ICTs for Community-Based Early WarningAlerting Post for Landslide Hazards

With Regard to the Community based Early Warning Systems (CBEWS) for Disaster Risk Management, I would like to Share some experience of mine in Tamilnadu and Kerala, under the banner of United Nations Tsunami Recovery Support (UNTRS).

In both the states, under the UNDP-DRM Programme with Government of Tamilnadu & Government of Kerala, under the Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) project, the focus for CBEWS was on the 4 Basic Components of Early Warning Systems. These are:

• Technology for Hazard Prediction – Appropriate/ Advanced Technologies for Correct Predictions of the Hazard. 
• Hazard / Risk Knowledge – Knowledge on the Hazard and the Risks Involved.
• Timely Warning Dissemination – Dissemination of warning to the Right people through Right communication technology at Right Time.
• Stakeholder Response Capacity – Local people’s Capacity to respond to the Warnings.

Community Based Early Warning System is a new Initiative and highly appreciable due to its Tangibility and Achievements Factors. It’s completely a Bull-eye shot comparing to any other components in Disaster Risk Management, Risk Reduction or Any other Mitigation projects. But equally, it dependents on the Components stated above:

Technology for Hazard Prediction:  Most of the Times, this is the resource agencies or completely scientific prediction units, for which we have to have the

support of centralized agencies like IMD, INCOIS etc. (Government authorized Agency for prediction and forecasting)

Hazard / Risk Knowledge – Knowledge on the Hazard and the Risks, Involves the Reports which the Above Agencies provide 

(Hopefully Area or village specific and in a more understandable Simple language for Community members will do)   

Timely Warning Dissemination – Dissemination of warning to the Right people through Right communication technology at Right Time

I believe, our discussions are on this Communication technology, where the members prior to me, have Shared their ideas about – Community Radio, IVRS, Cell phone, SMS, Email alerts etc. I hope all these have its advantages and disadvantages. For example:

·                     Radios are more cheaper and better, But how can one, acknowledge that message have been received at the other end, because its one way communication tool.

·                     Cell Phone – SMS Alert, email alerts, of course the receipt of message can be Acknowledged, but how will one know, whether the member have read the news or not.

Same way for the selection of specific Technology, we also have to take care of certain things like

·         Avoiding Rumour or False messages 

·         Avoiding Unwanted interruption during emergency 

·         Message Restriction to other non Risky area to avoid Panic

·         Authenticable news to specific area – not to be to general 

·         Preferably  two way communication for Clarity

·         Back up for operation in all situation

·         And others based on Area of utilization and the Disasters for which it’s being planned up.

In GoTN & GoK, its Very High Frequency Push-to-Talk Radios coupled with Public address Systems – Amplifier with Horn Speakers, Siren alert, backup batteries etc. I hope the technology is oldest, yet to put into practice, its easy and user friendly, more than that through it, two way communication is possible, authenticable Frequency allotment for EWS can be done for avoiding interruption or rumour, Area Specific Dial code can be Set for alerting specific area people, and at last, not the least in terms of failure proof, it works very well than any other technology even in Hills and in case of bad weathers.

So only, most of the Government Departments in India, Even in lots of other Countries, Military and Police purpose its being used.       

Stakeholder Response Capacity:  For Capacity Building, Vulnerability should always be the basic, to priorities the List of Villages for Early Warning System.

The Basic assessment of Vulnerability are of two Types, one is vulnerability of place and second the vulnerability of people.

There is always a paradoxical thought, to assess based upon which first. The common logical answer is these things are dependent on Hazard and Risk.

So the project should involve in Identification of Villages or hamlets must be Capacity built on terms and its meaning for the Project.

Other Data Sources and Resources like Risk Mapping, PRA, PLA, Seasonality Chart and Historical Background must be involved to predict the Vulnerability.

The key activities here involved were:

·         Identification of Villages

·         Identification of partners / Stakeholders / vendors

·         Orientation to Stake holders

·         Awareness to the community

·         Formation of Core Team

·         Capacity building of the core team -technical training on the technology

·         Procurement & License

·         Installation of the equipment

·         Formation of Network Team for that complete area.

 Hope, I have to tried to answers some of your queries through Sharing my experience, though not specific and have added little clarity on the concepts of “CBEWS”

 Wish you All the Very Best.

With Regards

Angu Ashok Kumar

Disaster Risk Management Programme,

Government of Kerela