|
International
coordination
Tsunami early warning systems require close collaboration among countries,
in order to ensure the rapid exchange of data and warnings and to maintain
the regional seismic and ocean observing system.
In the Pacific region, international cooperation
is formalisd through the International Coordination Group of ITSU
(ICG/ITSU), a body of
national experts from 26 Pacific rim countries. The ICG/ITSU meets
periodically and is supported by the UNESCO-IOC secretariat. It
is an important regional forum for tsunami warning and mitigation
issues.
It makes shared decisions on such things as regional observation
networks, data sharing, warning dissemination, and provides guidance
on mitigation and research issues. Among other things, at its 19th
Session in Wellington, New Zealand, 29 September - 2 October, it
established a Working Group on the Southwest Pacific and Indian
Ocean, to ascertain capabiliities and requirements for tsunami
warning services
in these sub-regions. A similar body to ICG/ITSU is planned to
be established by countries of the Indian Ocean region to coordinate
activities there. UNESCO-IOC provides
extensive information at the IOC
website and through its special Indian
Ocean tsunami site
|
|
|
|
Role of
weather services
In many countries, the responsibility for tsunami early warning lies with the
national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHS). Weather services operate
around the clock and have extensive data communications networks and analyses
capabilities that can serve tsunami early warning. They are coordinated globally
by the World Meteorological
Organization
(WMO) |
|
|
|
Risk management and development actors
Effective early warning systems require well-orchestrated policies and networks
to link the warning service to national and local authorities, particularly
risk managers, and to ensure early warning is an integral part of development
policies and sector strategies, including infrastructure, education, health,
environmental management, communications, and rural development.
This means that there are many key actors in the early warning system beyond
the core technical groups, such as regional and city management, educational
institutions, planning agencies, non-governmental organisations, international
development agencies, private sectors associations, etc.
|
|
|
|
Further tsunami contacts
Direct link to PPEW web site:
/2006/ppew/ew-actors/links-org.htm#Tsunami |
|