EWC III Bonn, March 2006 Early Warning Systems for Natural Disasters in Korea Sam-Kew ROH, Ph.D. National Institute for Disaster Prevention National Emergency Management Agency Republic of Korea
2 Background Various systematic early warning systems have been established and operating in Korea Construction of SAFE KOREA, that protects the people by fast and correct disaster information dissemination through the variety of IT technologies Contribution to the construction of Early Warning System in Asia-Pacific area for disaster forecast and operation skills
3 Status of Natural Disaster Warning Systems in Korea No Equipment/System Installation set Target for info. Alert method Management host 1 CBS Mobile-Phone Disaster Notification Message Broadcasting System 37.5 Million Users CBS User 23 Million Message broadcasting (Mobile Phone) Central 2 Automatic Verbal (Text) Notification System 234 set nation wide Civil official, head of government offices and specific regional residents about 550,000 people Guidance-information broadcasting (wire and mobile phones, etc) Regional 3 Automatic Rainfall Warning System 148 set nation wide Valley, Mountain, Public places, holiday-makers, campers, etc Warn-alarming, guidanceinformation broadcasting Regional 4 Disaster Notification Board System 299 set nation wide The specific regional residents, holiday-makers, etc Propagation and notification of disaster by wording through electronic board Regional 5 TV Disaster Warning Broadcasting System 3997 set nation wide Disaster Prevention & Countermeasures Headquarters at each local provinces and each regional administrative offices and its related institutes. Auto TV Power-On, Volume-Up, broadcasting the situation Central 6 Radio Disaster Warning Broadcasting System 5 area Residents, Holiday-makers, etc Auto Audio Amp Power-On, Alarming and Guidanceinformation broadcasting Regional
4 Cell Broadcasting Service NEMA Request to CBS message Transmission at disaster area CBS System of Mobile Telecom Company Base Station CBS message on mobile phone which is located at broadcasted area NEMA Mobile Telecom Company End user (Mobile phone with ) CBS service function] CBS Message Transmission flow
5 Automatic Verbal Notification System 1. Collection and analysis of disaster information Rain, river level or any emergency situation KMA Flood Control Center Regional Disaster Prevention & Countermeasures Headquarter 2. Choose person to inform Call related officers using emergency communication network. Notification to disaster related institutes. Notification to residents located at disaster area. Telephone network Related area (or Home) 3. Tool for notification village broadcast amplifier automatic answer telephone wire phone, mobile phone, etc 4. Activities for disaster prevention such as resident evacuation.
6 Disaster Notification Board System
7 TV Disaster Warning Broadcasting System
8 Radio Disaster Warning Broadcasting System 1. Out breaking of emergent disaster situation and its foreseeing warns when out breaking of local downpour, typhoon attack, flooding warns at the vulnerable time 2. Requesting of alarming the disaster warning at specific area 3. Reviewing of disaster warning alarming and operation Finalizing the area and selecting correct sentence Starting operation of disaster warning alarming system 4. Acting of disaster warn alarming system for and at specific area 5. Starting of disaster warn broadcasting Auto radio turning on and maximizing of its volume at specific area 6. Proactive disaster prevention activities such as relevant residents sheltering
9 Case Study Automatic Rainfall Warning System
10 Automatic Rainfall Warning System System Overview Conduct warning and information broadcasting in and around mountain valley area
11 Automatic Rainfall Warning System System Overview Automatic rainfall (water level) observing station at the upper and middle area of mountain valley Control Station Automatic warning system at the lower area Rainfall Station Warning Station Automatic remote control/ monitoring station at control center Monitoring Station
12 Developing Hazard Forecasting Automatic Rainfall Warning System Predefine rainfall amount for warning through runoff analysis Dissemination Mechanisms The Rainfall Station transmits the relevant data to the Control Station when sensing the predefined rainfalls The Warning Station sets off warning siren and information message according to the result of management of the Monitoring Station
13 Observing the Hazards Automatic Rainfall Warning System Automatically observing rain fall, water level status at the upper/middle areas
14 Automatic Rainfall Warning System Snap Shots Control Station Warning Station Monitoring Station
15 Legislative and Legal Framework Automatic Rainfall Warning System Disaster and Safety Management Basic Law: Articles 38 & 66 Implementation of disaster warning systems and related budget Financial and Resource Requirements From 1996 to 2005 148 sets, US$64 million From 2006 to 2009 113 sets, US$37 million
16 Organizational Roles and Linkages Automatic Rainfall Warning System Central Government: The National Emergency Management Agency Planning, Management of system Development of techniques Budget support: 50% of the total cost Local Governments: Provincial and County Level Operation of warning system Maintenance Education and publicizing of system
17 Lessons learned Automatic Rainfall Warning System PRECISE WARNING CRITERIA Required At first, 8 mm/10min of precipitation makes signal Frequent false alarms make the system mistrustful The warning criteria need to be improved according to each region s characteristics through runoff analysis
18 Specific Recommendations Automatic Rainfall Warning System The concept and framework of this Automatic Rainfall Warning System can be expanded and applied various sites for multi-hazards (typhoon, torrential rain, tsunami, etc.) It needs accurate basic input data and information precise forecasting techniques practical warning criteria proper locations of each station
19 Future Direction for Early Warning Systems Towards Comprehensive Early Warning Systems To construct a working Early Warning System, international cooperation, as well as system refinement, is important to minimize loss of lives in the regional level. Need to expand and integrate currently-available local warning systems into a regional level covering multi-hazards including Tsunami, Typhoon and Tidal wave. Effective Early Warning Systems need to consider emergency action plan, disaster response activities including emergency aid and training.
20 Thank You