Identifying societal challenges in flood early warning systems

Perera, Duminda, Agnihotri, Jetal, Seidou, Ousmane and Djalante, Riyanti, (2020). Identifying societal challenges in flood early warning systems. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 51 1-9

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  • Sub-type Journal article
    Author Perera, Duminda
    Agnihotri, Jetal
    Seidou, Ousmane
    Djalante, Riyanti
    Title Identifying societal challenges in flood early warning systems
    Appearing in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction   Check publisher's open access policy
    Volume 51
    Publication Date 2020-08-15
    Place of Publication Online
    Publisher Elsevier Ltd.
    Start page 1
    End page 9
    Language eng
    Abstract Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) are implemented in many parts of the world, but early warnings do not always translate into an emergency response from all individuals at risk. This article examines challenges such as warning communication and community response capabilities. Literature review, global online survey results, and experiential knowledge helped identify cross-cutting issues such as failure to use participatory approaches involving communities and addressing their concerns in warning, insufficient preparedness and response levels of FEWS, inadequate translation of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies into action at the community level, lack of DRR knowledge and practices among key stakeholders, insufficient gender and social inclusion in all stages of FEWS, gaps in institutional communication and collaboration, and, finally, technical and financial constraints. The paper also discusses the contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in addressing the identified challenges and eventually strengthening FEWS locally. CSOs were found to act positively at local level challenges and significantly contribute to addressing them through tailored solutions to community concerns. Such solutions include DRR awareness campaigns to educate the communities and key officials; enhanced communication between vulnerable communities and local authorities; transforming reactive community response that relied on government officials to a risk-informed and self-prepared community response; gender inclusion and diversity in various stages of FEWS; and advocacy campaigns to build resilience to disasters. Eventually, policy-based recommendations that can help to root out the challenges discussed in this study are presented.
    Keyword Civil society organizations (CSOs)
    Disaster risk reduction (DRR)
    Flood early warning systems (FEWS)
    Flood risk
    Preparedness
    Response
    Copyright Holder The Authors
    Copyright Year 2020
    Copyright type Creative commons
    ISSN 2212-4209
    DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101794
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    Created: Wed, 19 Aug 2020, 15:03:10 JST by Rachel Nunn on behalf of UNU IAS