Importance of early warning and community response strategies - Pradipta Kumar Mohanty

"Investment in early warning systems are proving vital time and again. Future resilience requires community based DRR and climate change adaptation." - Pradipta Kumar Mohanty, Development Professional, India

• Tsunami 20004: Ten years on, it is important to reflect on what the tsunami has taught us various lessons about importance of EW, Preparedness and Community Coping & Response Strategies. 
• One clear lesson reinforced by the tsunami has been the importance of investing in disaster risk reduction (DRR) at both global and local levels. For a country of 1.2 billion, where nearly one-third of the population lives in coastal areas – at risk from not only tsunamis, but also cyclones and storm surges – these early warning systems are proving vital time and again. 
• In January 2005, The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) -- a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts with a ten-year plan -- was adopted by 168 governments. Its goal was to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 by building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. 
• In June 2006, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System became active, consisting of 25 seismographic stations -- used to detect earthquakes early -- relaying information to 26 national tsunami information centers. This has resulted in timely evacuations of mass populations when alerts are sounded. We can remember the successful management of Phailin and Hudhud Cyclones by Odisha and Andhra and the recent developments in early warning (e.g. Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu).

Future resilience requires community based DRR & climate change adaptation; gearing of preparedness activities based upon HRVA; development of various coping strategies and inclusion of those in developmental planning; massive awareness and IEC in Health, Education and Disaster Rapid Response.