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Emergency Communications for Disaster Management In this issue:
Getting hazard warning messages to disaster
management officials
Last-mile hazard information dissemination
Disaster Resource Network
GSM alarm device for disaster early warning
Open Care: Making order out of chaos

January-April 2007 Vol. 13 No. 1
a newsletter of and for the community of disaster risk management practitioners and development workers
Emergency Communications for
Disaster Management
In this issue:
Getting hazard warning messages to disaster
management officials
Last-mile hazard information dissemination
Disaster Resource Network
GSM alarm device for disaster early warning
Open Care: Making order out of chaos Dear Readers,
The first issue of the Asian Disaster Management News in 2007 comes to you
highlighting Emergency Communications, a critical, evolving area with great
potential for deliberation and action.
Communications technologies play a crucial role in providing the means for
propagating and disseminating disaster related information. Effective and robust
communications in any emergency or in the promotion of preparedness and
awareness can provide communities with the necessary advance knowledge or
warnings to take mitigating action. After the 2004 tsunami, many countries have
made progress in improving their communication systems to incorporate the needs
for and to cope with natural disasters and for disaster management. Yet there
remains the need for a collective effort across all industries, communities and all
countries to bring to attention the gaps, challenges and problems alongside the
lessons learned in providing these capacities. In addition, despite the need to be
consistent in the application of these technologies, we must not allow these to
preclude the local context for these warnings. No matter how expensive or
sophisticated systems are, they would be totally ineffective without education.
A combined approach of indigenous and modern technologies with widespread
continuous education on the potential risks and hazards faced can provide an end-to-
end emergency communications framework.
ADPC acknowledges and thanks all the invited contributors with special mention to
the Climate Risk Management unit of ADPC in the production of the publication.
I present to you the concepts and technologies of emergency communications.
Dr. Luis Jorge Perez-Calderon
Deputy Executive Director
ADPC staff honored
ADPC, at its gala new year celebration on 19 Jan 2007, paid special tribute to the commitment and dedication of 18 of its
staff who have marked 5-10 years of service to the organization.
Four staff, Mr. Loy Rego, Ms. Hla Hla, Ms. Benjaporn Sutthiprapa and Ms. Suree Sungcharoen were recognised and
praised for their long service of ten years or more. Fourteen others, Ms. Hnin Nwe Win, Ms. Clarence M. Carlos,
Ms. Wannapa Boonprasom, Mr. Prasarn Pueng-ngoen, Ms. Janette Ugsang, Ms. Cinthuja Leon, Ms. Lolita Bildan,
Ms. Budsarin Chuensombat, Ms. Chutima Saengnapabovorn, Ms. Ling Ling Jiang, Mr. N.M.S.I Aranmepola,
Ms. Sirikarn Kahattha, Ms. Anchalee Sirivadhanakul, Mr. Frederick John Abo and Mr. A.R. Subbiah were recognized for
their contributions of over five years. Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
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S.H.M. Fakhruddin
fakhruddin@adpc.net
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
THEME: EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Emergency Communications
for Disaster Management
All disaster emergencies and crisis events are by nature
chaotic and highly dynamic, creating physical, emotional,
and social disorder. In such crisis events and
emergencies, communications is critical at all phases of
disaster management. Communications during
emergencies incorporates a wide range of measures to
manage risks to communities and the environment.
Drawing from various sources that include
telecommunication satellites, radar, telemetry,
meteorology and remote sensing, early warning is made
possible.
Before disasters strike, telecommunications can be used
as a conduit for disseminating information about the
impending danger thus, making it possible for people to
take the necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of
these hazards. Other telecommunication applications,
including remote sensing and global positioning system
(GPS), have critical roles to play in tracking approaching
hazards, alerting authorities, warning affected
populations, coordinating relief operations, assessing
damages and mobilizing support for reconstruction. It is
clear therefore that telecommunications play a pivotal
role in disaster prevention, mitigation, and management.
The 2004 tsunami was a wake up call for the whole world
on the importance of timely emergency communications
for disaster management. There is no doubt that we have
reached the era of unlimited, real-time information
sharing and mobile communications. Why, may one ask,
are communications for disaster management still a topic
for discussion, when news travel around the globe in
minutes and cellular phones provide instant personal
communication links? Unfortunately, the reality looks
different.
Policy and Institutional Framework for Emergency
Communications
Policy and regulations are important elements of
emergency communications planning and management.
One of the main hindrances to effective establishment of
telecommunications for disaster mitigation is the lack of
a legal and regulatory regime. Before 2004, institutional
frameworks and policies of regulatory commissions were
far from incorporating contingency planning for disaster
management. Horizontal cooperation among specialized
services at each level is as essential as the vertical lines
of communication for emergency communications. This
requires established links between disaster coordinators,
telecommunications authorities and service providers at
each level. Governments need to take important steps to
eliminate the monopoly of public telecommunications
enterprise and to undertake a review of current
telecommunications legislation, including regulations
incorporating emergency telecommunication systems
and protocols to support emergency services. For
example, SMS messages are more resilient against
blocking than voice calls in GSM networks, as they are
distributed in a different way, hence emergency
messages can be delivered via SMS broadcasts to select
user groups. As there are no clauses to support
emergency responders or disaster management while
issuing telecommunication licenses, issues like cost
involvement and sharing was raised by private operators
demonstrating the importance of raising awareness
among authorities as well as the public.
Public mobile networks are used as much as possible to
transfer data from sensors, via SMS or data channels.
This facility can be negotiated with commercial operators
and secured by means of service agreements. The cost
will normally be lower than the cost of ownership for
private radio links when operation and maintenance,
service/ repair and spare parts are taken into account.
Priority and national roaming will be enabled for certain
user groups in the commercial mobile networks, thus,
avoiding the main objections that arose against the use
of these networks in emergencies. These initiatives have
to follow a step-wise approach and maintain a close
cooperation with operators.
The Tampere Convention provides a legal framework for
the use of telecommunications in international
humanitarian assistance, reduces regulatory barriers, and
protects providers of telecommunication assistance while
safeguarding the interests of the host country. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is looking
at practical ways of helping countries ratify the Tampere
Convention and is making an assessment on the
implementation of this treaty. This will no doubt, help
countries determine how best to smooth the rough edges
Photo credit: S.H.M.Fakhruddin, ADPC 2006 Asian Disaster Management News January-April 2007
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THEME: EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
of the implementation process so as to pave the way for
a faster, unhindered, and effective deployment of
telecommunications resources by all humanitarian actors
before, during and after disasters strike.
Emergency Communications for Disaster Preparedness
It is said that keeping people connected is keeping people
safe. Communication is a part of every day life. Think of a
day without communications! It has long been recognized
that if a community is capable of receiving or
communicating advance information on hazards, their
associated adverse effects can be minimized. Effective
early warning and proper evacuation orders empower
individuals and communities to respond appropriately to
a threat in order to reduce the risk of death, injury, and
property loss and damage. The communication of warning
message should inform what is happening, what it is
relevant to that person, and what that person can do. It
should be communicated in a clear, simple language and
delivered with enough lead-time for the recipient to take
any necessary action.
Multiple communication channels are required by
communities to