KOCHI: Bringing the entire machinery of the disaster management system under one umbrella, the state is all set to launch Project KaWaCHaM soon. Project KaWaCHaM Kerala warnings, crisis and hazards management system will bring the entire early warning system under a framework that will disseminate the knowledge, issue the warning, monitor a developing crisis and ensure a response capacity network.
The ambitious warning network system which will be headed by the state emergency operation centre, will work at the taluk level.
“KaWaCHaM has been conceived and developed to do hazard assessment, issue alerts and take action based on threat level. The Orange book of disaster management which has been upgraded to address all natural disasters, also has pandemic management along with it. This helps officials address a lot of issues because the SOPs are in place and they just need to watch out for the SEOC warnings,” said Shekar Kuriakose, member secretary, Kerala state disaster management authority (KSDMA) during a presentation at a conclave on disaster management recently.
But KaWaCHaM brings in data from not only weather networks like IMD, INCOIS, CWC and other nodal private and public agencies but also social media networks and the internet.
The unique element of dissemination includes setting up of 126 sirens and strobe lights in towers and government buildings, pre-recorded voice and hooting incorporated for various types of warnings. These can be activated at state, district and taluk level.
“We are working on different levels of alerts for different disasters and the kind of sirens and signals,” he said.
Officials said that the state is in discussion with the various social network platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, twitter, Google API etc. for issuing community alerts like that in the US.
Volunteers network, already existing in the form of Samoohika Sannadhasena, NGOs will be trained in preparedness, rescue and rehabilitation, etc. Communication systems will also include the inclusion of differently abled-sign language and audio.
Shelter networks have already been documented with 20,000 buildings with capacity to house 4 lakh people. These include 17 specialized shelters across Kerala.
An impact forecast is being prepared for single as well as multi-scenario assessment of impacts. The landslide early warning system is in a development stage while flood forecasting and warning systems for major rivers are being developed. The project will run on a pilot mode for the next one year.
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