Cierre

Early. warning has been defined as the provision of timely and effective

Table 10.1: Holistic disaster preparedness planning indicators with respect to HFA HFA priority 1

Ensure disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with strong institutional basis for implementation

Preparedness indicators

i. National policy and legal framework exist with decentralized responsibilities and capacities

ii. Adequate resource available to implement DRR plans and activities at all administrative levels

iii. Community participation is existing and with enough resources and authority iv. A multi sectoral platform is existing

HFA priority 2 Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning

Preparedness indicators

i. National and local risk assessments based on hazard data and vulnerability is available

ii. Mechanisms are available to collect, store and disseminate data on key hazards and vulnerabilities

iii. Early warnings are in place for all major hazards with outreach communities iv. National and local risk assessments take account of trans boundary risks HFA Priority 3

Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels

Key milestones and indicators of preparedness

i. Information on disasters is available and accessible at all levels to all stakeholders and networks

ii. School curricular, training materials and relevant trainings include disaster risk reduction and recovery concepts and practices

iii. Research methods and tools for multi risk assessments are developed and strengthened

iv. Country wide public awareness strategy exists to stimulate a culture of disaster resilience and safety

HFA Priority 4

Reduce underlying risk factors

Key milestones and indicators of preparedness

i. Disaster risk reduction is an integral objective of environmental related policies and plans including land use, planning and adaptation to climate change ii. Social development policies and plans are being implemented to reduce

vulnerability of populations most at risk

iii. Economic and sectoral policies have been implemented to reduce vulnerability of economic activities

iv. Planning and management of human settlements incorporate disaster risk reduction elements including enforcement of building codes

v. Disaster risk reduction measures are being integrated into post disaster recovery activities and rehabilitation activities

vi. Procedures are in place to assess the disaster risk impacts of major development projects

HFA Priority 5 Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels

Key milestones and preparedness indicators

i. Strong policy, technical and institutional capacities and mechanisms are in place ii. Disaster preparedness plans and contingency plans are available at all

administrative levels and regular trainings and drills are held to test and develop response mechanisms

iii. Coordination mechanism and information sharing among early warning, disaster risk reduction, disaster response and development in place

iv. Emergency funds for disaster response, recovery and preparedness activities established

information through identified institutions that allows individuals exposed to a hazard to take action to avoid or reduce their risk and prepare for effective response. The objective of early warning is to empower individuals and communities threatened by hazards to act in sufficient time and in an appropriate manner so as to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life and damage to property or the environment. Risk assessment provides the starting point for an effective warning system. It identifies potential threats from hazards and establishes the degree of local exposure or vulnerability to hazardous conditions. Early warning must be complimented by professional services, training and capacity building activities and allocation of resources to enable timely actions are taken to avert loss. The gains in early warning are mainly as a result of growing scientific understanding and the use of modern information and communication technologies. Early warning has always been considered a cornerstone of disaster reduction.

Advances in science and technology during the last decade have improved the potential of early warning to reduce human loss. It has also increased the availability of information and early warning about natural hazards and disasters. Improvement in global observation system has enhanced the early detection of medium term climatic conditions such as El Nino event, and contribution to warnings of long term hazards.

Early warning framework

The objective of early warning is to empower individuals and communities threatened by hazards to act in sufficient time and in an appropriate manner so as to reduce the possibility of personal injury, loss of life and damage to property or the environment.

Risk assessment provides the starting point for an effective warning system. It identifies potential threats from hazards and establishes the degree of local exposure or vulnerability to hazardous conditions. Early warning is a major element of disaster risk reduction. It prevents loss of life and reduces the economic and material impact of disasters. To be effective, early warning systems need to actively involve the communities at risk, facilitate public education and awareness of risks, effective dissemination messages and warnings, and ensure there is constant state of preparedness.

Effective early warning system requires strong technical foundations and good knowledge of the risk, but must be people-centered.

Effective early warning system must be embedded in an understandable manner and relevant to the community which they serve.

The key elements of people-centered early warning systems

A complete and effective early warning system comprises four inter-related elements, spanning knowledge of hazard and vulnerabilities through to preparedness and capacity to respond.

i. Risk knowledge. Risks arise from the combination of hazards and vulnerabilities at a par ticular location. Assessments of risk require systematic collection and analysis of data and should consider the dynamic nature of hazards and vulnerabilities that arise from processes such as urbanization, rural land-use change, environmental degradation and climate change. Risk assessment and maps help to motivate people, prioritize early warning system needs

and guide preparations for disaster prevention and responses

ii. Monitoring and warning service. Warning services lie at the core of the system. There must be a sound scientific basis for predicting and forecasting hazards and reliable forecasting and warning system that operates 24 hours a day. Continuous monitoring of hazard parameters and precursors is essential to generate accurate warnings in a timely fashion. Warning services for different hazards should be coordinated where possible to gain the benefit of shared institutional, procedural and communication networks

iii. Dissemination and communication. Warnings must reach those at risk. Clear messages containing simple, useful information are critical to enable proper responses that will help safeguard lives and livelihoods. Regional, national, and community level communication systems must

be pre-identified and appropriate authoritative voices established. The use of multiple communication channels is necessary to ensure as many people as possible are warned, to avoid failure of any one channel, and to reinforce the warning message iv. Response capacity. It is essential

that communities understand their risks; respect the warning service and know how to react. Education and preparedness programmes play a key role. It is also essential that disaster management plans are in place, well practiced and tested. The community should be well informed on options for safe behavior, available escape routes, and how best to avoid damage and loss of property

Example of early warning and response in Turkana District Kenya

Table 10.1 shows the indicators used in the EWS in Turkana.

Table 10.1: Example of drought EW indicators in Turkana District, Kenya

Indicators Monitored Method of Monitoring

Monitoring of endowments Rainfall Water sources Vegetation cover Crop harvest Crop harvest

Rain gauges/satellite images Aerial surveys/community surveys

Community surveys/aerial surveys/satellite imagery Household surveys/community surveys

Household surveys/community surveys Monitoring

determinants of entitlements

Livestock sales and prices Livestock pathology and mortality Livestock nutritional condition Livestock production

Livestock numbers and distribution

Household surveys/community surveys Household surveys

Household surveys/community surveys Household surveys/community surveys Aerial survey

Opportunities to change livelihoods

Income generating activities Number of displaced people Breaking up of households

Household surveys Household surveys Household surveys Rights Not monitored

Monitoring of well- being

Nutritional surveillance of under 5 Diet

Household surveys/community surveys Household surveys/community surveys

10.7 Code of conduct in disaster