Regional Training for Pacific Island Countries, PTWS PTWC Enhanced Products, 12-16 August 2013

Pacific Island Countries Regional Training and Consulation Workshops on Strengthening Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response and the ICG/PTWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) New Enhanced Tsunami Products

12-16 August 2013
Wellington, New Zealand

Hosted by the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM)

The ITIC and the PTWC, along with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Tsunami Unit, conducted regional training on Strengthening Tsunami Warning and Emergency Response and the PTWC New International Tsunami Products, August 12-16, 2013, in Wellington. The Training was hosted by the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (MCDEM). The ITIC, a partnership of NOAA and the IOC and operated by the NOAA NWS Pacific Region since 1965, has served as a primary resource assisting countries to build and strengthen their tsunami warning systems. This training supported ITIC’s mission and commitment to strengthen the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System.

This 1-week workshop will cover essential topics involved in end-to-end tsunami warning, and include a regional consultation for Pacific Island Countries (PICs) on the planned PTWS PTWC Enhanced Products. In event time, the topics include event monitoring and detection, threat evaluation and warning, alert dissemination, emergency response, evacuation, and public action. An effective tsunami warning system is achieved when all people in vulnerable coastal communities are prepared to respond appropriately and in a timely manner upon recognizing that a potential destructive tsunami may be approaching. Meeting this challenge requires round the-clock monitoring with real-time data streams and rapid alerting led by national tsunami warning centers, as well as prepared communities, a strong emergency management system able to respond immediately and efficiently, and close and effective cooperation between all stakeholders during the tsunami emergency. Stakeholders must be able to work in coordination and with good understanding of each other’s roles, responsibilities, authorities, procedures, and action during a tsunami event. Planning and preparedness, and practicing in advance of the real event, are important to familiarize agency staff with the steps and decision-making that will need to be carried out without hesitation in a real emergency. In this context, the training emphasizes the development of sound tsunami warning and emergency response standard operating procedures (SOPs) as a key requirement for successful end-to-end warning. On Day 4 and 5, the PTWS Working Group 2 Task Team on Enhanced Products will convene a regional consultation for PICs to obtain feedback on the understandability and use of the PTWC Enhanced Products, and their readiness for the expected PTWC product changeover in 2014.

 Informational Documents