Resolution EC-XXXIX.8
Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System

The ITSU was renamed as the PTWS, with the ITIC serving the PTWS Secretariat. The JMA NWPTAC and PTWC continue to serve as interim service providers for the South China Sea region.  During the PTWS Tsunami Warning Operations Seminar (see Resolution EC-XXXIX.9), countries bordering the South China Sea identified priority actions and requirements for the establishment of a permanent service, recognizing the initiatives of other organizations including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  The PTWC and JMA continue to provide interim services for the Indian Ocean, and the PTWC and WC/ATWC for the Caribbean region, thus providing consistency and interoperability for most of the interim global tsunami warning system. The JMA and PTWC coordinate actively on warning operations and with ITIC, work closely together to be responsive in assessment and action with each event that occurs.   Progress toward the establishment of the ITIC as an IOC Programme Office continues. Starting 1 April for 1 year, the ITIC welcomed to its staff a secondee from Japan’s JMA.

The ITIC continued as the IOC’s primary provider of tsunami capacity building and technology transfer, and as a tsunami awareness building resource; TsunamiTeacher (available September 2006) has been distributed widely.  To serve a global need, a number of training, workshops, and expert consultations in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Caribbean have been conducted.  In 2007 and 2008, building upon and using the experience of the Pacific, the ITIC will lead a strong capacity building effort to strengthen tsunami warning center and emergency responses procedures and protocols; it is presently focused on the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but applicable globally as a standard and generic set of guidance materials and templates will be used.

The PTWS and its operational international tsunami warning centres continue to assess its performance and take action to improve upon the timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of tsunami advisories issued.  The ITIC and PTWC convened a PTWS Tsunami Warning Centre Coordination Meeting in January 2007 attended by 9 operational warning centres to discuss, identify, and recommend service enhancements.  In partnership with the WMO RA V, SOPAC, SPREP, and attended by ASEAN, the PTWS convened a Tsunami Warning Operations Seminar in April 2007 attended by 27 Pacific Island and Southeast Asia countries to bring National Meteorological Services and National Disaster Management Offices serving as the 7x24 Tsunami Warning Focal Points up-to-date on the services of the PTWS, and also to provide input to the SOPAC Regional Early Warning Strategy and the PTWS Medium Term Strategy.  The PTWS Inter-sessional Task Team on Message Content, formed during PTWS-XXII, collected input from the two above meetings, and will propose to PTWS-XXII new messages or services that better meet the needs of PTWS customers.  The PTWS Officers convened in April 2007 to review the progress to date, identify and discuss new priorities, and plan for the PTWS-XXII in October 2007 and hosted by Ecuador.

Extra-budgetary funds raised through March 2007 totaled US$ 13,000

Recommendation ITSU-XIX.2 WG on the Central America Pacific Coast Tsunami Warning System

Recommendation ITSU-XIX.4 WG on the Tsunami Warning System in the Southwest Pacific and Indian Ocean

Recommendation PTWS-XXI.2 Establishment of ICG/PTWS Inter-sessional Working groups (1-5) - to continue, some with revised TORs

Recommendation PTWS-XXI.4 WG on the Central America Pacific Tsunami Warning System

Recommendation PTWS-XXI.5 Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation in the Southwest Pacific Ocean