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US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) ProgramWhat is the US IOTWS program?In response to the December 2004 tsunami disaster, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently launched the United States government’s Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) program. Through this two-year, $16.6 million effort, scientists and experts from the United States will share their technical expertise, provide guidance, and help build early warning system capacity within the Indian Ocean region so that governments and communities will be able to detect and prepare for tsunamis and related coastal hazards.Who is involved?The US program involves several partner agencies with specialized expertise and access to resources for the region. These agencies include USAID, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of Agriculture/Forest Service (USDA/FS), and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). USAID’s Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDM/A) in Bangkok manages the program with the coordination support of a contractor that serves as the Program Integrator—a consortium of technical organizations including the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).
These partners are working very closely with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the United Nations agency that has lead responsibility for developing the Indian Ocean’s regional tsunami warning capabilities, as well as individual national and local governments to improve the capacity of their disaster warning systems. The US team is also collaborating with other donor nations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to ensure all priorities for the IOTWS are adequately addressed. Where is the US IOTWS program working?In addition to providing support for regional-level warning system components, our work includes targeted technical support to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and the Maldives—the countries most severely affected by the December 2004 disaster. Will the US program only focus on tsunamis?Because the Indian Ocean region faces many hazards involving similar early warning systems, the US program is “multi-hazard” and is designed to help countries simultaneously detect and issue warnings for cyclones, sea swells, floods, and earthquakes.What are the key activities of the US IOTWS program?Working in partnership with the international community, national governments, and others, the US IOTWS Program addresses hazard detection, prediction, warning, communication, and preparedness at all critical levels. Major activities include:
Where can I get more information?Visit the program's web site at www.iotws.org for information on upcoming activities, our progress, technical documents, and related materials. ContactsOrestes AnastasiaRegional Environmental Advisor U.S. Agency for International Development, RDMA GPF Witthayu Tower A, 93/1 Wireless Road Bangkok 10330 Thailand Tel: (66-2) 263-7468 E-mail: oanastasia@usaid.gov Peter Collier FURTHER READING | |||
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