Synergized Standard Operating Procedures for Coastal Multi-Hazards

Early Warning System, Phase II

24-26 October 2017 WMO RTC Nanjing, China

Country presentation: MALDIVES

Capacity of MMS

5 meteorological stations

20 Automatic weather stations

1 Radio Sonde Observation

1 Dopller Radar

3 Tide Stations

1 Data Buoy

8 Rainfall Stations

2 Seismic Stations

Maldives Seismic Network

MMS seismic network is linked to global seismic network to monitor earthquakes across the region.

We have 2 broadband and one short period seismic sensor installed in Maldives.

Earthquake Monitoring – (RTWP)

Regional Tsunami Watch Providers (RTWP) for the Indian Ocean Region are;

- Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System

(RIMES)

- Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (InaTEWS)

- Indian Tsunami Early Warning Center (ITEWC)

- Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center (JATWC)

Maldives Meteorological Service is a National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC)

MMS issues warnings to the public solely based on the earthquake and tsunami information provided by RTWP’s.

RTWP’s will issue notification massages to NTWC’swhenever a bulletin is issued.

MMS receives notification massages via the WMO GlobalTelecommunication System (GTS), e-mail, fax and SMS.

MeteorologicalNetworkisestablishedwithRegionalTelecommunicationHub(RTH)NewDelhiandRTHMelbournetoexchangemeteorologicaldataandtsunamiinformation.

Differentnumericalweatherpredictionmodelsareusedtopredictextremeweathereventswellinadvance.

MMShasestablishedredundantlinksforcommunicatingwithlocal,regionalandinternationalcentersbyusing256kbpsVSAT,10mbpsInternetconnectionandsatellitephones.

MMSwillissuewarnings/alertsincasesof:

• Tsunamis

• Tropical Cyclones

• Heavy Rain

• Strong Winds

• Swell / Tidal waves

• Storm Surges & Flood

MMSwillbeonAlertifthereisanEQofMagnitude7.0orhigherovertheIndianOcean.

MMScanmakeannouncements,withoutconsultationtoNationalDisasterManagementCentre(NDMC)incasesof:

– Undersea/InlandEarthquakesof7.0orhigheronRichterscaleintheIndianOceanregion.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

§ MMS uses 4 different colors of Alerts; White, Yellow, Red and Green.

• Stage 1 – Alert Level1 ( Lookout-White), information bulletin

• Stage 2 – Alert Level2 (Advisory–Yellow), Advisory bulletin

• Stage3 – Alert Level3 (Warning-Red), Warning bulletin

• Stage4- Alert level4 (Green) Downgraded or cancellation bulletin

Alertmessage/Warningsflowchart

Current Context

o MMSissuesalertmessageso Whitealertsaresharedonviber groupswithlocalcouncilso NDMCissuesadvisoriestoYellowandRedAlerts

o AdvisoriesaredisseminatedthroughNDMCsocialmediachannels(twitter,Facebook),websiteandviaemailtoallmediaoutlets.

o AdvisorieswouldgobeyondearlywarninginformationprovidedbyMMS.

o Advisoriesprovidesafetystepsthatshouldbetakenatislandlevel.

o NDMCdoesfollowupwithlocalcouncilsthroughphonecalls.RoutinesituationupdatesaredoneforYellowandRedalerts.

2015216WhiteInformation

15YellowAlerts

IssuesDisasterAdvisorythroughmediaandthroughDhandhaana.mv

MaldivesMeteorologicalServices NationalDisasterManagementCentre

PhonecallstoLocalCouncilstoalertandcollectsituationupdates

SharedonVibergroupswithlocal

councils

MMS

WHITEALERT

NDMCYELLOWORREDALERTS

Advisoriesareissued

Disseminatedthrough NDMCsocialmediachannels(twitter,Facebook),websiteandviaemailfaxtoall

mediaoutletsandislandcouncils.

RoutinesituationupdatesaredoneforYellowandredalerts

Advisory flow chart - NDMC

Advisoriesprovidesafetystepsthatshouldbetakenatislandlevel.

ALERTYELLOWAdvisory:Torrentialrainandthunderstormswithgustsof45mphexpected.Area:Southernatolls.PERIOD:31/1400- 31/1800hrs.ISSUED:1338hrs 31August2016.

AnAlert/WarningMessage

Earthquake&TsunamiAlertLevels:Stage1– Lookout(White)

An earthquake occurred with magnitude of 7.0 in Richter Scale over the Indian Ocean but there is no immediate threat from earthquake.

Earthquake information

Earthquake&TsunamiAlertLevels:Stage2– Advisory(Yellow)

An earthquake occurred with magnitude of >8.0 in RichterScale over the Indian Ocean. The earthquake has thepossibility to generate a regional tsunami in the Indian oceanor near the epicenter

Earthquake and Tsunami Advisory, concerning authoritiesand people are advised to be on alert and be ready to movesafer areas and high rising buildings

Earthquake&TsunamiAlertLevels:Stage3– Warning(RED)

An earthquake occurred with magnitude of >8.0 in RichterScale over the Indian Ocean. It is confirmed a regionaldestructive tsunami has originated and it is expected to affectMaldives.

Tsunami warning, concerning authorities and people areadvised to be on alert and evacuation of threatenedpopulation to high rising buildings and safe areas stronglyrecommended.

If a Regional Tsunami is generated, warning will be issued including the estimated time of arrival to the Maldives.

As soon as we confirm that the tsunami is not going to affect the country the warning will be downgraded and cancelled immediately.

Earthquake&TsunamiALERTDissemination

Weather Related hazard Alert Levels:Stage 1 – Lookout (White)

• When the mean wind speed is expected or prevailed between 23 to30 mph

• When rainfall of more than 50mm is expected to occur within 24hours

• When high tidal waves are expected

Weather Alert for information but no immediate threat .

Weather Related hazard Alert Levels:Stage 2 – Advisory (Yellow)

• When the mean wind speed is expected or prevailed between 30 to 40 mph

• When torrential rain is expected and if heavy rain occurred for more than 2 hours

• When a severe thunderstorm is expected or experienced

• If a tropical cyclone is formed within effective areas of Maldives

• If significant tidal or swell waves expected or experienced.

Weather Advisory, concerning authorities and people living in those areas are advice to be on alert and be ready to take necessary action. Its not advisable to travel by sea during this condition

Weather Related hazard Alert Levels:Stage 3 – Warning (RED)

•Whenflashflood isexpected.

•IfatropicalcycloneistrackedtomovecloserorcrossMaldivesIslands.

•Destructivetidalorswellwavesorstormsurgeisexpectedorobserved.

WeatherWarning,Evacuationofpopulation fromthreatenedareasorislandstosafesheltersorstrongbuildings.Prohibition ofseatransportishighlyrecommended.

Alert message/ Warning Dissemination

o Hot lines

o Telefax

o Mass media (TV , Radio)

o Public Alert (cell broadcast & fixed line phone)

o SMS to selected users

o Email

o Web site

5 Hotlines had been established between MET and, MaldivesNational Defense Force (MNDF), T.V Maldives (TVM), Voiceof Maldives (VOM) Maldives Police Service (MPS) andNational Disaster Management Centre (NDMC)

Once a natural disaster is predicted, immediately dutyofficials will inform about the disaster to MNDF, TVM, VOMand MPS by hotlines.

Alert / Warning Dissemination flow chart

Challenges

Lack of a fail safe end-to-end early warning system

NDMCusesarangeofmediumsforearlywarningdisseminationMediasometimesdoesnotprovidecoverageifthereisanotherbreakingnewssituationSometimesislandlevelfocalpointsdoesnotanswertophonecallsduringroutinefollowupcallsforYellowAlertDifficulttodisseminateearlywarningduringnighttimeHighturnoverofislandlevelfocalpoints

Lack of awareness on early warning.Peopledoesnotunderstandphasesofearlywarningorthepurposeofit.

Current initiatives and way forward

• NDMCisintheprocessofestablishingaCommonAlertProtocol(CAP)basedalertmessagingsystem• Thesystemwouldhavewidercoverageintermsof

recipientsofalertmessages(approximatelyaround550recipients)andwouldalsobeopentothepublictoviewandaccess.

• NDMCdoesearlywarningawarenessthroughCommunityBasedDisasterRiskManagement(CBDRM)activities

• Needsupportinstrengtheningemergencycommunicationandearlywarningsysteminthecountry