Demonstration adaptation project :  Early Warning – developing and testing a people-centred system of early warnings for extreme weather events, by the use of modern technology 

Location:  the County of Sogn og Fjordane, in Western Norway.

The man objective of the project is to develop, demonstrate and test an effective, reliable and cost-effective early warning system with a multi-hazard approach.

The system will, as far as possible and appropriate, be based on already available modern technology and infrastructure, and within existing legislative and institutional frameworks. The project will focus on how the technology can enable local authorities and people to adapt to climate change related events.

In order to establish a cost-effective and sustainable early warning system, multi-hazard approaches are prerequisite. The system and operational activities must therefore be established within a framework that considers the warning needs of all undesirable events and hazards (natural and man-made), and the requirements of end-users.

The dissemination system must ensure warning to both permanent residents of an area as well as temporary visitors, and also to key information points, such as tourist offices, hotels, campsites, buses and boats.

The telephone will be the most important medium for distributing warnings (a combination of fixed phone lines and mobile phone lines). Text messages (SMS) and spoken messages alerting the public to a natural hazard or disaster will be distributed to all phones within a certain distance from the natural hazard or disaster in question.

It will, however, remain an important objective to identify and map other available systems/technologies that can be used to network and disseminate information, and/or be developed, upgraded or adapted to be used.

By distributing these warnings, the public will receive an early warning and guidance as to the required precautions. In the event of a disaster, early warnings can contribute to reducing the possibility of personal injury, loss of life and damage to property and the environment. Early warnings will also enable local/regional authorities to initiate evacuations more efficiently.

The project will be located in the County of Sogn og Fjordane, in Western Norway.

Sogn og Fjordane is a county of great natural beauty, but also of numerous potential hazards. Throughout the years, natural disasters have taken a heavy toll. Rock slides, snow avalanches and tsunamis have always constituted a major hazard by virtue of the fact that most towns and roads are situated in the limited and narrow space between a mountain side and the fjord or ocean.

Climate change may in many ways aggravate the hazards of today, i.e.:

• Intense or sudden rain storms, especially in relatively dry areas, with serious flash floods, debris flows, or avalanches as a possible consequence
• Warm winters or unstable temperatures can cause rock slides and avalanches in unexpected locations (built-up areas, roads etc.)

The project will run from the autumn of 2008 (August) to the autumn of 2010 (October/November).

Project Plan