1. ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee
WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones
Workshop on Synergised Standard Operating
Procedures for Coastal Multi-hazards Early Warning
System
Standard Operating Procedures for Tsunami Warning
and Emergency Response in the Indian Ocean and
Southeast Asia Region
UN Conference Centre, Bangkok
8-9 May 2013
Tony Elliott, Head of ICG/IOTWS Secretariat
IOC UNESCO

2. 26 December 2004
• c.230,000 Dead – Nations of the region react
• 2 international coordination meetings in early 2005
• IOC invited to lead TWS establishment
• ICG/IOTWS established by IOC Assembly, July 2005
11 countries
~230,000 deaths
1 million displaced

3. Global Network of TWS

5. End-to-End Tsunami Warning Systems
Upstream
• Detection, verification, threat
evaluation, tsunami forecast,
warning dissemination
Downstream
• Delivery of public safety message.
• Initiate national counter-measures
• Prepare and implement standardised reaction
Goal is to have the same quality every time

6. NO
Coastal Stations
Seismic Network
Deep Ocean Stations
Global
Telecommunication
Systems
Sirens
E-mail
Cell Phones
more…
YES
LIVES
SAVED
Hazard Detection Threat Evaluation Alert Dissemination Preparedness
& Forecast Alert Formulation Public Safety Msg & Response
Regional National Local
THREAT?
Sea Level Network
Warning Centres
Traditional
NO
Coastal Stations
Seismic Network
Deep Ocean Stations
Global
Telecommunication
Systems
Sirens
E-mail
Cell Phones
more…
YES
LIVES
SAVED
Hazard Detection Threat Evaluation Alert Dissemination Preparedness
& Forecast Alert Formulation Public Safety Msg & Response
Regional National Local
THREAT?THREAT?
Sea Level Network
Warning Centres
Traditional

7. What to Consider
• Tsunami Warning Centre:
– Coordination and information flow (type, content,
timeline) with NDMO
– Iterative process (warning, update, cancellation)
• Tsunami Emergency Response:
– NDMO/EOC receipt, interpret, decide, notify
– Notify Responders, Decision-makers, Public
– Recommend Public Safety Action
– Implement / coordinate Action
– Inform on ‘All-Clear’ for safe return
– Initiate Search-and-Rescue, etc.

8. What are SOPs?
• Set of written instructions for routine/repetitive
organization activities. Procedure followed in
an emergency.
• Detail work processes conducted/followed
within organization.
• Document way activities performed for
consistent conformance to system
requirements and organisation’s mission.

9. SOP Working Definition
“ A description and procedure on
agreed steps by institutions used
in coordinating who, what, when,
where and how for tsunami early
warning and response”
From Indonesia Local SOP Workshops: Capacity Building for Development
of Local SOPs for Tsunami Early Warning and Response. 2006-2007

10. Australia
Mauritius
La Reunion
Madagascar
South Africa
Mozambique
Comoros
Tanzania
Kenya
Somalia
Djibouti
Yemen
Oman
UAE
Iran Pakistan
India
Seychelles
Maldives Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Myanmar
Thailand
Malaysia
Indonesia
Timor Leste
Singapore
British Indian
Ocean Territories
ICG/IOTWS
RTSP Tsunami Advisories
for the Indian Ocean
10

11. IOTWS Key Stakeholders
• Regional Tsunami Service Providers
(RTSPs)
• National Tsunami Warning Centres
(NTWCs)
• (National)Disaster Management Offices
(DMO)/Local Authorities
• Emergency Services
• Media
• Public

12. Role of RTSPs
• Regional Monitoring & Detection (24/7)
• International collation/sharing of data
• Issue Regional Alerts to National Warning
Centres
• Cancel Regional Alerts

13. Role of NTWCs
• Local (Country specific) Monitoring &
Detection (24/7)
• Receive RTSP Alerts
• Assessment of information-determine local
threat
• Issue National Warnings to DMO’s, media
& agencies
• Cancel National Warnings

14. Role of DMOs
• Receive National Warnings from NTWC
• Activate local public alert systems as
appropriate
• Decide & Manage Evacuations
• Communicate ‘All Clear’
• Signage
• Public Education

15. Role of Emergency Services
• Support DMO/Local Authorities with
– Public alerting
– Evacuation
– Law & Order
– Response after tsunami has struck

16. Role of Media
• Convey Official Warnings (National &
Local)
But also:
• Convey Unofficial Warnings
Therefore:
• Can cause or counter public response

17. The Public
• End receiver of warnings
• Convey Official and Unofficial Warnings
• Therefore must understand:
– Official Warnings (how will they be
warned)
– Natural Warnings (what to look out for)
– Evacuation zones, routes & Safe zones
– How to respond where evacuation
zones are not defined

18. INTERNATIONA
L
PUBLI
C
MEDIA
Authorized
Institutions
NTWC
Official Warning to the Public
Public must
understand:
– How will they
be warned
– How to react
and respond
– Where to go
(evacuation
zones, routes
& Safe zones)

19. SOPs are coherent
NTWC SOP
DMO SOP
EVACUATION SOP
STANDARDS:
Signage
Notification
Evac Zones
Natural
Warnings
RTSP SOPRTSP SOP

20. Warning Chain…..
National Tsunami Warning Centers
Community at Risk
National and Local Authorities
(NDMO, PDMO, DDMO, Local Government and
Decision Makers)
Data Analysis
Threat Evaluation
Advisory Bulletins
Interpretation
Decision
Dissemination
Interpretation
Response and Action
Evacuate
Warning
Warning and Guidance
TIMELINE
Regional Tsunami Service Providers
Exchange Bulletins
Data Analysis
Decision
Warning Messages

21. End-End SOP Linkage
RTSP Detection &
Notification SOP
NTWC Receipt,
Assessment &
Notification SOP
DMO Receipt &
Notification SOPs
Evacuation SOPs
Public Awareness
Standards for:
Signage
Evac Zones
Messages for
Natural Warnings

22. Coordination

23. Conclusions
• SOPs are the foundation of effective, reliable
warning systems
• All warning systems require SOPs, but for
tsunami, rapid evaluation, warning and response
is essential to save lives
• In an end-to-end system, communications links
between stakeholders must be robust or warning
chain will be broken
• SOPs should be developed, practiced and
modified as necessary – a “living document”