End-to-End Warning Systems
In response to the tragic Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the United Nations received a mandate to enhance tsunami early warning and mitigation systems worldwide in order to prevent future tsunami effects to such a devastating scale.
UNESCO-IOC was charged with the creation of Intergovernmental Coordination Groups (ICGs) and Tsunami Information Centres (TICs) to guide the development of tsunami warnings and other preparedness and mitigation actions across coastal regions around the world.
An end-to-end warning system begins with the rapid detection of a significant sea-level disturbance – like and earthquake – or other kind of fluctuation, and ends with a well-prepared community that is capable of responding appropriately to a warning.
As these events may affect different regions of the world at the same time, strong regional cooperation is key. An effective end-to-end tsunami early warning system could save thousands of lives.
System levels
The system can be broken down into three levels or steps. Each one requires great multi-scale coordination and a combination of preparedness and rapid response between numerous actors in order to be as effective as possible.
Every actor plays an important role in the process, and expanding their capacity is the key to saving more and more lives from risk.
The three levels are:
Regional level
- Preparation through programme development and coordination
- Alert formulation through monitoring and forecast
National level
- Alert dissemination
- Public safety messaging
Local level
- Community preparedness
- Swift and effective response
Tsunami Information Centres
Regional TICs help Member States establish their internal warning and mitigation systems through technical advice, training and capacity development, preparedness and awareness.
The oldest centre – the International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC), established in 1965 – provides such services, and also supports the global historical tsunami database and tsunami event data archiving.
Tsunami Service Providers
Round-the-clock monitoring of seismic and sea level indicators is relayed via satellite to TSPs. They use it to detect or forecast hazards, evaluate the threats they pose, and formulate alerts.
Upon relevant disturbances, TSPs will issue varying warning levels to Member States in their region. They also work closely with local partners to warn citizens as quickly and effectively as possible.
Member States
Member States of each region meet regularly to review progress and coordinate activities resulting in improvements of the tsunami-related services they offer – be it at a regional or national level.
Upon receiving a warning from a TSP, each Member State is responsible for issuing warnings to its own citizens through their designated authorities, as well as keep the public updated on the situation and eventually issue an all-clear.
National Tsunami Warning Centres
NTWCs are the designated authorities. They receive info from TSPs and cross-reference it with their own assessment of the situation – as well as consideration of the vulnerability of their communities – to determine the alert level issued for a Member State’s coasts.
Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFPs) can also carry out this role.
The operation of a tsunami warning centre is a vital part of an end-to-end tsunami warning system.
Communities at risk
Communities are expected to participate in initiatives and programmes coordinated at the regional level by ICGs and TICs in order to better prepare and respond to an eventual tsunami strike.
Upon receiving a warning, they must activate their local alert systems and protocols to evacuate the high-risk areas and mitigate any further impact.
Initiatives such as the Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme and Wave Exercises have been created to significantly reduce human and material losses.
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