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Strengthening of Risk Assessment and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems for Meteorological, Hydrological and Climate Hazards in the Caribbean For more information, please contact: World Meteorological Organization Communications and Public Affairs Office Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 83 14/15 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 27 E-mail: [email protected] Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 80 06 – Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 81 28 E-mail: [email protected] Final Report 7 bis, avenue de la Paix – P.O. Box 2300 – CH-1211 Geneva 2 – Switzerland 17 November 2011 Strengthening of Risk Assessment and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems for Meteorological, Hydrological and Climate Hazards in the Caribbean the in Hazards Climate and Hydrological Meteorological, for Systems Warning Early Multi-hazard and Assessment Risk of Strengthening www.wmo.int P-WDS_111625 WMO-No. 1082 DRR-CARIB-1 (2011) Strengthening of Risk Assessment and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems for Meteorological, Hydrological and Climate Hazards in the Caribbean WMO-No. 1082 Final report 17 November 2011 WMO-No. 1082 Reprinted in April 2012 © World Meteorological Organization 2012 The right of publication in print, electronic and any other form and in any language is reserved by WMO. Short extracts from WMO publications may be reproduced without authorization, provided that the complete source is clearly indicated. Editorial correspondence and requests to publish, reproduce or translate this publication in part or in whole should be addressed to: Chair, Publications Board World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 7 bis, avenue de la Paix Tel.: +41 (0) 22 730 84 03 P.O. Box 2300 Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 80 40 CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland E-mail: [email protected] ISBN 978-92-63-11082-??? NOTE The designations employed in WMO publications and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of WMO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Opinions expressed in WMO publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of WMO. The mention of specific companies or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WMO in preference to others of a similar nature which are not mentioned or advertised. CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . ix CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION . 1-1 CHAPTER 2 – ABOUT THE CARIBBEAN . 2-1 2.1 Risks associated with meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards in a changing climate in the Caribbean................................................. 2-1 2.1.1 Overview of the Caribbean region ........................................... 2-1 2.1.2 Hydrometeorological and climate hazards in the Caribbean...................... 2-2 2.1.3 Vulnerability of the Caribbean to meteorological, hydrological and climate- related hazards........................................................... 2-5 2.1.4 Climate change impacts in the Caribbean ..................................... 2-6 2.2 Examples of good practices in Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the region.......... 2-6 2.3 Caribbean stakeholders and regional mechanisms supporting disaster risk reduction ...... 2-7 2.4 The World Meteorological Organization network supporting the Caribbean............... 2-11 CHAPTER 3 – METHODOLOGY FOR THE ASSESSMENT . 3-1 3.1 Framework for a service delivery and cooperation of National Meteorological Services with various stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems.... 3-1 3.2 Scope of the assessment......................................................... 3-3 3.3 Sources of information for the assessment.......................................... 3-4 CHAPTER 4 – SELECTION OF OTHER RELEVANT PROJECTS . 4-1 CHAPTER 5 – ASSESSMENT OF CAPACITIES, GAPS AND NEEDS . 5-1 5.1 Governance and institutional frameworks in disaster risk reduction and early warning systems....................................................................... 5-1 5.1.1 Stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean .................................................. 5-1 5.1.2 Policies and legal frameworks for disaster risk reduction and Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean .......................................... 5-2 iv RISK ASSESSMENT AND MULTI-HAZARD EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN THE CARIBBEAN Page 5.2 Development of institutional coordination and user-interface mechanisms ............... 5-2 5.2.1 Institutional arrangements among National Meteorological Services and disaster risk management agencies to support Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean ............................................................... 5-2 5.2.2 Dissemination of products and services ...................................... 5-5 5.2.3 Feedback mechanisms..................................................... 5-7 5.2.4 Highest priorities for service delivery to support Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean .................................................. 5-8 5.3 Development of National Meteorological Services products and services to meet the needs of Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems stakeholders.................................... 5-8 5.3.1 Hazard-analysis products to support risk assessment ........................... 5-9 5.3.2 Data products ............................................................ 5-10 5.3.3 Forecast and warning products.............................................. 5-11 5.3.4 Expertise and advisory services ............................................. 5-13 5.3.5 Highest priorities with regard to product and service development................ 5-13 5.4 Core capacities of National Meteorological Services to support Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean ........................................................ 5-14 5.4.1 Observation and monitoring networks and systems ............................ 5-14 5.4.2 Operational forecasting systems ............................................ 5-16 5.4.3 Hydrometeorological data management and exchange systems .................. 5-18 5.4.4 Product development processes within National Meteorological Services .......... 5-19 5.4.5 Information technology and telecommunication capacities ...................... 5-19 5.4.6 The requirement for National Meteorological Services for comprehensive Quality Management Systems..................................................... 5-20 5.4.7 Human resource capacities and training ...................................... 5-21 5.4.8 Highest priorities with regard to the core and overarching capacities of Caribbean National Meteorological Services............................................ 5-21 5.5 Operational relationships with other technical agencies ............................... 5-22 5.5.1 Highest priorities with regard to operational relationships with other technical agencies . 5-23 5.6 Strengthening of Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems at national and regional levels...... 5-23 5.6.1 National aspects.......................................................... 5-24 5.6.2 Regional coordination in Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems. 5-25 5.6.3 Highest priorities with regard to Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems regional and national aspects .......................................................... 5-26 5.6.4 Public outreach and educational programmes ................................. 5-26 5.6.5 Highest priority issues related to public outreach and educational programmes ..... 5-27 CHAPTER 6 – SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 6-1 6.1 Operational cooperation between National Meteorological Services, disaster risk management agencies and other stakeholders....................................... 6-1 6.2 Dissemination and feedback mechanisms related to meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards and early warning systems................................... 6-1 6.3 National Meteorological Services product and service development to support disaster risk management agencies ....................................................... 6-1 6.4 Reinforcement of the core capacities of National Meteorological Services to meet the needs of disaster risk management stakeholders..................................... 6-2 6.5 Cooperation with other technical agencies .......................................... 6-3 CONTENTS v Page 6.6 Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems regional and national aspects ..................... 6-4 6.7 Public outreach and educational programmes ....................................... 6-4 CHAPTER 7 – NEXT STEPS AND PHASE I PROJECT PRIORITIES . 7-1 APPENDIX 1 – TABLES . App .1-1 APPENDIX 2 – BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS . App .2-1 APPENDIX 3 – REFERENCES AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS . App .3-1 APPENDIX 4 – LIST OF ACRONYMS . App .4-1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) would like to express its deepest appreciation to WMO Members who participated and contributed to this assessment, as well as the WMO Regional Association (RA) IV president and management group, members of RA IV task team on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the RA IV Hurricane Committee, who contributed significantly through their advice and guidance. The World Meteorological Organization is grateful for the significant contributions of the senior management and experts from disaster risk management (DRM) agencies,
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