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An introduction todisaster information sharing system

and its possible utilization in the aftermath of 2015 Gorkha Earthquake

Tadashi ISE (1 and Akhilesh Kumar Karna (2

1) Principal Research Fellow, Disaster Risk Unit,National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED), Japan

2) Freelance Engineer,Sunrise Cityhomes-B2, Anamnagar New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Self-introduction

• National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED), Japan– 1963 Established– the management of the seismograph, mainly analysis and

measurement of natural disasters• Our Team

– In recent years, in order to improve the disaster prevention force, social science approach is necessary

– Studying the utilization of disaster information• My research theme

– Research and development of disaster information sharing system

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2015 Gorkha Earthquake

• Date : 11:56 NST (local time) on 25 April, 2015• magnitude : 7.8 (MW) • epicenter : the central part of NEPAL

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• At that time, disaster information how to share, how had been utilized　　　 The interviews to people of various positions

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List of Interviewees

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*26-MayJICA NEPAL, Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering, National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET)*27-MayJapanese resident, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Electricity Authority Ratnapark Distribution Center, General public*28-MayVictim in Tundekhel Shelter, World Vision (NPO) , Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium, Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), Freelance Engineer, JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY*29-MayGrocery stores management in Charikot, Dolakha,Sindhu Sadabahar Hospital in Khadichaur, Sindhupalchok*30-MayNepal Electricity Authority, JICA Expert, Victim in Sankhu, NPO, Tibetan children’s Project*31-MayLalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City Office, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Ministry of Home Affairs District Administration Office, JICA NEPAL*1-JuneSagarmata Television Pvt. Ltd., Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention, priest of Bodanato., Japanese Mountaineer

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Summary of Issues in Utilization of Disaster Info.• For information sharing among central governments, such as

information linkage between the Nepal government and governmental institution of various countries, a mechanism to share information of damage and responding situations using the information sharing system called the CLUSTER SYSTEM is functioning with the support of the United Nations.

• The CLUSTER SYSTEM, which was developed by OCHA, is a system that has been used in a number of countries and was effectively applied to handle the 25 April Nepal earthquake situation.

• The interviewees of this survey including staff of the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), which is a research institute of MoHP; the JICA Nepal Office (Survey No. 26); and the National Society of Earthquake Technology (NSET), which is a major earthquake research institute in Nepal (Survey No. 2), said the CLUSTER SYSTEM was the main mechanism used to share disaster information.

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Summary of Issues in Utilization of Disaster Info.

On the other hand……• With the support of the United Nations, central

governments of various countries are taking action, but due to the limited capability of local governments affected by the political situation, which has been unstable for a long time, support for disaster victims is not comprehensive enough.

• disaster information gathering from the disaster site to the district department level is mainly done by mobile phones

• Reporting format of various disaster information is not prepared.

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Approach toward Introduction of a Disaster Information Sharing System

NIED has long studied and developed a disaster information sharing system to support the smooth utilization of disaster information.

based on Web-GIS for sharing geospatial information indicating disaster situations and corresponding statuses on the Internet.

the visual organization and presentation of disaster information, including to neighboring municipalities as geospatial information.

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(2) Display procedures of each operation with menu buttons

(3) Visually indicate items that should be entered

(1) Tab format to classify operations of emergency disaster correspondence

Figure : Image of two-layered tabs and menu buttons

- Based of Web-GIS- Map screen & List screen

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Target municipality of this system

Neighboring municipality

Neighborin municipality

Figure : Image of information sharing with neighboring autonomous communities

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System Briefing Session

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  ContentDate Date: 1, Nov, 2015

From 10:30 to 12:00Place Radisson HotelParticipant Kathmandu City

Lalitpur CityBaktpur CityThimi CityBaktpur District Development Committee

Table : Explanatory meeting Overview

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Summary This document, using the results of an interview

survey conducted in May 2015, summarized the problems of disaster information sharing and utilization in Nepal

and presented approaches toward the introduction of the disaster information sharing system to overcome current problems.

In the future, a development and implementation method of a practical and effective disaster information sharing system needs to be discussed.

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Thank you for your attention.

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Results of Interviews

1) Education before Disaster Occurrence Through an initiative of the National Society for

Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) and other organizations, disaster prevention education is provided and the effect is partially observed.

However, among the general public of Nepal, hazard maps are not well recognized

and the level of understanding of the correct response to protect oneself at the time of an earthquake is low, so disaster prevention education cannot be said to be very effective.

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Results of Interviews

2) Communication Environment after Disaster In the central area of Kathmandu, some interviewees

said that mobile phone communication was available for 20 minutes after the disaster in some areas.

Communications started becoming congested 30 minutes after the disaster and recovered about a half day later (5 to 6 hours).

However, even around Kathmandu Valley, it took about three weeks for the restoration of service in some areas.

Internet services in the central part of Kathmandu recovered in a few hours, and no significant damage was observed. However, use of smartphones or personal computers was restricted due to electricity outages.

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Results of Interviews

3) Basic System of Response to Disaster In the event of a large-scale disaster such as the 25

April earthquake, the Nepal Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) of the Ministry of Home Affairs is officially tasked with conducting overall risk management.

However, due to the unstable political situation that has pertained for a prolonged period, NEOC is not functioning effectively and thus disaster response is in fact carried out with the help of the United Nations and governmental institutions of countries providing aid.

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Results of Interviews4) Collection and Sharing of Knowledge Regarding Damage (among central governments) Information sharing among central governments, such as

between the Nepal government and governmental institutions of various countries, is conducted relying on the CLUSTER SYSTEM, which was developed through an UN-OCHA.

However, given the limited capability of the Nepal government, the actual operation is conducted by the United Nations.

The CLUSTER SYSTEM is used to summarize the activities of governmental departments, and the information on deaths and injuries collected from the hospital network overseen by the Ministry of Health and Population functioned relatively well. Having the national hospital as the Hub-Hospital, damage in respective regions are summarized and reported.

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Results of Interviews

5) Collection and Sharing of Damage Information (among local governments) Information sharing at the level of local governments

between the site of a disaster and the central government is realized mainly via mobile phones.

ex) In Kathmandu City, 71 engineers are engaged in the task in 35 districts, in Lalitpur City, and 17 engineers engaged in the task for 30 districts to understand the damage to constructions. The information gathered by them is reported to their respective district administration offices.

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Results of Interviews

6) Provision of Information to Disaster Victims With the support of the United Nations, central

governments of various countries are taking action, but due to the limited capability of local governments affected by the political situation, which has been unstable for a long time, support for disaster victims is not comprehensive enough.

The information provided by the government is inadequate and, for the psychological ease of residents, more information is need.

In the city of Kathmandu, a system was launched whereby ID cards are distributed to disaster victims to control distribution of supplies, etc.

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Results of Interviews

7) Others One of the largest characteristics of the damage

caused by the 25 April earthquake is that many Nepalese people choose to sleep outdoors for more than a month as they were afraid of damage to buildings caused by aftershocks.

This generated anxieties over property loss and damage to health.

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