Early Warning Networks & Communities

Caribbean tsunami warning program

The Caribbean Tsunami Warning Program (CTWP) was established in 2010. The office currently provides support and guidance for tsunami observations, including seismic and sea level systems, tsunami forecasting, communications and education and preparedness. It works closely with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center which are currently providing tsunami warning and guidance to the Caribbean. The CTWP also interacts and participates in the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunamis and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean Sea and Adjacent Regions. The staff is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and provides briefings and materials for use by the general public, government, scientists and broadcast media. The CTWP offices are located on the campus of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and collocated with its Puerto Rico Seismic Network.

Geohazards Community of Practice

The GHCP is a Community of Practice (CoP) supporting the Group on Earth Observations (GEO, http://www.earthobservations.org). The GHCP originated from the IGOS Geohazards Theme, which formed in the frame of the IGOS-Partnership.

The GHCP brings together groups and individuals involved in various aspects of geohazards, including research, monitoring and risk assessments, mitigation, and adaptation. The GHCP aims to provide a link between the broad geohazards community of practice and GEO in order to:

- ensure that the needs of this community are taken into account in the development of Global earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS),
- facilitate support and participation of this community in the building of GEOSS, and
- promote the use of GEOSS for geohazards-related applications.

The GHCP also provides a communication and coordinating platform for high level policy makers and the broader geohazards community.

Natural Disaster Management Forum (NDMF Nepal)

Natural Disaster Management Forum (NDMF Nepal), a member organization of National Network (DPNet Nepal), advocates on the issue of hydro-meteorological hazards since its establishment in 2002. It usually focuses on DRR, watershed management, community based climate resilient and ecosystem management in relation to DRR and climate change. The interested partners are welcomed to collaborate with the organizations in the areas of climate change and DRR, natural resource management through trainings, research, and sharing forums like conference, workshop, and symposium in Nepal.

Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning (PPEW)

The Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning, which started operations in 2004, will help the development of early warning and preparedness systems by advocating for better early warning systems, especially in development assistance policy and programs, collecting and disseminating information on best practices, and stimulating cooperation among early warning actors and the development of new ways to improve early warning systems. PPEW support international action necessary to more systematically integration of technical early warning capacities into policy and practice, and improve early warning systems worldwide in order to facilitate the development of effective, people centred early warning and preparedness systems. The Platform is advocating for better early warning systems, especially in development assistance policy and programs, collecting and disseminating information on best practices, and stimulating cooperation among early warning actors and the development of new ways to advance early warning systems. PPEW strongly supports the concept of people centred early warning systems which comprises four key elements of (i) risk knowledge, (ii) monitoring and warning service, (iii) dissemination and communication, and (iv) response capability.