UNESCO/IOC CARIBE-EWS Community Performance Based Tsunami Recognition Programme (Pilot Project) - Building Globallevel Community-based Resilience through Partnerships, Integration, Adaptation and Youth Raul Salazar Chief, Regional Office for the Americas UNISDR Alison Brome Interim Director, CTIC Claricia Langley-Stevens Deputy Director, NEMA, St. Kitts & Nevis Nadia Francis Youth Ambassador, St. Kitts & Nevis CDM Conference Nassau, Bahamas 7 December, 2017
Presentation Outline World Tsunami Awareness Day 2017 Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) UNESCO/IOC CARIBE-EWS Performance Based Tsunami Community Recognition Programme (Pilot Project) & Country Experiences Case Study - St. Kitts & Nevis Summary & Way Forward
Raul Salazar Chief Regional Office for the Americas UNISDR 7 December 2017
Why 5 November? December 2015: UN General Assembly Resolution A/70/203 designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day UN Resolution called for observance by all countries, UN organizations, other international and regional bodies, and civil society; and requested UNISDR to facilitate the Day
Objectives of the Day Raise awareness of tsunami risks and share innovative approaches to reduce their impacts Highlight the contribution of Sendai Framework to reduce the number of people affected by tsunami (Target b of the Sendai Framework) Celebrateinnovation and effective measuresthat contribute to reduce tsunami risks(early warning systems and educationon tsunami risksare key to reducethe number of affected people by tsunami globally)
Title of the Presentation Name of presenter Organization Date of Presentation
Proposedawarenessraising activitiesforupcomingwtads Collect, prior to the WTAD, impacting tsunami videos and material to promote it through social media. Organize community simulation exercises, organized by the local CBDR team in conjunction with the national office. Organize radio media tour with experts and authorities. Youth Panel reflecting on tsunami preparedness and their engagement.
National earthquake and tsunami s research day: Share information & data for earthquake and tsunami that is available for particular country. This could be supported by the University of the West Indies (MONA), the Seismic Research Centre or others. Prepare tsunami preparedness plan at community level. Organize art, music, sport activities and competitions. Engage churches to have a message regarding tsunami preparedness included as part of the worship service. Organizing panel discussion with different stakeholders, talk shows, radio interviews. Prepare testimonials, for example hearing from people who were physically challenged, how they feel about their own safety when a tsunami impacts.
Thank you #TsunamiDay2017 and #switch2sendai http://www.unisdr.org/2017/tsunamiday/ Please share with us your good practices!
Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) Established September 2013 by UNDP-led ERC Project A Government of Barbados-UNESCO/IOC Partnership Initiative, located at CZMU, Barbados Serves 48 Member States (MS) and Territories of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS) CTIC s mission is to mitigate the impacts of tsunamis and other coastal hazards within the Caribbean and adjacent regions
Tsunami Awakening and Paradigm Shift Past 500 years, > than 75 tsunamis killed > 4484 people Since latest devastating tsunami (1946, Dominican Republic), explosive growth along coastlines; particularly in tourism sector With the 2004 Indian Ocean event, almost 230,000 people died, many of them tourists In 2011 destructive power of tsunamis in Japan. Although almost 20,000 people died In the Caribbean, governments have decided that to protect the lives of their people and visitors, their economic viability as tourism destinations, it is better to get ready TSUNAMI READY
US TsunamiReady Program estab. 2001 Modelled after a Storm Ready Recognition Program Guidelines updated in 2016 Puerto Rico & US VI certified on this basis
UNESCO IOC CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready Voluntary Performance Based Recognition Programme (Pilot Project) Began implementation as joint UNESCO/IOC-NOAA pilot: Anguilla (2011), BVI (2014) Programme approved by UNESCO IOC for CARIBE EWS in 2016 Recognized countries/territories: St. Kitts and Nevis (2016) In process: St. Patrick Parish (Grenada), Fort Liberte (Haiti), Omoa (Honduras), Corn Island (Nicaragua) Initiation Stage: Holetown (Barbados), St. Vincent and the Grenadines
UNESCO IOC CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready Voluntary Performance Based Recognition Program - Global Piloting Working Group on Tsunamis and Other Hazards Related to Sea-Level Warning and Mitigation Systems (TOWS) in 2017 instructed ICGs to consider piloting ICG/CARIBE EWS guidelines with a view toward developing a harmonized consistent global guideline Pacific Tsunami Warning System (PTWS) Adaptation and Pilot Programme: o Savaia Lefaga (Samoa), Cedeno (Honduras), Ostional (Costa Rica) recognised o Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu have indicated interest Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Program: Reviewing guidelines for adaptation
Mitigation 1. Define Tsunami Hazard Zone Saint Kitts and Nevis No tsunami inundation modeling was available due to lack of bathymetry, ComMIT was run but results are of limited use. Baseline tsunami zone was used based on worst case scenario (30m wave/1.6km inland) Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras A product of NOAA ComMIT training as part of TEMP
Mitigation 2. Public Display of Tsunami Information Saint Kitts and Nevis 70 signs were installed in SKN Honduras 20 signs installed in Cedeño
More Examples of Signs
Preparedness 3. Tsunami Evacuation Map Saint Kitts and Nevis 1200 copies of the maps of Saint Kitts 400 copies maps Basseterre, Saint Kitts 1200 maps of Nevis 400 maps of Charlestown Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras
Preparedness 4. Public Education and Outreach Materials Saint Kitts and Nevis Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras
Preparedness 5. Educational Outreach Activities (3 per year) SKN Radio Program: From Danger to Safety Tsunami Smart Campaigns Jingles, Songs, Poetry, Drama, Puppetry Posters, Pamphlets Public Service Announcements (PSA s) Social Media Local Knowledge Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras Presentations in Schools, Presentations in Churches and Community Social Media
Preparedness 6. Annual Participation in Exercise CARIBE WAVE and PACWAVE Saint Kitts and Nevis Honduras
Response 7. Tsunami Response Plan Saint Kitts and Nevis Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras
Response 8. EOC Operations Saint Kitts and Nevis Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras
Response 9. Multiple Methods (at least 3) to Receive Tsunami Products SKN @ Police Headquarters in Basseterre, St. Kitts: - One dedicated computer for receiving tsunami products - Functions as TWFP for both islands - Email - Telephone Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras Telephone Call WhatsApp Text Message Police Radio Communications System
Response 10. Multiple Methods (at least 3) to Disseminate Alerts to Public Saint Kitts and Nevis - Call out tree - Sirens / megaphones on emergency vehicles - Radio and tv - Social media - Plans for automated radio interrupt Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras
EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION Saint Kitts and Nevis Regional Tsunami Ready Board CTIC, CARIBE EWS, UNESCO Vice Chair did on-site inspection and reported back during a Webinar to the Board Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras National Tsunami Ready Board Commissioner DMO, Director Monitoring, Chief of Early Warning, Director ITIC On site meeting
RECOGNITION Saint Kitts and Nevis As part of WTAD ACS Activity in Trinidad and Tobago, October 2016 Cedeño, Marcovia, Honduras Community Ceremony on February 16, 2017
Recognition Process Country-led process, ICG/CARIBE EWS & CTIC support MS decides scale, indicates (informally) interest to Chair, ICG/CARIBE EWS or CTIC Director, guidelines discussed, recommendations & continued support provided Partnerships and Tsunami Board advanced by MS Country makes formal application to ICG/CARIBE Chair/CTIC Director Verification visit conducted Recognition granted Renewal of recognition process every 4 years
CASE STUDY ST. KITTS & NEVIS
Tsunami Ready Awareness National Perspective St. Kitts and Nevis Claricia Langley-Stevens Deputy National Disaster Coordinator National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) 7th December 2017, CDM 10, The Bahamas
OBJECTIVES In this presentation I hope to highlight: Facts about SKN Before Recognition Tsunami Ready Recognition (SKN) Sustainable Actions Challenges After Recognition (before re-certification) The Way Forward
About SKN Population approx. 44,000 St. Kitts dormant volcano Nevis Geothermal Energy 2009 Sugar was king 2005 Thriving Tourism Industry
Before Recognition Embraced the CDM Strategy via NDO s but no access to resources to engage in planning for the threat of Tsunamis Lacked technical expertise to develop GIS for map development No Tsunami specific PSA s/ Educational Materials Restrictive budgets to support Tsunami specific projects No access to Inundation Maps, Evacuation Routes and Assembly Points
Tsunami Ready Recognition (SKN) SKN received recognition in October 2016 Achieved through research, consultations, stakeholders meeting, surveys etc. On going Campaign (Education and Awareness)
Sustainable Actions Establish nationwide alerting Strengthen School Safety Program Erect additional signs Provide training in Tsunami Map Use (Evacuation) Strengthen partnership; e.g. CDEMA, CTWP Enhance Public Education and Awareness
CHALLENGES No Standardize Alerting Mechanism or Early Warning System Lack of Funding (Lack of Money and sponsorship) Critical Infrastructure/dwellings along coastline Long approval times by Government Lack of Bathymetric Data High cost to produce PSA/Safety Video
After Recognition (Certification) Enhance PE&A Local and Regional egsrc Install additional directional signs/sign boards (Community/beach) Implement Early Warning System (Phased) Community vulnerability maps (Populations,Evacuation Route, etc.) Promoting and developing Family and Community Emergency Response Plans
The Way Forward SKN Change in Culture/Behaviour Government (Physical Planning) review the Land Use Policy Tsunami Map utilized as a decision making tool across the Public Private Sector Location of Critical Infrastructure including New Cemetery Recognition granted us Access to Bathymetric Data to support GIS Government Now Listens influencing a change in thinking More collaboration with Department of Environment to support the Climate Change Discussion Allowed for us to increase on our volunteer pool More drills/simulation across sectors Private Sector/Churches aligning with CDM
SKN TSUNAMI READY YOUTH IN ACTION IN ST. KITTS & NEVIS N A D I A F R A N C I S S K N C D M YO U T H A M B A S S A D O R ( A S ST. S E C R E TA RY) ( N E M A / N D M D ) 7 T H D E C E M B E R 2 017, C D M, B A H A M A S
*Launched in November 2017 *30 Members Inducted *A Federal Initiative aligned with CDM
In 2015 at CDM 9 CDEMA indicated that the member states need to be sensitive to the impact that disasters and climate change have on vulnerable populations including the youth. Which is why I am here to promote a charge issued to my colleagues and I... To promote in an aggressive education and awareness campaign This tool was funded by Basic Needs Trust Fund in 2017 via Caribbean Development Bank.
RECOMMENDATIONS 1. All CDEMA participating states adopt this tool which I believe will enhance their multi hazard education and awareness campaigns 2. If you are not Tsunami ready become Tsunami ready. It helps in preparing and mitigating against other hazards 3. Invest in the tool now, do not be penny wise and pound foolish 4. UNESCO and UNISDR stands ready to support these initiatives, ENGAGE THEM NOW 5. National Disaster Offices can better support community resilience by insuring that all residents and visitors to their island can have access to this tool as it can be personalised 6. This tool can be shared as a Tourism product, to ensure the visitors that we as a people invest in disaster risk reduction measures
Thank you for listening
SUMMARY & WAY FORWARD
Summary - UNESCO/IOC CARIBE-EWS Performance Based Tsunami Community Recognition Programme (Pilot Project) Tsunami Ready Roots in US StormReady Program Adapted from US TsunamiReady Program 5 ICG/CARIBE EWS MS recognised under various mechanisms, at least 6 additional in pipeline Strong partnerships and integration, adaptation for other hazards on-going, resiliency Global harmonization ongoing with adaptation/piloted in PTWS and IOTWS Self-Evacuation is still key!!!!
Tsunami Ready Benefits Increases public awareness and understanding of tsunami threat Improves relationship between NTWC-DMO- Scientists Improves community pre-planning Improves preparedness for all-hazards e.g. BVI, promotes redundancy Promoted consistency and standardization vital for building awareness and empowerment Provides for recognition of communities and public authorities (motivational) Programme is enduring through renewal process, partnerships, integration and youth
The UN Sendai Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities envisions the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihooods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. It seeks to increase preparedness for response and recovery
Continued implementation and UNESCO/IOC-led global harmonization and piloting Member States CDEMA USAID-OFDA Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre US-NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (DEM) US-NOAA Tsunami Program US-NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (ComMIT) US-NOAA Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program UWI Seismic Research Center (Tsunami source parameters) UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission DIPECHO (Central America) UNISDR UNDP Other International, Regional, National Non-Governmental Partners MORE FUNDING & SUPPORT NEEDED
Thank You Questions/Comments CTIC Website Please visit www.ctic.ioc-unesco.org CARIBE WAVE 2018 Thursday, March 15, 2018 14h00 UTC and provide feedback on the website to a.brome@unesco.org by 31 December, 2017 For more information and to get involved, visit www.weather.gov/ctwp