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- 10/21/08: Remarks by Henrietta Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance at the White House Development Summit
- 10/08/08: Remarks by Henrietta Fore, USAID Administrator and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance at The President's Freedom Agenda
- 10/01/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at the Ceremony Marking the Full Operational Capacity of Africa Command (AFRICOM)
- 09/25/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at 2008 Millennium Development Goal Malaria Summit, New York - "U.S. Leadership in the Fight Against Malaria"
- 09/22/08: Remarks by Henrietta H. Fore, Administrator, USAID and Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance, at the White House Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy - "U.S. Commitment to Advancing Global Literacy"
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Remarks by Timothy T. Beans, Regional Director
USAID Regional Development Mission/Asia
Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System
Press Conference
Opening Remarks
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen and Members of the Press,
My name is Tim Beans. I am the Mission Director for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Development Mission for Asia, based here in Bangkok. It is my sincere pleasure to address you all today and formally announce the launch of the United States Government's $16.6 million support over the next two years for the development of an integrated Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System that will allow countries in the Indian Ocean region to detect and prepare for future tsunamis and related coastal hazards.
The December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean was one of the most devastating natural disasters in memory, and as you all know, most all the coastal communities that were hit with tsunami waves were completely unprepared. As a result of the tsunami, approximately 220,000 persons perished and many other suffered serious injuries, both physical and psychological. Over 1.5 million people have been displaced by the tsunami in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India, with smaller numbers in the other affected countries. Only days after the tsunami wreaked its devastation throughout the Indian Ocean Region, there was broad agreement among nations around the world that a warning system within an approved global framework of warning systems would have helped save numerous lives and property.
 The U.S. Government is responding to this need with a comprehensive program to share our technical capability and experience in facing tsunamis and related hazards in collaboration with the international community. Our program will primarily focus on those countries most directly affected by the December 2004 tsunami, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, as well as the Maldives. However, many of our activities will have profound benefits for the region as a whole.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is leading this integrated US Government program to strengthen tsunami warning and response capabilities through international, regional, national and local interventions. Utilizing expertise from USAID, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Geological Survey (USGS), US Forest Service (USFS) and the US Trade and Development Authority (USTDA), the program will strengthen disaster preparedness and response systems as part of a multi-hazard "end-to-end" framework.
USAID recently contracted with a joint venture between the International Resources Group and Tetra Tech, Inc. to provide overall support to the U.S. program as a contractor serving as a "Lead Program Integrator". The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center is a principal sub-contractor and will contribute additional technical resources.
Experts from these five U.S. Government agencies are here with us today to explain about how the US Government is assisting the region to implement an end-to-end Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. In a few minutes I will introduce them to you and welcome you to pose questions to this distinguished panel.
What does an end-to-end tsunami warning system mean? It means that regional forecasting systems are not only put into place, but that protocols match international standards, and that data is quickly and accurately evaluated and, if a tsunami is generated, that this information is conveyed to neighboring nations rapidly.
At the national level, an end-to-end system ensures that countries are able to receive tsunami and hazard warnings, and effectively direct that information to coastal communities and emergency responders.
At the local level, it means that action plans are in place to evacuate citizens from hazardous areas, and that local citizens are properly educated and informed about what to do.
In sum, an integrated end -to-end disaster management system begins with the most advanced global technological framework, and links effectively all the way through international, national and local networks in order to save lives and hasten recovery.
In addition to making sure we address ALL critical steps of a tsunami warning system, we recognize the importance of addressing other hazards closely related to tsunami. For this reason, as we work to strengthen tsunami readiness, we are also strengthening their ability to deal with multiple other hazards at the same time. That is why you will constantly hear us use the term all hazards system.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System requires the commitment of all national governments and the involvement of many others in the international community. Our program recognizes the important role the United Nations' Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and acknowledges that the IOC will serve as the main focal point for developing the Indian Ocean system.
The Tsunami Warning System employed by the USG in the Pacific works. In fact it provided one of the first warnings of the Tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean on December 26. The challenge that faces us today is to develop a system that works in the Indian Ocean as effectively as it works in the Pacific. This means that information must get down quickly and effectively to the local level-to the people that are directly at risk- so that lives are saved.
The array of U.S. government agencies you see gathered here is a definite indication not only of the broad expertise required for effectively developing a tsunami warning system, but it also reflects our dedication to our friends in this region. We're committed to helping make it work.
More than just technological know how, the United States Government is committed to the construction of a system that builds on our collective strengths, reduces our weaknesses and adheres to the values and ideas of the people it will serve to protect.
This week, 5 U.S. Government Agencies have convened in Bangkok to kick-off the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Program. But the U.S. is not just starting this program. For several months, we have been working closely with our partners the development the proper response to future tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region. At the IOC's Intergovernmental Coordination Group (ICG) meeting in Perth, over a month ago, our experts from NOAA presented a conceptual design for the entire Indian Ocean system. We have also supported the IOC's efforts to conduct national assessments of tsunami capabilities in the region, and we'll be playing a significant role in organizing and publishing the results of those assessments. We have also begun the process of making information publicly available about proven technologies necessary for successful warning systems. One of our partner agencies, USTDA, is close to signing agreements with four of the national governments to provide assistance in communications technologies and emergency systems.
In the coming weeks and months we are going to begin formulating more specific activities involving technology transfer, capacity building, and training.
We hope this information sharing has been helpful in improving understanding about the U.S. Government contribution to the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.
One thing that personally motivates me are the principles and beliefs that are the basis of this initiative: that international cooperation can be strengthend and used to improve peoples lives, that danger and suffering can be reduced and people can live safer and more productie lives. We all can learn from one another and share best practices to make the world a better place.
At this time I would like to introduce you to colleagues from each of our partner agencies.
Dr. David Green, Tsunami Program Manager
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Dr. Walter Mooney, Seismologist
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Ms. Deanne Shulman, Emergency Management Specialist, Disaster Mitigation Programs,
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA Forest Service)
Stacy Bonnaffons, Asia Regional Manager,
U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
I'd like to thank our panelists for generously sharing their knowledge with us, and members of the press for their attention to this vitally important regional program.
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