Colombia ITP 2004 Report

The 2004 International Training Programme took place during August 9-27th , at the International Tsunami Information Center (ITIC) in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Provided by: COLOMBIA, Ing. Camilo Botero S.

The Delegation of Colombia at ITSU/ITP 2004 was presented for an answer to the question of IOC of possible candidates to participate in this program. In Colombia two different people presented: an research of the Southwest Seismic Observatory, and also me as a Technical Secretary of the Technical Secretary of National Tsunami Warning Committee.

My duties as a Technical Secretary of National Tsunami Warning Committee, is the coordination of with national different entities, that also had the responsibility of Tsunami Fields. This situation made that my interest in the training was general about all kin of subjects, because the information learned I must reply to each responsible entity. However, I had a particular interest about planning design and education campaigns.  For other side, my formation as environmental engineer makes interest me for different scientific fields, like the numerical modeling and knowledge advances in tsunami phenomenon.

Different visits to different places, direct contact with the people responsible of each emergency center and the PTWC, was determinants for understand the magnitude with that we must work the subject of warning tsunami field and the possible emergency attention. As the same way, the knowledge of the procedures permit to analyze the advance degree, that Colombia has in the warning system.

The homework and duties that rest are all, because the objective of assisted to this program is also to serve of catalyze about the main origin country.  Particularly in Colombia, we must find improve the warning procedures, disclose the evacuation maps exist and include the country in the regional warning systems. Also to increase with the requirement information to the early National Tsunami Risk Management Plan.