Early warning drills do have results, but require deeper thinking - Annie George

"Early warning systems require a deeper thinking and more holistic perspective. Look at relevant means of communication when it comes to the visually and the hearing challenged." - Annie George, BEDROC, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India 

The learnings and changes in the last ten years are worth contemplating, provided they pave the way for better responses for the future.

The post- warning drills may have seemed like a joke to the communities when the NGOs conducted them, but the learnings seem to have been internalised at some sub-conscious level as shown by their responses during the last tsunami alert a couple of years ago. The heavy penetration of cell phones aided quick transmission of information, the awareness built up on safe structures and escape routes, all contributed to the calm sense of confidence with which the coastal families packed up their most important belongings and evacuated the coast in less than 45 minutes after the alert sounded. So, the classes on preparedness does have results and should be taken seriously with regular follow- ups. Given the fact that the NGOs move away after the completion of their projects, it is the SDMAs who should take this up as a regular programme in especially vulnerable areas and keep the knowledge coupled with the traditional wisdom updated and concurrent.

However, the early warning systems, per se, constituted by the governments require a deeper thinking and a more holistic perspective. This is more so in cases of cyclones as was shown in Cyclone Nisha which hit about seven years after the tsunami. Although warning messages were continuously relayed over the radio and TV, this was inaccessible to the communities as the power was shut down 24 hours before the cyclone was to hit. Similarly, we also need to look at relevant means of communication when it comes to the visually and the hearing challenged. This area still remains unclear.

Two points that I like to make are: the need for SDMAs to actively engage in building up risk awareness and emergency responses to a warning on a regular basis, and more efforts on reaching the people with special needs.