Early Warning – establishing last mile connectivity: an experience from Nepal

Presented jointly by

Mercy Corps and Practical Action

Earlier days• Indigenous knowledge and

traditional practices – Looking at clouds– Color and smell of water– Animal’s behavior

10 years down the line….• Weather forecasting

– Max/min temperature– Probability of occurrence of rainfall– River data was available but not used for

forecasting purposes

• Glacier lake outburst information

• Tower based watch and warn system

2006 onwards• Improved tower based

watch and warn system

• River basin systems linking downstream communities withupstream river and rainfall stations

2006 onwards• Lead time was identified in

piloted areas

• Alternative communication and dissemination channel both at district and community level was formulated to reach the last mile in pilot areas

• Strengthen coordination with district authorities, DHM and other stakeholders

Current stage of EWS in Nepal

• Communities, local, district and national authorities started recognizing EWS as a key component for DRR

• EWS incorporated in local, district, and national level Disaster management plans

Current stage of EWS in Nepal …

• Government authorities have taken lead to draft National Strategy for Early Warning of Natural Disasters in Nepal

• DHM has actively contributed to develop EWS training manual

Current stage of EWS in Nepal …• Feasibility study for establishing more river

gauge stations by DHM

• Extension and expansion of telemetric system

• Web based flood warning services is available at www.hydrology.gov.np

Current stage of EWS in Nepal …• SMS services in piloted

areas

• Media engagement in warning services through local FM stations

• Communities proactively accessing information from upstream gauging stations

Real time experience in 2010• 19/20 July 2010 flood in Banke

• 24 August 2010 flood in Chitwan

DHM role

- On time warning service through phone, SMS to district authorities, communities and media

District level

- District authority called for an emergency meeting

- Security forces at alert

- Started preparing for response by checking stocks and resources for response

Real time experience in 2010 …Community level

- Used hand-operated siren and megaphones to ensure last mile connectivity

- EWS task forces mobilized community for safe evacuation

- Continued coordination with security personnel, district authorities and gauge readers at the upstream

EWS coverage in NepalNumber of river systems with gauge station 37

Number of meteorological stations 281

Number of district covered 12

Number of district level EWS committee 7

Number of VDC covered 98

Number of people trained in EWS 632

Number of CBEWS established 124

Number of EWS task forces 75

Material provided to the community for EWS

-Siren

-Hand-mike

-CDMA phone

74

129

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EWS coverage in Nepal

EWS joint activities byDIPECHO partners

• Field testing of EWS training manual with all DIPECHO partners

• Implementation of EWS component by Action Aid Nepal, CARE Nepal, Oxfam

• EWS users’ workshop

Major challenges • Functional Disaster Management authority and

platform in Nepal

• Delay in adaptation of draft EWS strategy due to political vacuum

• Keeping community level EWS committee alive in case of less frequent disastrous event

• Last mile connectivity throughout the country

• Multi-hazard EWS approach

Ways forward• Replication of CBEWS in other river basin areas

• Piloting EWS for other hazards

• Technical capabilities

• Advocacy and lobbying with government authorities and other stakeholders

• Collaboration with DHM and other government departments for wider coverage and institutionalization

• Guideline for district and community authorities for establishment of community managed EWS

Food for thought• What should be the advocacy strategy for

ensuring last mile connectivity throughout the country?

• How to keep community level EWS committee alive in case of less frequent disastrous events?

• How to incorporate multi-hazard approach effectively in existing EWS?

• How to link next communities situated crossed the border facing same disasters