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Community-Operated
Early Warning Systems
As a result of the many disasters, the Central American countries have embarked on a regionally tailored plan to mitigate natural disasters, encompassing the creation of national institutions devoted to the subject, funding or co-funding projects to mitigate natural disasters, and grasping the UN Programme for natural disaster mitigation, with CEPREDENAC (Center for Natural Disaster Prevention of Central America) as the leading sub-regional institution devoted to disaster prevention. All Central American countries now devote attention to the reduction in risks or disasters through specific institutions devoted to this task, known as National Emergency Councils, Civil Defense Agencies, or National Civil Protection Institutions. Their task is to reduce the risk via mitigation, preparation, and prevention. Community Operated Early Warning Systems:
These systems are set up using a standard radio network to link the various voluntary observers throughout the watershed with authorities and volunteers in the flood-prone communities. The observers located throughout the watershed measure and transmit rainfall and river level data to a local center where the data is analyzed and a forecast is made concerning probable floods. This center then transmits via the same radio network the information to the communities in the flood plains and to local authorities. Technical Designs of the Early Warning Systems These community-operated early warning systems have been designed with several criteria in mind:
Rainfall is measured with standard, plastic rain-gauges (Tru-Check brand gauges, 6 in. capacity), river level is measured via a simple, electronic instruments which display the level of the river in digital fashion (one digit from 0 – 9 indicating the various levels) with an audible alarm adapted for the case of floods occurring late at night (developed and constructed by personnel of the Applied Physics Department). With these ideas in mind, early warning systems are implemented via a sequence of phases, which can be grouped into two components: a technical component dedicated to instrumentation and the measurement of weather conditions for the forecasting of floods, and a social component dedicated to the set up of the communal organization required to ensure that the early warning system will be operated properly. Both components can be organized in phases. The technical component can be organized as follows: Phase 1: research
on the local historical weather conditions, to determine return periods
for floods, amount of rainfall required to flood communities, and determination
of river levels associated with floods at various points throughout the
watershed. In contrast, the social component must be organized according to rules and regulations dictated by municipal authorities, as well as by national disaster reduction institutions. In general, these institutions are responsible for the safety and well being of the population, and thus, must be included in the various activities related to the early warning system. Several phases can be pointed out: Phase 1: coordination
between the national disaster reduction institution, municipal leaders
and volunteers to implement the system in a coordinated fashion.
Initial Results: Systems of this type have been implemented in Guatemala in six watersheds, in Honduras in three watersheds, and in individual watersheds in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Panama. Funding for these systems has been provided by ECHO (European Community Humanitarian Office), SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), OAS (Organization of American States), and via government loans (Guatemala). Among the various lessons to be learned from these experiences, the following deserve special consideration:
Conclusions: Community-operated early warning systems are offering local authorities in flood-prone communities an alternative to the national, centralized weather information systems. This alternative is fostering community involvement, and is creating an awareness about the possibility of addressing local problems with local solutions and local involvement. The extreme simplicity
of these systems makes it easy to be applied in typical watersheds of
small dimensions throughout Central America (watersheds encompassing a
few thousand square kilometers at most).
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Central
America is a region prone to natural hazards of various kinds. Earthquakes
have devastated communities and social infrastructure throughout the countries
these past decades. Floods and hurricanes have taken their toll on coastal
plains, and volcanic eruptions and landslides have also played a role,
in more localized regions, but with lasting impacts.
Considering
that most disasters have impacted rural areas, where climatic and hydrological
information is not yet accessible on time, simple, community-operated
early warning systems for floods have been designed and implemented in
various watersheds throughout Central America by scientist and students
of the Applied Physics Department at Galileo University. These systems
are based on these standard, but simple actions: Measure rainfall, Measure
river levels, Determine if floods are possible via simple protocols and
Execute emergency plans if floods are possible
In
general deputies of the national and municipal emergency committees carry
out these phases, as they possess the knowledge and experience to execute
the related activities. In contrast, the technical component can be implemented
by technical consultants, supported by technical personnel of the national
emergency committee to ensure that guidelines are being followed with
respect to system operation. The various systems throughout Central America
have been set up within a period of six to eight months to ensure the
all phases are carried out. Additionally, the involvement of the national
disaster reduction agency has been a key point to promote local sustainability.