REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON
EMERGENCY INFORMATION FLOWS IN DISASTER SITUATIONS:
THE ROLE OF BROADCASTERS
13TH – 14TH JUNE, 2005. BANGKOK, THAILAND
The recent Indian Ocean tsunami has highlighted the need for increased co-operation between the media and meteorological, oceanographic and disaster response organisations in ensuring that rapid and accurate information is quickly transmitted to the public. Radio and television broadcasting can be a vital communicator in this process, as well as playing an important long-term role in awareness-raising and supporting educational efforts to ensure a well-informed and prepared public.
DAY ONE (13th June)
08:30 hrs Registration and coffee
09:00 hrs Opening Remarks, Introduction and Orientation
made by Mr Pranesh C. Saha, Officer-in-Charge of the Environment and Sustainable Development Division on behalf of Dr Rae Kwon Chung, Director.
Martin Hadlow, UNESCO
Workshop facilitator will present objectives and brief introduction of speakers and participants.
M. Joe Chung, UN/ISDR office for Asia
Craig Hobbs, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Broadcast Participants:
Brief self-introduction by individual participating broadcasters introduce their organizations and their individual role in emergency alerts and disaster preparedness and response.
09:30 hrs Setting the scene: emergencies, disasters and public information- a United Nations perspective.
Joe Chung, Director, UN-ISDR:
governments in the communication of warnings, the need for “one voice” in disaster situations and the importance of radio and television in communicating messages.
Miguel Fortes, Head of Office,UNESCO-IOC Regional Secretariat for the Western Pacific(WESTPAC): "UNESCO-IOC: Enhancing National and Regional Capacity to Deliver Reliable Tsunami Warning
Haleh Kootval, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO):
The WMO and disaster/emergency information linkages with the media. An overview of media and meteorological services. Where, when and how to get to meteorological service information, and how to interpret and verify it.
10:30 hrs Coffee break
10:45 hrs Getting the message out: linking scientific and emergency organizations with the media
Representative of the National Met service in Thailand: Mr Sampan Thaikruawan
Director of Studies and Research Division
The ‘alert’ and information warning chain in
Thailand. How it is being planned, who is responsible and how it will operate ?
Masayuki Kitamoto, Representative Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC)
Total Disaster Risk Management (TDRM) and the role of media.
Lolita Bildan, Experience of ADPC in facilitating dialogue for enhancing improved governance of media on climate forecasts.
Discussion in plenary.
12:15 hrs Lunch
13:30 hrs Current Information Flows – From Geological/ Oceanic/Meteorological Organisations to Broadcasters
Broadcast Participants -- These presentations will include diagrams, graphic flow charts, outlines and contact lists presented in PowerPoint for easy visual reference for all participants and to serve as working documents for input and development by Geographic/ Oceanic/Meteorological Organisations and UNISDR.
15:30 hrs Coffee break
15:45 hrs Success stories: operational emergency warning systems
Tomio Kojima, Director of Disaster and Safety Information Centre, NHK, Japan:
NHK is a key partner in the warning chain in Japan. How the system functions and the limits of a broadcaster in the warning chain.
M. C. Wong Assistant Director of Hong Kong Observatory:
the mechanism in action and how information is tailored for broadcasters.
Discussion in plenary.
17:30 hrs Conclusions and close
19:00 hrs Workshop dinner
DAY TWO (14th June)
08:30 hrs Welcome coffee
09:00 hrs Planning for the future: strengthening broadcasting and emergency communication
Air Chief Marshall Anubhund Snidvongse, Vice Chairman of Sub-Committee on National Disaster Warning Center Administration, Thailand:
The ‘alert’ and information warning chain in Thailand. How it is being planned, who is responsible and how it will operate ?
Haleh Kootval, World Meteorological Organisation, The need for a strong media alliance. How to establish regular and strong contacts with media to update broadcasters?
Media training?
Martin Hadlow, UNESCO: reaction to the march tsunami alert and lessons learned in establishing mechanisms for the future.
Terje Skavdal, OCHA: the impact of disaster information in the field.
11.15 hrs
Group work: developing early-warning and disaster awareness systems and programmes
Participants with assistance from ADRC, WMO, UN-ISDR, UNESCO/IOC, NHK, ABU, Hong Kong Observatory:
Facilitator: Martin Hadlow, UNESCO
Groups review current national and regional disaster preparedness and emergency response mechanisms, public information efforts and educational awareness programmes. Development of proposals for the future, including training needs, training and publicity materials, educational publications and radio/television programmes, methodologies for more effective and efficient linkages with scientific and other organizations in ensuring the rapid delivery of messages in emergency and disaster situations.
12:30 hrs Lunch
14:00 hrs Presentations of group work
Representatives present the outcome of group discussions and deliberations. Plenary discussion after each presentation.
15:30 hrs Coffee Break
15:45 hrs Presentations of group work (continued)
17:00 hrs Plenary, workshop evaluation and conclusions
ADRC, WMO, UN-ISDR, UNESCO/IOC, ABU, NHK, Hong Kong Observatory
Facilitator: Martin Hadlow, UNESCO
18:00 hrs Close
NOTE -- Work to be done by participants – Outputs and Deliverables:
§ Create information flow charts, which identify the appropriate and respective meteorological, oceanographic and geographic organizations in their home country, regionally and internationally from whom information on various types of natural disasters is obtained.
§ Provide outlines on the methods, procedures, rates and accuracy in receiving emergency information from the sources mentioned above.
§ Provide outlines on the methods, procedures, rates and accuracy in delivering broadcast communication to individuals and communities.
§ Provide contacts within governmental and international meteorological/geographic and oceanic organisations for confirming information.
For further information, please contact:
Craig Hobbs
Sr Officer, International Relations & Development Communications Team
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
PO Box 1164
2nd Floor New IPTAR Building
Angkasapuri
Kuala Lumpur 59700
Malaysia
Phone: +60 3 2282 4205
Fax: +60 3 22824606
Email:
Brigitte Leoni
Media Relations Officer
United Nations Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction
Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva,10, Switzerland
Office A.578
Tel: (41.22) 917 49 68
Fax:(41.22) 917 01 69
Email: