Disaster Early Warning System - Research Paper Example

Disaster Early Warning System Name Institution 1.0. Introduction Vietnam and India are the two regions to the east which they have similar geo-climatic conditions. It has been habitually that the two regions are susceptible to natural disasters due to their unique climatic conditions. Floods/Downpours, droughts, earthquakes and cyclones are the recurrent spectacles in the region. The report from the ministry of home affairs, Government of Vietnam, shows that about 55 % of the land coverage is disposed to earthquakes, 45% of the land is prone to floods while 5% of the total land coverage greatly disposed to cyclones. Vietnam Government has considered mitigating the situations at these areas in an integrated manner. Development and implementation of good policies have been greatly supported by Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) and Disaster Management Working Group ((DMWG) bringing in collaborating efforts to come up with a combined advocacy strategy that tends to fund the vulnerable regions of the country. 1.2. Problem Statement The report that was released by the Government of Vietnam (2004) included a research that was done by United Nations Convention Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which ranked Vietnam among the top five countries that are most vulnerable to climate change. The reason was that the country has a long coastline, the natural resources have been greatly pressured, illiteracy among large population, poverty and the region is exposed to oceanic level rise. The estimated oceanic level rise is one meter within a period of 75 years while temperatures are expected to rise at a rate of 0.1 Celsius per decade. These effects will be the absolute effects of floods in the low coastal regions of the country. Therefore, proactive mitigation strategies should be put in place to reduce the impact that will be caused by these phenomenons on life and property. 1.3 Physical, Structural/Topographical and Climatic Situations of Vietnam 1. Physical/Geographical Vietnam stretches along Indochinese peninsula situated at South-east Asia. It has 64 provinces with central governance of 11,133 administrative units. It shares its north border with the Republic of China comprising of democratic of Laos culture. It also shares the China Sea with Republic of Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. These are the ethic groups that surround Vietnam. 2. Structural/Topographical Conditions Vietnam has a comparatively complex terrain. Irregular ridges, plentiful rivers and meandering coastline are all experienced in Vietnam. Makong River, which is among the largest rivers in the world flows across the country. It has a total volume capacity of 500 billion cubic meters and that is the reason it is causing problems to the population and property around the region of its flow. Amazingly, the river caries about a billion of alluvium deposits per year which makes the river to be vulnerable to flooding. 3. Climate situations Vietnam experience tropical climate where it deeply agonizes from Asia rainy season regime. The repeated occurrence of 6-10 storms per year causes heavy rains which will cause rivers to flood thus affecting people’s life and property. The storms normally occur between the months of June and November, but serious ones occur in September. Despite that Vietnam climate is favorable for agriculture, these conditions remains as the major threats. Map showing topography of Vietnam Objective of the design The objective of developing this project is to design an electronic disaster warning system that will give an advance warning to the isolated communities in the vulnerable regions. The stakeholders to this project are the government, local community and the micro-finance entities. 2.0. Literature Review Aloysius J. Rego (2001) discovered the importance of effective management of information during disaster management and mitigation. He constructed his studies in Asia and Pacific regions, Vietnam being inclusive. From his studies, he founded that most countries have their own set up of disaster mitigation systems. Indeed, the presentation of these systems range from emergency response strategy to early warning prevention planning. In the general framework of disaster management, communication and information are very vital during management process of disaster. The information has two integral activities; a) Pre-disaster activities which include a comprehensive analysis and research so as to improve the existing knowledge, risk assessment, mitigation and preparedness. b) Post-disaster activities which includes response, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Therefore, in designing an effective information communication technology system for disaster management that will harmonize cultural differences as well as integrating new hardware (technology) for passing the information to the vulnerable groups in Vietnam, we will consider these essential elements of pre and post disaster activities. John H. Sorensen (2000) stated even the most developed nations of the world, for instance, India and America do not have comprehensive nation warning systems. However, 100% dependable early warning systems of disaster do not exist, but people are unevenly protected from surprises of the disasters in the region. Though Vietnam is among the developing nations, it has embraced the early warning systems (EWS) through international corporations, for instance, The World Bank. After the destruction of property and loss of life by the Tsunami waves in Indonesia, Analis Widodo Adi (2007), Directorate General of Posts and Telecommunications at the Republic of Indonesia on the other side developed a comprehensive network connection plan that integrated Center National Disaster Detection (BMG), local authority (fire brigades, police and local government) and public (local communities. It had the following format; Warning system design (short-term plan) 3.0 Materials and Methods Disaster information format that will lead to development of a good Electronic disaster warning system requires the following components/elements; Broadcast mode: The target party through this mode is the public. Audio broadcasts- radio audio news TV broadcasts Smart phones and computers- sms broadcasts, email notifications. Multicast Mode: The target party through this mode is the local authority. Use of satellite TV, internet through emails, radio ipad phones and computers. Others: The target group is the residence of the vulnerable place. Use of police radio announcement systems, for instance loudspeakers, siren, bell, and may be voice text. The main target is where people are gathered, for instance, church, mosque or market. 3.1 Study side location The focal point of the government is the isolated communities within the Anh Minh district. Therefore, there should be a standard of procedure for communication to the vulnerable group. Apparently, the people the Anh Minh district are computer illiterate. They usually use the older method of communication like loudspeaker and siren. Although most of them are having phones, they don’t know how to use them to access the information being communicated. Therefore, it is recommendable to coordinate with micro-finance entities and also local authority as well as community center for education and training programs on how to use advance technology in passing information. Establishment of additional infrastructure at the district is also necessary. For instance, IT centers within the region, seismographers as well as meteorologists who can anticipate the natural happenings and pass the warnings. Complete and effective warning system which is people-centered educates people on the hazards and vulnerability although to the capacity to detects early signs of disasters and appropriate response to these destructions (Juan Carlos Villagran and Janos Bogardi, 2006, pp. 24). 3.2 Action Plan We have initial phases in the action plan for the early warning system, namely, monitoring and forecasting. The two phases can take two trends; a) Centralized system: This is where a national-type agency monitors and forecast the disaster. Information from the central government is requested to be broadcasted so as to give a hotline attention to the Center of Disaster Detection. It done regularly through the media (TV, Radio and internet). For instance, the national meteorological agencies announce weather and disaster warnings through the news. b) Decentralized system: It operates by use of simple strategies like network of people to communicate information concerning happening of these harmful events. The connection of the two systems (centralized and decentralized) will derive a comprehensive electronic disaster warning system framework that is guided by four elements. These elements are; a) Risk Knowledge: The element answers the following questions; 1) is the community have a prior knowledge of the risks?, 2) are the dangers and susceptibility known by the community?, 3) Do the stakeholders (government, local community and micro-finance entities) know the arrangements and trends of the disasters?, and 4) is mapping and data acquisition readily available? b) Warning Services: The element bares the following roles; 1) It monitors and provides warning services, 2) identify the right parameters to be monitored, 3) define the scope of forecast and provision of timely and accurate warnings in the system. c) Dissemination: There is a need for dissemination of understandable warnings to those communities at risk. Therefore, the element analyses whether the information of the danger have reached the vulnerable groups and if the people in the community understand what the information states about the risk. Majorly, do they (community at risk) contain pertinent and beneficial information? d) Response capability: The element analyses the knowledge of understanding that the community has on mitigation and preparedness. Similar to risk knowledge, it also focuses on community understanding on their risks and whether they admire the warning system. Lastly, this element sees if the plans in the system are up to date and are practiced on the ground. Apparently, this was a universal system for handling warnings that are modeled by the risks of disasters. Although different risks are handled differently, they all go through the universal system for comprehensive mitigation. Sometimes system may not virtually available in some nations. Perhaps some nations have adopted an integrated risk management and reduction capabilities as well as increasing training and facilities for mitigation. 3.3 Stakeholders of the system The donors to the action plan include; United Nations Development Program (UNDP), World Bank, Asia Development Bank (ADB), AusAID, USAID and FAO. They will play a major role in the development of effective disaster management early warning system. It is also found that non-governmental organizations are very active group working on climate change. They are involved in funding various programs that are associated with climate change; they also work in collaboration with the government in developing policies and strategies for disaster management, het the information from the field (vulnerable community) thus developing community-based adaption and raising responsiveness as well. For instance, Makong development institute is a non-governmental organization that conducts research on effects of climate change on the environment sourcing funds from the government and foreign donors as well. During action plan, it is necessary to have susceptibility analyses of climate change which has been developed at a national scale. Though very little work has been done on the sea level rise, it should be mapped to allow definition of scope of the warning system that needs to be implemented. It also aids much in resource planning. The challenges that may be faced during action plan implementation includes poor disaster management policies at the community level, unclear and overlapping responsibilities in the government agencies that may pose a tension to donors and budget which is not transparent cultural forces from the social group, for instance, vulnerable community livelihood. 4.0 Components of Electronic Early Warning System An effective Early Warning System (EWS) will comprise of the following key components; Risk mapping/knowledge, Susceptibility assessment, population distribution of the vulnerable community, infrastructure and facilitation in the region, logistics operations, human resource and communication facilities. The warning system will be used in the following key area; preparedness development, mitigation, response, creation of public awareness, education and recovery. a) Risk mapping and knowledge: This is identification of the specific region prone to disasters. Vulnerability Atlas map is usually used to identify these places. The map describes the seismic measurements of the place, cyclone power, area that is greatly disposed to flood and the forecasted (calculated) impact that the region would be subjected in future. Usually, the map is produced by Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) and is essential during disaster planning. During dissemination of information by the early warning system, the map is used to identify who exactly need to be reached so as to reduce the impact that would have been caused by the occurrence of the disaster. The map also describes the responsibility of the federal government during prompt notification of disaster. b) Vulnerability/susceptibility Assessment: From mathematical expression, Impact = Phenomenon * Vulnerability, therefore, vulnerability will be Impact/Phenomenon. Phenomenon in this case is the floods along Makong River and may be other rivers in the region mapped. Although we cannot prevent the disaster, we need to reduce the impact. If we reduce the impact, definitely, the susceptibility is reduced as well. Geographical Information System (GIS) during vulnerability assessment supports the decision for evacuation. Information Communication technology (ICT) plays an important role in highlighting the danger zone areas, types of vulnerabilities and potential vulnerable groups through geographical analysis. c) Population Distribution of the Vulnerable Group: Geographical Information System (GSI) usually develops maps at the national, provincial and district level of a country. These maps are used to determine the priority communities that are more vulnerable to disaster. Early warning systems are installed around the vulnerable group. For effective monitoring and evaluation, EWS for the region is fed to the database system of GIS in the internet mode. The information on early detections may be passed through the system since it is builder within the vulnerable community. Local Area Connection network in the community should be build and technical education on the other side conducted. This will absolutely require professional from different area, for instance, computer trainees, IT developers, computer engineers, public relation team (to sensitize the community) and resource mobilizers. Seemingly, this will be the role of responsible stakeholders either to finance or to source for donor funds. Research center should provide technical support since they know exactly the meaning of information on the ground. d) Logistics operations and communication facilities Effective Early Warning System has a good operative communication system which is composed of two components; one is that communication structure hardware that is reliable especially during the occurrence of a disaster. Two is that the communication facility with an appropriate interaction among the main components of the early warning system. For instance, the components that need to be interacted in the system are the community, stakeholders, policy developers, state, public and the broadcasting media. This component is has the following objectives; to build a forceful interaction nationwide through telecommunication infrastructure, to develop training and community awareness in vulnerable region and most importantly is to develop flood response plan at all levels (national, regional and community-base). The warning system should also state the response capabilities of the concerned bodies. This is reached through establishment of pilot authentication of preparedness programs in the area prone to the disaster, public announcement of Flood Awareness Day through public media (television, radio, outreach, and roadshows by use of loudspeakers). It is wise again to develop a sub-curriculum in schools that tends to educate people through the students the importance of disaster preparedness in this region. Table-top simulation exercise should be conducted immediately after the pilot testing disaster preparedness programs. This is important because the readiness of the community is towards the disaster is determined and may be their weakness are supported to reduce the disaster impact to the property as well as to life. The simulation process will also encourage participatory of the community. 4.1 How Electronic Early Warning System Works The system has three harmonizing phases; First, the system has a sensor with computation technology using ALERT protocol. This protocol is XML data-based format that is used to exchange public warnings within the area of Wide Area Network. The shared alerting protocol (C/SAP) consistently disseminates warning messages to the other connected systems within the network. The protocol is sound application such that when there is anomaly changes that brings emergency in the river it sends signals in form of sound to the vulnerable community. Every station receives the same format of the information being passed. The protocol can as well pass the warnings through televisions and radios. This is done by integrating special technology in the stations all over the country. US government has embraced very well this kind of technology and it has helped the economy in reducing the impact of disaster on the property. For consistent flow of information, the protocol is weekly tested to allow compliance of the system. The second phase triggers the first phase of the system. It measures river volume by use of level marking on the river side and gathering rain scales. This is where volunteers are needed so as to read and communicate the initial readings of the river level at a number of intervals. The readings are sent through short message service (sms) to the central system where analysis is done and refined information is disseminated. Apparently, this phase requires limited technology and resources as well. Knowing the level of water in the river is not very important, but where exactly the flood would occur is the most important. Third phase is not directly linked to the two phases of the system. First and second phase do not recognize the real environment. Normally, the budget ordinarily limits the real environment but concentrate on placement and development of large accumulated data at the computation point. The system is supposed to operate in a certain culture that is by values and beliefs. The culture is composed of people with different character and attitudes. So, the third phase considers all these elements. Valuable facilities make up this system, for instance, computers, connection wires and transmitters. So, the government should protect these facilities from the cases such as theft. The phase also focuses on the alerts that lead to evacuation. Government regulations should protect the displaced group form interaction with bad conduct individuals. Elizabeth Basha, and Daniela Rus, (2007, pg. 4) stated that poverty, illiteracy and cultural differences hinder communities in the vulnerable places from getting that safe place for residence. These elements put the community in the same risk as before if awareness and education strategies are not emphasized. Therefore, Electronic Early Warning System (EEWS) will divide the alert into four; phenomenon prediction, authority notice, community warning and strategies for evacuation. The stakeholders are greatly involved in procuring and making decisions for the implementation and evaluation of this disaster warning system. The report mentioned that the government and community is the main participant in mitigation and preparedness of disaster while other stakeholders are responsible for funding, resource mobilization and comprehensive research on vulnerable regions. 4.2 An Approach that should be used to Improve Early Warning System The strategies for mitigation at Mekong River contain a priority issue that aims at evaluation and improvement on the disaster (flood) forecasting and early warnings (Mekong River Commission Secretariat, 2002). To improve the warning system that will be implemented, the main objective of the initial system is to be stated. We have two main objectives of the initial system which are; to reduce the impact caused by occurrence of flood along the regions covered by Mekong River and to schedule agricultural activities for the purpose of economic growth of Vietnam. The first objective in this case requires early warnings of the floods that have high magnitude that will intensely affect both properties and life, that is, it has great impact. The second objective needs accurate forecast of the floods to allow agricultural sector to plan when exactly is the right time of the year to invest of agriculture that will at the end of the day agricultural crops will survive through anticipated danger (flood). Therefore, the experts needed an ideal system. A system that is upgraded from the existing one and the evaluation outcome should lead to an ideal one. Hyogo Priority Framework that was developed in USA is seen as the best option for developing an ideal system. In integrating this framework, four representatives from are needed. They should be coming from the nations that use this framework for disaster warnings. Apparently, the quality of the warning is directly dependent on the data being presented to the database. Hyogo framework enhances a comprehensive research since it is supported by developed countries like India and USA. Therefore the quality of data being presented is quite worthwhile. The framework also permits the use of modern computer technology which increases meteorology networks in the region of virulence. It emphasizes training on how to use computer technology in passing and receiving information. Amazingly, one can detect the danger directly from the warning elements like loudspeakers, sirens and fire detectors from the upgraded system. Recommendations The entire hydrological cycle of Vietnam is an essential forecasting element. Therefore, it should have lengthier central times that will improve accuracy for flood forecasting in the region. We propose that the following strategies should be put in place in development of effective early warning system of Mekong River. The broadcasters should ensure consistent radio soundings of situations along the river. Upgraded sounding site is most suitable since most of the people around the region of virulence are more accessed to radios and televisions so they get alerts as early as possible. It is highly recommended that the radar network across the river should be created. It is not the ordinary radar, but polarized one, and it should be more than one. The combination should be paired to allow mutual polarization. From the research, people in Anh Minh district are not technically trained. So, it is the responsibility of the government together with the community to educate people on how to use advance technology and telecommunication materials in passing the information. The local community should be aware of the risks that are associated with Mekong River. More importantly during this awareness, people should know the margin that results when the risk is mitigated than when it is presumed to happen. Disaster Early Warning System strategies should be included in the school curriculum so that the goals of conducting awareness programs as well as the training programs are reached in a diverse way. More resources should be directed towards disaster management by the community, government and foreign donors. Conclusion There is slight doubt that the current early warning system in Vietnam has not over time be efficient in prediction, forecast and dissemination of alerts that are intended to reduce impact which may perhaps cause intense destructions to life and property. However, the proposed project uses the current system as a stepping stone in upgrading or improving the hardware in the older system. Computer technology has been diffused into the current system to allow efficiency and timely operations. Actually, embracing the new technology with an exception of developing an inexpensive phases of Early Warning System that is easily installed and maintained could promptly increase alerts and notifications to the public. The system vot only uses radio and televisions in passing these warnings, but also internet technology which has been made aware within the community. Reference Analis Widodo Adi. (2007). Early Warning System and Disaster Management Concept in Indonesia. Indonesia Basha, E. & Rus, D. (2007). Design of Early Warning Flood Detection Systems for Developing Countries. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Cambridge. Carlos, J. León, V. & Bogardi, J. (2006). Early Warning Systems in the context of Disaster Risk Management. United Nations University: Entwicklung & Landlicher. Climate Change Working Group and the Disaster Management Working Group. (2011). Climate Change and Disaster Management Policy in Viet Nam. Unite Kingdom: Asia management and Development Institute. Hanoi. (2004). National Report on Disaster Reduction in Vietnam. For the World Conference on Disaster Reduction. Japan: Kobe-Hyogo. Mekong River Commission Secretariat. (2002): International Expert Meeting on Early Warning for the Mekong River Proceedings. Cambodia: Phnom Penh publishers. Rego, J. A. (2001). National Disaster Management Information Systems & Networks: An Asian Overview. Asia: GDIN. Sorensen, H. J. (2000). Hazard Warning Systems: Review Of 20 Years of Progress: International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters. Vol. 5(1), pp. 121-124. Read More