Sri Lanka Offers ‘Lessons Learned’ Advice on Using The Media; NOAA, Are You Taking Notice?

The world would do well pay attention to the "lessons learned" advice coming from Indian Ocean region countries hit by the December 26 tsunami. As much as western nations want to prevent future tragedies on this scale, these nations want it more.

In Sri Lanka, for example, more than 30,000 people died and one million were left homeless in a population of 19 million. A web site maintained by LIRNE.NET, the Learning Initiatives on Reforms for Network Economies in Sri Lanka, asks: “Could the tsunami have been avoided? No. Could this extent of human loss have been avoided? Yes.”

LIRNE.NET says casualties could be limited with a society-wide reform of Sri Lanka’s emergency preparedness system, including communications:

“Public warning is a system, not a technology. The identification, detection and risk assessment of a hazard, the accurate identification of the vulnerability of a population at risk and finally the communication of information to the vulnerable population about the threat in sufficient time and clarity so that they take action to avert negative consequences constitute the system of public warning. Warning allows people to act in order to prevent hazards from becoming disasters. Effective public warning saves lives, reduces economic loss, reduces trauma and disruption in society and instills confidence and a sense of security in the public. It is an important component of the foundation of a sound economy.” (emphasis added)

Here’s what LIRNE.NET says about the integration of the broadcast media into the warning network – something this web log has advocated since January 2:

“The telecommunications and electronic broadcasting industries play crucial roles in the effective dissemination of warnings. Action to ensure optimal contributions from the telecommunications network of networks should be ensured through the collective efforts of the operators, facilitated by the regulator. Government should also work collaboratively with the electronic broadcasting industry to ensure effective contributions to early warning at national and local levels.”

Good observations from people who paid too high a price for a communications breakdown on December 26. If NOAA and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have done a similar review to improve tsunami warnings through media contacts, we haven't yet found it and certainly look forward to reading it.

Doug Carlson
Honolulu, HI
March 15, 2005