Gap Assessment of Warning and Dissemination Process of Early Warning System in Coastal Areas of Sri Lanka

Coastal flooding is a natural disaster that often occurs in coastal areas. Jakarta is an example of a location that is highly vulnerable to coastal flooding. Coastal flooding can result in economic and human life losses. Thus, there is a need for a coastal flooding early warning system in vulnerable locations to reduce the threat to the community and strengthen its resilience to coastal flooding disasters. This study aimed to measure the level of public acceptance toward the development of a coastal flooding early warning system of people who live in a coastal region in Jakarta. This knowledge is essential to ensure that the early warning system can be implemented successfully. A survey was conducted by distributing questionnaires to people in the coastal areas of Jakarta. The questionnaire results were analyzed using cross-tabulation and path analysis based on the variables of knowledge, perceptions, and community attitudes towards the development of a coastal flooding early warning system. The survey result shows that the level of public acceptance is excellent, as proven by the average score of the respondents’ attitude by 4.15 in agreeing with the establishment of an early warning system to manage coastal flooding. Thus, path analysis shows that knowledge and perception have a weak relationship with community attitudes when responding to the coastal flooding early warning model. The results show that only 23% of the community’s responses toward the coastal flooding early warning model can be explained by the community’s knowledge and perceptions. This research is expected to be useful in implementing a coastal flooding early warning system by considering the level of public acceptance.

Download Full-text

Assessing Flood Risks in Malwathu Oya River Basin in Northern Sri Lanka for Establishing Effective Early Warning System

10.1007/978-3-030-73003-1_49 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 765-776

Author(s):

Nandana Mahakumarage ◽

Vajira Hettige ◽

Sunil Jayaweera ◽

Buddika Hapuarachchi

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

River Basin ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning System ◽

Warning System ◽

Flood Risks

Download Full-text

Developing an early warning system for storm surge inundation in the Philippines

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/nhessd-2-6241-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (10) ◽

pp. 6241-6270

Author(s):

J. Tablazon ◽

C. V. Caro ◽

A. M. F. Lagmay ◽

J. B. L. Briones ◽

L. Dasallas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Storm Surge ◽

Frequency Distribution ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning System ◽

Warning System ◽

Storm Surges ◽

The Philippines ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Japan Meteorological Agency ◽

Series Data

Abstract. A storm surge is the sudden rise of sea water generated by an approaching storm, over and above the astronomical tides. This event imposes a major threat in the Philippine coastal areas, as manifested by Typhoon Haiyan on 8 November 2013 where more than 6000 people lost their lives. It has become evident that the need to develop an early warning system for storm surges is of utmost importance. To provide forecasts of the possible storm surge heights of an approaching typhoon, the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-Project NOAH) simulated historical tropical cyclones that entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Bathymetric data, storm track, central atmospheric pressure, and maximum wind speed were used as parameters for the Japan Meteorological Agency Storm Surge Model. The researchers calculated the frequency distribution of maximum storm surge heights of all typhoons under a specific Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) that passed through a particular coastal area. This determines the storm surge height corresponding to a given probability of occurrence. The storm surge heights from the model were added to the maximum astronomical tide data from WXTide software. The team then created maps of probable area inundation and flood levels of storm surges along coastal areas for a specific PSWS using the results of the frequency distribution. These maps were developed from the time series data of the storm tide at 10 min intervals of all observation points in the Philippines. This information will be beneficial in developing early warnings systems, static maps, disaster mitigation and preparedness plans, vulnerability assessments, risk-sensitive land use plans, shoreline defense efforts, and coastal protection measures. Moreover, these will support the local government units' mandate to raise public awareness, disseminate information about storm surge hazards, and implement appropriate counter-measures for a given PSWS.

Download Full-text

The EI Niño Southern Oscillation and the historic malaria epidemics on the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka: an early warning system for future epidemics?

Tropical Medicine & International Health ◽

10.1046/j.1365-3156.1996.d01-7.x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 86-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Menno J. Bouma ◽

Hugo J. Kaay

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning System ◽

Southern Oscillation ◽

Indian Subcontinent ◽

Warning System

Download Full-text

The upstream-downstream interface of Sri Lanka’s tsunami early warning system

International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment ◽

10.1108/ijdrbe-07-2019-0051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 219-240

Author(s):

Richard Haigh ◽

Maheshika Menike Sakalasuriya ◽

Dilanthi Amaratunga ◽

Senaka Basnayake ◽

Siri Hettige ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Early Warning ◽

Early Warning System ◽

Information Dissemination ◽

Warning System ◽

Analytical Framework ◽

Tsunami Warning System ◽

Content Type ◽

Tsunami Early Warning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to deliver a detailed analysis of the functioning of upstream–downstream interface process of the tsunami early warning and mitigation system in Sri Lanka. It also gives an understanding of the social, administrative, political and cultural complexities attached to the operation of interface mechanism, and introduces an analytical framework highlighting the significant dynamics of the interface of tsunami early warning system in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach Through the initial literature review, a conceptual framework was developed, highlighting the criteria against which the interface process can be assessed. This framework was used as the basis for developing data collection tools, namely, documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews and observations that focused on the key stakeholder institutions in Sri Lanka. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data according to the conceptual framework, and an improved and detailed framework was developed deriving from the findings. Findings The manner in which the interface mechanism operates in Sri Lanka’s tsunami early warning system is discussed, providing a detailed understanding of the decision-making structures; key actors; standardisation; technical and human capacities; socio-spatial dynamics; coordination among actors; communication and information dissemination; and the evaluation processes. Several gaps and shortcomings were identified with relation to some of these aspects, and the significance of addressing these gaps is highlighted in the paper. Practical implications A number of recommendations are provided to address the existing shortcomings and to improve the overall performance of tsunami warning system in Sri Lanka. Originality/value Based on the findings, a framework was developed into a more detailed analytical framework that depicts the interface operationalisation in Sri Lanka, and can also be potentially applied to similar cases across the world. The new analytical framework was validated through a focus group discussion held in Sri Lanka with the participation of experts and practitioners.

Download Full-text