The Experience on Early Warning Systems in Mexico

Transcription

1 The Experience on Early Warning Systems in Mexico Enrique Guevara O. National Center for Disaster Prevention, Mexico CENAPRED Geneva, June, 2013

2 Mexico is located in a region affected by different natural phenomena that annually cause damage, economic losses and in some cases, unfortunately human lives HURACAN VOLCANOES EARTHQUAKES OTHER NATURAL HAZARDS: Forest fires, flooding, droughts

3 Mexico Hazard Profile Hazard Storms, hurricanes, floods Area (Km2) % del Nal territoy. Inhabitants (millons) % 31.3 Earthquakes % 31.0 Droughts % 21.2 States exposed to the impact of hurricanes Fires % , impact of hurricane Stan in Chiapas Seismic Hazard Active volcanoes in Mexico City

4 Disaster are the product of incorrect policies, measures and actions taken by the society and its governments Disasters are a consequence of physical and social vulnerability which is basically man-made A disaster does not occur a disaster results!

5 Early warning system should be an important component of a comprehensive strategy for risk management Risk assessment (wich include knowledge and evaluation of hazard, exposed assets and vulnerabilities) Risk analysis in development planning and land use Mitigation and Prevention Preparedness, Training, Education Emergency Planning and Management EWS Risk transfer Response and Recovery (including RR) Comprehensive Risk Management: Cross-cutting issue All levels of government Multidisciplinary Multi-institutional Community participation National Civil Protection System: SINAPROC

6 Strategy It has been established in the National Development Plan, a policy to change from a reactive strategy to a preventive one (privilege prevention and disaster risk reduction, without distracting emergency management) The integration of a National Risk Atlas Funds for emergency management (FONDEN) and funds for disaster prevention (FOPREDEN) New Civil Protection Law Last May 28, the President of Mexico, instructed: The creation of a National Early Warning System

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8 Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil The different hazards are typically dealt with by separate independent technical institutions, with few synergies or mutual benefits, so the challlenge is to coordinate and integrate all of them PS

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10 SIAT-CT

11 Popocatepelt Monitoring System Creation of the Volcanological Service

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14 SISTEMA DE ALERTA SÍSMICA Oaxaca Chilpancingo y Acapulco CIRES DF ALERTA Sísmica RADIO Y TV

15 Localidades Aceleración máxima (gal) Estados Localidades Población total Viviendas habitadas Centros de Salud Planteles educativos Total 7 25,632 18,072,164 4,140,211 3,172 53,398

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17 Lessons learned Although there are different agencies and institutions involved in different hazards, it has been a good practice that National Civil Protection Authorities coordinate warning systems (EW for cyclones and Popocatepetl volcano) Coordination of national authorities with local authorities is an essential element It has been useful the use of a traffic light alert that translate the forecast or diagnosis of the scientific and monitoring group into a scale of risk levels, expressed in terms of the most probable scenarios that may develop in a given time scale as well as into action to be taken by Civil Protection Authorities and the population It has been important to test the effectiveness of the warning systems, including dissemination process and response The implementation of Early Warning Systems in Mexico have undoubtedly contributed to prevention. We also recognize that there are still many aspects to improve and consider.

18 Recommendations Early Warning Systems for different hazards should be coordinated by a national authority, having a close coordination with the different actors involved (local, scientific, media, etc.) There should be consistency in terminology of warnings of different hazards and dissemination mechanisms Risk assessment for different hazards should be clearly identified and promote consciousness and preparation among authorities, stakeholders, media and public The establishment of different alert levels for different hazards should be very well defined and they should correspond to specific actions and procedures to be taken by authorities and public National funds should be available for the implementation and maintenance of warning systems There is a need to test early warning dissemination mechanisms and response, improve and correct them Involvement of scientific and specialists of different hazards its an essential factor

19 Additional Considerations Each hazard has specific detection and monitoring methods, lead-time, duration and response actions are different from each of them, so specific technical capabilities are required and the need for institutional capacities according to each hazard, The important issue is to coordinate at national level what R. Basher call a system of system or a multihazard warning system A multi-hazard approach provide synergies and cost-efficiencies, in data gathering and processing and in public preparedness efforts, and should assist in sustaining warning capabilities for the more infrequent hazards R. Basher Recomendations of: People Centered and the 4 elements