Project description

Title: Tsunami Early Warning System for Indonesia: Strengthening the Local Organisation of Warning and Disaster Protection
Commissioned by: GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ) Potsdam
Financier: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Country: Indonesia; project regions: Sumatra, Java, Bali
Lead executing agency: State Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK)
Overall term: 2006 to 2010

Context

On 26 December 2004 a severe earthquake off the coast of Sumatra triggered a tsunami that devastated coastlines all around the Indian Ocean. The extent of the disaster was colossal: more than 230,000 people lost their lives and a further 2.8 million people were left homeless. Although the quake was registered by measuring stations all over the world, it was not possible to warn people in the affected regions in time, let alone begin to evacuate them.

Countries that border the Indian Ocean are in a region with a constantly high risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. That is why, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), German research institutes, along with Indonesian partners under the leadership of the GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), are making an important contribution to developing a Tsunami Early Warning System.

However, an early warning system can only be effective if the organisations and people responsible are able to translate technical signals into protective measures.

Objective

Universally valid procedures and mechanisms are in place, so that in the event of a natural disaster, warnings can be issued and, where necessary, evacuations can be initiated and implemented successfully in the areas affected.

Approach

GTZ contribution to developing the Tsunami Early Warning System involves capacity development measures for its partners, so that in the event of a tsunami warning they can react effectively and get people to safety in the regions affected. In so doing, GTZ is building on emergency and transitional aid measures following the tsunami in Indonesia.

Starting in mid-2006 the programme has been implemented in three pilot regions. As part of a continuous consulting process, GTZ and its partners have been developing and testing standard decision-making procedures on in the event of disaster alerts, processes and technologies for issuing and disseminating warnings and evacuation plans. Lessons learned from the pilot regions will have a bearing on national regulations.

In addition, GTZ is supporting the Indonesian authorities in a broadly-based public awareness campaign. The programme promotes the development of local disaster protection plans, as well as the strengthening of decentralised disaster protection structures. It also carries out further training for local decision-makers in at-risk areas.

Results achieved so far

The early warning system is the foundation of a technical and functional organisation and early warning network designed to counter the threats posed by earthquakes and tsunamis. The procedures developed have demonstrated their effectiveness under testing: a large-scale simulation exercise was conducted and documented in one of the partner communities. This is considered one of the most significant models to date.

Lessons learned from the pilot regions were evaluated and written up as handouts, progress reports and policy papers. These documents are recognised as good-practice procedures and are actively applied both by national partners and in the international context.

Results and lessons learned from the pilot regions have been applied to other regions at risk from tsunamis since January 2009.

Further information

• German-Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System
  www.gitews.org