Warning Systems

Early warning systems form an important element of disaster risk management. Compared to systems for flood forecasting, that assess risk, early warning systems sends out a warning either when a community is at risk from imminent flooding or when a flood event is already affecting a community. There are four key elements of an early warning system for floods; these include a) assessments of flood risks, b) monitoring of local hazards (forecasts) and warning service, c) dissemination of flood risk information, and d) building community response capabilities. [^12] Warning systems can be incorporated into most existing communication infrastructures. This strategy is particularly valuable where protection through large scale, hard defenses, is not acquirable.[^1] Warning systems require constant monitoring and risk assessment.[^2] They are generally low-cost and have proven to be successful in numerous developed or developing countries.[^3]

Types of warning system

• Sensor Networks for Flood Detection are used for flood detection in areas that are affected by heavy rainfall and hurricanes.
• In a Based and GIS-Based Flood, Warning data is collected in real-time from hydrological observation stations. The data is then processed by a centralized computer system and results are sent to a client computer in a control room via remote access.
• Flood Warning based on Radio, SMS, TVs, and Phones use a microcontroller from the “ARM family, a Marvell 88F6281 and the Unix FreeBSD interface and integrated database.” Hydrological data is then sent in real-time for decision making via radio communication. [^11]

✓ Benefits

• Provides a prediction of the scale, timing, location, and likely damage that might be caused by an impending flood
• Provides timely notice for the release of gated dam water. This helps to, reduce damage to communities and ecosystems
• Can serve as an adaptation measure at the individual and household level because data can be sent directly to individuals within a household.
• When implemented at the local and regional scales, it can reach those groups that are especially vulnerable to flooding. [^12]
• Helps to improve disaster preparedness and hence can significantly reduce expensive disaster relief efforts.

✗ Challenges

• Success is dependent on public acceptance and participation
• Can sometimes be easily ignored especially warning systems along highways
• Flood warning efficiency and distribution could be reduced by limited access to communication networks, particularly in remote regions
• False alarms could lead to uncertainty and hesitancy in future responses.
• Availability and accessibility of good quality real-time data may be limited [^12]

Citations

<! data-preserve-html-node="true"-- Regular citations --> [^1]: Zhu, Xianli, et al. Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation - Coastal Erosion and Flooding. 2010, pp. 92. https://orbit.dtu.dk/files/5699563/Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation-Coastal Erosion and Flooding.pdf. [^2]: Ibid, 92. [^3]: Ibid, 95-96. [^4]: Ibid, 99.
[^5]: Ibid, 99.
[^6]: Ibid, 99.
[^7]: Ibid, 100.
[^8]: Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “River Forecast Centre.” Province of British Columbia, Province of British Columbia, 14 May 2019, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/river-forecast-centre. [^9]: Ibid.
[^10]: Ibid.
[^11]: Keoduangsine, S., Goodwin, R., & Gardner-Stephen, P. (2014). A Review of Flood Warning Systems in Developed and Developing Countries. International Journal of Future Computer and Communication, 3(3), 172.
[^12]: United Nations, DHI Centre of Water and Environment. (n.d). Early warning systems for floods. https://www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/resources/early_warning_systems_for_floods_0.pdf