Misa Funaki Forecaster, RSMC Nadi - World … Funaki Forecaster, RSMC Nadi Content 1. Summary of Tropical Cyclone Evan 2. Damages/Losses 3. Communication Challenges 4. Developments

Misa Funaki

Forecaster, RSMC Nadi

Content 1. Summary of Tropical Cyclone

Evan

2. Damages/Losses

3. Communication Challenges

4. Developments

5. Recommendations/Conclusion

1. Summary of TC Evan

* Duration: 7 Days

* Max Intensity: 100 kts - Obs: 70kts * Rapid Intensification - 35kts – 65kts(30 hours) * Rainfall obs:

- 529mm(6hrs): Monasavu

- 156.8mm(1hr): Vaigano

2. Damages

Damages in the Millions

- Equivalent to 28% of goods &

services produced in Samoa in

2011.

- Equivalent to 2.6% of Fiji’s GDP

Fatalities:

- 4 drowned(Flooding)

- 9 lost at sea

3. Communication Challenge

3.1Mode of communication SWB are relayed through;-

- Radio(Live)

- TV(Flash message)

- Internet

1. Reliability of Internet services.

- Hand delivery of SWB to radio station in Samoa

during TC.

- Should anything happen to the driver.. SWB?

- Not 100% coverage

2 Power Supply(GRID)

- 97% in Samoa

- 90% in Fiji

- The rest are in the outer

islands who rely on

generator(4hrs/day)

Can call the office from a village

phone

What next?

“ Just wait, listen, watch

the skies and the movement of

the birds”

3.2 Language

English is the second language

- Demography: 92.6% Samoan

- 94.5% (2 main races in Fiji)

Samoa: SMS translate SWB to English

Fiji: Translation is done by the radio station

announcers/interpreter

1. Jargons - Difficult or impossible to translate.

- While translating, at times the importance is lost.

- rough/very rough ...... Phenomenal Seas

2. SWB are too lengthy

- Mouthful to translate and broadcast

- Name all the islands

3.3 Warning to action “ I took for granted that people would know what to

do, as cyclone season is every year”

- Mayor, Falefa, Anoamaa Sasae(rural)

“ I knew to do this because I had survived so many cyclones”

- Male, Namara Village, Wayasewa, Yasawa Lailai.

3.5 Changing Focus “ There are awareness programs for tsunami but not

cyclone and other disaster”

- Woman rep, Siumu, Faipule (rural)

Very valid statement

2013 – Awareness on Tropical Cyclone&Flooding

2014 – Awareness of El-Nino/Drought

3.6 Operation Challenge

- Lack of NWP in the area of Flooding & storm surge

- Telemetry station along major river... Monitoring

Better mode of dissemination;-

1. SMS

2. Dedicated 2 way VHF radio( April,2014)

3. New format SWB... 1 page

4. Aid of JICA, educational cartoon for awareness

5. Social Media 1. Facebook & Twitter

5. Request 1. Development of NWP that could look into storm

surge & Floodings

“ With us, when we face challenges, it brings us together” - Male, Namara Village, Wayasewa Is, Yasawa Group