ESCAP/WMO Typhoon CommitteeWMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones

Workshop on Synergised Standard Operating Procedures for Coastal Multi-hazards Early

Warning System

Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response in the Indian

Ocean and Southeast Asia Region

UN Conference Centre, Bangkok8-9 May 2013

Tony Elliott, Head of ICG/IOTWS SecretariatIOC UNESCO

26 December 2004• c.230,000 Dead – Nations of the region react• 2 international coordination meetings in early

2005• IOC invited to lead TWS establishment• ICG/IOTWS established by IOC Assembly, July

2005

11 countries ~230,000 deaths1 million displaced

Global Network of TWS

End-to-End Tsunami Warning Systems

Upstream• Detection, verification, threat

evaluation, tsunami forecast, warning dissemination

Downstream

• Delivery of public safety message.

• Initiate national counter-measures

• Prepare and implement standardised reaction

Goal is to have the same quality every time

NO

Coastal Stations

Seismic Network

Deep Ocean Stations

GlobalTelecommunicationSystems

Sirens

E-mail

Cell Phones

more…

YES

LIVESSAVED

Hazard Detection Threat Evaluation Alert Dissemination Preparedness& Forecast Alert Formulation Public Safety Msg & Response

Regional National Local

THREAT?

Sea Level Network

Warning Centres

Traditional

NO

Coastal Stations

Seismic Network

Deep Ocean Stations

GlobalTelecommunicationSystems

Sirens

E-mail

Cell Phones

more…

YES

LIVESSAVED

Hazard Detection Threat Evaluation Alert Dissemination Preparedness& Forecast Alert Formulation Public Safety Msg & Response

Regional National Local

THREAT?THREAT?

Sea Level Network

Warning Centres

Traditional

What to Consider• Tsunami Warning Centre: 

– Coordination and information flow (type, content, timeline) with NDMO

– Iterative process (warning, update, cancellation)

• Tsunami Emergency Response:  – NDMO/EOC receipt, interpret, decide, notify – Notify Responders, Decision-makers, Public – Recommend Public Safety Action – Implement / coordinate Action – Inform on ‘All-Clear’ for safe return – Initiate Search-and-Rescue, etc.

What are SOPs?

• Set of written instructions for routine/repetitive organization activities. Procedure followed in an emergency.

• Detail work processes conducted/followed within organization.

• Document way activities performed for consistent conformance to system requirements and organisation’s mission.

SOP Working Definition

“ A description and procedure on agreed steps by institutions used in

coordinating who, what, when, where and how for

tsunami early warning and response”

From Indonesia Local SOP Workshops: Capacity Building for Development of Local SOPs for Tsunami Early Warning and Response. 2006-2007

AustraliaMauritius

La Reunion

Madagascar

South Africa

Mozambique

Comoros

Tanzania

Kenya

Somalia

DjiboutiYemen

OmanUAE

Iran Pakistan

India

Seychelles

Maldives Sri Lanka

Bangladesh

Myanmar

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Timor Leste

Singapore

British IndianOcean Territories

ICG/IOTWSRTSP Tsunami Advisories

for the Indian Ocean

10

IOTWS Key Stakeholders

•Regional Tsunami Service Providers (RTSPs)

•National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWCs)

• (National)Disaster Management Offices (DMO)/Local Authorities

•Emergency Services

•Media

•Public

Role of RTSPs

•Regional Monitoring & Detection (24/7)

• International collation/sharing of data• Issue Regional Alerts to National

Warning Centres•Cancel Regional Alerts

Role of NTWCs

•Local (Country specific) Monitoring & Detection (24/7)

•Receive RTSP Alerts

•Assessment of information-determine local threat

• Issue National Warnings to DMO’s, media & agencies

•Cancel National Warnings

Role of DMOs

•Receive National Warnings from NTWC

•Activate local public alert systems as appropriate

•Decide & Manage Evacuations

•Communicate ‘All Clear’

•Signage

•Public Education

Role of Emergency Services

•Support DMO/Local Authorities with– Public alerting– Evacuation– Law & Order– Response after tsunami has struck

Role of Media

•Convey Official Warnings (National & Local)But also:

•Convey Unofficial WarningsTherefore:

•Can cause or counter public response

The Public

•End receiver of warnings

•Convey Official and Unofficial Warnings

•Therefore must understand:– Official Warnings (how will they be

warned)– Natural Warnings (what to look out for)– Evacuation zones, routes & Safe zones– How to respond where evacuation

zones are not defined

INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC

MEDIA

Authorized Institutions

NTWC

Official Warning to the Public

Public must understand:

– How will they be warned

– How to react and respond

– Where to go (evacuation zones, routes & Safe zones)

SOPs are coherent

NTWC SOP

DMO SOP

EVACUATION SOP

STANDARDS:

Signage

Notification

Evac Zones

Natural Warnings

RTSP SOPRTSP SOP

Warning Chain…..

National Tsunami Warning Centers

Community at Risk

National and Local Authorities (NDMO, PDMO, DDMO, Local Government and

Decision Makers)

Data AnalysisThreat EvaluationAdvisory Bulletins

InterpretationDecisionDissemination

InterpretationResponse and ActionEvacuate

Warning

Warning and Guidance

TIM

E L

INE

Regional Tsunami Service Providers

Exchange Bulletins

Data AnalysisDecisionWarning Messages

End-End SOP Linkage

RTSP Detection & Notification SOP

NTWC Receipt, Assessment & Notification SOP

DMO Receipt & Notification SOPs

Evacuation SOPs

Public Awareness

Standards for: Signage Evac Zones Messages for Natural Warnings

Coordination

Conclusions

• SOPs are the foundation of effective, reliable warning systems

• All warning systems require SOPs, but for tsunami, rapid evaluation, warning and response is essential to save lives

• In an end-to-end system, communications links between stakeholders must be robust or warning chain will be broken

• SOPs should be developed, practiced and modified as necessary – a “living document”