Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.1

Recommendation ICG/PTWS-XXI.1

Inter-Sessional Working Group on the Medium Term Strategy for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System,

Recalling the devastating impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004,

Stressing the need for the UN agencies and other partners to work together, reinforcing each other's core areas of expertise,

Noting with appreciation the excellent collaboration between IOC, WMO and ISDR in the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System,

Recognizing the new context of an end-to-end framework and taking into consideration the need to further develop and maintain national systems in a multi-hazard context,

Decides to continue the inter-sessional working group for the development of a medium term strategy for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, established by Resolution ITSU-XX.2;

Decides that the Group will be composed of the ICG/PTWS Officers and Working Group Chairs, and will be chaired by the ICG/PTWS Chairperson. Other members may be added at the discretion of the Group's Chair;

Decides further that the Group will work by e-mail correspondence,

Requests the Group to take into consideration:

1. the work of the inter-sessional working groups on seismic measurements, data collection and exchange; sea-level measurements, data collection and exchange; tsunami hazard identification and characterization; resilience building and emergency management; and interoperability of region, sub-regional and national tsunami warning systems in the Pacific, established by the ICG/PTWS and other ICGs, as well as any cross-cutting matters between the ICGs;
   
   
2. the ITSU Master Plan;
   
   
3. capacity building requirements of new and existing Member States of the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, as revealed by relevant assessments or as indicated by the Member States;
   
   
4. the WC/ATWC as a backup to the PTWC;
   
   

Also, as the May 4, 2006 earthquake near Tonga has so dramatically demonstrated, the medium term strategy for the ICG/PTWS must focus on many aspects of communication. This focus should include, but not be limited to:

1. Ensuring that messages issued by the Warning Centres are concise and unambiguous (WG1, WG5);
   
   
2. Identifying and promoting best practices concerning communication strategies for getting messages from National Warning Centres to the regions and communities within each country (tsunami integrated preparedness). This work should recognize the importance of capacity building and a multi-hazard approach (WG1, WG4);
   
   
3. Developing communication strategies for working with the international, national and local press (WG4, Medium Term Strategy WG);
   
   
4. Promoting inter-operability with the other Tsunami Warning Systems (WG5, Medium Term Strategy WG);
   
   
5. Moving beyond the "pebble in the pond" concept to identify products/tools which can compliment the Tsunami Travel Time (TTT) maps for identifying areas at risk following a tsunamigenic earthquake. (WG3);
   
   
6. Continuing to develop and promote educational material (e.g. TsunamiTeacher) appropriate for the general public, emergency managers, policy makers, and the media (ITIC, National Contacts);
   
   
7. Ensuring there is a PTWS post-event evaluation whenever a Tsunami Warning or Watch is issued by PTWC or one of the Regional Warning Centres, and make this evaluation available to all parties via an IOC/PTWC website. Post-event evaluations are an essential component of continuous improvement. (WG1, WG2, WG5);

Instructs the Group to submit to the Twenty-second Session of the ICG/PTWS, a draft of the medium term strategy for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.
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Financial implications: none