NEW DEVELOPMENTS AFTER TSUNAMI SRI LANKA 26 12

NEW DEVELOPMENTS AFTER TSUNAMI SRI LANKA 26. 12. 2004

Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) EARLY WARNING CENTER National Meteorological Center (NMC) Department of Meteorology MEDIA Police and Armed Forces Presidential Secretariat Ministry of E&NR Regional Police Stations, Military Camps GENERAL PUBLIC Relevant District Secretaries Regional Meteorological Offices

Just after 26 th December 2004 Country was in chaos ………… Govt. concerned with relief and rehabilitation …. . False Warnings & Rumours were common ………. With Hyogo Framework of Action………. . An Interim Technical Committee was formed for Disaster Warning…. Technology -almost. Early non-existent Basic communication - somewhat satisfactory Community Preparedness - nil Started with the bottom. Preparedness of coastal community

Present Situation of the System • Department of Meteorology designated as the focal point for Tsunami Warnings/ Alerts by H. E. the President from 15 th March 2005 • An Interim Technical Committee for Disaster Early Warning and Mitigation was formed under the directive of the Secretary to H. E. the President on 15 th March 2005 • Interim arrangement have been established at National Meteorological Center (NMC) of the Meteorological Department to receive/disseminate Tsunami Warnings/Alerts

Contd… • Disaster Management Act No. 13 of 2005 was enacted on 13 th May 2005 in the parliament • Disaster Management Centre (DMC) established as per the DM Act. • Facilities for near real time earthquake/tsunami monitoring upgraded at the EWC.

ORGANISATIONAL CHART FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT National Council for Disaster Management Center Secretary’s Office Director General Director Early Warning, Monitoring & Mitigation Director Emergency Response & relief Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Secretary/ Member NCDM Director Medico – Social Relief Director External Relations & Media A / D Admin & Finance TA Committee On Early Warning, Monitoring & Mitigation TA Committee On Emergency Response & Relief CENTRE OFFICE TA Committee On Rehabilitation & Reconstruction TA Committee On Medico – Social Relief TA Committee On External Relations & Media

AWARENESS • Posters and Leaflets on natural hazards including Tsunami were distributed among vulnerable people.

Awareness Cont… • Natural disaster and Tsunami awareness programs conducted in areas affected by 2004 -Tsunami.

AWARENESS Cont. . • 1. 2. 3. 4. A Tsunami Model Village established at Balapitiya (southern Sri Lanka) on 24. 04. 2005 Tsunami sign boards Dec 26 th Inundation levels Identification of Vulnerable/Safe areas Identification of shelters and evacuation routes 5. Village task forces formed. 6. Tsunami drills performed

Early Warning Alarm System deployed at Balapitiya

AWARENESS Cont. . • Vulnerability maps developed for Galle City, one of the most vulnerable regions. • Development of a community based early warning system established in Galle as a Pilot Project with assistance from UNU.

Coastal Village: Tsunami Model Village, Balapitiya. Helicopter Landing Site Houses with Disabled Rescue Shelters Alarm System 1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES 3. TOURIST AREAS

Coastal City: Galle City. Regional capital of Southern Sri Lanka. Very badly affected by tsunami. Total population – approx 850, 000 Executed with UNU-EHS under PPEW-ISDR funding 1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES 3. TOURIST AREAS

TSUNAMI EVACUATION PLAN FOR CITY OF GALLE 100 m 1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES

POLICE EMERGENCY MOBILISATION PLAN FOR CITY OF GALLE 1 1 1 Traffic Control Points 2 1 Hospital (1000 beds) 2 1 1 2 Schools Central Bus/Rail Station Police Station Warning recvd thro’ HF Radio from Police Network 1 1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES 3. TOURIST AREAS

Tourist Area: Unawatuna TSUNAMI-READY HOTEL PROGRAM A PROJECT TO INCREASE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE TOURISTS IN UNAWATUNA • National-level Early Warning Efforts • Early Warning Chain from National to Local Hotels. • Dissemination of warnings within Hotels. • Complementary tasks: • Anticipated Response Plan • Evacuation routes • Signs and Posters • Staff training • Simulations and Drills 1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES 3. TOURIST AREAS

1. COASTAL VILLAGES 2. COASTAL CITIES 3. TOURIST AREAS

Proposed Improvement to the Meteorological Service • WMO has taken steps to upgrade the existing 50 baud Colombo-New Delhi communication circuit (GTS) • Upgrading the Meteorological data observing/ analysis system 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. • Installing 35 AWS Installing Doppler Radar Introducing Automatic plotting and analysis Establishing on line date monitoring system Introducing fast meteorological communication system with a back up. Upgrading the warning Dissemination System

Thank You