DISASTER RISK REDUCTION COORDINATION MECHANISMS AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS

National Legislation and Coordination Mechanisms

The Case of Brazil

Lauro T. G. Fortes, PhD

Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology - INMET

Geneva, November 26, 2007

Weather and Climate Hazards in Brazil

Hazard Rank

Drought 1

River flooding 1

Flash flood 2

Landslide and mudslide 3

Strong Winds 4

Thunderstorm and lightning 5

Hailstorm 6

Tornado 7

Forest and wild land fire 7

Smoke, Dust or Haze 7

Cold wave period of abnormally low temperatures 8

Waterborne hazards (i.e. nuclear, chemical, oil spills etc) 8

Heat wave period of abnormally high temperatures 9

Dense fog; Hidrometeorological hazards to aviation 9

Tropical cyclone; Storm surge; Coastal flooding; Airborne hazardous substances; Earthquake

10

Source: Survey by WMO Country-Level Disaster Prevention & Mitigation Programme

Geographical Distribution of Most Relevant HazardsSPI Index for JFM 2005

Forest and wild land fire

Tornado

Hailstorm

Thunderstorm and lightning

Strong Winds

Landslide and mudslide

Flash flood

River flooding

Drought

Hurricane CATARINA

The Brazilian National Civil Defense SystemPresidential Decree Nº 5.376 from February 17, 2005

National Civil Defense Secretary

(Ministry Level)

National Civil Defense Council

Regional Civil Defense

Coordination Dept.(5 Micro-regions)

State Civil Defense Coordination Dept.

(27 States)

Municipal Level (5561 towns)

City Civil Defense Coordination Dept.Community Civil Defense Nucleus

Sector Gov. Depts.

(at Federal, State and City levels)

Ministerial LevelDefense International Affairs FinanceHealthTransportationAgriculture

Meteorological Data and Analysis

Science & Technology Meteorological Forecast Information

Other Ministries

Support OrganizationsPublic and Private orgs., Volunteers Ass., Social

Service Clubs, NGOs, etc

Synthesis of Actors and Activities in the Brazilian Meteorological Sector

Source: Fortes, L. Subsidies for the Reordering of the Sector of Meteorology and Climatology in Brazil.INMET-WMO Technical Cooperation Project - Final Report (in Portuguese).Brasilia, August 2005, pg. 8.

Brazilian Commission for Coordination of Meteorological, Climatological and Hydrological Activities in Brazil

CMCH

• Inaugurated in September 2007, under the Ministry for Science and Technology (MCT)

• President: Secretary for R&D Policy and Programs/MCT

• Vice-President: Director of INMET, representing the Ministry of Agriculture

• Members:

– Representatives from the Ministries of Science and Technology, Agriculture and Defense (Federal Departments dealing with Meteorology)

– Representatives from 9 other Ministries, including: Environment; Energy, Transportation, Interior (National Integration); Education, Planning and Finance

– Representatives of the National Societies of Meteorology (SBMet), Agrometeorology (SBAgro) and Hydrology (ABRH)

– Representative of the State Centres for Meteorology and Hydrology

– Representative of the Private Meteorological Service providers

– Representative of the Industrial Sector providing Meteorological and Hydrological Equipment and Systems

• It has Sector Chambers devoted to Specific Issues. One may be devoted to Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Coordination and Early Warning Systems

Thank You for the Attention