FACTSHEET MAY Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities

Transcription

1 FACTSHEET MAY 2015 Tsunami Warning and Mitigation Systems to protect Coastal Communities Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

2 BACKGROUND Establishment and Purpose The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS) was established in 2005, and is currently comprised of 32 Member States and 16 Territories. The ICG/CARIBE-EWS coordinates international tsunami warning and mitigation activities, including the issuance of timely and understandable tsunami bulletins in the Caribbean and adjacent regions. In recent years, there has been a considerable population growth and influx of tourists along the Caribbean and western Atlantic coasts increasing the tsunami vulnerability of the region. With nearly 160 million people (Caribbean, Central America and Northern South America) now living in this region and a major earthquake occurring about every 50 years, the question is not if another major tsunami will happen but when it happens, will the region be prepared for the tsunami impact. It is acknowledged that the potential for human and economic loss is severe. On any day it is estimated that about 500,000 people could be in harm s way just along the beaches, with hundreds of thousands more working and living in the tsunami hazard zones. The risks of major earthquakes in the Caribbean and adjacent regions, and the possibility of a resulting tsunami, are real and should be taken seriously. Recent and historical significant tsunamis Historical tsunami records from sources such as the NOAA s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) show that over 75 tsunamis with high validity have been observed in the Caribbean over the past 500 years. These represent approximately 7 10 % of the world s oceanic tsunamis. Earthquake, landslide, and volcanic tsunami sources have all impacted the region. Since 1842, almost 3,500 people have lost their lives as a result of tsunamis in the Caribbean. Governing Bodies of the IOC Assembly: 147 Member States Executive Council: 40 Member States 2 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

3 Title of IOC Subsidiary Body Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS) Date and resolution of establishment June 2005, Resolution XXIII-13 Terms of Reference Annex 2 to Resolution XXIII-13. To coordinate the activities of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS; To organize and facilitate as appropriate the exchange of seismic, sea level and other data at or near real-time and information required for the interoperability of the tsunami and other coastal hazards system; To promote the sharing of experience and expertise related to tsunami warning and mitigation for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions Basin; To promote tsunami and other coastal hazards research; To promote the establishment and further development of national tsunami and other coastal hazards warning and mitigation capacities in accordance with standard protocols and methods; To develop, adopt and monitor the implementation of work plans of the tsunami and other coastal hazards warning system in the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, and to identify required resources; To promote the implementation of relevant capacity-building; To liaise and coordinate with other tsunami and other coastal hazards warning systems; To liaise with other relevant organizations, programmes and projects; To promote the implementation of the ICG within a multi-hazard framework; To keep under constant scrutiny the status of the system and how it satisfies the needs. Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

4 Membership of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS: Member States of the IOC from the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions; Observers from other IOC Member States; Invited observers from other organizations (including NGOs), programmes and projects in accordance with the IOC rules and procedures. Membership Aruba Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Brazil Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Curaçao Dominica Dominican Republic France (Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Martin, Guyane, St. Barthelemy) Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius) Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Sint Maarten (Kingdom of Netherlands) Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United Kingdom (Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos) United States (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands) Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) Observers from other IOC Member States, with nominated Tsunami Warning Focal Points (TWFPs): Canada and Peru 4 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

5 Observer Organizations: Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) Puerto Rico Seismic Network, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez (PRSN) Seismic Research Centre, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago (SRC) United Nations Development Programme, Barbados and the OECS (UNDP) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Governance The ICG/CARIBE-EWS is a Member State-driven organization which is governed by elected officers comprised of a Chairperson and three Vice-Chairpersons. Elected Officers Chair: Ms Christa G. von Hillebrandt-Andrade (USA, 2012 ) Vice-Chair: Mr Milton Puentes (Colombia, 2014 ) Vice-Chair: Lt Denis Lopez (France, 2014 ) Vice-Chair: Ms Aura Fernandez (Venezuela, 2014 ) Structure Annex I to Recommendation ICG/CARIBE-EWS-II.5 : 1. The Intergovernmental Coordination Group meets regularly to establish and implement working plans in the Caribbean region. To address specific technical issues it has formed four Working Groups: Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

6 Working Group 1 on Monitoring and Detection Systems Chair: Mr Jean-Marie Saurel (Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Martinique), Vice- Chair for sea level: Mr Sebastien Deroussi (Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de la Guadaloupe, France), Vice-Chair for seismology: Dan MacNamara (USA). Advise Member States on the monitoring and detection capabilities needed for operating national tsunami warning centres. Define the threshold criteria for the monitoring and warning systems. Ensure compliance with the agreed standards for the detection systems. Safeguard the effectiveness of the warning system by promoting the open exchange of seismic, sea level and other observational data in real time. Promote the sharing of experience and expertise and capacity building essential to the effective monitoring and issuance of warnings. Ensure the establishment of a fully interoperable regional tsunami warning system. Working Group 2 on Hazard Assessment Chair: Mr Alberto Lopez (University of Mayagüez, USA); Vice-Chair: Mr Franck Audemar (FUNVISIS, Venezuela) Review and evaluate the required methods and data sets, including bathymetry and coastal topography for determining the coastal hazards. Advise Member States on the requirements for operating the appropriate models. Develop capacity building for the appropriate modelling. Recommendation ICG/CARIBE-EWS-IX.4 Working Group 3 on Tsunami Related Services Chair Mr Antonio Aguilar (FUNVISIS, Venezuela); Vice-Chair for Technology and communications platform for alerts: Mr Ernesto Morales (NOAA/NWS Puerto Rico, USA); Vice-Chair for Protocols for end to end communication and dissemination of warnings: Mr Claudio Martinez (ONAMET, Dominican Republic). 6 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

7 Explore and document capabilities for the dissemination of existing guidance and alerts to countries in the region. Identify the difficulties and challenges existing in the region for effective end-to-end communication and dissemination of tsunami early warnings and products. Establish strategies for the development and implementation of methods and technologies to strengthen the media and dissemination of tsunami early warnings and products by Member States. Routinely test (and periodically evaluate) the mechanisms of communication and dissemination of warnings by Member States, in order to identify weaknesses and make recommendations to help strengthen these delivery systems. Create communication protocols and standardized information identifying guidelines for communication and dissemination of tsunami early warning and products in all countries, for approval by the ICG. Annex I to Recommendation ICG/CARIBE-EWS-VIII.1 Working Group 4 on Preparedness, Readiness and Resilience Chair: Lt Patrick Tyburn (France), Vice-Chair (Public awareness): Ms Stacey Edwards (Seismic Research Centre); Vice-Chair (Resilience): Ms Susan Hodge (Anguilla, UK). Identify the public awareness and education strategies and tools that Member States can integrate into their risk reduction and emergency management programs. Support the development of guidelines for preparedness, response and recovery plans for communities and local governments and organisations which should include sharing of training and evacuation best practices. Cooperate closely with the Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) in carrying out its mandate and in the implementation of its program. The following Task Teams were discontinued and their work considered complete: Task Team on Sea Level Network Capability Task Team on Warning Communication and Dissemination Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

8 The following Task Team were formed: Task Team on Tsunami Services: Chair Mr Jean Marie Saurel (France) Task Team on Tsunami Recognition Programme: Chair Ms Kerry Hinds (Barbados) Task Team on Caribe Wave 16: Chair Ms Elizabeth Vanacore (PRSN, USA) ICG/CARIBE-EWS Sessions held ICG/CARIBE-EWS-I Bridgetown, Barbados, January 2006 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-II Cumana, Venezuela, March 2007 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-III Panama City, Panama, March 2008 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-IV Fort-de-France, Martinique, 2 4 June 2009 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-V Managua, Nicaragua, March 2010 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-VI Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 2011 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-VII Willemstad, Curaçao, 2 4 April 2012 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-VIII Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobag,o 29 April 1 May 2013 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-IX St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, United States of America, USA, May 2014 ICG/CARIBE-EWS-X Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, May 2015 Secretariat focal point Mr Bernardo Aliaga Technical Secretary of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS 7 Place de Fontenoy Paris 07 SP, France b.aliaga@unesco.org 8 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

9 Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) The Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) is an organ of the ICG/CARIBE-EWS established in September 2013 by the Government of Barbados, following a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Barbados and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO/IOC). CTIC s mission is to help mitigate the impacts of tsunamis and other coastal hazards within the Caribbean and adjacent regions. To this objective, it supports all elements of the regional tsunami early warning system from monitoring and detection, hazard assessment, warning communication and information dissemination, as well as preparedness, readiness and resilience. CTIC serves as an information resource from which government agencies, public and private stakeholders, partners and the general public can draw to implement tsunami and other coastal hazards readiness measures to save life and property. The CTIC supports national as well as community-level implementation to ensure that populations in vulnerable coastal areas are prepared and respond appropriately and in a timely manner upon recognition that a potentially destructive tsunami or other coastal hazard may be approaching. Partnerships with ICG/CARIBE-EWS Member States, the Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program (CTWP), other regional tsunami information centres, disaster management stakeholders, scientists, educators, media, donors, development agencies and the general public are critical to the successful functioning of the CTIC. CTIC is currently focusing on four (4) strategic areas: Improving knowledge, awareness and education on tsunamis and other coastal hazards. Establishing a technical training programme, including workshops and exercises, for improving tsunami preparedness. Enhancing strategic partnerships and resources to advance the functions of the CTIC. Establishing an effective programme for monitoring the ICG/CARIBE-EWS. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission A Government of Barbados UNESCO/IOC Partnership Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

10 Funding Regular Budget, Emergency Fund and In-kind contributions from Member States through national and international projects UNESCO Regular programme $20,000 $10,000 $60,000 Fund in Trust 1 $615,973 $661,649 $585,000 IOC Special Account $192,777 $186,000 $50,000 Total $828,750 $857,649 $695,000 CARIBE-EWS Funding in thousands $ $ , $ , $ , This table only reflects the funding provided directly to the IOC Tsunami Unit. There have been many other indirect contributions to the programme: disaster managers and staff of national agencies in affected countries have participated in Tsunami Unit related activities; scientists have shared their expertise during workshops and training courses; and many countries have hosted Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) meetings and workshops. 1 1 Projects contributing to CARIBE-EWS programme implementation with support of UNESCO field offices 10 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

11 Regional Interim Tsunami Advisory Information Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), Honolulu, USA National Tsunami Warning Centres National Tsunami Warning Centres (NTWCs) have been established in 9 countries, as follows: Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, United States (National Tsunami Warning Center NTWC) and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). Earthquake Source Zone monitored by the CARIBE-EWS Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

12 CARIBE-EWS Communications Tests and Exercises PTWC disseminates a communication test message once a month on the same day and at the same time, and two random unannounced tests annually to the CARIBE-EWS Member State TWFPs. Regular updates on contact details for TWFPs are provided by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). Annually, a Caribe Wave regional exercise is organised. Since 2011, almost 500,000 people have participated in these exercises. CARIBE-EWS Core Seismic Network Number of broadband seismometers sharing data in near real time: 2010: 33 broadband seismometers 2015: 151 broadband seismometers Seismic stations monitored by PTWC in Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

13 Seismic stations monitored by PTWC in 2015 Core Coastal Sea Level Station and Deep Ocean Tsunameter Networks Number of coastal sea level gauges and deep ocean tsunameters sharing data in near real time and available for tsunami warning purposes: The capability maps show the dramatic improvement in the network since : Coastal sea level gauges = : Coastal sea level gauges > 69 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

14 Sea level stations monitored by PTWC in 2010 Sea level stations monitored by PTWC in Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

15 Summary of Bulletins issued From 2012 to May 2015, PTWC issued 19 CARIBE-EWS Tsunami Bulletins. Out of these, 1 of them is Tsunami Watch. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (P) issued: Tsunami Information Statements (TIS), Local, Regional, and Ocean-wide Watches (LTW, RTW, TW) for the wider Caribbean. Mw from USGS (G, final) and PTWC (P, preliminary). No. Date Time (UTC) Location Type of Message (Final) Mw prelim PTWC) Mw (final USGS) 1 January 15, :40 South Shetland Islands TIS 6,7 6,6 2 May 24, :48 Norwegian Sea TIS 6,5 6,2 3 September 5, :42 Off Coast of Costa Rica TW 7,6 7,6 4 June 24, :04 Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge TIS 6,6 6,4 5 July 15, :04 South Sandwich Islands TIS 7,2 7,3 6 October 12, :10 Near the Coast of Venezuela 7 October 24, :25 East of the South Sandwich Islands TIS 6,0 6,1 TIS 6,5 6,7 8 November 16, :35 Scotia Sea TIS 7,4 6,8 9 November 17, :05 Scotia Sea TIS 7,8 7,3 10 November 25, :27 South Atlantic Ocean TIS 6,6 5,6 11 January 13, :01 Puerto Rico Region TIS 6,4 6,5 12 February 18, :27 North Atlantic Ocean TIS 6,7 6,5 13 March 11, :44 East of the South Sandwich Islands TIS 6,8 6,4 14 April 15, :57 Southwest Africa TIS 6,8 6,9 15 May 16, :02 Leeward Islands TIS 6,0 6,0 16 June 29, :53 South Sandwich Islands Region 17 July 27, :29 Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge TIS 7,2 6,9 TIS 6,6 6,6 18 February 13, :00 Reykjanes Ridge TIS 6,8 7,1 19 February 16, :01 South Sandwich Islands Region TIS 6,7 6,2 Tsunami and other Costal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (CARIBE-EWS)

16 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission 7, place de Fontenoy Paris 07 SP France Tel: Fax: IOC/BRO/2015/10 Cover map. Mountain High Map