| Title: | RESILIENCE AGAINST DISASTERS: PIURA RIVER’S EARLY WARNING SYSTEM | |
| Day and time: | (22) Viernes - Friday - 22 - 11:20 - 11:40 | |
| Presenter: | Ing. Jorge Bustamante | |
| Organization: | Colegio de Ingenieros del Perú | |
| Eje Temático: Thematic Area: |
Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response... | |
| Description: | In recent years extremely intense rainfall events have taken place in Peru. The most recent one took place between January and March 2017, during the so called “Coastal El Niño” with precipitation intensities up to 30 mm/day in areas where the annual averages are in the order of 50 mm/year. These intensities exceed available historical records. Those extreme events, are most probably due to Global Warming, and have caused important damage to the infrastructure and the local population. The project was conceived based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and with the aspiration to improve the living conditions of our society and vulnerable populations. The execution of the project will convoke international as well as Peruvian experts. One of the most important regions affected by those extreme rainfall events was the Piura river basin, with an extension of up to 12,000 sq. km. Piura is one of the most important cities in the country with huge perspectives of economic growth. This project aims at developing an early warning system in the Piura river basin. In order to do so, first, we will develop a hydrological model with historical precipitation data from satellites and stream flow data. Here, we will apply state-of-the-art satellite technology and methodologies to overcome the lack of data for this basin. Secondly, we will develop a high resolution meteorological model to forecast climate conditions up to 10 days in advance. This will give us up to 10 days in advance to forecast extreme stream flow to organize the local authorities’ and population’s mitigation responses. This social aspect will be designed by experts from the UN. The present project outcomes are: • A monitoring and warning meteorological & hydrological system based on solid scientific and technological bases in order to deliver alerts according to threshold risk levels. • A socially structured response protocol and system designed to suit local realities. • Response plans per community according to the local specific conditions and to the risk level identified. For instance, evacuation plans, contingency plans for schools, water supply, food security, first aid assistance, etc. These deliverables will privilege bottom-up approaches with participation of the local population. Response plans will be as multidimensional as possible, emphasising female participation. At the same time, the outcomes and structure of the present proposal will serve as basis to be replicated in other basins like the Rimac river basin in Peru. |
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