirement for Mesoscale
Modeling and Model Products; Wrap-up
Day 3: 14 July 2006
Agenda 3. Implementation Arrangements and Recommendations
09:00 10:30 Discussion: Development of Implementation Plan for Regional Research
Support to National Meteorological Services on Severe Weather Forecasting
Resource requirements (hardware, software, manpower, budget)
10:30 10:45 Cofee/ Tea Break
10:45 12:00 Presentation and Confrmation/ Endorsement of Revised EWS Program
12:00 13:00 Lunch Break
13:00 14:30 Discussion: Implementation Arrangements
Institutional arrangement at regional, national, sub-national, local levels
Data sharing mechanism: meteorological, seismic, sea level observations
5
Funding
14:30 14:45 Cofee/ Tea Break
14:45 16:45 Finalization of Recommendations
16:45 17:00 Closing
6
Table 1. Capacity building needs in the region and in participating countries (blanks indicate gaps)
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
Component 1. Regional capacity building
1.1 Seismic
subsystem
USAID:
Upgrading of
select existing
seismic stations
USAID:
Upgrading of
select existing
seismic stations
USAID:
Upgrading of
select existing
seismic stations
1.2 Sea level
subsystem
UNDP:
Establishment of
2 tide gauge
stations: Koh
Taphao Noi and
Koh Miang
USAID: Existing
tide station
upgrades
USAID: Existing
tide station
upgrades
USAID: Existing
tide station
upgrades
1.3 Deep-ocean
subsystem
USAID:
Establishment of 2 DART buoys in the Indian Ocean
Malaysia: Establishment of buoys in the Andaman Sea
and Gulf of Thailand within national territory
Thailand:
Establishment of
3 DART buoys in
the Andaman
Sea within
national
territory
India:
Establishment of buoys in the Indian Ocean within national territory
1.4 Data
management and
prediction
Danida:
Contribution to the establishment of data processing and tsunami forecasting facilities
USAID:
Development of web-based Method of Splitting Tsunamis (MOST) for sharing in the region
1.5 Provision of
tsunami
information
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
1.6 Regional
research support
in severe weather
forecasting
Danida:
Numerical weather prediction facilities; support for 1 climatologist for provision of 5-10 day weather forecast to NMHS
Component 2. National capacity building
2.1 Support to
national capacity
building
program:
a) Need
assessments
IOC Assessment IOC Assessment IOC Assessment IOC Assessment
UNDP:
Assessment of
early warning
systems for all
hazards
Danida:
Institutional
capacity
assessment all
hazards early
warning,
community-
focused
Danida:
Institutional
capacity
assessment all
hazards early
warning,
community-
focused
ITU:
Emergency
telecommuni-
cation needs
ITU:
Emergency
telecommuni-
cation needs
ITU:
Emergency
telecommuni-
cation needs
UNISDR:
Stakeholder
consultations
tsunami early
warning
UNISDR:
Stakeholder
consultations
tsunami early
warning
UNISDR:
Stakeholder
consultations
tsunami early
warning
UNISDR:
Stakeholder
consultations
tsunami early
warning
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
b) Support to
priority needs as
identifed from
need assessment
Danida:
Enhancement of
observation
system all
hazards
Danida:
Enhancement of
observation
system all
hazards
USAID:
Seismic capacity
building training
USAID:
Seismic capacity
building training
USAID:
Seismic capacity
building training
USAID:
WAN upgrade
USAID:
GTS upgrade
USAID:
GTS upgrade
USAID:
Inundation
mapping
-Ranong
2.2 Risk
communication
and warning
dissemination
UNISDR:
National work-
shop on risk
communication
UNISDR:
National work-
shop on risk
communication
UNISDR:
National work-
shop on risk
communication
UNISDR:
National work-
shop on risk
communication
Danida:
Preparation,
communication,
and application
of locally
actionable
warnings all
hazards
Danida:
Preparation,
communication,
and application
of locally
actionable
warnings all
hazards
USAID:
Tsunami Alert
Rapid
Notifcation
System
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
2.3 Capacity
building of
NDMOs
USAID:
Incident
Command
System
UNDP:
Training of
DDPM in basic
emergency
response, crisis
management,
damage
assessment and
needs analysis
USAID:
Policy and
institutional
development,
DM plans
USAID:
Policy and
institutional
development,
DM plans
USAID:
Policy and
institutional
development,
DM plans
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
Component 3. Local capacity building
3.1 Preparedness
planning and
exercise
Danida:
Community risk
assessment
Danida:
Community risk
assessment
Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka
Danida:
CBDRM traing;
Disaster
preparedness
training,
Danida:
CBDRM traing;
Disaster
preparedness
training,
UNDP:
Evacuation plan,
drills
Danida:
Evacuation plan,
drills
Danida:
Evacuation plan,
drills
USAID:
Coastal
community
resilience
Ranong
USAID:
Coastal
community
resilience
3.2 Education
and awareness
Danida:
Update risk
comm.. strategy
Danida:
Update risk
comm.. strategy
UNISDR:
Risk communi-
cation strategy
UNISDR:
Risk communi-
cation strategy
UNISDR:
Risk communi-
cation strategy
UNISDR:
Risk communi-
cation strategy
Danida:
Public
awareness
Danida:
Public
awareness
DDPM:
Public
awareness
programs for
television
3.3 Preparation
and
implementation
of local risk
reduction plan
Danida:
Risk reduction
planning and
implementation
of priority
activity
Danida:
Risk reduction
planning and
implementation
of priority
activity
USAID:
Coastal
Community
Resilience
USAID:
Coastal
Community
Resilience
USAID:
Coastal
Community
Resilience
USAID:
Coastal
Community
Resilience
Early Warning
Component Lao PDR Cambodia Vietnam Thailand Myanmar Sri Lanka Maldives Bangladesh
3.4 Local
application of
new forecast
product for
disaster
mitigation
Danida:
Demonstration
of application of
5-10 day weather
forecast
Danida:
Demonstration
of application of
5-10 day weather
forecast
Component 4. Exchanges
National
Regional
Component 5. Research and development
National
Regional