A briefing paper for the interface of Ina-TEWS: Improving the upstream-downstream interface in the Indonesian end to end tsunami early warning and mitigation system (Ina-TEWS)

Due to the catastrophic impact of recent tsunamis in the Indian ocean region and the inadequacy of preparedness to minimise those loses, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS) was introduced and became fully operational in 2013. IOTWMS has been largely successful in delivering effective warnings through regional cooperation. However, several gaps exist, especially in its operation at an individual country level. This is due to dynamics in institutions and actors at the national and local level. An effective end-to-end tsunami early warning system typically entails upstream and downstream processes, the former dealing with earthquake detection and tsunami prediction, and the latter with disseminating the warning and evacuation of people. Between the upstream and downstream processes there is an interface arrangement where the warning and evacuation decisions are taken, and disseminated to national and local level institutions. A detailed study was undertaken to understand the technical, legal and socio-cultural complexities that occur during the interface of tsunami early warning systems, looking at two case studies, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The Indonesian tsunami early warning system (Ina-TEWS) was launched in Indonesia in 2008, with the participation of a variety of local and international stakeholders. This briefing paper summarises findings of the Indonesian component of the study and presents a series of recommendations to improve the interface arrangements of Ina-TEWS.