In order to strengthen the efficient and effective interconnection among the four warning systems that make up the southeast Pacific region, UNESCO, in coordination with the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS), the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the national tsunami warning systems of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, has promoted the elaboration of the document “Standardised Operating Procedures for Early Tsunami Warning Communications in the Southeast Pacific”.
The document was prepared with the support of the Seventh Plan of Action of the Disaster Preparedness Programme (DIPECHO) for South America of the South American Office of the European Community Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Directorate General (DG-ECHO).
This initiative was aimed at strengthening national early tsunami warning systems in order to generate a regional system through shared strategies and standardised procedures at the regional, national and local levels. The document was prepared with to the contribution of national institutions within the tsunami warning systems, such as oceanographic institutes, seismological services and national disaster risk management departments.
The Virtual Platform of the Regional Early Tsunami Warning System is a tool that has two purposes. The first is to act as a platform for the exchange of technical and educational information regarding tsunamis in the southeast Pacific region. The second purpose is to construct a virtual space for communications among the authorities responsible for the Tsunami Warning Systems in each of the four countries, using the Regional Communications Protocol as a guide.
The CPPS has developed the Regional System’s Virtual Platform, and it will be responsible for hosting and keeping this platform online and up-to-date. At the same time, it will make the Platform available for communications exercises related to the Protocol, to be carried out by the Regional Coordinator of the Southeast Pacific Early Tsunami Warning System.